ABOUT
Hi, I'm Jenn!
I live a multi-hyphenated existence, but don’t we all, if you think about it. My work time is split between writing and photography.
Writer: features, interviews, essays, my newsletter tanjennts
Photographer: modern headshots, personal branding, events, travel, and more. Visit my photo website to book with me.
Freelancer in all of the above
Specialty coffee professional: editor at large at Sprudge
Reformed marketer
Community organizer
Plant parent: mostly thriving indoor container garden & an outdoor container garden for edibles
Dog parent: I adopted my rescue dog Zoey in February 2020, right before the lockdowns. It has been a wild ride since then
But if you need a few sentences to neatly wrap it up:
I’m a San Francisco-based writer & photographer in specialty coffee, food & beverage, culture, and beyond. I’m also a personal branding photographer for creative business owners and solopreneurs, providing custom content to elevate their brands and draw in new clients. My photography services now live on a different site.
I’m inspired by the specialty coffee industry that I’m in and the creative clients I work with—all while being powered by chips (of all kinds).
In addition to writing in-depth features as the editor at large at Sprudge—an online, globally read specialty coffee publication—I also shoot a unique blend of documentary and lifestyle portrait photography for creative people and their work.
Regardless of the medium, I am most interested in creating a space of trust for my clients and interview sources to feel safe, seen, and heard. I love capturing people and their passions, in their place of work.
My writing style is contradicting: I love direct communication but I also love the beauty and cadence of well-crafted, long sentences. And my photography is the same: I love colorful maximalism as much as I enjoy a dark and moody look.
Things to know about me:
Pie is better than cake. Sweet potato pie is better than pumpkin pie.
My superpower is being able to cut onions without crying. Obviously, I have no tear ducts (kidding).
Adopt, don’t shop (pets)
I am just short of being an extreme introvert, but I love wearing bold, saturated colors
My favorite chip flavor is salted egg
Some other interests include: jigsaw puzzles, board games, Switch games, NA cocktails, miniatures, and day hikes
One of my favorite donuts is the simple passionfruit-glazed yeast donut at Firecakes in Chicago. A close second and third would be a mochi donut glazed with ube or black sesame.
MY VALUES
Provide a space of trust
A big one for me, because it’s necessary for interviews (trusting me to write about them authentically) and portrait photography (trusting me to capture them at their best). Surface-level interactions are not for me; I’m an introvert.
Be receptive and open
Dream big and try new things. Pay attention to what people tell me or what the universe tells me.
Learn, evolve, and share
I love learning new things or going deep on a topic. This is a reminder to constantly learn and evolve. I don’t necessarily need to share everything, but sharing what I can is one way to avoid being a gatekeeper.
Make an impact
Every impact is an important one, it doesn’t matter if it’s on an individual level or a global scale.
Embrace myself & my differences
Pay attention to my gut! It’s almost always right. Part of this is also to be true to me and make sure everything I put out aligns with who I am. I should be excited about new projects, not dreading them. Buck traditions and expectations.
Do the best you can
Life is hard and sometimes shitty. If I’m doing the best I can under the circumstances I’m given, and with the tools I have on hand, then that’s all that I can do. No beating myself up on this.
Current Projects
At any given time, I’m trying to conquer new skills and work on projects. Here are a few that I’ve been trying out:
- Spanish on Duolingo
- Edible garden in self-watering planters on my patio
Upcoming Travels
- None planned at the moment
