ABOUT
Hi, I'm Jessica! Most people call me Jess; I'm an independent visual storyteller born and raised in Orange County, California. I've been running my photography business, OCJ Photography, for the last six years out of Southern California.
In the last couple of years, I have contributed my photographs to The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Daily Orange, Syracuse University's newspaper, and The Voice of OC, an Orange County nonprofit newsroom and more.
Most recently, I was awarded College photographer of the year, CPOY, in 2020 in the documentary section as the runner-up.
I hope to continue telling the stories of the individuals who make up the communities around me, local to southern California or across the county.
AWARDS
•2022 NABJ Salute to Excellence Photography
•2022 Society for Environmental Journalists Awards for Reporting on the Environment 2nd Place
•2022 NABJ Salute to Excellence: Finalists with Multiple Images
•2021-2022 Hearst Journalism Awards 5th Place: Investigative Reporting Deconstructing the Divide
•2021 “Oh, the Places You’ll Go Award” | Entrepreneurship Professor | Syracuse University
•2021 Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism 3rd Place
•2021 EPPY Awards: Best Photojournalism Finalist•2021 BEA On-Location Creative Competition: Award of Excellence•2020 College Photographer of the Year, CPOY, 2nd place in the Documentary category
•2019 Professional Promise Award | California State University, Fullerton
•2019 Best News Photograph | California College Media Association
•2022 NABJ Salute to Excellence Photography
•2022 Society for Environmental Journalists Awards for Reporting on the Environment 2nd Place
•2022 NABJ Salute to Excellence: Finalists with Multiple Images
•2021-2022 Hearst Journalism Awards 5th Place: Investigative Reporting Deconstructing the Divide
•2021 “Oh, the Places You’ll Go Award” | Entrepreneurship Professor | Syracuse University
•2021 Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism 3rd Place
•2021 EPPY Awards: Best Photojournalism Finalist•2021 BEA On-Location Creative Competition: Award of Excellence•2020 College Photographer of the Year, CPOY, 2nd place in the Documentary category
•2019 Professional Promise Award | California State University, Fullerton
•2019 Best News Photograph | California College Media Association