Troy University senior Gabby Jent, of Jasper, loves telling the stories of life and providing a key to special memories.
The owner of Gabby J Photography is the winner of this year’s IDEA Bank Annual Marketing Competition. She launched her business in 2023 and will graduate this week with an interdisciplinary studies degree minoring in entrepreneurship, photography and marketing.
“Each person has such a full life, and I want to be a part of it in one way or another,” she said, terming people “God’s Greatest Creation.”
Her photography career originated in high school, where she was a member of the yearbook staff.
“My freshman year of high school I joined yearbook and instantly fell in love with photography and online designing,” she said. “I became really close with my teacher and she pushed me to get my first camera, and I knew that I wanted to pursue photography.”
From those beginnings, Jent has seen her clientele and services expand. She offers photo shoots of all kinds including portrait, lifestyle, graduations, couples, weddings and more in a relaxed, enjoyable and low-pressure environment so that she captures clients’ “every step of life.”
Beyond a good eye and skill as a photographer, Jent knew she needed help to transform her passion into a viable business. She turned to the IDEA Bank for support.
“The IDEA Bank has helped me grow in my confidence of marketing my business, giving me the tools and ideas on how to grow my business. They really want to see students succeed and that is something that every student — including me — needs, especially during the slow parts of my business.”
Those skills were put on display during the Marketing Competition, where participants were asked to set up a business display that included informational documents and post a reel to Instagram.
“The purpose was to showcase the consistent branding of student-led businesses, their uniqueness, their strong audience recognition and engagement,” said Mauree Alice McCall, the IDEA Bank’s program coordinator.
As the Best Overall winning display, Gabby J Photography’s display impressed judges with its interactive Polaroid feature, professional materials, and clear presentation of services. Judges praised its creativity, strategy, and authenticity, she said.
The prize for first place is a marketing package worth $2,000 to assist in the promotion and growth of the business.
Gabby J Photography continues to grow, planning to stay in Troy and seek photography opportunities as they arise, Jent said.
“My advice to other students who want to be entrepreneurs is two things: one don’t be afraid to start something, and two, build connections,” she said. “It can be scary starting something new, but if you have the right teachers and the right people around you, it can be something that you love. Don’t be afraid to say ‘yes,’ especially when it is the beginning, one of those ‘yeses’ might become one of your favorite projects.”
Learn more about Gabby J Photography by visiting her website (https://www.gabbyjphotography.com/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/gabbyj_photography/?hl=en), or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/gabbyjphotography).
