Jay (Jo Ann) they/she is a visual storyteller, educator, print maker & amateur marathon runner.
My work is an exploration of humanity. I choose to focus my camera, my heart on the often unseen, the underlying pulse of a community, people, issues of discrimination, sexual identity, and an emphatic and connected view of marginalized individuals and communities.
I attended the International Center of Photography’s documentary photography and photojournalism program, where I was awarded The New York Times Foundation Scholarship and interned with my mentor, award-winning photojournalist Eugene Richards.
Over that last 5 years, I took a break from actively shooting and shifted gears, working in Executive Hospitality Management & Operations Roles for MML Hospitality from 2016-2020 to the incredible world of Preacher, becoming their first Director of Hospitality & Culture.
I'm currently exploring possibilities, producing events, crafting experiences & working towards opening a community darkroom & gathering space.
After 16 years in Austin, TX, these days you can find me wandering, wondering, manifesting in nature and settling into Berkshire life in Lenox, MA with my wife, six year old daughter and our two furry felines.
How can I help, how can we collaborate?
Seeking new short-term assignments, long term collaborations
Available for project consulting & project retainer
Email me to say hello, and get connected
Offerings and areas of focus & expertise:
Visual Storyteller
Educator
Film maker
Portrait maker
Editor (still, video & audio)
Retoucher
Hospitality Director
Day-to-Day Operations
People & Culture Leader
Organizational & Empathetic Leadership
Financial Planning & Profit Analysis
Team Development and Training
©2023 Self portrait Appalachian Trail, Monterey, MA
From 2006- 2008, I was part of the Austin pedicab community and beginning to find my eye as a photographer and storyteller.
During that memorable time, I was the subject of an 8 min doc short film Things that Click