josey jones
BY LEAH S . BETHEA
Local photographer Josey Jones counts that quote as one of her favorites . In a world that has seen its share of troubles over the past couple of years , she strives in her professional life to make record of the good moments that still happen in it every day .
More often than not , she finds those moments with the families she views from behind her lens , and it ’ s not lost on her how important it is to capture their memories .
“ What I really love the most is capturing the love and emotions between families and people just because it shows who they are and who their loved ones are and the connection that they have with each other ,” Jones says . “ Of course , with what ’ s been going on recently with everything in the world , it really is so important , I think , right now to capture that and to give those memories to people because you just never know with family and everything what could happen , so I really think that ’ s the most important thing .”
Photography has been a big part of Jones ’ life for a long time , but it wasn ’ t until the past few years that she transformed what she once considered a hobby into a full-time job .
She first got interested in camera work when she was just in high school . The Milledgeville native was so fascinated by the art form that she studied it more at Georgia College , graduating in 2011 with a degree in art and a concentration in photography .
Like any good artist , she continued practicing and honing her craft , and she began doing a few family sessions for some for relatives . Before long , more and more friends asked her to take their photos , and her business grew , though not into a full-time venture just yet .
While still in college , Jones took a job at local T-shirt shop , The 42nd Floor , where she learned how to really work in Photoshop . She says her experience there allowed her to sharpen her design skills .
“ I ’ ve always really loved the creative side of things ,” she says .
She worked full-time there for a while before later working in sales and in the front office at The Union-Recorder . Her next career move would take her to Erin Andrews Media , where she helped with social media management , marketing and ad design , among other tasks . She stayed with the company for a few years , but all the while continued pursuing photography as a side job .
By 2019 , though , she had begun picking up so much photography work that she decided she would try it as a full-time job . The rest , as they say , is history .
Through her businesses , Josey Jones Photography , Jones shoots a variety of photo sessions . She ’ s done newborn , baby and children sessions , graduating high school and college seniors and even weddings .
The majority of what she does , though , is family sessions . It ’ s where she feels most inspired , and it ’ s where she feels she can make her biggest impact .
“ I think it ’ s just important to capture what is around us , so I think that ’ s the biggest impact … Not everybody has a certain point of view or a certain eye for things , so I feel like I have the ultimate opportunity to show what I can see and what my perspective is of people and their relationships and share that and the beauty of people to everyone .” Jones has done photography work for the community , as well . She was asked to photograph some of the antique homes in downtown Milledgeville for the Milledgeville Convention & Visitors Bureau . Those photographs of historic homes in the area are now used on the CVB ’ s website to promote Milledgeville and Baldwin County . She ’ s taken headshots for local businesses as well .
Jones has also done studio work and she says that falls in line with a future goal she would love to achieve .
“ I would just love to be able to have my own little space available for people ,” she says .
Jones has recently had some of her photos published in “ Lensational ,” a weekly print and digital publication that features photographers . And , she says she is always proud to have her work featured in local publications in her hometown , including The Union-Recorder and Milledgeville Scene as well .
“ I ’ m definitely thankful and grateful that I was chosen …,” she says of being selected as one of Milledgeville ’ s “ 20 Under 40 . “
With the success she has had in the past year , Jones says she looks forward to seeing what the next year has in store .
“ I ’ m looking forward to next year and how much more I can reach people and capture their memories .”
30 Milledgeville Scene | 20 Under 40 2022