I opened Jackie Romine Photography November 1, 2001 and have always strived to provide beautiful pictures that don't cost a pretty penny.
For the first 15 years my studio set next to my house located in Vilonia, Arkansas. In 2016 we inherited a home on the Arkansas River at Toad Suck and moved the family but kept the studio where it was in Vilonia. 3 years go by and it is perfection. Life on the river was grand. Then in May of 2019 the Arkansas River sustained historical flooding and water flooded our house. We spent the next 4 months living in a camper and repairing the damage that was caused to our home. While living in the camper all I wanted was to not have to cook outside every day so I started day dreaming on Zillow and thats when I found the most magical place in Perryville. A 1917, 3,000 sq ft, Four square, 2 story home on commerical property surrounded by a white picket fence! It was my deam studio. MY DREAM. Now, I was on a mission. Not only were we dealing with a natural disaster and living in a camper but I wanted this place. So we started the pain staking process of listing the studio in Vilonia for sale and purchasing my dream studio. In November of 2019 we closed on the most perfect place to run my business out of. It was absolutly gorgeous. I was living my dream. In early February I picked up 2 schools to photograph and not even 2 weeks later and Covid hit. Everything shuts down.
In less than 8 months our home was hit with historical flood waters, we sold the first house I ever purchased on my own, bought commercial property, moved my business and witnessed the world shut down.
But thats just where it starts getting good. Since everything was shut down for Covid that gave me the opportunity to be able to put time into the new studio. I painted, I cleaned, I decorated. I had time to do what needed. It was perfect. Fast forward a couple months, Schools started opening back up, summer hits and I was blessed to picked up another school to shoot. 3 schools kept me busy, time just keeps chugging along. My youngest graduates, moves out. I'm an empty nester. Life is grand. Word of mouth spreads and I picked up another school. 4 schools in total. How blessed was I? So blessed.
Moving right along, its early 2024, my youngest son gets engaged, my business is growing substantially and I need help. So my husband and I start throwing around the idea of him quiting his job of 20 years and being my right hand man. Soo thats just what happens. March 2024 was his last month working for "the man" and in April, he started working for "the woman" Me!! LOL!! It's been 8 months. In those 8 months I've doubled the number of schools I photograph, 8 total now. My husband and I busted hiney and turned the studio into a gorgeous wedding venue for my son and his now wife.
And that leads us to where we are today. The year is 2025 and I pray our story only continues to grow and allows us to bless others as we have been.
Jackie Romine-Atkinson
