Main Street News

In honor of Photographer Appreciation Month in October, we’re highlighting some of our local photographers. Get to know more about Hillsdale, NY-based photographer Jen Wakamatsu of JenniWaka Photography below. 

Your name and type of camera you use / prefer?

Jennifer Wakamatsu and I use a Canon 5dMkiii.

What type of photography do you most often do or prefer (subject matter)?

My time is pretty evenly split lately between social media work for local businesses and portrait photography such as families, seniors, and women/boudoir.

How did you get into photography?

After living in Japan for about nine years and then moving back to the area, my camera was my sidekick as I hiked around and saw rural New York State through new eyes.

What’s your most favorite photo you’ve ever taken and why?

It’s really hard to choose, but many of the ones of my own children are my favorites. And I hope that the portraits I take for others are their favorites!

 What inspires you and your photography?

Adding social media photography to my repertoire has been refreshing because I can share images from a variety of places not everyone gets to see, such as inside a busy bakery or a veterinary operating room.

 What is your background – did you study photography or are you self-taught?

Once I decided I wanted to start my own photography business, I spent many late nights studying everything I could get my hands on. So I’m self-taught with the help of the internet.

How has technology impacted your artistry and photos? 

I’m not sure I would have taken up photography if it weren’t for digital cameras, because I love that everything fits in the palm of my hand and is immediately accessible. But I don’t love how some recent technology, namely social media filters and AI, have affected my clients’ view of themselves. Real is beautiful!

Where do you photograph? What are your most common locations? Do you have a favorite place to photograph either as a subject matter or as a background?

I use local parks for my outdoor portraits, my studio space in Canaan, CT, for indoor portraits, and I’m on location at businesses for social media work. I love it all!

How do you market yourself – do you have a website or social media that you use to promote your photography?

These days so much of it is word of mouth! But my info is below, too!

 How do people find you and your photos – do you sell your photos or are you more “to hire” / commission-based?

Same as above. For hire for individual portrait sessions, or for social media photography and management.

You can find more information about JenniWaka Photography on her website, on Facebook at JenniWaka Photography, and on Instagram @jenniwaka.