For Jess, mornings are a sacred time, a moment to disconnect from technology and reconnect with herself. "Morning rituals are essential for me," she shares, emphasising the importance of starting the day on the right note. Early mornings begin with a peaceful yoga flow at home, followed by a walk to soak up the first rays of sunlight. "I love setting my goals and intentions for the day - whether it's work, personal, or play - with a nourishing warm drink in hand," she adds. Flexibility is key in her routine, as she often changes up her office space, sometimes editing from a nature spot or collaborating with friends. This balance between work and play keeps her creativity flowing and ensures that each day is both productive and fulfilling.

Self-care for Jess is deeply rooted in kindness, gentleness, and a mindful connection with her body. "Being kind and gentle with ourselves is number one," she emphasises, highlighting the importance of nourishing the body with nutritious food and clean water. Jess believes in truly listening to her body's needs, whether that means slowing down or picking up the pace - each has its time and place. Her self-care rituals often include immersing herself in nature, and soaking up the sunshine during early mornings or afternoons. Regular healing practices are also key, with acupuncture, NSA chiropractic care, breath work, massage, yoga, dance, soak sessions, EFT tapping, and meditation all playing a vital role. "The list goes on," she notes, reflecting her holistic approach to maintaining balance and well-being.

Jess likens her creative process to cooking a special recipe, where each component must come together perfectly for the best outcome. "If one thing is off, it’s not quite the same," she notes, underscoring the importance of every detail in planning a successful photo shoot. Jess stays closely involved throughout the process, collaborating with the producer and client to ensure that the vision is fully realised. "Location, talent, and styling are such a huge component," she explains, highlighting the significance of these elements in bringing the concept to life.

When all the key pillars - like working with a dream collaborator or shooting at a breathtaking location - fall into place, Jess focuses on the finer details. This attention to detail allows her to be confident on set, ensuring a smooth process that meets the client's needs while also being an enjoyable experience.

"Comfort is really important to me," she notes, emphasising her preference for fabrics that feel good against the skin. Effortlessness is key, along with a love for vintage moments and high-quality cuts that flatter individual body shapes.

This personal style directly influences her work behind the camera. "I am a firm believer in keeping things effortless, timeless, and classic," Jess explains. Her approach is to embrace the "less is more" philosophy, which allows key pieces to shine and ensures that the product itself stands out. For Jess, the goal is to let the essence of the subject or product speak for itself through her images.

Jess always keeps a few must-have items close by wherever she goes. Her essentials include Living Libations zinc and lip balm, Bluem serums, and Wooed serums, which she adds are "delish," along with their Seize the Day capsules. She also carries Mien honey balm, a cap to protect her fair skin, a journal, and a good book. "You can usually find a Loco Love choc floating around in my bag too," she adds, noting her penchant for having a little treat on hand.

Jess's favourite Christie Nicolaides shoot to date is the Grazina campaign. "Something about the flow of this day just stayed with me until now," she reflects. She also holds the Ilia collection shoot close to her heart, noting that "there were great dynamics on set" and the models attitude were delightful. Despite the challenging weather, which kept the team on their toes, Jess found that "everything flowed in the end," especially with the breathtaking location for the final frames. The collaboration between the team abroad and in Australia was particularly enjoyable, and she cherished the outcome of this shoot.

Jess's post-production ritual centres around creating a harmonious workflow space that enhances her productivity and creativity. "Playing music really sets the mood for the project I'm working on," she says, noting how it fuels her focus. Nourishing homemade food is also crucial to keeping her energy up. Her current favorite is a fresh papaya bowl topped with Wooed turmeric and frankincense honey, tahini, walnuts, hemp seeds, and a dash of coconut yogurt. "Stuffed medjool dates and my cacao never go astray," she adds.

To maintain a balanced workflow, she takes micro breaks, often involving a walk, a lounge room boogie, soaking up a bit of sunshine, or a mini yoga flow. She frequently changes her office setup based on the task at hand—whether it's a picnic rug in nature for selects or her home office for colour grading and editing. "Occasionally, I switch up the scenery with a café," she notes. Jess also finds inspiration in listening to podcasts or Audible while editing and uses this time for catching up with friends abroad over the phone.

"Yes, I have been working on something in the background for a few years that I’m really excited about," she reveals, hinting at a launch planned for 2025. For Jess, creating with intention and finding joy in the process are paramount. She also values collaborating with organisations that focus on providing clean water, shelter, and food to all of humanity, emphasising the importance of raising awareness for these causes. Additionally, Jess looks forward to partnering with wildlife conservation projects, which she finds deeply inspiring and fulfilling.

Choosing locations for her photoshoots is a process deeply rooted in the specifics of each project. Jess explains, "It always comes down to the individual project, the overall feel and mood of the shoot steer the location, as well as having a clear understanding of the range you are shooting and the mood board/market segments." She views location as a crucial element that must align perfectly with the project's vision, and it often involves significant effort from the entire team.

Among her most treasured projects, Jess has worked in a variety of memorable locations, including Australia, India, Namibia, South Africa, Greece, Japan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Miami, Paris, and France. Each of these places has contributed uniquely to the creative outcomes of her shoots, leaving a lasting impact on her portfolio.

For Jess, a key sign that a shoot is going well or better than expected is the synergy with the talent. "There is a moment where you know that you are both in flow," she explains, noting how this harmonious connection allows her to relax and focus on the creative process. Additionally, feedback from the producer, such as confirming that everything is on schedule, further reassures her that the shoot is progressing smoothly and that they are capturing the desired outcomes.