I have been into the arts as far back as I can remember.  As a child, I was never without my drawing paper and pencils.  As a teenager, I painted and sculpted.

Then I discovered the joy of the camera.

I can probably pinpoint it to my middle school tech ed class, when we had a section on the darkroom.  I can remember being completely enchanted with watching the image bloom across the paper in the developer bath.  That’s when the love affair with photography began, and it’s been snowballing ever since.

I majored in Photographic Arts at Towson University.  There was a time when I was torn about what I felt I should do.  Part of me wanted to work with children, the other part wanted to stick with the arts.

Life is good, because I realized I can have the best of both worlds!  I still dabble and play in other art forms;  I make jewelry, paint with watercolors, and make my own blend of bath salts and scrubs.  I have a beautiful daughter who lights up my world, and a loving husband who keeps me smiling.

A portrait session with me is probably much more relaxed than you might expect.  I won’t command your child to say cheese, where you end up with a fake smile and a stiff pose; instead we will all laugh and dance and play to get images of your child being him or herself with true grins and giggles on their faces.  There are no strict timelines, no rushing in and out or waiting in a crowded waiting room.

My goal is to keep photo sessions the way they should be: fun!  There is no yelling, except in joy.  There is no dictating.  I will have fun with you, your friends, and your family, and we will create beautiful images in the process.

Jen Snyder Photography is based in Bel Air in Harford County, MD and serves the Baltimore metropolitan area.