By Sue Moore
Snapshots of Life, a photography studio owned by Jamie Poel, has opened in Vicksburg. The business is located in the north side of Rawlinson’s Appliances at 202 S. Main St.
“The building fits the feel and brand for my business of custom lifestyle photography,” said Poel. “It’s good working in a studio space now, so I don’t have to cart my equipment all over. This is a really awesome building and I love the character of downtown Vicksburg.”
Poel began her photography business at the height of the recession in 2008, working out of her home near Indian Lake.
“Some people thought I was crazy, asking me if I was sure I wanted to do this as it didn’t make sense to them,” she said.
In September, 2012, she moved into a vacant building at the corner of W. Prairie and Boulevard, another step which meant increased business and an opportunity to do what she loves best, she said.
“I will have an initial consultation for free and then the client can figure out if I’m right for them as a photographer,” she said. “It’s the artistic feel of the images with natural expressions that I like to achieve, with the actual shoot being laid back and fun. I want to provide people with high quality photos so they don’t have to go out of town. Now with the studio I can do so much more with lighting and props. I tell the client to bring whatever object they have from home that means something special to them.”
Poel had planned on being a teacher. She taught school in Sturgis after graduation from Olivet College. After marriage and then her two children came along, she switched careers to become a secretary at Kalamazoo Christian, to have regular hours to have time to spend with her two children, Alexis and Delarney, who are now 8 1/2 and 6 1/2 respectively.
Then, the photography bug bit so she took classes at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts but is largely self-taught, she said.
She has divided her business into two divisions, family and soul empowerment but isn’t interested in shooting weddings.
“Capturing that one little shot of life that shows their personality is what I am after, thus the name of the business, Snapshots of Life, Photography,” she said.
Poel and her husband Marc live near Vicksburg because it’s halfway between his parents in Kalamazoo and her parents in Constantine where she grew up.