Author: jennyjacobsson

You are visiting a conceptual photographer and digital artist, specializing in fashion, portrait, and commercial photography. I love to create narrative, expressive and emotional imagery that make people feel that the impossible is possible. I'm an image constructor, meticulously crafting all details to often form realistic surrealism. At the age of 31 I completely changed my life. I had spent 10 years within the academic world, getting a Master of Science within neurobiology and working at a DNA analysis company, when I decided to follow my heart and passion instead. I left my old career behind, and embraced the world of imagery by attending school for Professional Photography (Fotoskolan Göteborg). And I've never looked back. I have a never-ending urge to come up with and tell stories through my photographs and am certainly drawn to cinematic imagery. I often get highly inspired by the location itself when building alternative stories to sceneries that goes hand-in-hand with the concept and styling. Growing up on the Swedish countryside open landscapes, woods, and nature were always present and I've always loved the magic of a wild scenery. Also, my mind has always flourished inside great novels or being enchanted by movies. It is now obvious that my artwork is highly inspired by my childhood experiences, making me romanticize and dramatize my environment and put fantasies into the frame. The landscape is a returning location for my stories and I want to capture the natural beauty of a place but with my own twist. I like to highlight the hidden charm of an, at first sight, ordinary place. I am currently working as a freelance photographer, available for commissions and assignments. Also, I am continuously shooting my fine-art series "Parallels". I reside in Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden, with my husband and graphic designer Andreas. I work on location without boundaries.

‘Forty Faces’ – Self Portraiture Art Exhibition at Sandell Gallery

Posted on July 16, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

‘Forty Faces’ – Self Portraiture Art Exhibition at Sandell Gallery

Last week the doors opened to Sandell Gallery and the exhibition »Forty Faces«, a fantastic collection exhibition with a motley crew of art pieces themed Self Portraiture. 40 artists, 40 self portraits, different media, and me and my ’The unveiling’ from series ‘Parallels‘ is one of them.

“Self-portrait is the only motif that has stood the test of time. Almost all artists in the last five hundred years have sooner or later chosen to paint his own face and his own body.”

Welcome!
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FORTY FACES
July 10 – 22, 2015
Sandell Gallery
Göteborg, Sweden
Curated by Christina Sandell
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PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

The opening on July 10th was jam-packed with loads of wonderful and enthusiastic art indulgers. Thank you for the wonderful conversations you guys! Here are some images from the event:

ENJOY THIS TEXT FROM THE EXHIBITION BOOK (in Swedish):

Ett självporträtt, en bild av sig själv.
En avbildning av sin själ.
Sitt yttersta och sitt innersta.
Att kunna berätta och blotta är en konst. Att framställa sig själv.
Det krävs mod och självinsikt.

Hur visar vi oss själva? Ett ansikte. Rätt upp och ner eller med ett
kommatecken däremellan. Vad är det som är just jag?
Kanske en symbol, ett uttryck eller ett par intensiva ögon – en
blick som säger allt. Eller allt annat utom det. En dansande bild på
dig på en äng. Något som visar energin.

Självporträtt, avbildningar, har funnits i alla tider. Några av
historiens mest kända konstverk är just självporträtt – Rembrandt,
Leonardo da Vinci och van Gogh.
I dagens läge är vi våra egna konstnärer. Vi skapar självporträtt
utan att kanske tänka på det.
Knäpper av ögonblick.
Avbildar oss under en förändring.
Exponerar oss på internet. »Jag ska bara ta en selfie.«
Bekanta och obekanta gör tummen upp och hjärtar våra ansikten.

I forty faces har 40 konstnärliga personer blottat sina själar.
Skapat och exponerat.
40 konstnärliga personer från olika delar av världen.
Med mod och självinsikt.

Text by Ronette Svensson

Welcome to ‘Forty Faces’ – Self Portraiture Art Exhibition at Sandell Gallery!

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‘THE ELATION’ – unique work created and auctioned off for Barnsjukhuset (The Children’s Hospital)

Posted on June 18, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

‘THE ELATION’ – unique work created and auctioned off for Barnsjukhuset (The Children’s Hospital)

A month ago I got a request that made my eyes overflow, my knees turn weak, and I think my hands went straight to my heart. Barnsjukhuset (The Children’s Hospital, Drottning Silvias Barn- och Ungdomssjukhus) is yearly doing a charity event called Barngolfen (The Children’s Golf), and the foundation wanted me to create a unique piece of art to be auctioned off on behalf of the hospital and their activity… And I couldn’t feel more honored.

Each year 500 000 people goes through this hospital. 130 000 children is treated. For these people a lot of the time is spent waiting. And when a child is sick that time can be soooo long and sometimes unbearable. And to make the time there go a little faster and help the sick children forget the pain, at least for a little while, they need funds. It can be to have a computer available for the kids to keep in touch with their friends, to be able to participate in musical therapy because music puts a smile on their faces, to play in a real garden, or to get a break from the hospital for a few hours and go to Liseberg. The foundation also gives support to the families of the sick children who faces many challenges that a stay in the hospital means.

See ‘THE ELATION’ and all its details in full size in my ‘Parallels’ gallery

And that possibility, to put a smile on a child’s face, is part of the healing process. And that’s why this year’s hashtag was #glädjeläker (happiness heals). And the commission to create the image was founded on this message. And let me tell you, it was the hardest challenge I’ve gotten so far. Ever. But challenges truly makes you grow as a person and have gone through the creative process to make something special to help the kids out, I felt completely exhausted emotionally but stronger and prouder and happier than ever before.

And when the gala dinner went down on Monday and the unbelievable mix of wonderful people from supporting companies, celebrities, golf pros, sport stars, and even our amazingly warm and kind Her Royal Highness Princess Birgitta (who I’m thrilled to have got introduced to and to meet personally), collected 2 750 000 SEK (about € 310 000) the excitement was HUGE.

And to see my piece of art, as a big 112,5 x 75 cm print mounted beautifully on aluminium by the incredibly amazing crew of Sandeng Art och Fotolab in Göteborg (I absolutely adore you guys. Thank you for the fabulous collaborations), help that cause… well… I don’t think my words can explain it. And I can’t wait to see those money turn into something great for the children.

If you want to help out it any way to make the wait for the kids better, visit the link Barnsjukhuset and read what to do there.
And remember, happiness heals.

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‘THE INCONGRUITY’ – a reflection about our environmental paradox

Posted on April 9, 2015February 12, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

‘THE INCONGRUITY’ – a reflection about our environmental paradox

It hits me all the time.

It hits me when I’m in the forest and see that shiny container sticking out from the green moss. Or when at the seaside and that garbage bag is waving back and forth between the sand and the water. Back and forth. Back and forth…

Like that plastic, glass, or metal ever would decompose.

It strikes me all the time. The incompatibility between our ways of consumption and our will to live environmentally friendly. The way we are using up our Earth’s resources even though we all know that our way of living is utterly unsustainable. I know it. You know it. Yet we all still together don’t do enough to change it. Not. Enough. We should not fool ourselves. Only we can change it. We all live with it. Act on it. Dress in it. The environmental paradox. The incongruity.

‘The incongruity’ is part of my series ‘Parallels’ and can be VIEWED IN FULL SIZE HERE

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photography | JENNY JACOBSSON
model | SELF PORTRAIT
assistant | AMANDA FALKMAN
design | JENNY JACOBSSON and AMANDA FALKMAN

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INSPIRATION FOR IMAGE CREATORS – Short Films

Posted on March 13, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

INSPIRATION FOR IMAGE CREATORS – Short Films

As a photographer, or any image maker, you can choose to sit around waiting for inspiration to pop up by itself. Personally, I’m a firm believer that feeling inspired is a state of mind you can teach yourself to find when you need it. So, what can we do to get started? I’m gathering and sharing my methods and favorite creators as a resource to help keeping our inspirational juices flowing. And I invite you along for this series of “INSPIRATION FOR IMAGE CREATORS”!

Inspiration for image creators can come from so many different areas. When I saw this series of Short Films, or fables, from Five Knights Productions I just couldn’t stop watching. It transported me to another time and place, but still holding me aware… Short films can just like photography tell a story but doesn’t have hours of the viewers attention to convey the feeling and message it is made to transfer. With these fables, to me it’s especially the sceneries, the tempo, and that magical emotion that draws me in, and spits me out feeling that I want… no, NEED… to go out and continue creating my images. Right away. And that is inspiration at its best.

So here it is, the first of the KIN fabels.
Watch the second film, Salvage, here.
And the third film, Requiem, here. It’s in this third film the story ties together.

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IPA (International Photography Awards) 2014 – Advertising/Fashion Category – Honorable Mention

Posted on March 10, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

IPA (International Photography Awards) 2014 – Advertising/Fashion Category – Honorable Mention

“Our mission is to salute the achievements of the world’s finest photographers, to discover new and emerging talent, and to promote the appreciation of photography.”
IPA ~ int’l photography awards ~

IPA (International Photography Awards) creates one of the most ambitious and comprehensive competitions in the photography world today, conducting an annual competition for professional, non-professional, and student photographers on a global scale.

On September 30, 2014 the International Photography Awards competition (IPA) announced Category Winners of 2014 Competition!

“This year, IPA received over 27000 submissions from 104 countries across the globe and is pleased to declare that Jenny Jacobsson was awarded Honorable Mention in a Advertising – Fashion Category in the 2014 International Photography Awards (IPA) Competition for the winning entry ‘The space that is and isn’t – I’.”

IPA International Photography Awards - Jenny Jacobsson in Advertising Fashion

*Selection from the series The space that is and isn’t*

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Feature and interview for Kamera & Bild – PORTRAIT SPECIAL

Posted on March 3, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Feature and interview for Kamera & Bild – PORTRAIT SPECIAL

“PORTRAITS IN ANOTHER WORLD
Jenny Jacobsson swapped a career as a DNA analyst to one as a portrait photographer. But she shoots no ordinary portraits. Instead her images holds stories and dreams that have been developed in close cooperation with the person being portrayed. The result is often not just an image but also a friendship.”

I’m so thrilled to see this wonderful and comprehensive article about me and my photographic work in KAMERA & BILD, one of, if not the, biggest photography magazines in Sweden. It is released today in every well-stocked store with magazine.

This issue’s theme is Portraits, and is focusing on what makes a portrait good, how to think as a photographer when creating it, and gives tips about how to develop yourself together with your portrait images. I’m honored to be one of the professionals they asked to give my point of view.

The interview was done last month by reporter Ola Jacobsen and I want to give a shout out to Ola for such a nice collab! Above is the headline and introductory of the article.

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IN LOVE WITH STORYTELLING PHOTOGRAPHY?
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‘HIDE AND SEEK’ – The story behind the portrait at Sandsjöbacka

Posted on February 24, 2015February 12, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

‘HIDE AND SEEK’ – The story behind the portrait at Sandsjöbacka

South of Göteborg is a nature reserve we drive by

each time we go visit my parents-in-law. It’s right there next to the highway, stretching out in all its glory, a heathland making my mind go absolutely wild. I’ve been thinking about shooting there since 2009 when I started to pass it by when I met Andreas. This summer it was time… This is the story behind the portrait at Sandsjöbacka.

I remember sketching the idea out in the middle of a sleepless night. I snuck out of bed at about 2 or 3 am while Andreas was sleeping, snatching a notepad out of the dark on my way into the bathroom. Sitting there with bare legs on the cold tiles I wrote pages about a constant search through life, questions about truths not always visible, and actions taken.

The story of ‘Hide and seek’ is heavily based on the transition I have done in life. Being part of my series ‘Parallels’, it carries the research I so often revisit in my work.

The idea is also heavily influenced by something I remember my grandmother say when I was a child…

“If you bring heather inside the house,
you bring death in with it.”

That old superstition was the foundation of this exact location and for me, a big part of this story.

Behind the Scenes of the shoot

To get to the location we had to park a couple of kilometers away and hike on one of the trails. Fortunately I’m blessed with the kindest most patient husband, and assistant, ever. So we took the photo gear we needed on our backs together with the shovel, and off we went. On the way there we passed through some truly lovely forests that I just have to go back and shoot in at another time. Maybe for a portrait of any of you out there?

This was going to be a self-portrait, wearing one of my old business dresses that I wasn’t keen on hiking in. So getting my hair done beforehand, with a messy bun hinting that the woman had been at it for a while, was ok but I changed into my outfit when we had arrived.

*Andreas on the hiking trail | Sandsjöbacka*

When arriving at the heath we spent some time looking for the optimal spot to shoot at, with a great undisturbed view and where a lot of the beautiful heather could be seen. We didn’t have to look for that long. Since I had the entire image planned out beforehand, all that was needed was a quick change of clothes, some rigging, and then we got to it.

The shoot went quite smoothly even though we took our time to not stumble around destroying any of the heather.

And luckily it went quite fast, because the mosquitos were ruthless, as can be seen by taking a look at Andreas’s legs the day after.

But we both agree, that it surely was worth it.

Love,
Jenny

HIDE AND SEEK’ IN FULL SIZE HERE

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INSPIRATION FOR IMAGE CREATORS – Digital Illustration Art

Posted on February 19, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

INSPIRATION FOR IMAGE CREATORS – Digital Illustration Art

As a photographer, or any image maker, you can choose to sit around waiting for inspiration to pop up by itself. Personally, I’m a firm believer that feeling inspired is a state of mind you can teach yourself to find when you need it. So, what can we do to get started? I’m gathering and sharing my methods and favorite creators as a resource to help keeping our inspirational juices flowing. And I invite you along for this series of “INSPIRATION FOR IMAGE CREATORS”!

Photographers tend to look a lot at other photography to get inspired. Although, I’ve heard so many times from photographers that they feel trapped by comparing their images with the work of others within the same field. Thoughts like “oh, somebody else already did that” or “ah, if I only got to shoot those who Annie Leibovitz shoots” can hold you back rather than inspire. I find that by indulging in art that you simply can’t create yourself can help to open up your mind and let go of any negative thoughts.

Personally I’ve noticed that I more and more look at other art forms. Here are 3 Digital Illustration Artists who keep on rocking my world and give me a huge influx of a desire to create!

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CHRISTIAN SCHLOE

Photographer JENNY JACOBSSON shares her methods & favorite creators as a resource to keep our inspiration flowing. She invites you along for the series! — *Dreaming of spring*

Everyone expects me as a photographer only to have photos on my walls at home, but last year we purchased this beautiful, and wonderfully quirky, art piece of Christian Schloe; “Dreaming of Spring”. And it is now inspiring me everyday with its mystique.

Christian Schloe is a digital artist who creates surreal scenes featuring bizarre moments. Realistic elements are blended together to form new possibilities. As a viewer you are transfered from reality into a dreamy, fictional world.

I found that Christian quotes Peter S. Beagle;

“Anything can happen in a world that holds such beauty.”

Other than that Christian seems to prefer to speak through his images, and not through words. So instead of reading text, dive into his very special worlds, and let his art do all the talking.

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MAGGIE TAYLOR

Maggie is an American artist who works with creating digital images by the use of photographs, scanners, and Photoshop. She has studied photography at Yale and University of Florida, and after more than ten years as a still life photographer, she began to use the computer to create her images in 1996.

Her collaged digital artwork is often created with help of items she finds by frequently searching flea markets, eBay, or nature and she gathers everything that seem to have a story to tell. She also take her own photos with a point-and-shoot camera or use old photos of people. In her studio she makes small pastel drawings as backgrounds and scan each element into the computer separately. In Photoshop she arranges and plays with these layers in much the same way that she earlier worked with objects in her studio as a still life photographer.

In this video you can see a lot of Maggie’s work as well as get behind the scenes of how she creates them:

“I am interested in creating a cohesive, visual, believable space that the viewer can visually enter. So, I do not use a lot of transparency or create a space that is too visually complex. Ideally, I want the images to invite the viewer to engage and recollect, almost like entering a stage set or a scene from a dream.”
Maggie Taylor

Maggie, through her surrealistic montages, surely transports the viewer into dreamlike worlds. And I love being in them.

You can find more images from and also articles about Maggie Taylor at the Artsy site.

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CATRIN WELZ-STEIN

This German graphic designer lives and works in Malaysia where she creates inspiration tickling surreal digital artwork. Using mixed media Catrin takes vintage photos apart and by experimenting in Photoshop she assembles them again into creating new content and stories.

“My images are all digital made. I collect old images and illustrations and put them new together in Photoshop. The working process is based on combining and the division of photographs, with removing, filling and retouch. Using digital medium I have far more creative possibilities and I can work much faster then on the canvas. Perhaps, my skills have been formed during the long years of working in front of my computer. Thanks to all that I can create my art best in digital.”
Catrin Welz-Stein

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Published in ‘BEST OF THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS 2014’ book by One Eyeland

Posted on February 17, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Published in ‘BEST OF THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS 2014’ book by One Eyeland

Here it is, the golden book. Shining and glittering on my desktop this morning and I’m happy to say I’m published in “Best of the best photographers 2014”. As they state themselves, it contains the finest images in One Eyeland of 2014, chiseled from a raw material of over 107 000 photographs down to 191… And I’m in there. I take off my hat, and bow.

Publication and award for Jenny Jacobsson in Fashion and Advertising

“We chase photographers from seven corners of the world. We tempt them, taunt them, badger them and sweet talk them into sharing their dearest images with us. Applying a ruthless filter called ‘exacting standards’, we then handpick the ‘Best of the Best Photographers’. The One Eyeland Book Volume 4 is an inspiring compilation of this crème de la crème. Melted from a mighty corpus of 107 000 uploaded pictures, and forged from a staggering shortlist of 24 500 images, the golden collection is a showcase of 191 scintillating photographs worthy of the yellow metal.”
Sharad Haksar, Founder of One Eyeland

It’s “not just a book, it’s a collector’s item” and if you want to buy the book you can get hold of it here. But a good alternative is of course to check out the e-version here.

Read about my award in Advertising – Fashion in One Eyeland Photography Awards.

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Music album cover art for Solala – stormy portraits in Göteborg

Posted on February 12, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Music album cover art for Solala – stormy portraits in Göteborg

We had been waiting for that truly moody overcast autumn day, and when it came in October, we went out to the coastline outside Göteborg to shoot the music album cover art for Solala.

“Solala started by a kitchen table 2½ years ago and has since become an online phenomena with millions of YouTube views and a huge fan base. It was time for the release of their first album, Swedish Fishermen, and I got the honor and assignment to shoot their album art.”

Being from Göteborg the brief was to put this coastal band in their natural environment but at the same time to take their hallmark, the kitchen table, out to wherever they were. To create that blueish stormy feeling we went out really early one very rainy morning.

Although one of us slipped and fell, a table leg fell off, and loads of goose bumps… we had nailed the perfect set and we surely were a very happy crew! And it couldn’t have ended more magically then having coffee by the sea, and the guys treated me and Amanda (assistant) with a little private concert by bursting out singing their, by then not released, It’s gonna be me. To sit there out on that tiny island and just listen to the guys is something I could do all day 🙂

The graphic design of the album was done by fantastic Andreas Jacobsson of MOLLBYRÅN, and it was a really great collaboration.

You can listen to the album on Spotify:

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The happy crew:

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Talk at Fotomässan – METHODS FOR CREATIVE IMAGE STORYTELLING

Posted on February 5, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Talk at Fotomässan – METHODS FOR CREATIVE IMAGE STORYTELLING

Create images with strong storytelling

I entered the big stage at Fotomässan Stockholm in November and you can now watch the entire talk online (opens in a new window at Moderskeppet)!

“How do you tell a story in a creative image? Why is it important with a location scouting library, what symbolizes different colours in different cultures, and how can a single piece from nature build an entire story?“

A big audience of about 300 joined me when I shared why and how image storytelling is so important and has gotten such a big place in my heart (and yes… you are correct… I was on the verge of tears there for a while…). I talked about 5 tools you can use to help you create and adapt your story. Lastly I gave you an exercise you can use if you find it difficult to get going with your own storytelling. And of course I couldn’t help to spice it up with some anecdotes from my photographic adventures as well!

~ INTERESTED IN HAVING ME AS A SPEAKER? FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A MESSAGE! ~

Watch the talk here (opens in a new window at Moderskeppet):
Please note that it’s in Swedish. Contact me for talks in English.

Artist talk by photographer Jenny Jacobsson about creative storytelling

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Interview and feature for Moderskeppet – Behind the creative work

Posted on January 29, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

Interview and feature for Moderskeppet – Behind the creative work

“In photographer Jenny Jacobson’s head fits lots of amazing stories, both her own but also others. Stories that come to life in photos after careful planning, photo shooting, and creative image processing. Jenny is an image narrator who fascinates and arouses emotions…

What are her thoughts about her creativity?”

That’s the description for the interview made by Moderskeppet last week. Through the interview I got to think about questions that I believe would be useful for every photographer to contemplate every now and then. Join me and get Behind the Scenes of my parallell worlds! READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE (it’s in Swedish)!

Feature and interview about creativity and photography storytelling with Jenny Jacobsson

Questions asked:
WHY DO YOU CREATE?
DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR YOUR PHOTOS?
WHERE DO YOU IDEAS LIVE?
DO YOU COMPLETE ALL PROJECTS?
DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE INSPIRATION, OR DO YOU JUST GO FOR IT ANYWAY?
WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU CREATE?
TELL US ABOUT AN IMAGE THAT MEANS A LOT TO YOU. AND CAN WE SEE SOME BEHIND THE SCENES FROM CREATING IT?
DO YOU WORK A LOT ON BEING VISIBLE AS A CREATOR?
CAN YOU GIVE US A BOOK RECOMMENDATION?

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Do you want to find out more, maybe in English?

You can find features, interviews, publications, and editorials about JENNY JACOBSSON under the category Features & Publications!

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INSPIRATION FOR IMAGE CREATORS – How to get inspired again and again..? Reflections from my latest teaching class

Posted on January 22, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

INSPIRATION FOR IMAGE CREATORS – How to get inspired again and again..? Reflections from my latest teaching class

~I headed to Fotoskolan Göteborg this week for a full day to talk and teach the class about creating images.
The day before I got interviewed by Moderskeppet about my work and I got the question how I approach ‘inspiration’,
and if I wait for it to happen before I start to create or if I just start creating, hoping that inspiration will come?
And what I do if inspiration doesn’t come..?~

And it hit me. As professional photographers we just can’t sit around and wait for inspiration to pop up by itself. What quality work could we deliver to our clients if we aren’t doing inspired work!? So… what can you do to get inspired, again and again?

“When doing my talks I love if my story inspires the students, but most of all I want to push them to start thinking about their own journey and why they love and started shooting from the start. A talk about me is… well… not about me, not really… I’m more like a channel into themselves. So instead when leaving at the end of the day I hope for the person who I just met has gotten some insight about who THEY are as image creators.”

So during the talk I let them answer some important questions that I’ve blogged about before, 5 essential questions as photographers. To remind ourselves what we actually love about photography, and also to keep pushing ourselves to do even better, be even better. This time I added the question “What environment and under what circumstances do you love to shoot in?”. Because answering those questions about inspiration myself I started to think about how important it is for us creators to just not sit around and wait for a magical moment to happen to us. I feel that instead we have our own destiny in our hands and we should expose ourselves to things that challenge us, that get our mind going, that inspires us. And what that is, is something we actively need to work on finding out.

I’m a firm believer that feeling inspired is a state of mind that you can teach yourself to find when you need it. It might not be easy, and sometimes we fail. But instead of just sitting around waiting for it, if we know what normally inspires us, and know what we like in an image, it is easier to go after it.

“So, what can we do to get started? First, I believe that you should start analyzing your own images. What do you like in the ones you like, and what is it that you don’t like in those that you don’t?”

Is it a specific light at a specific part of the day, or maybe a certain type of location, or maybe a special connection between people? You can also look at other people’s work and contemplate the same things. Start to write down the things that you do like. And answer those 5 (or 6…) questions as well. And as you go along, you will probably will be forming a statement of what you really really enjoy and like to create in your own work, and where.

Inspiration by the sea - Jenny Jacobsson

“Once you’ve started to figure out what you like, it’s time to get moving. What do you think will happen, lets say, if you love shooting by the sea with the salty wind against your cheek and you love the breeze of seaweed… if you go out to the sea every now and then, compared to sitting inside at home in an air conditioned environment? What do you think would inspire you more?”

Maybe it’s time for us creators to leave our computers behind sometimes and just go put ourselves in the circumstance of what we love to shoot. If you find out that you love shooting food, a good idea might be to dedicate some time to cook something beautiful for someone you care about. Maybe sit down in the kitchen of someone else who is a great cook and just smell, feel, and taste what could be in front of your lens. Or lets say you are all into storytelling. Maybe sit down, all alone with headphones, with your favorite music album and listen through it. Not just through one song, but the entire album, and visualize the story told from beginning to end. Or have a long conversation with your grandma when asking her about a story from her youth. Or….

If you are like me, I love the connection between man and nature. I know that I almost always gets an idea for an image if I go out for a walk in the forest or by the sea. So that’s why I truly need to dedicate time to go out there a few times a week, to let those thoughts fly. To actively go out and search for my inspiration. And if I’ve got an assignment I always go out and try to find and indulge in that special location for that shoot, to get that inspiration flowing.

Lastly, I want to lift the questions out of the classroom and ask YOU. Do you know what gets you going? Do you have any great tips for getting your inspiration on? My tips are just the beginning and not the full answer to being inspired.

Please share your tip with the community in a comment below and maybe we can help inspire each other to get ourselves actively inspired. ⬇

Love,
Jenny

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HIRING ME AS A SPEAKER, FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A MESSAGE!…

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To tell a photographic story – Musings from this spring’s intern

Posted on January 15, 2015February 26, 2025 by jennyjacobsson

To tell a photographic story – Musings from this spring’s intern

“If you’ve, just like me, been in love with Jenny Jacobsson and her creative and well thought out pictures and stories, for a while, you’ve probably seen the one with a girl in a white dress, covered in pink paint, sitting on a ladder surrounded by cherry blossoms. The image, called “The Burden”, is about unrealistic ideals, it’s about all women who are suffering under warped expectations – it’s about me.

I met Jenny for the first time one cold morning in May 2014. I then only knew we were about to create an image and that I would be covered in paint – and that it probably would be cold. All those expectations came true and so much more. I strongly believe that some people are just meant to meet and become friends and that’s just what happened this cold spring morning.

Amanda Falkman, färg, colour, hands, händer, ångest, anxiety, paint Can you name the colour of your soul, Photography by Amanda Falkman 2014

So who am I, sitting in Jenny’s sofa, singing along with Mumford and sons? More than a girl tired of unrealistic beauty ideals who sometimes get tired from painting cherry blossoms?

Well, my name is Amanda and I’m just like Jenny a freelancing photographer with a request to create captivating images. I have a predilection for blurry foreground photography, liver spots and sparkler. I see all the days of the week in different colours, I ugly cry to Toy Story and I’m hopeless in love with a two hundred years old fortress called “Carlstens fästning” (Carlsten’s fortress).

Amanda Falkman, Carlstens fästning, Marstrand, Glöm inte bort mig, Ocean, Sky, Island, Västkusten, Don’t forget me – she dances in the shape of shadow and wind, Photography by Amanda Falkman 2014

And the reason why I’m writing this blog post is because I have the honour to be Jenny’s intern and assistance this semester. The main reason why I chose her as my mentor (besides her bubbly and likeable personality) is her impressive capacity to tell stories through images. This is one of the many things I hope to become better at, when this semester has come to its end. Because in a society where we constantly see and come across pictures of all kinds I’ve started to wonder:

Can we, as photographers, use images to tell stories with important messages and in the extension make the world a better place?

Amanda Falkman, apokalyps, skog, motljus, forest Apocalypse, Photography by Amanda Falkman 2014

Take “The Burden” as an example – it’s an extremely beautiful image (highly objective opinion) but it tells you a story and highlights a major problem of our time.

So, as an exhortation from me to you is to start thinking about your part in making difference and what kind of problem you could highlight by creating an image and telling a story.”

Amanda

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INTRIGUED BY CONCEPTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY?
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