I'm Jessica Vallia
COLORADO SPRINGS
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER
& MIXED MEDIA ARTIST
I’m a Colorado native, working studio owner, wife, and mom of four.
I believe the portraits that matter most are the ones your kids will fight over someday. That’s why everything I create is designed to become real, printed heirloom art you live with and love every single day.
My work blends emotional storytelling with fine-art craftsmanship, whether we’re in my studio or using Colorado’s dramatic light and landscapes outdoors. Families tell me the portraits feel timeless yet deeply personal, exactly like the memories they want to hold onto.
I hold the M.Photog.M.Artist.Cr. and CPP designations from PPA and have been honored with the PPA National Award, the Diamond Medal, five (maybe more haha) Silver Medals, and Photographer of the Year from Professional Photographers of Colorado. I currently serve as President of Professional Photographers of Colorado and as a Governor of the American Society of Photographers. I also teach regularly at Texas School of Professional Photography and for PPA affiliates across the country.
What that means for you is simple: when you book with me, you’re working with someone who has spent nearly 25 years perfecting the craft, the lighting, the posing, and the business of creating work that actually sells and lasts. I bring that same care and expertise to every family I photograph.
When I’m not in the studio I’m usually chasing my own four kids, cheering at their games, or (embarrassingly) still hoping to spot Bigfoot on a hike. That real-life perspective keeps my sessions relaxed, fun, and focused on what matters most — your family, right now.
Growing up, we didn’t have much by most standards.
But I don’t remember what we didn't have.
What I remember is the life my mom gave us, and the one thing she saved up for every single year. One printed portrait.
Those annual trips to Olan Mills mattered more than she probably realized. That single print became proof of who we were in that season of our lives.
Years later, those photographs still exist. The memories are still there. Someday we'll fight over who keeps them.
That’s why I believe so deeply in printed work that lasts.
it was THE 1900S...
PROCESS
Art process
The
Photography is always my starting point.
From there, select pieces may be hand-finished, blending photographic craftsmanship with painterly detail to create dimensional artwork for the home.
For collectors who want something truly distinctive, I may embellish a portrait by hand, adding subtle texture and depth to transform the image into a mixed-media piece.
Together we’ll decide whether a portrait is presented as a classic photographic print or a hand-finished mixed media artwork.
PORTRAITS I LOVE...
