Photography has never been a question for the talented Jennifer Finazzo. “Photography has always been a love of mine,” says Jennifer. Like me, Jennifer knew her passion since middle school. While I was learning I had an aspiration to be a writer, Jennifer was falling in love with the world of photography. She said growing up she was spending all her money on film and the Ritz Camera store.
Jennifer always loved and was fascinated by photography, but it wasn’t until she attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, that she really began to fall in love with photography as an art. Jennifer loves that thrill of excitement from taking pictures; she loves the flood of graphic memories whenever she prints the pictures, and feels as if she is reliving the moment she took them. Finazzo started her business in Food and Restaurant photography, and was very successful with it. She believes that the photography is all about telling the story of the dish.
Though she still loves and has a deep passion for the Food and Restaurant photography business, Jennifer felt that she was being called to Charlottesville weddings. She created Jenn Finazzo Photography and has dedicated the past two years of her life to shooting weddings. She finds it rewarding capturing other people’s memories in picture frames that they can display and remember forever. When I asked what advice she would give to newly engaged couples, she said they should take lots of photos; she says to “snap a few shots every day,” and to print the favorites. “Also, don’t be so serious,” she adds; she wants you to have fun with each other. I don’t know if I could agree more with her wisdom.
I asked Jennifer about memorable stories or people that she’s experienced at her wedding shoots, and she fondly reminisced about a bride whose sister secretly wrapped the bride’s bouquet with their recently-passed grandmother’s blue and white embroidered handkerchief. Jennifer said that it was very special to experience and witness that beautiful gift. It's one of a kind moments like these that she loves to capture with her camera.
Aside from her photography business, Jennifer runs a restaurant owned by her family, Sal’s Caffe Italia. I’d say it takes some serious talent to be able to run both a photography business and a restaurant.
By: Hannah, Intern at Sealed With A Kiss
