Jessica Darling

Yes, thats really my name. 
The only thing I love more than my dog (Rubin the coonhound) is my husband (Chad). Add in an 8 and 6 year old and we’ve got a (messy) house full of a lot of love, photographs littering the walls, laughter, piles of artwork, a kitchen table that where we eat dinner often around the crafts from the day, books, vinyl and a whole lotta barking from our master squirrel watcher.

The only thing I love more than a sunset on Lake Michigan is the smell of salt water and the shores of Rhode Island. I love popping a bottle of bubbly on the beach, a cold beer after a long run and a very full social calendar. I’m a distance runner and one of my favorite nights of the week is Wednesdays for the toughest run club in GR. I love a hot yoga class, started learning to box and lifting weights. My health is super important to me and being strong for my future as a cool grandma is my goal.

If I don't respond to your email right away its honestly probably because my wanderlust is taking over and I'm scouring the internet for my next dream destination or its because I’m wearing the many hats of mothering plus entrepreneurship. On top of my photo biz, we have a vacation rental in Pentwater, Michigan that also serves as our family cottage. We also have a duplex in Grand Rapids and being a landlord is a constant learning curve.

I'm a listener.  I'm a talker. I love just being outside in general.  If you throw a ball at me I probably won't be able to catch it. Small talk is my favorite hobby. I love a good sundress paired with a good patio. Sometimes I eat chips and cheese for lunch every day of the week while my kids are at school. I love cooking and fellowship of loved ones sitting around my table. 

Most importantly I'm obsessed with my job. I absolutely love what I do and feel a deep connection to my work.  Over and over again at photoshoots I take a step back and think to myself, wow. this is really what I'm doing for work.  How cool is this? How lucky am I to have found this?

I graduated from the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Massachusetts in 2010 and then hung out on the East Coast for a few years really developing my career and I loved it there.  But then I found a man coincidentally from my home town that I loved even more and convinced me the place for me was in his arms in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'm so happy to be here. 

And the icing on the cake of all of these wondrous events, people and places in my life - a little girl named Lenora June. She’s a brilliant girl who gets her need to be social from her Dad and I, her blue eyes from me and her sense of humor from her Dad. She is well above her years as an artist, is extremely smart, never wants to leave the water and is incredibly goofy. She’s named after my Grandmother, Lenora Jean and her middle name is after the late June Carter-Cash. Both women to admire. Raising a little girl is the most important job we ever could be given. Our goal is to raise her with a heart full of grit, virtue, respect for herself and others, kindness to herself and to others, and one hell of a sense of humor. I think we’re doing great so far.

Like for most, my work life really changed when 2020 got dismantled because of the pandemic, but the silver lining for me was my pregnancy with a little boy named Louis Cassius. We call him Louie, we call him Cash, we call him Cassius, at school he is Louis, and everyone is confused because we changed his name when he was 6 months old. My bond with him is like something I’ve never experienced before and he makes our family complete. He is beyond sweet, very sensitive, loves to climb, needs patience to do things his own way and is also a little goofball. Raising a boy is such a great responsibility, especially in todays social climate, and it’s something we don’t take lightly. If I know one thing, he’s got one hell of an example as a father for everything a man should be and more. Nothing beats navigating this life and parenting with Chad.

And nothing beats getting to share the happiest and most important parts of your life with you.

Proudly a LGBTQ+ friend, supporter & photographer. love is love, ya’ll. I proudly offer a discount to people of this community. Why? Because it’s bullshit you’ve only been able to legally get married for 7 years.

Proud supporter of our veterans and active service members. I proudly offer a discount to members of this community. Why? My grandfathers served, many people in my community have served/are serving and it is my way to honor the sacrifices you and your family have made for our country. Thank you.