This month, we are so thrilled to shine our photographer spotlight on Jen of Jen Bilodeau Photography. Jen is a featured Massachusetts based, lifestyle family and commercial photographer. Through her artistic use of light and shadow, and her commitment to capturing authentic organic moments, Jen creates beautifully timeless and powerful imagery. Jen is also a CPA and enjoys mentoring fellow photographers to help them take their business to the next level. Across all areas of her work, Jen strives to capture honest, emotive and timeless images that artfully preserve today’s moments that matter.
How would you describe your photography? I am a lifestyle photographer that specializes in families and I also mentor photographers to help them take their art and their businesses to the next level. Maybe this is due to my own place in life, but I have a special affection for capturing mothers with their children. With each image, I strive to artistically use light and shadow and authentic, organic moments to create beautifully timeless and powerful imagery. My images are characterized by rich colors and deep black & white tones. Across all areas of my work, I strive to capture honest, emotive and timeless images that artfully preserve today’s moments that matter. For me its all about the beautiful raw feeling of honest human connection.
What made you want to join The Gold Hope Project as a volunteer? When I learned about the Gold Hope project I knew it was an organization that I wanted to give my time to. My mission is always to capture authentic and emotive moments that can be savored over time. I strive to capture the essence of each child and the raw and authentic emotions shared between loved ones. For a family fighting cancer, capturing the spirt of their child and they love they share takes on an ever greater meaning. I knew that I wanted to be able to give the gift of photography to families battling the most devastating diagnosis imaginable for a parent.
What is your favorite thing about being a Gold Hope photographer? I love watching the children I photography light up in front of my camera. These children carry so much weight around all the time – going from appointment to appointment, feeling sick from their treatments, feeling sad for missing out on normal everyday activities, seeing the pain in their parent’s eyes…. Children battling cancer are the most brave fighters I have ever encountered. So, to be able to give them an evening where they can let all of that go – where they get dressed up and celebrate all that is beautiful in their life…..well this is priceless.
Has working with children with cancer changed anything in your life? Working with children with cancer has reminded me to appreciate each moment as it comes. Nothing in life is a given, so it is essential to simply enjoy who our children are and where we are today in this moment with them. I sometimes have a tendency to get too caught up in planning and thinking about the future….or sometimes I catch myself longing for days that have past. But working with children fighting cancer has helped me to appreciate living in the “now” more than I ever did before. It has also helped me to gain a greater appreciation for all that comes with each passing day. It is a gift to be able to watch our children grow, and watching how hard children fighting cancer battle for each new day, has truly changed me.
What is one thing you hope the families you photograph for the project can take away from this experience? In working with The Gold Hope project I hope that I have been able to capture the essence of the fighters I photograph and the love these families share for each other. I also hope that the whole shooting experience can be an evening of joy for them – an evening where they can put the stress and sadness of their situation aside and simply enjoy the love they share for each other.
Be sure to follow Jen online! Jen Bilodeau Photography | Facebook | Instagram
A big thank you to Jen for choosing to give back with us. Want to follow her lead? Apply to be a volunteer photographer here.