ABOUT
Hi, I’m Jessica—though most people call me Jess. I’m an independent visual storyteller born and raised in Orange County, California. For the past 10 years, I’ve run my photography business, OCJ Photography, based in Southern California.
My work has been featured in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Daily Orange (Syracuse University’s student newspaper), Voice of OC, and more. In 2020, I was honored as the runner-up in the Documentary category of the College Photographer of the Year (CPOY) competition.
Through my lens, I aim to tell meaningful stories about the people who shape the communities around us—whether here in Southern California or across the country.
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