P H O T O G R A P H E R
P R O F I L E :
Jessica Bartlett “What I really love is that every day there’s always something different,” Jessica Bartlett says enthusiastically. Perched on the edge of her seat at the downtown Starbucks, the Chico State graduate is in the middle of describing her photography aesthetic. “Whether it’s a foggy day or a beautiful sunset, everything is always in transition. I love that I’m able to capture the changes.” Just briefly browsing Bartlett’s stunning Instagram gallery, this artistic vision quickly becomes evident. From aerial views of Bidwell Park to action shots of students on the university campus, Bartlett’s happy, warm-tone photos highlight the vibrant beauty that resides in the moments between moments. Though the Bay Area native fell in love with photography in high school, she did not begin seriously pursuing the art until she began working as a student photographer at Chico State. In this role, Bartlett grew more confident in her abilities, a development she attributed largely to the feedback and mentorship she received from university photographer Jason Halley. “One thing he always tells me is that I am ‘responsible for everything in my image,’” Bartlett says. She keeps his advice in mind with every photo she takes, and as a result, her images reflect an attentiveness to every detail. With Halley’s support and her years of experience as a student photographer, Bartlett made the transition from talented hobbyist to full-blown professional.
While she enjoys all different types of shoots, Bartlett especially loves taking aerial photos with the drone she purchased in 2016. To fly commercially, she had to become licensed as a drone operator, a process that involved passing an intensive aeronautical knowledge exam. “It was a lot, but I’m glad that I did it,” she says. With visually arresting bird’s eye views of the Sacramento River or historic Chico sites like Bidwell Mansion, Bartlett’s drone has allowed her to take her photography to the next level. A Chicoan for the past six years, Barlett does not see herself leaving the area anytime soon. “It’s hard to say forever, but for now I’m totally happy,” she says. One thing is for sure, no matter where Bartlett is, she will never be far from her camera. In the future, she plans to continue to capture life’s priceless moments, sharing her unique perspective on the world, one photo at a time. 60
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WRITTEN BY EMILY HUSO PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JESSICA BARTLETT
However, after graduating from Chico State with a communications degree in December 2016, Bartlett was unsure what direction her career would take next. “I still wanted to do photography, but I was like, I don’t know where I’m going to go. Then [the university] ended up being able to open up a staff position for me, so now I’m back. And it’s really fun!” she adds, smiling. As a full-time university photographer, Bartlett helps shoot all the photos for the campus, including portraits, events and photos for social media and the web. When she is not shooting for the university, she is taking photos around Chico, covering weddings and events or doing family, engagement or graduation sessions.