Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Jensen.
Hi Erin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I always laugh when people ask how I got into photography because it was never part of the plan.
Growing up, I was incredibly driven and had my future mapped out. I was determined to become an elementary school teacher. I took education courses while I was still in high school, chose jobs that involved working with children, and everything I did was centered around that goal.
Photography wasn’t even on my radar.
A couple of years before my son was born, I bought my first DSLR camera simply to document vacations with my husband. Then, when I became a mom, I was constantly photographing my son and found myself completely falling in love with capturing everyday moments. Friends started asking if I’d photograph their families, and what began as a fun hobby slowly turned into something more.
The real turning point came when my best friend got engaged. I asked if I could photograph her engagement session for free, just to try it. Something clicked that day. I realized I had found the creative outlet I never knew I was missing. I immediately started investing in photography education, practicing constantly, and building what would eventually become Ray of Sunshine Photography.
Fast forward ten years, and I’m now a full-time wedding and events photographer, a women-owned small business owner, and have had the privilege of documenting hundreds of weddings and thousands of meaningful moments for incredible couples.
If you had told high school Erin that this would be her career, she never would have believed you. Looking back, though, teaching and photography aren’t as different as they seem. Both are rooted in connection, storytelling, and making people feel seen. I may not have ended up in a classroom, but I still get to spend my days preserving moments that people will carry with them for the rest of their lives—and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. Like most small business owners, I’ve learned that entrepreneurship is full of highs and lows.
When I first started, things took off quickly. I was serving more of the mid-range market, which meant I was photographing a high volume of weddings and building momentum every year. Then COVID changed everything. Like so many wedding professionals, my entire 2020 season came to a halt overnight. Most of those celebrations were postponed into 2021, which made for an incredibly busy year, but it also created years of ripple effects throughout the wedding industry.
The years that followed looked very different than they had before the pandemic. Fewer people were getting engaged, couples were planning differently, and the industry as a whole felt the impact. In fact, 2024 was the most difficult year I’ve experienced in business, with the fewest weddings I’d booked since opening my company.
As hard as that season was, it forced me to grow. I refined my brand, invested in my client experience, strengthened relationships with venues and planners, expanded into videography and event services, and focused on creating an experience that truly stood out.
I’m incredibly grateful to say that 2026 has been one of our strongest years yet. It’s a reminder that setbacks don’t define your business, they challenge you to adapt, evolve, and come back stronger. Celebrating ten years in business feels especially meaningful because I know just how much resilience it took to get here.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While we photograph families, engagements, and events throughout the year, weddings are truly the heart of what we do. We’re based just outside of Philadelphia and serve couples throughout the Tri-State Area.
Our photography style is rooted in storytelling. Of course we capture the beautiful portraits and details, but what I’m really drawn to are the in-between moments, the hugs from grandparents, the happy tears, the laughter during speeches, and the quiet moments couples don’t even realize are happening.
Visually, I love creating images with rich, true-to-life colors, warm golden sunsets, and a timeless feel that won’t look dated years from now. Give me a beautiful sunset and genuine emotion, and I’m in my happy place.
What I think truly sets us apart, though, is the experience we provide. We don’t simply show up on the wedding day with cameras. From the first inquiry through album design and final delivery, we guide our couples every step of the way.
On the wedding day, our goal is simple: create an environment where couples can relax, be themselves, and stay present. The best photographs happen when people forget the camera is there, so we use natural prompts and genuine interaction rather than stiff posing. We want our couples to remember how their wedding day felt, not just how it looked.
What I’m most proud of is the trust our couples place in us. Many become lifelong friends, come back for family sessions, and refer us to the people they love most.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If there’s one thing I’d love people to take away from my story, it’s that your career doesn’t always follow the path you planned and sometimes that’s where the magic happens. I never imagined I’d become a wedding photographer, let alone spend the last decade building a business around celebrating love stories. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.
As Ray of Sunshine Photography continues to grow, so does our vision. We’ve expanded beyond photography to offer videography, audio guest books, photo booths, and recently launched ROS Events, where we’re bringing the same personalized approach into wedding planning and event design. Our goal has always been to create a seamless experience for our couples, and we’re excited to continue growing in ways that help serve them even better.
Most of all, I’m incredibly grateful to every couple who has trusted us with one of the biggest days of their lives, to the talented vendor community throughout the Philadelphia area that I’m lucky to work alongside, and to my family for supporting this dream from the very beginning.
Here’s to the next chapter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rayofsunshinephotography.com
- Instagram: www.ig.com/rayofsunshine.photography
- Facebook: https://www.fb.com/rayofsunshinephotography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-jensen-2a48b2427/
