Behind the Lens

“Photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with how you see them. ”     – Elliot Erwitt

PINMy Philosophy:

If you are looking for authentic, vibrant, and timeless images that capture the heart and soul of your family, then you’re in the right place. Specializing in lifestyle photography (combination of photo journalism and fine art portraiture), my style is modern yet timeless, classically clean, emotionally charged, and full of life. I am a natural light photographer and I find life’s most beautiful moments are in between the poses. I dip beneath the surface and peel back the layers to capture authentic moments as they naturally happen but also help set the scene. The candid moments, a heartfelt laugh, the warm gentle embrace of your family. A feeling, a reaction, a personality, a relationship. I try to be unobtrusive giving you room to express yourselves, although I give direction during your session so you look your best. With each genuine image, I hope your heart swells with the same raw emotions you experienced the day of your session. Follow me as I bring your story to life through custom photography giving you a tangible keepsake to remember this day for years to come and help you preserve memories that might otherwise be forgotten.

About Me:

Every morning I wake up, I pinch myself. Michigander by birth and Coloradan by marriage, I am blessed to reside in the Vail Valley (Eagle to be exact) with my incredible family.  When I don’t have a camera in my hand, you can find me spending time with my family camping, skiing, watching college football, mountain biking, entertaining or cooking. After a 12-year career marketing luxury hospitality brands, I decided to chase down my dreams and Jen Winkeller Photography was established. Located in another area? Destination wedding? Consider my bags packed! I will go anywhere in the world for your big day!

In My Bag:

I’d like to state for the record what you should already know. The camera, lenses and gear are not what make a great image – the person using it does. There are so many things you need to pair with great gear to realize a fabulous photograph…knowing how to compose your image, how to capture true emotions, and how to achieve proper exposure. I do believe, however, that having the right tools to do your job will definitely improve your final results and in some instances help you achieve the shots you are dreaming of. I’m a Nikon girl and I primarily shoot with one of my full frame DSLR cameras: Nikon D810. My favorite Nikkor AF-S lenses are: 85 mm f/1.8G, 35mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.8G. All three lenses allow me to capture a shallow depth of field giving my images a soft blurry background while maintaining super crisp focus of my subjects. I am always shooting with one of my HoldFast ‘Moneymaker’ straps and the camera case I’m currently using is the Pelican 1514 watertight, crushproof, and dust proof case.