Biography

I am Jacob Summerville, and I am a photographer who proudly founded J Summerville Photography, LLC in Columbia, Missouri. 

My photography journey began in 2017 as a reporter for Southeastern Louisiana University's student newspaper, The Lion's Roar, where I worked for six semesters. By college graduation in 2022, I built experience in events, sports, and portraiture, minoring in photography during undergrad. I worked at a museum in Lincoln, NE for over a year and a half, where I further developed my skills in editing and composition. I moved to Columbia in March 2024 and started this business shortly after. 

But like yourself, I am much more than my job. I am a son, a brother, an outdoor enthusiast, an amateur cook/baker, a musician, a graduate student, an introvert, a native Louisianian, a cat lover, and your neighbor. I know that being in front of the lens is awkward, unnatural, and intimidating. I know myself and others have parts of them they want to change, things we see as flaws, and are afraid of them appearing in photos. 

My hope is that I can help emphasize your confidence, charm, and charisma during a photoshoot because we owe it to ourselves to celebrate our irreplaceable presence in this world. As someone who doesn't have many photos of themselves from childhood, I want to help others capture the present and invest in their future by creating fantastic photographs in a fun, relaxing environment.