Hi, I'm Jess! I'm a food photographer, videographer and recipe developer based in Chicago. I focus on keeping the kitchen real (no bs here), simple (good food doesn't have to be complicated), and dairy-free! The recipes I share are meant to be a slightly healthier version of classic comfort foods, with a nod towards simple, farm-to-table fare.
Keep reading if you want to hear more about how I got started in food photography and blogging. If you're curious about how we can work together and seeing my photography portfolio, click here.
Where it all started
I've always been into cooking and baking, spending hours in the kitchen with (or without) my parents as a young kid. I did a whole research paper in highschool about baking (can't believe my teacher let me do that!). Somewhere along the way I started snapping pictures of what I was making as a way to share with friends and family. Soon enough, that progressed to getting my first DSLR camera, and then it really began to escalate!
My photography journey
Once I started digging into food photography, there was no turning back! I am now a full-time food photographer after spending the first 10 years of my career in PR and communications. There are a few courses and summits that helped me get here, and I would recommend to any aspiring photographer:
- Master the Art of Food Photography Summit by Little Rusted Ladle: historically, this has been a free event!
- Foodtography School: you can read my full review of Foodtography School, and use code JESS at checkout for 15% off anything on the Foodtography School site
- Artificial Academy by Joanie Simon at The Bite Shot: this was how I learned to use artificial light, and it was a game-changer! Highly recommend all of The Bite Shot courses.
- The Tastemaker Conference: a wonderful food blogger conference hosted right here in Chicago!
Learning is a life-long journey, and I'll try to keep this list updated, but you can always send a DM on Instagram and I'm happy to answer any photography-related questions.
If you're interested, you can visit my photography portfolio here.
Why Dairy-Free?
I discovered after college that I was lactose intolerant. For anyone that is experiencing food sensitivity for the first time, and trying to figure out what is causing the discomfort, I highly recommend the Low FODMAP Diet for Beginners.
Luckily, I had always cooked a lot, but this really kicked it into high gear. Cooking for myself became a way to make sure there was no dairy in my meals, and also to understand the ingredients in recipes so I could make better choices when eating at restaurants or somewhere away from home (for example, learning some of the unexpected ways that dairy can sneak into recipes).
With that, This Jess became dairy-free! I try not to use too many substitutes (yes, you'll see milk and yogurt alternatives, but you're unlikely to see me use things like vegan cheeses), as I don't like the majority of them. I also want these recipes to be delicious for someone who is not dairy-free, and hopefully they won't even miss the dairy!
This makes a lot of my recipes healthier than their cheesy / dairy-filled counterparts, but these are not intended to be low-calorie recipes in any way. Hopefully they're delicious, satisfying, and just happen to not have any dairy in them!
I do use butter and yes, that is technically considered dairy. Butter is highly pasteurized and contains very low amounts of lactose, and this seems to work for me in my diet. If this does not work for you, you can always use a dairy-free butter alternative. Everyone's dairy sensitivities are different!
What You'll Find on This Jess
- Real, simple and dairy-free recipes that I've created and tested in my own home kitchen in Chicago. I hope you'll love them!
- An email newsletter where I share the latest recipes, tips and tricks. Only the good stuff, of course, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
- Food photography resources for anyone on a food photography journey.
- A holiday gift guide for the foodie that is updated every holiday season.
- Honest reviews, and my favorite kitchen and photography gear that's essential to how I run my kitchen!
Let's keep in touch!
Looking for my photography portfolio or to get in touch about potential photography or video project? Visit my portfolio page.
Have a question about something on the blog? Want to share some feedback? Contact me here.
You can also sign up for the This Jess Newsletter or follow along on social media:
