When she’s not doing normal high school activities such as working or hanging out with friends, senior Jordyn Stanford is chasing her dream of being a photographer.
What first got you into photography?
Well, I got my first camera when I was five or six years old, and I was always really interested in how they work and different things, and I started working with just digital photography then got really into film photography. It was more like my curiosity and stuff, like the way things work is how I got into it.
What is the difference between digital and film photography? Do you have a preference?
Not really, it takes a lot more time to work with film because of the developing process and everything, but I like them both equally because you can still manipulate how things are going to turn out and everything regardless of whether you’re using digital or not.
I know you’ve done some senior pictures. Is that an independent thing?
Yeah, I kind of started out a few years ago. I was just taking pictures of friends and stuff and all of a sudden people were like, ‘Will you do my senior photos?’ and I was like, ‘OK, why not?’ So I started doing enough of them so I was like, ‘I could totally make an income off of this, so why not?’ And then I just started getting all of these people that wanted me to take pictures for them, and family pictures and baby pictures.
So do you plan to work for a photography company?
I did get offered an internship at a photography company, and I’m planning on doing that in a couple months.
What does photography mean to you?
Photography is basically like… It’s everything to me, honestly, like it’s something that I want to pursue and do for the rest of my life; it’s something that I truly enjoy.
What are some things that have inspired you?
Well, my favorite photographer is Mary Ellen Mark. She was a really raw and edgy photographer, and she’s been a lot of inspiration for me, but honestly I’ve kind of developed my own style. I don’t really try to copy off of anyone. I get inspiration from different photographers, but I always try to do things my own way.
Do you have a favorite thing you like to photograph?
People definitely because, I don’t know, I don’t really like photographing landscapes and stuff because it’s kind of boring, but with photographing people you can really capture personalities, and I just like working with people.
Do you have a favorite picture that you’ve taken?
My most recent photo shoot with [senior] Lexi Veros. I really like a lot of those pictures because she’s one of my best friends. I got to work with her and her boyfriend, and it was just a lot of fun; you can really see who she is through those photographs. I’m really proud of them.