Today we’d like to introduce you to Cora Jayne Stanford.
Hi Cora Jayne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I was 15 years old, I started taking photos of my grandmother’s plants on my grandfather’s phone. I didn’t have a “fun” camera, and no one in my family was a photographer, so I didn’t really know what I was doing; I just knew I loved it. When it came time to tour colleges and think about a career. I didn’t think I had it in me to make a job out of photography, so I just toured with the psychology department because that’s what I thought I wanted to do.
At the school’s luncheon, the director of the photography department saw me sitting at the psych table and walked up to me. He looked at me in my face and asked me, “Dude, what are you doing here?” and I just remember laughing, shrugging, and saying this is what I was interested in(?). He invited me over to the other table where I met a handful of people who were very interested in photography, and a few models who just wanted to be in the arts program. We ate and talked, and then the professor asked if we wanted to go shoot in the studio.
As soon as my foot crossed the threshold of the studio, my heart knew it belonged there. We spent the next several hours taking turns shooting, modeling, playing with lights, reflectors, smoke machines, fans, bubbles, everything! I had the time of my life, and I even skipped out on the tour of the campus to stay in the studio to talk more about the program.
Needless to say, I had found my calling.
During college, I had the opportunity to shoot in really cool places like New York City at Studio 59, New Orleans, and Philadelphia. I got to shoot the STORY convention in Nashville, the Journey’s Sales Conference, and Rockin’ in the New Year at Wild Horse Saloon’s last New Year’s Eve party! I’ve gotten some really amazing local/smaller musician photos like Hayley Mae Campbell, Rudy Love and the Encore, and Corduroy Clemens, as well as some bigger names like Ludacris, Jelly Roll, and Brantley Gilbert.
Most, if not all, of these shoots wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my mentor, boss, coworker, and friend, Allen Clark of Allen Clark Photography. He has helped me become the photographer I am today.
Since graduating college with my B.A in Photography, I’ve continued working with Allen, but have also started developing my own career. I love working in events. A group of my friends put on a live music event every few months in Jackson, TN called Oldies but Goodies, and I am their main photographer and designer. I’ve done a few high school and college reunions, birthday parties, and baby showers, but my true love is in the personal shoots.
I love the quick 1-2 hour family sessions, couple sessions, and senior sessions. I love being able to get to know my clients and being able to tell their story through the moments we capture together. There’s nothing truly like sending a client their photos and getting the, “OMG I’M OBSESSED!!” texts in return.
Since starting my own career, I went from about 20 total shoots my first year, to around 55 total shoots this past year in 2025. I’ve already started booking weddings for 2027, and am hoping the last 3 months of 2026 will be as fruitful as always. My annual Christmas card sale is coming up as well, so keep an eye out for that! 😉
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting my degree in photography was tough. Not the content I was learning, per se, but I went to a college I didn’t really love and felt very outcast and misunderstood by students and professors. I truthfully was my biggest enemy. I get the worst imposter syndrome, and I was always comparing my photos too harshly to others.
I think the hardest lesson I learned was that you can’t create something other people love if you don’t love your own creation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love all different kinds of photography! I could call myself a wedding photographer, but that would be a lie. I could call myself an event photographer, but THAT would be a lie. I do it all and want to do it all. I just want to capture the moments that are most important to people. I love being able to present them with a once in a life time candid.
I feel as if my personality may set me apart from other photographers. I’ve always been a very hard worker, and have enjoyed the company of other people. I’ve always been a good “helper,” so I love that being a photographer is like a two-in-one, creative/personal assistant position.
What were you like growing up?
I was a very hyper child. I was raised by my grandparents, and they always told their friends that I kept them young! My grandfather was a preacher at two of the biggest Churches of Christ in my small town, so most everyone knew who I was or who my parents/grandparents were. A lot of people assumed that I was either the the goody two shoes because I was technically the “preacher’s kid,” or a spawn of satan, because I could never fit into the Church of Christ’s mould no matter how hard I tried. Regardless, I never felt like I was able to be myself until I got to Jr. High School and joined band.
I fell in love with the arts in 6th grade and haven’t looked back since. I played saxophone, marimba, xylophone, and almost every auxiliary percussion instrument you can think of. I marched in the high school band in 8th grade, and was invited to play with them in a group ensemble competition! I did band up until I got to high school, and my freshman year I found my love for theatre.
I was Rusty in Footloose the Musical my freshman year, Mama Bear in Shrek the Musical Jr. my sophomore year, and Helena in a MidSummer Night’s Dream my Junior year. I graduated a year early from high school so my senior year I was mainly focusing on college classes, but I was able to participate in my college’s social club Makin’ Music show (Go Go Sigma Rho!)
I’m very thankful for all of my music and theatre teachers I had. They gave me more opportunities than I could have asked for, and I don’t think I’d be the person I am today if it weren’t for them, and the amazing community I had back in high school.
Special shout outs to: Allen Clark, my mentor and friend. Presley Connor, my boss/coworker, lifelong friend, and forever my go to model. Elise Rowland, my go to second shooter, coworker, and friend. Keith Brown and Clay Canada, my first two band directors. Jud Davis, Matthew Sokoloski, and Cliff Thompson from my college. You three always pushed me to be a better photographer, person, and actress. My OBG family, Christian, Flagg, Rod, BJ, all of their wives, Tiger, Cletus, Deja, Vonda, D’Angelo, Dominique, and everyone else who helps make Oldies but Goodies as amazing as it is. My Rally9 Family, Brian, Lex, and Laurel. Of course all of my friends, Allie, Rose, Maggie, Sydney, Claire, Elyssa, all my boys, especially Ben, Kyle, Cody, Cye, Nathan, Landon and Colton, my second families: Humphry’s, Connor’s, Phillips’, and Kim and Don Cox. And lastly MY family, Mimi and Pepaw, who I owe everything in this life to, Grandma Sandy, Mom, Kyle and Carly, Chesney, Aiden, Kai, Florine, Cyrus, Conner, Taylor, Josh and Rachel, David, Sheila and John, everyone on The Stanford+ side of the family, and of course, my biggest supporter of all, my husband Zachary. I wouldn’t be who, and where I am today without these, and so many other people. I am truly grateful and blessed to have such an amazing support system. I LOVE YOU GUYS! I will be eternally thankful for you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://corajaynephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corajaynephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583872056985
