About Us

We didn’t just start Together We Grow School Portraits on a whim. We started it because, after 15 years of working together in the industry, we realized something was missing: the personal touch.

We bonded over our shared love for adventure, creative hobbies, and exploring the beauty in "all things abandoned."

Through the years we both took our own paths in the creative world, but we never stopped growing our friendship or dreaming about doing this one day, our way, on our terms. Now, the timing is finally right and the universe said, now ladies, now is the time!

Photography has always been my heartbeat. I started working in the school portrait industry as a photographer and quickly became a lead photographer as well as a office and sales assistant. Before I even started to work in the school portrait industry I was building my own business, J. Curtis Photography from the ground up.

For the next twelve years I balanced my multiple roles at my job as well as continued to grow my own business. When I left the school portrait world, I focused everything into, J. Curtis Photography, and made it a thriving, full-time business. Specializing in newborn photography while capturing all of life’s milestones—from weddings to birthdays and everything in between. I built my brand on connection, warmth, and authenticity. And had a simple mission: to stay away from anything "corporate" or cold. I have always been intentional about creating a personal, heartfelt experience for every family I work with, and my clients have become like an extension of my own family.

When I'm not behind the lens, I am busy growing my own little family with my fiancé Michael and our two children, Carter and Charlotte. We enjoy spending as much time as possible sharing all that Long Island has to offer with our two little ones. 

My experience as a mother drives my mission to treat every child I photograph with the same care and patience I give my own. For me it's not about "posing" for a camera; it's about capturing the warmth and connection that makes every child unique and an understanding that the best photographs happen when a child feels comfortable and cared for.

My journey in the school portrait world actually started before working at the company where I met Jessica. I began my portrait career at a different school portrait company as a photographer. Over the next 14 years, I took on almost every role imaginable, eventually becoming the Office Manager while still jumping into the field whenever I was needed.

While mastering the logistics of the business, I also earned my Bachelors of Fine arts degree in Film / Video Production. I spent years as a freelance Camera Assistant for feature films, commercials, music videos and everything in between. I also earned my Part 107 Commercial Drone License and have found a real passion for capturing unique perspectives—offering views that most people don’t typically get to experience.

Working on film sets introduced me to all kinds of people and places that I never would have had the opportunity to experience otherwise. It taught me how to work with every personality imaginable under all types of different conditions and how to find the perfect shot in any environment.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking and exploring with my husband and our two dogs, Mahoney and Kodi. Together, we’re currently on a journey to section hike the entire Appalachian Trail.

I can’t wait to bring my “behind-the-scenes” technical, cinematic eye to our team to ensure every detail is just right for you.