Hi, I’m Jen

Who am I?

I’m a photographer. I am a visual storyteller and I specialize in portraits. I do personal portrait photography, family portraits, event photography, music photography. So basically — I love taking photos of… people!

Where am I located?

I am based primarily in Philadelphia (and sometimes South Florida --- ask me for my next travel dates!), but I am always down to travel for a project.

Why hire me for your next project?

To me, photography is art. I value capturing a moment in time rather than copying a current trend. My focus is always on capturing your world and the intimate detail surrounding you, intentionally revealing a bit more about my subject and adding fluidity to the story I am trying to convey. I am inspired by small, intricate details that illuminate the grander story of the moment when pieced together. I want to help you tell your unique story with love and authenticity, sprinkled with a bit of humor, and help create images that inspire thought and emotion. I want you to be thrilled with the photos that you receive from me. I want to get to know you. You’re not a number or just a photo package to me. I’m not interested in filling up my calendar with shoots, but instead booking the days I get to create art and help people tell their stories. This is about preserving memories, it’s not just about pictures. I want to make art, I want to feel that the photos I create have an impact in some way on the lives of others. I want you to leave our session feeling extra confident and counting down the days until you can show off the work that we produced together!

Some Background…

“Jen Strogatz is a true artist. Jen is a portrait photographer who creates vibrant, engaging, and energetic imagery. Her expertly composed shots combined with a bright and bold color palette create dynamic photos that transport viewers to the scenes that are pictured. Jen has a natural ability to connect with others and her love for photography stems from her desire to reproduce the beauty that she sees around her. Jen's passion shines through her photos as she showcases an intentional, honest depiction of the moments that she captures through her images.”

I first fell in love with photography when I was a teenager. In high school, I became completely obsessed with film and darkroom photography. I used to beg my mother to turn her laundry room into a darkroom (didn’t happen). Taking photos was the perfect form of creative expression for me and this remains the same to this day! My passion for photography continued on into college, where I attended Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, majoring in Photography & Digital Imaging.

I have been lucky enough to work with, and learn from, some true visionaries and experts in the fields of photography, digital media, music, fashion, and design. One of these mentors was the world-famous photographer, the late Mary Ellen Mark. Mary Ellen had been a longtime source of inspiration for me and working with her was a tremendous honor. In 2010-2011, I interned for Mary Ellen and traveled with her to Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico, where I spent time shooting photos of children in local orphanages. Following the trip, she highlighted and published 3 pieces of my work in a book containing photos of her travels to Oaxaca each summer.