Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Mummert.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started Jennifer Mummert Photography in 2018, but photography had already been something I loved long before I ever turned it into a business. What started as a creative outlet grew into something much bigger once I realized how much I loved documenting people, relationships, and the moments they never want to forget.
Over the years, I’ve photographed everything from portraits and families to weddings, elopements, branding, and live music, but weddings and elopements really became the heart of what I do. I love getting to know my couples, hearing their stories, and creating an experience where they can actually relax and be themselves instead of feeling like they’re spending their entire day posing for a camera.
My style has grown right along with me. Today, I would describe my work as a mix of documentary storytelling and classic portraiture, with true-to-color editing and a focus on genuine emotion. I want couples to look back at their photos years from now and remember not only what their day looked like, but what it felt like.
Getting to where I am today definitely didn’t happen overnight. There has been a lot of learning, experimenting, rebuilding, changing directions, and figuring out what kind of photographer and business owner I really wanted to be. I’ve continued investing in education, improving the client experience, expanding into new areas, and learning how to build a business that feels personal instead of transactional.
Today, I photograph weddings and elopements throughout Maryland, DC, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, and destinations across the country. One of the things I’m most proud of is that my business has grown without losing the part that mattered most to me in the beginning: connection. My clients aren’t just names on a calendar. I want them to feel supported, comfortable, and completely taken care of from the first conversation through the final gallery.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. There have been a lot of ups and downs along the way.
One of the biggest struggles has been learning how to balance being a photographer with actually running a business. Taking beautiful photos is only one part of it. There’s marketing, websites, contracts, client communication, editing, social media, bookkeeping, planning, and all the behind-the-scenes work people don’t really see. A lot of that I had to learn as I went.
There have also been seasons where bookings were slower, times when I questioned whether I was doing enough, and plenty of moments where I compared myself to other photographers. That can be hard in such a creative industry because it’s easy to feel like everyone else is growing faster or doing something better.
Another challenge has been figuring out what truly fits me and my brand. I’ve changed things, rebuilt things, tried ideas that didn’t work, and learned through experience what kind of clients I connect with best and what kind of work I want to create.
But honestly, those struggles have shaped the business I have today. They’ve taught me to be adaptable, keep learning, trust my own voice, and focus less on what everyone else is doing. I’m still learning all the time, but I think that’s part of what keeps me growing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in weddings and elopements, with a style that blends documentary storytelling with timeless portraits. I want my couples to have the beautiful portraits they’ll frame, but I also care just as much about the in-between moments—the reactions, the laughter, the nerves, the little things happening around them that they may not even notice in the moment.
I’m known for creating a very personal experience. I don’t want couples to feel like they’re just another date on my calendar. I help with timelines, locations, planning, and all the little details that can make a wedding day feel less stressful. My goal is always for them to feel comfortable enough to be themselves and actually enjoy their day while I document it as it unfolds.
I photograph weddings and elopements throughout Maryland, DC, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, and destinations across the country. I’m especially drawn to couples who want something that feels true to them, whether that’s a traditional wedding surrounded by family or an adventurous elopement somewhere in the mountains, by a waterfall, or completely off the beaten path.
What I’m most proud of is the trust my clients give me. Photography is incredibly personal. You’re being invited into some of the biggest and most emotional moments of someone’s life, and I never take that lightly. Being able to give people photographs that bring them right back to how those moments felt is probably the most meaningful part of what I do.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m not just showing up to take pictures. I’m invested in the experience from beginning to end. I want my couples to know that I’ve got them, whether that means helping build a timeline, finding the right location, calming nerves, fixing a dress, or stepping back and giving them space to simply be together.
At the end of the day, I want the photographs to feel like them—not like they were trying to fit into someone else’s idea of what their wedding should look like.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Absolutely. No business grows completely on its own, and I’ve been really fortunate to have people in my corner throughout this journey.
My husband, Jason, has probably been one of my biggest supporters. He has watched this business grow from the beginning and has been there through the exciting seasons, the stressful ones, the late nights editing, the constantly changing ideas, and all the times I’ve decided to take on something new. Having someone who believes in what I’m building, even during the moments when I question myself, has meant more than I can really put into words.
My family and friends have also been incredible cheerleaders. They’ve shared my work, recommended me, listened to ideas, helped when I needed an extra set of hands, and celebrated the wins right alongside me.
I’ve also learned so much from other photographers and people in the wedding industry over the years. Whether through education, workshops, online communities, second shooting, networking, or simply having conversations with other business owners, there have been so many people who have helped me grow in some way. I really believe there’s room for all of us, and having a community of people who understand this industry is invaluable.
And honestly, my clients deserve a huge amount of the credit. Every couple and family who has trusted me, recommended me to someone else, left a review, shared their photos, or came back to me for another chapter of their lives has helped build this business. Referrals and word of mouth are incredibly powerful, and knowing someone enjoyed their experience enough to tell their friends about me is one of the biggest compliments I can receive.
Jennifer Mummert Photography may have my name on it, but there are a whole lot of people behind the scenes who have encouraged me, trusted me, and helped me get where I am today. I’m incredibly grateful for every one of them.
Pricing:
- Weddings start at $1200
- Elopements in the MD DC Region Start at $2200
- Nationwide Elopements Start at $3200
- Portraits Start at $175
- Add on Officiant Services for Elopements (Yes I am Ordained) start at $250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jmpsomd.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jmpsomd
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jmpsomd
- Twitter: https://x.com/jmpsomd
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jmpsomd
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jennifer-mummert-photography-hughesville-3
- Other: info@jmpsomd.com
