Meet Donnie Jackson of Lynn’s Expressions

My passion for photography was reignited six years ago when I dropped and broke my cell phone. My wife and I had recently had a son and just as he was beginning to crawl is when it happened; all of those moments were gone. It was then, I decided I was going to be the guy at all of his son’s functions with a camera and I decided to take up photography again. I say again because the initial interest came from years prior. When I was younger, I’d borrowed my Dad’s camera to capture images of our middle school events and festivals. Although then it was just a hobby and a way to connect with my old man, after dropping my phone and considering photography, I soon remembered how much I’d enjoyed doing it and that hobby flourished into a passion.

Maybe my route to photography has been a nontraditional route, as I am mostly self-taught via workgroups and networking, books, and online tutorials, but I’ve connected with some great professional along the way and many have contributed to where I am today. I started my business, Lynn’s Expressions about two years ago and I work every day to increase my presence in the Houston market. To date, my love for the craft continues to expand and is often fed by the way people interact with the camera. I enjoy the way subjects lend their personalities for an image and I strive to capture those moments, so they can see themselves as I do.

Honestly. I am still going through the growing pains of building a business while honing my craft. Although this past year has been much more successful, there is still more to learn regarding how to build my brand and generate quality, original products: all while balancing family and working full-time. With that said, I can acknowledge that time has often been a hurdle. Mrketing has been an area in which I’ve had to constantly work, as with any market, there is no shortage of individuals who can offer the same service, so I work hard to find ways to stand out and generate the buzz around my work so that the public knows as well.

Lynn’s Expressions was created out of the necessity to preserve sentimental moments, but it later matured into a more professional project. Shooting events and activities can sometimes be chaotic and difficult to capture the images that are integral to knowing the subject, so over time I transitioned to portraits – an area I now consider my specialization. For me, portraits and those candid moments often are those moments we treasure.

I have had a few successes. So far, I have been published in Style Cruze Magazine and Evon Magazine, but I am most proud of the relationships I’ve fostered in the photography community. Also, I am proud of the fact that I’ve not only managed to preserve moments that my family treasures, but I’ve contributed to the memories and careers of others as well.

I personally define success by how the people that I have worked with define my work and their interactions with me. By placing my passion and integrity first then the benefits of my work will eventually follow. Social media helps to reach a bigger audience but the indicators are the clients that have not seen a single post. The people who refer me to their friends and family. My highest priority is being confident that I’ve satisfied my customer’s needs and that I have provided a unique experience.