They say it takes 10,000 hours to master a craft. If that’s the case, I hit that milestone a long time ago.

While I officially opened the doors to my business 20 years ago, my relationship with the viewfinder started much earlier. I’ll be turning 48 this April, and I can still remember the weight of the very first camera I ever held—a gift from my late mother when I was just six years old. She put a lens in my hand before I even knew how to properly frame a shot, and in many ways, she gave me the tool that would eventually help me process the world and tell my own story.

The 2009 Milestone: Meaningful Memories

On February 9th, 2006, I made it official. I stepped out in faith and started my first company: Meaningful Memories Photography. At the time, that name was exactly what was "popular." Everyone wanted the soft, sentimental, "meaningful" moments. I spent those early years capturing the milestones that the industry told me I should be shooting. But as I grew as an artist, I felt a pull toward something different. I realized that while every memory is meaningful, my heart didn't beat for the traditional.

I discovered that I wasn’t a "Meaningful Memories" kind of photographer. I was a creator of impact.

Finding My True North: Fashion, Beauty, and Glam

I realized I didn't want to just document life; I wanted to elevate it. I fell in love with the high-stakes energy of fashion, the precision of beauty, the transformation of glam, and the adrenaline of the action.

I transitioned from "Meaningful Memories" to Jamie Goode Studios because I wanted my name to stand for a specific standard of excellence. I traded the soft-focus sentimentality for sharp, editorial lighting and a "Vogue" sensibility. I stopped just taking pictures and started building icons.

20 Years of Evolution

Since 2006, the industry has changed in ways I never could have imagined. I’ve transitioned from those early digital sensors to the high-speed Godox strobes and precision gear I use today. But more importantly, I’ve evolved as a woman.

Looking through a viewfinder for over 40 years has taught me how to see the strength in people that they often can't see in themselves. Whether I'm working on a commercial campaign or a personal branding session, I bring two decades of business experience and a lifetime of passion to every single click.

The Journey Continues

To every client who has been with me since the "Meaningful Memories" days, and to everyone joining me now in this high-end fashion era: Thank you. I’ve been looking through a viewfinder for a long, long time—and I’m just getting started. This April, as I hit 48, I’m more inspired than ever to show you just how "Iconic" you can be.

 

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