3 minute read
INFOCUS
KEEPING THE ENTREPRENEUR
SPIRIT ALIVE THROUGH CREATIVITY
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WRITTEN BY JUDY GOPPERT
Perseverance, talent, family, and a vivacious personality have propelled Jami Bowman to find work she truly loves. She wears several hats: photographer, DJ, karaoke aficionado, and super mom! She also shares her skills taking photos as part of our SIMPLYkc team.
Sometimes the traditional road of working a nine to five job is simply not enough to raise children and live the life we desire. That is where plan B comes in, and this has worked in spades for Jami Bowman.
“I began as a young, struggling, single mom who needed to figure out how to survive and raise my kids on my own. I was headstrong about not being labeled as a statistic. I wanted to prove to everyone (and myself) that I could succeed,” Bowman explains. “I quickly learned that I could not support or raise my kids on my own by working the job I had with the expense of daycare, so I enrolled at Johnson County Community College to study business and entrepreneurship.”
Bowman enjoyed singing karaoke in her free time and developed friends who were karaoke hosts. I can do that! she thought, so at the age of 21 she started her own karaoke/DJ business by going venue to venue selling DJ gigs.
This business that she built from the ground up is still going strong after 21 years, and she currently has four DJs who work in her company as well as her now-adult children.
“We offer mobile DJ, karaoke, music bingo, and trivia. My DJ company is called Electric Entertainment and I go by DJ Jami,” smiles Bowman. “We DJ several locations around Kansas City on a weekly basis.”
As a further testament to her ambition, she acted on her true passion, photography, at age 35. She is selftaught, learning about photography entirely by experimentation, hard work, and dedication—and the good old internet.
“I reached out to a few amazing professional KC photographers and asked if they would mentor me. I have learned a lot from them and still do!” says Bowman. “I love growing and learning new things. I always set a high standard for myself and take pride in making people happy. I love being challenged.”
It is evident that her favorite part about being an entrepreneur is creating her own opportunities and destiny, for herself as well as for others.
Her photography company is called Electric Imagez, and she has two other photographers working for her. Personally, she is known as Jami Bowman Photography and has been a profes-
Above: Jami Bowman
photo by jami bowman
photo by jami bowman photo by jami bowman
sional photographer for seven years.
“I enjoy taking photos of people— capturing real, beautiful moments. I look forward to each and every session. I enjoy lifestyle photography the most,” explains Bowman. “I have been a photographer for SIMPLYkc Magazine for four years.”
Her family plays a big role in her business as well. And she is no longer a single mom, as she found her perfect teammate a few years ago. He is supportive of her and all her ideas.
“He’s the muscles, builder, and support behind the scenes. He does everything from building photo backdrops, props, setting up for shoots, carrying heavy equipment or being my model to practice on,” laughs Bowman. “My kids have also been my models throughout the years while I was learning photography.”
Veronica Sanford, whose son had his senior photos taken by Bowman, said, “Thank you sooo much! You always do such a great job. You do amazing work!”
Another mom of a senior, Sarah McCoy Keady, commented, “Thank you for the beautiful pictures of my girl. They are exactly what I wanted!”
Bowman even plans to open a wedding and event venue on her property in Paola, Kansas. “I love being creative, and making people feel confident through photography,” she says. And there are many ways she accomplishes this.
Above: Jami Bowman, owner of Electric Imagez Photography, Photo by Beth Houts
Electric Imagez Photography • electricimagez.com • 913.938.6771 SIMPLYkc Special: Mention this article to receive a free 8x10 print.
