Jason Cross IS AN AWARD-WINNING AMERICAN FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER, FILMMAKER, MUSICIAN AND EDUCATOR
GOSH, READING THAT TITLE UP THERE, IT MAKES ME FEEL SO…UGH…FANCY. SIGH, IF ONLY THAT WERE THE CASE.
Those who market things for a living would say that I need to tell you that I’m the son of a celebrated war photographer (cue the quote below). They would say, “Tell them how you have been shooting since you were like 7 years old man.” Also true, but do you know why that matters? It matters because when it came time to shoot my own work, it was about anticipation, the one unspoken lesson that watching my dad taught me when he shot his work. Anticipate the moment ahead, deliver that image when it unfolds before you.
Your event is everything to you, whether it be a first birthday party or your wedding. Are there really any events less important than others? Not to me! A missed opportunity from birth to death you aren’t getting back. Let’s not chance that with a photographer that has a million photos but none really look the same as the next. You need consistency, dependability, and affordability from your person.
It’s a trust game, a “relationship.” So let’s just get this out of the way on our first date shall we? I’m not for everyone!! I know, I know, SHOCKING! But let’s admit it, you have that one friend who got married who has some horror story of their wedding photos. As I have listened to those countless stories I hear one theme emerge, “I saw the work they did, I showed them what I wanted, even though I didn’t see it anywhere on any of their galleries.”
Pinterest is GREAT, I mean GREAT for getting ideas. The best really right? When it comes down to it though, you have to ask, “Can you do ALL of those ideas (in the time, in the space, in the lighting, at my venue, in my ready room, with my people)?” There are SO many factors. Look around my galleries, you’ll see a good many of those “recreations” that got nailed from a pin board of ideas. It is possible.
My promise to you: before an event, I will set a realistic expectation of the “can do’s “ and the “no way in heck” moments. With broad knowledge of both photography, (cue the “he’s been doing it since he was a baby” on film montage), local venues, geography, meteorology (what time is that sunset again?), and all of the other things that go into making your moment special, I will be able to not only set, but deliver, on the expectations ahead of time, so there are no surprises. And we can stick to the “oh my God look how gorgeous these photos are!” stories. Deal?
“My dad was always off covering the next big conflict across the world. I would venture into his darkroom, grabbing cameras and loading film to try and find a sense of who we was. What came from that? I found my voice in the images instead.”
— — J. Cross
See what I mean? Aren’t you glad we just stuck to the “Real Person” narrative and not the fancy marketing story that they put in the keywords like “Best Atlanta Wedding Photographer” and “Award-Winning” pshh…words aren’t photos! And we are here to see some pictures, are you with me Atlanta, Georgia? (See what I did there?)
There is one more kind of big deal before I make my “contact me” pitch, and it’s again from those marketing suggestions. They want me to talk about my training under my father because of his journalism style, which became mine. When it’s your big day, I am going to try my best to be EVERYWHERE you are, but lots of places you aren’t in the thick of the action, catching those moments you had no idea were happening. The “oh my gosh wow” stuff. Grandma in the liquor sort of stuff ya know? It’s what REALLY sets me apart, the details, the story, the moments.
So….with that said, if you like my pretty photos, and my personality feels like it may match yours, then let’s talk. I happen to love coffee and/or guacamole, so if you need to talk about your event whilst partaking in either of those endeavors (because bottomless tortillas is always an adventure, can I get an amen?) we can totally do that. For those of us with limited time who just need the facts to know can you afford me (you likely can) scroll down below the photo and find all of the ways to contact me:) -JL
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