Today we’d like to introduce you to Jourdan Ohl.
Hi Jourdan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story, like so many others, is woven with threads of hardship, resilience, and unexpected grace. I’m Jourdan, a daughter of the King, a devoted wife, a nurturing mother, and a loyal friend, now calling Hernando, Mississippi just a heartbeat from Memphis, home. My journey as a photographer began in the vibrant chaos of Las Vegas, the tourist and wedding capital of the world, where my husband saw a spark in me I hadn’t yet recognized. His belief ignited my passion, and through my lens, I discovered a way to capture the sacred beauty of love, faith, and human connection.
Growing up, I watched my mom, a cocktail waitress, embody hospitality in Las Vegas’s bustling energy. That spirit of warmth and connection shaped me, fueling my love for people, especially kids, and my creative drive. What started as a creative outlet blossomed into a thriving career as one of Las Vegas’s top wedding photographers, known internationally for capturing love stories from countless cultures. Each wedding was a celebration, a sacred covenant, radiating joy and commitment that I felt privileged to preserve.
When my husband’s career led us to Mississippi after COVID, I was nervous, picturing bayou swamps teeming with alligators and mosquitoes. Instead, I found Hernando. A warm, welcoming community that felt like home. A year after arriving, we bought a house, and I founded Magnolia Grace Media LLC, determined to weave stories of hope, redemption, and faith through my photography. Starting over wasn’t easy, but I felt a divine calling to create art that transcends the frame, reflecting God’s beauty in every moment.
This calling inspired me to launch the Mosaic of Faith Showcase, a vibrant celebration uniting poets, painters, sculptors, musicians, and photographers. The vision was simple yet profound: to create a space where our community’s diverse talents could worship and inspire through a mosaic of faith. Organizing this event was a labor of love, fraught with self-doubt and moments of asking God, “Why me? Am I enough?” Yet, rallying artists and sponsors became a testament to His guidance, proving that faith can overcome fear.
My contribution to the showcase, Lights of Testimony, is deeply personal. Through my lens, I capture the stories of locals sharing their faith journeys, pairing their testimonies with images and Bible verses that breathe life into their words. Unlike my grandmother, a gifted painter, I’ve never been able to draw the vivid images in my mind, but my camera has become my voice. Each portrait in Lights of Testimony reflects stories of overcoming unworthiness and embracing restoration, themes I’ve wrestled with myself. Photographing these testimonies is an honor, a way to celebrate the courage of those who share their hearts.
Beyond the showcase, I’ve poured my passion into serving Hernando. From organizing a fundraiser for a local nonprofit addressing emergency food needs to offering Paws & People photography sessions to support the local pet pantry, I’m committed to building community through art. Through photography camps and social media outreach with groups like Ladies of Desoto, I’ve found joy in fostering fellowship and creativity.
Being featured in this magazine is a humbling honor, but my true drive lies in seeing creativity transform lives, whether it’s a bride’s radiant smile, a testimony of faith, or a community uniting in purpose. As Psalm 139:14 reminds us, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Through Magnolia Grace Media LLC, I strive to reflect that truth in every moment I capture, weaving a tapestry of light, love, and faith that inspires us all.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life’s trials have a way of forging resilience, and my journey has been shaped by challenges that tested my strength and deepened my faith. In 2018, my health took a devastating turn, plunging me into the most difficult period of my life. Chronic medical struggles left me physically and emotionally drained, yet during this time, I became the primary caretaker for my husband’s father, who was gravely ill, pouring my heart into his care. My husband was also struggling, facing an uncertain career path with little success in his own ventures, making photography our family’s lifeline. Then, when COVID hit in 2020, the Las Vegas Strip, my livelihood as a wedding photographer, shut down. With my husband unemployed, I became the sole breadwinner, but the pandemic halted my work, leaving us in a frightening financial and emotional abyss.
Fear and uncertainty loomed, but by God’s grace, we persevered. Slowly, we rebuilt, finding new hope with our move to Mississippi. Starting Magnolia Grace Media LLC from scratch in a new community was daunting, but these trials: health struggles, caretaking, financial strain, and loss of stability strengthened my trust in God’s plan. They inspired me to create art and community initiatives like the Mosaic of Faith showcase and Lights of Testimony, which reflect redemption and hope. Each challenge has been a stepping stone, reminding me, as Psalm 139:14 declares, that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” capable of rising above hardship to shine His light.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As the founder of Magnolia Grace Media LLC in Hernando, Mississippi, I am a passionate photographer dedicated to capturing love, faith, and community through my lens. Renowned as one of Las Vegas’s top wedding photographers, I built an international reputation for immortalizing vibrant, sacred love stories in the wedding capital of the world. After relocating to Mississippi, I established my business to create art that transcends the frame, weaving narratives of hope and redemption. My work includes Lights of Testimony, a deeply personal photography project for the Mosaic of Faith showcase at Palmer Home for Children, where I pair local faith journeys with images and Bible verses. Beyond this, I organize community initiatives like fundraisers for local nonprofits, Paws & People sessions for the pet pantry, and photography camps, fostering fellowship and creativity while reflecting God’s beauty in every moment, inspired by Psalm 139:14.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
My journey as a wedding and portrait photographer is not my own; it’s a testament to divine light shining through me, where every act of service, a kind word, a helping hand, or a moment of shared compassion, reflects His glory. There’s nothing more profound than the people I meet and the stories they entrust to me, each one a privilege to capture in moments that will live forever. I carry the tender weight of clients who cherish a photograph with a departed grandmother or mother, or families clinging to images as their most treasured keepsakes amidst heartbreaking loss, making each shutter click feel like a sacred gift preserving love and irreplaceable memories. The thrill of an “Aha!” moment, when clients gasp, cry, or dance with joy at a raw photo that nails their vision, feels like my art winning an Oscar in real time. I live for the candid chaos, snapping an uncle breakdancing at a reception or a flower girl sneaking cake; those unscripted gems that give me a front row seat to life’s comedy show.
Yet, the sting of being ghosted hurts; I pour my heart into clear communication and editing galleries, only to wonder if clients loved, hated, or fled to Narnia when silence follows delivery. After nine years of mastering light and wrestling with styles, it’s humbling when someone credits my $5,000 camera as the real MVP.
Since moving from Las Vegas, I’ve become a pro at weather roulette, planning outdoor sessions only for rain, wind, or a surprise heatwave to turn everyone into sweaty marathon runners.
This industry is a wild ride of heartwarming highs and laughably frustrating lows, but those candid moments and joyful clients make every second worthwhile.
Pricing:
- Family Portraits starting at $200
- Weddings starting at $1800
- Seasonal Minis $100
- Light of Testimony- Donation based
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.magnoliagm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Magnolia_Grace_Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MagnoliaGraceMedia
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/magnolia-grace-media-hernando
