Jamie is the talented artist behind Scene Happy, specializing in photographing images of Michigan with a focus on the great lake waters, beaches, and lighthouses. She combines her professional experience, photographic knowledge, and passion for traveling to produce memorable pieces of photographic art.
Why did you choose to partner with Yellow Door to sell your artwork?
As a place to expand my business footprint to connect with customers in my own backyard given Yellow Door is just a few miles away. Yellow Door has established a positive brand image of hip local Michigan art that I want my brand to be associated with.
What inspired you to start creating your artwork & how did you turn it into a business?
My Livonia Stevenson High School photography teacher taught me all the professional approaches that inspired me to take my photography seriously. I was traveling abroad when I visited a tourist souvenir shop and realized the photography I was looking at was something I wanted to provide for my home state of Michigan. I combined those two historical moments and opened my business!
What are you currently working on?
Evolving my photography to connect more with the audience. Most people purchase these images as they have a memory of the place, it is showing and I want to make that connection more obvious.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
Probably that I have traveled to over 40 countries in the world.
Do you have any other interesting hobbies or maybe a fun story about an experience involving your artwork?
Traveling the world is when I realized just how beautiful Michigan is and it is what inspired me to focus on Michigan as a subject matter.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
My sand collection from all the places I have been. When I look at it I remember all the great experiences collecting it.
What is your strongest memory of your childhood?
Related to my photography it would be my grandfather who gave me my first camera, a Kodak Brownie. One that you looked down into the lens to take an image. I remember a trip to Mackinaw Island using that camera to take my first pictures.
What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
Being an artist, unfortunately, does not pay all the bills, so I have a full-time job working at IBM as a consultant.
What is your favorite...
Color: Yellow
Pet and/or animal: Dog
Season: Fall
Movie: Bridges of Madison County
Holiday: Christmas
Website: BeachGirlPhotography.com
Best cup of coffee: Nespresso
Ice cream: Mint Chocolate Chip
What superpower would you have and why? To be invisible so I could listen to what people really had to say.
A recipe you’re known for or like to make: Take out, I don’t cook much.
Do you have any tips or inspiring words for others?
Follow your passion and dreams and love what you do.
Where do you gather most of your inspiration for your artwork?
From my travels. I love going to new places and really seeing it. Studying it. This makes me appreciate the beauty of the landscape and places vs. just passing through. The camera focuses me to slow down.
You can find lots of Jamie's beautiful Michigan photography at Yellow Door and online.