It takes real dedication to skip an entire year of High School for your passion.
But that’s exactly what Janelle Putrich, a photographer who takes the art and flair of her business to the next level, did. Leaving behind academics and classes, she spent Junior Year refining and perfecting what she was best at – a unique type of photography that captures the depth of a person’s character and the emotion behind the moments of life. This unique style has attracted quite the clientele. For now, Janelle manages her photography and portrait operations from her home near Cleveland, OH. The creativity and desire for new and exciting things that spurred the inception of her business has allowed her to branch out into also utilizing cosmetology and design in her photos.
Her inspiration is simple: to represent the stories of life through pictures
“One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to go into the depths of the basement and look through bins of photos from parents’ lives. There was something so special and priceless about seeing what my parents did, how they how they loved.”
I met Janelle at a debate tournament in Michigan two years ago, and since have closely followed her business endeavor. Her insane amount of drive to find new and different ways to tell stories through photography has inspired me to pursue my own passion of film-making more avidly. Because anyone can use a camera, but very few people can create something so unique that people are left in awe.
The innovation in the way Janelle runs her business is that it is so focused on combining art and photography together in a way so as to communicate the very essence of a person. She uses extreme camera settings, backgrounds, costumes, and cosmetics in her portraits. (even going so far as gluing petals to her face!)
People are naturally drawn to pictures taken by a creative eye. Take a moment to observe the one to the left.
This is an upside-down shot of a pond’s reflection. But the way it was composed makes it look magical.
Magic is a good word to describe the work of Janelle Putrich. Through her persistence and creativity she has created a unique art form in an industry that makes it difficult for anyone to distinguish themselves. And through it all, she has determined to give glory to God. That, in itself, is something well-needed in the art world.
You can find more of her work at:
http://www.photography4thecreator.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/janelleputrichphotography
“When you invest in a photographer, you are not only investing in photos for yourself, but also for generations to come. It is important when selecting a photographer that you love their style and that you trust them to capture the moments that really count – for the photos of today turn into the memories of tomorrow.”
I personally find this story so inspirational. Seeing her pictures and how amazing they are is a true inspiration to us all as entrepreneurs that sometimes the desires we have inside of us can become our vocation. She is a great example of someone who wasn’t afraid to pursue what they love.
To skip a year of high school requires a lot of bravery and commitment, missing out on prom, sporting events, and fun experience with your friends. This is not a simple task and something I would not have been able to do myself. Her dedication shows how much she loves what she is doing, something that all entrepreneurs need to remember. Entrepreneurs should focus on doing things they love, and they will put more effort into their work. As a photographer myself, I find Janelle’s story and her artwork an inspiration.
As someone who doesn’t associate my own skill set with one of such creative and artistic prowess I am very impressed by this women’s ability to take this passion for photography and pursue it and refine her abilities against the social norm to do what she loves. She has a lot of ability and should be a role model and inspiration for all of us with dreams. I think her story tells us to do what we love and don’t let life tell us other wise. I look forward to seeing her photagraphy take off as she continues to challenge herself and refine her natural God given talent.
Thank you for sharing this story! As a photographer myself, I am truly in awe of the photo’s you’ve displayed in this article! I cannot imagine dropping out of high school to pursue such a difficult and competitive career. She is absolutely an innovative entrepreneur in the fact that she has the eye to create image’s that photographers haven’t created yet. I admire her passion, willingness to sacrifice other opportunities that high school brings, and attacking the challenge of failing as a young entrepreneur.
Wow, what a inspirational story! It takes a lot of courage to pursue one’s passion, especially in a marketplace as competitive as art. It is a terrifying idea if one doesn’t find their own place in the market, yet that is exactly what Janelle did. She was able to take photography and see a new avenue that would appeal to the modern viewer. This is a great success story. Not only did she pursue her dreams to the fullest, she was wise and saw a an opening for her talent in the art market and took full advantage of it. Thank you Tim for sharing this story with us.