Conversations with Jenny Young

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Young.

Hi Jenny, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’m from rural Iowa and was raised with small-town values. Growing up I was blessed to have an art teacher pour into me, and it seemed divinely inspired that as I progressed through school, she continually changed roles such that I remained in her class. She helped me find a positive outlet that we all need, mine being through expressive art.

I moved to NE Phoenix/Scottsdale in 2016 and while I worked in banking, I always made time for my art – whether a doodle pad nearby, a canvas and an easel, or photos with my phone on a hike. I spent a few years teaching painting and began to find my voice in that stage of pleasure-filled service. I loved watching kids and adults alike gain confidence through art and I can vividly recount so many times when people would feel they could not do something, and then be amazed at the results when they let go. Even my husband, an engineer, was able to eventually grasp the concept that there are no rules in painting!

I’ve had to learn these same lessons, to let go and Trust, to just give it a try. A friend had asked me to do a dog portrait and I had serious doubts about my ability to create any form of realism, but I’ve discovered that people really like this form of my work. I started a business doing these portraits called The Furry Details. It’s therapeutic for me to get down to such a granular level, to be so focused on each tiny detail. I am so honored for the trust placed in me by so many of my clients to capture their dear friends, often in memorialization. The sense of intimacy I gain from seeing tears when they receive their piece, simply cannot be described. I’ve even used this skillset to paint our youngest son’s orthopedic helmets which helped us find joy in the discomfort of having him wear them for 23 hours/day. I was blessed by way of a request to do a custom piece for the CTO of the company, which was a lot of fun.

The most recent chapter of my artistic journey was spawned by my passion for photography and again, a push over that line of hesitation. My husband loved the staged photography sessions I was doing regularly with our eldest son so much that he came to me with the idea of investing in starting a business – Young Forever Photography. I specialize in couples/family/kids/dog photography with customizable staging. And so I’ve found a medium that incorporates so many passions: couples, kids, families and animals, photography and creatively constructing backdrops which even allows me to paint! I just love the static nature of photography capturing an instant, authentic and pure, to be relived over and over. It brings my heart such joy.

I’m just so excited about this leg of the journey and want to express my sincerest gratitude for every client I’ve known and will come to know, my family who loves me and supports the pursuit of my passions, and of course, God, who granted me the skills and heart of service that I possess.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As an artist, I pour my heart and soul into every piece or photoshoot I touch. Because of this, these pieces are very personal to me and I often have to get comfortable in the vulnerability of putting them, and in a sense me, out there. I have had to learn to lean on my Faith and find comfort in the resulting confidence that brings, whereby I know that I am giving that piece of me to my clients with the most genuine desire for them to enjoy for years to come. There is a deep and inherent intimacy with the mediums I’ve chosen and I am honored with each and every opportunity I am granted to share the skills and passion I’ve been given.

I am also a stay-at-home mom to two amazing boys, Warrick (3) and Kyland (1). They keep me on my toes and also keep me very busy. There have been seasons of struggling to find time to work on any art, and other seasons where their naps align and I can really spend some time with my camera or with a paintbrush. My husband also works full-time and is a grad student, but is fully invested in supporting me and my passion/business, so I am afforded the time I need to serve my clients to the standards they deserve.

I’d also be amiss if I didn’t mention an ongoing battle with slight perfectionism.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in curating photoshoots with an artistic style, which can include custom-painted backdrops specific to each photoshoot. I also have a photography service for birthday parties and special events. I come to their home or venue and capture all the fun, smiles, and love that parents and hosts worked so hard to plan.

For dog portraits and orthopedic helmets, I put hours into looking at the minute details of the hair patterns and eyes, which really makes them come to life. I’ve had clients tear up when they pick up their piece and say things like “that’s him, I can see him in his eyes – you’ve somehow captured his essence” of their pup who has passed. You can’t buy that kind of joy, to feel that you had a role in memorializing their dear friend. I think those experiences are what bring me the most happiness, they are the fuel to keep going on long, tough days.

What makes you happy?
My passion is serving others and making people smile. I am at my best when I put others’ needs before mine.

Which makes photographing kids, families, and couples so much fun for me. Being creative is my outlet and a way for me to get re-centered with the hustle and bustle of life with kids. It’s the only time my brain is quiet, and I get a chance to slow down.

Contact Info:

• Website: youngforeverphotography.shootproof.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/youngforever.photography?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084848877149

Image Credits
Young Forever Photography and The Furry Details