Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Ciesielski.
Hi Jen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey with photography and travel blogging began at different times. In high school, my mom encouraged me to take a photography class. I had been focused primarily on science and math courses, but she wanted me to challenge myself. She said I needed to step out of my comfort zone, and she was right! I loved it! From there, photography remained a hobby while pursuing a chemistry degree. After my Ph.D., I moved to Switzerland for work and started traveling around Europe. This is where I caught the travel bug. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop. The more I traveled, the more I wanted to capture the beauty of the world around me. Then, after visiting 40+ countries, I decided to start an adventure travel and photography blog, Dabbling in Jet Lag. And this is when my two passions merged. I never intended to start a business with it, but I had found my true happiness. The entire process, from planning a trip to writing the final blog post, is rewarding. I love photographing these places and showing just how magnificent our world is. But the best part is inspiring others to pursue their dreams and travel the world.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been some struggles along the way. On the travel blogging side, I needed to learn web design, marketing, and how to write a story people would want to read about. Since I come from a completely different field, it took me a lot of time. I took online classes and studied a lot! And while I was doing that, I was still traveling. It can be a lot to juggle sometimes. I’m still learning, but I have a good understanding of how it all works. Then, there’s the photography side. The editing process was and is difficult. I knew how I wanted my photos to look, but getting them to look that way is another story. This part is very personal, so I spent countless months perfecting my style. I’m finally at a point where I can say I’m happy with my pictures.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My travel blog contains carefully crafted guides and itineraries from the places I visit. I spend a lot of time in one place to be as thourough as possible. Then, I use my photography to inspire others to travel to that destination. My niche is mainly travel photography, but because I love to hike, I also do landscape and nature photography. I’ve been lucky enough to be featured on several other blogs, but I’m proudest of my website itself. I never thought I would get it to where it is today. It’s been a long journey but a rewarding one.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people are surprised that I left my career in chemistry for something that wasn’t guaranteed. I had a relatively stable job, but I was miserable. Traveling, photography and writing made me happy. It started as a creative outlet that transformed into a full-time job. But I wouldn’t even call it a job. It’s what I love to do. It was a natural transition, but it might not appear obvious when I tell the story. I knew what made me happy, and I just followed that path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dabblinginjetlag.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dabblinginjetlag/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dabblinginjetlag/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dabbleinjetlag
