Jennifer Silverberg
Image courtesy of Jennifer Silverberg
Online portfolio: jennifersilverberg.com
Instagram: @jennsilverberg
5(ish) Questions for is a chance to discover and learn about St. Louis Creatives, Community Champions, and, well, just interesting people in and around our city. It's a deep dive into what they love and where their passion lies. It's an opportunity for all of us to see our region from a different perspective. This written interview is a peek into their lives and their outlook on St. Louis.
Hello, Jennifer! Give us little background on you and what you do:
I am a food, farm, product, and lifestyle photographer & director. When not collaborating with agencies and brands to bring their vision to life, I continue to work on my cooking skills, try to make my garden flourish, and am often designing, and re-designing, my studio (studio749.com) in Webster Groves.
Why do you do the work you do?
I love making images and I honestly cannot imagine doing anything else. It is such an incredible honor that I am trusted by my creative partners to do this for a living.
Whether I’m observing & responding to a situation out in the world or being the creative force guiding the subject(s) of a photograph in the empty and primed space of the studio, I am a visual storyteller for brands. Every photo shoot is a collaboration with my clients, and I am humbled to be a part of the broader creative conversations they bring to the table.
I get to split my time between locations and the studio, using different kinds of creative problem-solving skills regularly. I love the people I get to work with, sharing creative visions and working through the challenges of a shoot. I mean – I get to be a professional photographer – I can’t imagine doing anything more fulfilling, exciting, and varied. Each day brings new challenges and joys.
How did you get started?
I moved to St. Louis from New York to attend Washington University. While there, I interned at the Riverfront Times. Post-graduation, I was hired as the sole photographer on staff at the alt-weekly. It was there that I truly began to explore and understand this city of ours. Cutting my teeth in photojournalism gave me an incredibly strong foundation for my commercial photography career. It gave me the tools to be nimble on set, to be a fast and creative problem solver, and it fueled my curiosity about the adopted city I proudly call home.
What impact are you making, or hope to make?
I don’t know if I am making an impact. I hope I am making a positive one.
I just make sure I have integrity in the way I run my business and interact with people. Whether it’s a client or crew member, I treat everyone with respect. There is an awful lot I have no control over in this world and in my business. But when it comes to my personal and professional actions, those I can control.
I strive to show young women that being a commercial photographer is a viable career option – I hope that is being felt by others. It is a priority for me. I teach at Webster University in addition to being a working photographer. It is not lost on me the number of minority and women photo students I meet (many), and yet, are poorly underrepresented in the commercial/advertising world. I really hope to see that change. I am proud to be part of the change – but there is more work to do. I am a photographer, an educator, and hopefully a facilitator of the change I would like to see. I firmly believe the marketplace would prosper from a more diverse visual perspective.
I am very deliberate about the work I do. I am committed to helping other women and minority owned businesses who have photo needs. I firmly believe that community is crucial to our collective success, and I am doing what I can to help build and foster that spirit. Whether it be young photographers who I mentor, or small businesses in need of imagery. I try to help and lead where I can. I want to be a solution for people, a support and good partner.
What drives you, what gets you out of bed every morning?
The mantra that today is the day to make a difference and flex my creative muscles.
And knowing how delicious that first cup of coffee in the morning tastes – that helps, too.
How is your industry evolving?
I am ridiculously optimistic about the ever-evolving industries of advertising & photography. The ways we absorb media is faster and consumed at greater volume (and across multiple platforms) than ever before.
As an image creator, and witnessing the shelf life of that imagery firsthand, there is just so much work that needs to be created for brands to stay relevant. It’s a big field with a lot of competition, but the need is vast.
The ways we communicate and the need for superior quality imagery to stand out from all the noise is only going to continue to grow. And to be able to do so with creativity, honesty, and beauty will be how we stand out from the crowd. I welcome the challenge every day.
What are some of the most important things that our audience can do to support you?
Reach out with your next idea. See how we can work together to elevate each other. Community is everything and I just want yours to grow with mine.
What inspires you about St. Louis?
There is so much talent here–big ideas, creativity, and a willingness to explore and grow.
I love being in the middle of the country. I love that I live in a city but in an hour or so I can be in a landscape that is nothing but farmhouses, silos, water towers and vast swaths of corn & soy fields and pastures for farm animals.
I am inspired by our city’s architecture, music, and food. I am inspired by the wonderful people in my life here. St. Louis truly has it all. I am a total fan-girl and cheerleader for this town.
While not originally from here, I chose St. Louis. And every day, I choose St. Louis. I am proud to call this beautifully complicated and imperfect place home.
What is a favorite neighborhood or favorite thing about the place you live or work?
I built my home/studio in Webster Groves with my husband right before the pandemic hit. I love the community we chose. The other businesses around us are creative spaces with kind and generous business owners. It is a wonderful part of town to reside and do business in.
What’s your current obsession(s)?
I love that sustainability is a trend, from slow cooking to slow fashion; it’s a trend I hope never fades.
And, in no particular order:
Missouri/Illinois Parks
Yoshitomo Nara
Butter radishes
Game nights/movie nights
Sunday New York Times
Oh and I may or not be obsessed with the cuteness that is baby Yoda (who I refuse to call Grogu – so please don’t try to correct me – I won’t budge on this one.)
What do you do in your spare time?
These days it’s cooking, gardening, hanging with family and friends–simple stuff. I enjoy connecting with those I love, game nights, good food, hiking, road trips.
I miss traveling. I haven’t (like many of us) done much of that in the past couple of years and I miss it something fierce.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
90s rap. Ping pong. My cat (although, not feeling all that guilty about these things). Also love watching, or sometimes re-watching, Marvel movies and select shows.
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