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Meet Jessica Cancio

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Cancio.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Having a child is such a huge milestone in a person’s life, and it was no different for my husband and me when our son, Jett, was born in October of 2017. I quickly realized I had unknowingly joined an unspoken group of mothers who hoard thousands of photos of their kids on their phones! I was unhappy with the cell phone quality, so I dug out my old Canon and started snapping pictures. Black Mountain Photography grew from there! Everything I learned from my college photography classes came flooding back.

I’ve always been a “creative” person and my day job is teaching elementary art in Scottsdale, but photography has given me a creative outlet for myself. I’m a people person and I love nature, so choosing to focus on capturing memories for couples, families, and seniors using natural light in the desert has made this adventure a perfect fit. I love meeting new people and building relationships with my clients who quickly become friends! This is just the beginning for Black Mountain Photography and I’m excited to see where this new journey takes me.

Please tell us about your art.
I love color and soft light, but most importantly I love to capture the emotion of the person I’m photographing. I want my photos to be a realistic representation of the people who are in them – to show joy, love, and confidence. We laugh a lot on photo shoots and we take a lot of happy pictures, but I also love to show a more romantic and dreamy side with my couples. I treat each client as a friend (and we often become friends!) and as they become more comfortable and relaxed with me, their pictures mirror their confidence. Some of the best pictures I’ve ever taken have been during freezing mornings or crowded spaces – but funny stories through conversation and bad jokes have gotten genuine smiles for the camera!

Soft palettes of color that mirror the desert glow are also my favorite. I pull a lot of inspiration from nature and the desert landscape so I try to incorporate it as much as possible. Using a cactus or tree to frame my subjects adds to the composition without taking away from the subjects. This spring has been amazing because of the unbelievable wildflower bloom! We were finding flowers almost every time I went on a shoot which made the images even more magical!

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
The world of photography has certainly changed. Anyone can snap a quick cell phone picture or take a selfie – which has made things a little more challenging for the photography industry. But cell phone cameras can’t build relationships with you, pose you, or find the right angle or light. I pride myself on building trust with my clients and making their time in front of my camera an enjoyable experience. Brides want to find a wedding photographer who will communicate with their planner at their wedding so the day goes smoothly. Or who will fix their hair when the wind finally stops blowing. Or even help pick cactus prickers out of their wedding dress!

I’ve also used my photography as a platform to speak about miscarriage, Red for Ed, and the struggles of being a parent. I think it’s important as a photographer for potential clients to know who I am and what I stand for. I’ve done maternity sessions for women who were carrying rainbow babies. We were able to relate and celebrate a really special moment that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t shared our own story of loss on my blog. As long as I keep taking photos, I will continue to share important thoughts and events in my own life.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I love to showcase my work and my amazing clients! I post full sessions and special insights into my life on my blog which can be found on my website. I also post updates on Facebook and Instagram daily. Anyone who is interested in booking a session with me can shoot me a quick email – I’d love to chat!

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Brenna Heater – Personal photo

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.

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