Honoring Through the Lens: Jenna Nord's Business Story
July 2, 2025 •Anya Wells

Jenna Nord first fell in love with photography in 2011 after taking community classes. Now, fourteen years later, she is using her talents to capture birth, motherhood, and more for people in Missoula and the surrounding areas. In addition to this work, she also does small business brand photography and wedding photography. Using her camera, Jenna captures vulnerable, powerful moments, creating space for reflection and celebration.
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The Birth of a Purpose-Driven Business
When Jenna gave birth to her fourth child, her sister photographed the birth. This firsthand experience formed Jenna’s passion for birth photography, and her belief in its importance. “...I really wanted to be able to offer other women in Missoula, Montana, and surrounding areas the opportunity to have that type of witnessing so they could have those memories and then do what felt was necessary with them, whether that be a grieving process or all the way through to celebration.”

Building a Business Rooted in Empathy
Along with skills in photography, Jenna brings a background in psychology to her work. This has enhanced her ability to connect with clients. Jenna also knows the importance of empathy, particularly when capturing such important and vulnerable moments. As a photographer, she is constantly working to relate to her clients to create a comfortable space that allows them to be themselves.
The Role of Community and Mentorship
Part of Jenna’s philosophy is that there is always more to learn. That’s why she continually seeks mentorship, coaching, and courses. She said, “We're never done learning, whether that's the skillset of photography or business or just how to relate as humans, just constantly looking for more avenues to do the internal work and have personal growth.” For Jenna, this includes learning as much as she can from others who work in her niche, including those with successes similar to those that she hopes to achieve for herself.
Community is another vital part of Jenna’s business development. She surrounds herself with other women business owners who serve as sources of wisdom, inspiration, and support.
Challenges of a Specialized Niche
The world of birth photography doesn’t come without its challenges. Jenna’s photography experiences frequent censorship due to nudity (or even perceived nudity) on social media and in community spaces. How does she carry on in the face of censorship? By focusing on the importance of her work. “...I'm willing to wake up every day and still just charge forward with resilience and heart because I feel that women's stories are important,” she said.
Impactful Client Stories and Co-Creation
Photography is not a one-way street for Jenna. She brings a comfortable, safe space for women to express themselves. In turn, her clients bring trust and vulnerability. “It's really humbling to have a woman just start to cry in front of the camera or to express rage and grief, things that we often as women are not wildly accepted to express in society. And so to be able to see these expressions and capture it, I'm giving them permission, but then they're equally giving me the permission back. And so it's a co-creation.”
Jenna Nord’s work is more than photography, it’s a practice of witnessing, honoring, and holding space for women during some of life’s most profound moments. Through her lens, she captures stories that offer visual anchors for celebration, grief, healing, and empowerment. Jenna’s journey is a testament to the power of community, lifelong learning, and the courage to tell stories that deserve to be seen.
If you are interested in hearing more of Jenna’s story, you can watch the full video below!
To read the video's transcript, click here.
Connect with Jenna on Instagram @jennanordphotography or her website.
Professional photos were taken by Whitney Sarah Photography. Follow her on Instagram @whitneysarahphotography.
Want to hear more stories about Montana women entrepreneurs? Click here to explore the Rocky Mountain Women in Business Series library.
Are you a woman business owner in Montana? Click here to learn more and apply to tell your story!
Interview by Anya Wells, RMWBC Marketing Assistant and Storytelling Extraordinaire
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