Snap. Edit. Repeat! Jenna Lee Photography has new studio

What began as an inherent joy of snapping photos has blossomed into a growing business for New Rockford native Jenna (Pieterick) Weisenburger. Now, after five years of shooting sports, infants, seniors and families, Jenna Lee Photography has a beautiful new studio where Jenna can work her photographic magic.

As a student at New Rockford High School in the 90s, "I used to have a camera attached to me at all times," she recalls. "I've always been a shutterbug." And that she has. Jenna rose through the ranks of the yearbook staff, from photographer to editor, in junior high and high school.

As she attended college, got married, and worked in customer service for 12 years, she still used the camera, but not quite as often. Then, after she and husband Reed came home to New Rockford to raise their children, she rediscovered that joy. Five years ago she got a new camera and started to shoot photos at high school football, baseball and basketball games. It was there, "behind the scenes" capturing the touchdowns, home runs and buzzer beaters, that Jenna Lee Photography began.

Sports photography is Jenna's way of connecting with the kids on and off the court, field or diamond, she said, acknowledging that high school seniors are some of her favorite subjects to shoot. However, she soon discovered that indoor sessions were tricky, especially given the small room in the basement shehad dedicated for photos. Then, for a year and a half, she rented space inside Peterson Law Offices as she looked for the perfect space to build a studio of her own.

The Weisenburgers broke ground on the new studio in August 2018. After the concrete was poured last fall, husband Reed and his "crew" consisting of his friend Elliott Belquist, father Allan Weisenburger and father-in-law Harry Pieterick framed the building. Then, once the mechanical and electrical systems were in place, the rest was a "labor of love," according to Jenna. Even their two children, Brody and Kaci, helped by setting up shelves, painting, installing baseboards and organizing props.

All of the surfaces and furnishings were perfectly planned to make it easier to photograph. Everything from the non-glare siding and flat interior wall paint to the spacing between the exterior doors and placement of windows has "photogenic" purpose, so any area can become a backdrop at a moment's notice. "It has a very clean palette," Jenna says of the decor. Even the interior paint colors reflect the two most popular backdrop colors requested by her clients, charcoal and white, allowing her to minimize the use of backdrops.

Speaking of backdrops, having a hardworking husband came in handy there too. She now has a wood backdrop on wheels that she can move around the studio as needed. Her infant station is also handmade, designed to make both the photographer and her sweet subjects the most comfortable as possible for shoots that can sometimes last hours.

Although she has no formal training in photography (other than the one darkroom class she took in college), Jenna is constantly working to improve her skills. A lot of that work comes in the form of trial and error, and very understanding customers who allow her to test out new methods. She did engage in two hands-on sessions where she worked directly with a photographer in Fargo to learn tips and tricks for photographing newborns this past winter, which she found most helpful.

Families, seniors, athletes and groups interested in working with Jenna should know that her schedule fills fast, a testament to the quality of her work. "I'm a mom first. I don't overbook, so call early," Jenna advises.

To book a session, call Jenna Lee Photography at (701) 307-0019 or send her a message on the business Facebook page. The new studio is located at 330 ½ St. NE, east of Dollar General.