Jill Person Photography – A Conversation with Jill Person
Our clients feel so comfortable with Jill from the very first meeting. She is not only a superb photographer, she is so much fun to work with. Jill is always early. She helps to keep the timeline on track and very quickly produces magnificent images of our clients events. — Jodi
Tell us about your photography business and what sets it apart.
Jill Person Photography is a Boston-based wedding and event photography business. I capture raw, honest and emotional images for weddings, commercial and lifestyle brands, sporting events, culinary and location photo shoots, editorial and high-profile events throughout Boston and beyond.
How did you get started in the event industry?
Since the age of 5 when I received my first camera, I’ve been capturing life through a lens and never looked back. I definitely grew up surrounded by lots of “shutterbugs” on my mom’s side of the family. My nana and her two sisters worked for Polaroid in the Boston area as far back as the late 1940’s! (I’ve been fortunate enough to even have several of their cameras that were gifted to them from the company that are on display in my home office).
I ran my high school darkroom, which was especially exciting as it hadn’t been used in many years. I was the yearbook photo editor from my sophomore through senior years. Throughout my college years at Salem State, I helped run both the color and black and white darkrooms for the photography department. While finishing up my last years in college, I started my first professional career. I was in sales at a major photo/video store where I had the privilege of training under regional and national representatives for many of the major camera brands.
Soon after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Science with a Photography concentration, I started working for a photography studio doing studio portraits, weddings and sports photography. In 2004 at the age of 25, I started Person + Killian Photography, LLC as a co-owner alongside Laurén Killian and most recently, launched Jill Person Photography earlier this year.
What is your favorite part of being in the event industry?
17 years doing weddings full time and I think that the list grows each year. I capture love, laughter, emotion and I am able to provide couples / clients with these photos that they will cherish forever. The opportunities I have had thus far in my career have gone above and beyond my wildest dreams – being in the room with and having the opportunity to work with politicians (including working events with Presidents, senators and even MLK III *A career highlight), sports legends, philanthropic couples, teachers, doctors, first responders is always humbling and keeps me growing year by year and often event by event.
My peers in this industry – fellow photographers, planners, florists etc – this is absolutely one of the things that keeps me smiling and living what I do day in and day out. Not only do I grow from working on collaborations with them, but so many are truly my extended family. Being able to work with so many talented friends in the Boston wedding and event industry will never be something I take for granted. I look forward to resuming events where I can get my weekly dose of great hugs, smiles, laughter and never-ending inspiration.
