Janessa T.

Lionnessa Lens is a photography business that Janessa has been inspired to create in 2022 that believes that “When God is in focus, the lens will be also.” Since God is the Creator, all of our creativity comes from Him. Janessa noticed that many art spaces are very perverted along with an "anything goes" mentality in regards to art. She also noticed that the Christian art space is small and is often viewed at as "corny". Therefore, Janessa wanted to use her gift of photography to show others that art doesn't have to be perverted or corny, but it can have a purpose that glorifies God while having AMAZING photos. Lionnessa Lens offers elevated photography experiences for believers that include prayer before and after photoshoots and curated images that reflect God's Vision and your personal style.

- Mentored and empowered a group of 11 girls ages 10-11 years old during Camp Ironwood’s founding summer, an overnight camp for underresourced children ages 8-14 years old, creating a safe, uplifting space that encouraged responsibility, curiosity, confidence, and independence - Designed and led a 2-day modeling workshop for 11 campers during Camper's Choice, ending off with a fashion show based off of what they wanted to be when they grew up

I had the privilege of collaborating with the School of Fashion to create compelling visual narratives through photography. • Worked closely with designers to maintain quality and vision alignment. • Captured significant fashion events, enhancing the school's visibility and reputation. • My photography was featured in the school’s window display, festival publication, and website, showcasing my contributions to the fashion community.

- Developed workforce skills such as leadership, operating and managing, communicating and networking, working in‬ teams, and problem solving by completing a 14-week leadership and professional development course.‬ - Led a team of 5 as the Project Manager to design a‬‭ mock-up campaign‬‭ for a girls basketball tournament aimed at‬ increasing awareness of the Chicago Sky Foundation and its community initiatives.‬

- Installed and documented artwork, and assisted with the artwork relating to other artwork in the exhibition with accurate measurements in digital and physical formats - Represented an artist apart of the Weisman Award through constant communication on the display of their work

- Engaged in the activities of a fast-paced, high volume retail photography operation, participating in capturing school portraits, post-production, and preparing equipment for shoot setups - Directed and engaged 100+ students and teachers during photoshoots, using prompts and body positioning to create a relaxed atmosphere and encourage natural expressions

● A part of a team providing care and support for over 150 campers at an overnight Christian camp in Texas for children and adults with special needs ● Assisted with wheelchair-to-horse transfers, offered personalized emotional support, led Biblical devotions, and participated in the role of horse handler, side-walker, and instructor in order to ensure safety during horseback riding

● Captures images for the community events of Focus Fairies Mentoring, a mentorship program that empowers young girls to break the cycle of violence ● Documents candid moments throughout events and creates a portfolio of images used in marketing materials

● Worked with a team of photographers to facilitate free family portraits on the South Side of Chicago at Convoy of Hope’s Community Event ● Facilitated the transfer of images to the printer and distributed them to over 100 families