Meet Jenny Dupuis of By Kinship in Paradise Valley

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

Jenny, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I found out wedding photography was something I could do, it was 2015 and I was a senior in college in Wisconsin and was invited to second shoot a wedding with an established photographer. At that time, I was studying journalism and would be graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in the field. However, I was practicing photojournalism and wedding photography would be a smooth transition — moment capturing, high intensity work environment, and storytelling. It didn’t hurt that the lead photographer came from a photojournalism background as well. After that first wedding, I was hooked. I became obsessed with the idea of capturing the important moments and loved the rush and duty of being the only one responsible for them.

Now, flash forward to 2019 and I have a beautiful website, have photographed a handful of weddings, multiple engagements and families. The road to this point has been anything but straightforward — I’ve kept full time jobs throughout the life of my business, I’ve gone back to school for photography — abroad in Denmark, and I’ve moved across the county to start it all over again in a new city (hello, Phoenix!). But, it’s been something that’s always been there, always been at the forefront of my brain wanting to expand and get better. I’m grateful for the people who trusted me in the past and looking forward to what will come in the future.

Has it been a smooth road?
Whoops. Might’ve answered this in the last question. In addition, I’d say that despite all the things that can go wrong when developing a small business — it’s been pretty great. I love that this owning a business challenges me to never stop learning, I love meeting new people and I love giving them something they can cherish forever.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m a photographer, I specialize in photography. Okay, okay… I specialize in weddings, engagements, elopements, and families. I also do business portraits and branding photography. Everything is a photojournalistic style mixed with the classics. I’d say I’m most known for wedding photography because that’s what people see me doing the most.

Honestly, I’m most proud when I send an album and I get a text or email back saying how amazing everything is — that’s truly how I know I did a good job. Everything that came before is just build up — although I do very much appreciate a good (usually drunk) hug from a parent or the bride and groom themselves before I leave the venue saying how much they loved having me there.

What sets me apart from others is how much I care. I know, that sounds cliché. But I do put so much heart into every frame you receive. I want to know your story before so I can capture moments that support that during the photoshoot — whether that is an engagement photoshoot or an entire wedding. I photograph with not just my eyes, but my ears as well — I’m on high awareness of something, anything that could happen that would be a great storytelling moment. And then after, oh man after. Although my editing is mild compared to others, I really pay attention to every detail in every image. Sometimes I spend way too much time looking at a photo of your cousin’s best friend’s brother because a good composition is really important to me. It’s just in my blood — it’s just as much of a curse as it is a blessing.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Phoenix is amazing because of the size and the number of creative people here. There is a wonderful community just around the corner if you are willing to put in the time to find it. I’m in an amazing networking group, Millennials in Business. I meet with a group of freelance photojournalists and full-time photographers almost every month. I volunteer photograph at Creative Mornings PHX (and, as a bonus, get to soak in the amazing speakers the group pulls in). The best thing is I know there is even more out there.

Someone just starting (and I’m sort of there right now) should seek out a mentor and join the creative communities around them. Be on the lookout for a tribe that will support you and pushes you to be and do better. I never set foot in a bridal show in Wisconsin, but I did one here as an Arizona newbie and it was a seriously cool experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bykinship.com/
• Email: bykinship@gmail.com
• Instagram: @bykinship
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bykinship

Image Credit:
Photo of me: Jojo Huck
Photos of weddings/engagements: Jenny Dupuis

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