In Focus | Jessica Gray of Jessica Balfour Photography

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Jessica Gray

What do you always find yourself saying?
That's hilarious!

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Whenever I'm reading a good book I always wish I could spend the day with the author. I'm reading one of Anne Lamott's books right now and I think I'd totally enjoy conversing with her for the day. She's funny and honest and has depth!

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Oh dear, I have no idea.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose?
C.S. Lewis

Who inspires you?
Xavier Rudd

What are three things on your bucket list?
I'd love to camp in Tofino, explore Europe and own a VW van!

Please tell us about a defining moment in your life
My first trip to a developing country, when I was 19-years-old

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Wanderlust

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
March 11th, 2027. I'll turn 50 that day and I heard being 50 is awesome!!!

What are you passionate about?
I'm most passionate about my relationships with my family and friends. As well as always finding ways to be creative in my life.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
I have four favourite days. Each day that I gave birth was pretty amazing!!!

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Being a mom to my four wonderful children.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna?
I prefer to order take out from Momo Sushi and sit on the beach or the lookout on Knox Mountain!

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna?
I love hiking and exploring the parks and trails in the area.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Jessica Balfour Photography

What does your business/organization do?
I'm a wedding and lifestyle photographer

Where can people find you or your business online?
http://jessicabalfour.com/

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Jessica-Balfour-Photography

What is your mission?
To capture in a photo the authentic connection between people.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
I feel like I've already achieved so many things in my career. I'm truly content.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
I'll just be happy if people are still hiring me in another five years to photograph their weddings and their beautiful families.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Hmmm there are so many these days... Which makes it too hard to just say one...

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Professionalism, integrity, and ease. I aim to provide a relaxed and natural photography experience with my clients.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
To those who have helped me over the years, thank you! You rock!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
Typically people come together when I'm asked to photograph them. It's a wedding or a new baby. A birthday or a reunion. Sometimes even a sick child or mother diagnosed with cancer. It's a coming together for friends and families and that's a good thing.

What makes you successful? Tell us about it.
I know that I'm successful in life because I'm content with what I have. I am not wasting time striving for more. I'm thankful for everything and try and enjoy each day as it comes.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
In storytelling. I'd ask them to tell me a story and then teach me to tell a good story!

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
That you could legally park for more than one hour during the day outside my home.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The fact that I can step out my door and choose to either walk east for 10 minutes, which would put me in the middle of beautiful orchards and farm land, or I could walk north for 10 minutes and I'd be in the heart of downtown Kelowna which is on the beach. How amazing is that?!

My nomination for the In Focus spotlight is:
Nikki Balfour

Some general comments I would like to share are:
Kelowna is where I call home and my home is a full one with four beautiful children and one amazing husband. I’m an explorer at heart. In fact I was only 10 years old the first time I remember feeling the desire to leave home and explore. I wanted to move away to an Island, and believe it or not, my parents let me go! I actually had family living on Lasqueti Island. So I left my home in the Kootenays and headed to Lasqueti. The plan in my little mind was to stay for one whole year! Well I lasted only four weeks! Since then I haven’t lost my love for traveling or adventure or exploring this amazing planet we live on. It was 15 years ago now, when I bought my first 35mm SLR camera and became completely smitten with photography. I had so much to learn, but what I love about photography and any art for that matter, is that the well of creativity and inspiration seems to get deeper and deeper the more you enter into it. I began my photography business in 2004. I put away my film camera not long after I turned professional and replaced it with a digital camera. I never thought I’d go back, but last summer I pulled out my old film camera and have since become smitten all over again. I love film photography! I would have to say that photographing people has always been my favourite subject. Being able to see in a photo the connection or feeling that two people share or the love and laughter of a family...it’s what I love. It’s what I notice. I once had a lady, after viewing my website, tell me...”I can see that you must really love people!” That was about one of the best things I think anyone could say about my photos.

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!