Born in Hampton Roads, VA, Jesse grew up in a historically-rich area. She explored Yorktown/Williamsburg battlefields and beaches, played baseball with her cousins, loved to swim, watched airplanes take-off and land at the local airport, and travelled the area looking at available land for future construction projects with her grandparents. During the middle of elementary school, Jesse moved to Fort Worth, TX with her mother and older sister. While living in the heart of Texas, Jesse fell in love with Tex-Mex food, playing sports, experiencing the cowboy culture, and the sprawling Texas landscape. 8 years later, Jesse's family moved back to Virginia the summer before she started high school.

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Jesse spent most of her free time playing basketball and softball as well as attending flight school to become an airplane pilot. In the summer of 2003, Jesse assisted her uncle, grandfather and cousin to build a new residential construction project. From the foundation to the interior design, she was hooked on construction. Jesse decided to shelve being a pilot, at least in the meantime. 

 

During her junior year of high school, Jesse met Bari, a fellow Virginia native and headstrong punk-rocking skater girl. Bari and Jesse became instant best friends and bonded through their mutual love for Disney films. By the end of high school, Bari and Jesse's love blossomed and they became high school sweethearts. In the summer of 2005, Bari and Jesse traveled to England, France and Spain on a pre-college adventure. During that trip, they both gained an affinity for travel expeditions. 

 

Jesse attended Virginia Tech and majored in Cinema/TV Studies.  She excelled in her academics and found her calling in visual storytelling. Bari attended Ferrum College, 45 miles from Virginia Tech, and majored in Health/Pre-Vet Sciences. Bari quickly found a passion for animals--from livestock to canines, felines to wildlife, exotics to aquatics and everything in between.

 

In April 2007, there was a mass shooting on the Virginia Tech campus. Gratefully Jesse was not on campus at the time of the incident; however, the course of events marked her forever. After graduating university in 2009, Jesse decided to shift gears, help her community and start a career in public service.

 

For the next 12 years, Jesse honed her construction skills, community leadership, law enforcement conservancy, and expanding her travel photography. Most people consider Jesse a Jill-of-all-trades. She is self-motivated and quick to learn almost anything to which she puts her mind.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, like most people, Jesse realized a reduction in her quality of life. She pursued a Part 107 Unmanned Aircraft Systems certification and aced her Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) knowledge exam.

 

Jesse became a licensed drone pilot and a subsequent flight trainer and educator for her local police department's tactical drone unit. Jesse's focus officially shifted from custom residential construction to search-and-rescue missions and aerial drone videography. Meanwhile, Bari efficiently learned most aspects of animal husbandry and care. During her post-college years, Bari worked as an exotic animal keeper, a zoo summer camp educator, a pet supply retail merchandise manager, an in-home pet sitter, a veterinary hospital kennel manager and inevitably a veterinary assistant. 

 

With a risky strategy, an abundance of faith and a purposeful dream, Bari, Jesse and their mixed-breed puppy, Rook, moved their life in Hampton Roads, Virginia to Kill Devil Hills, NC. Together, they prioritized their quality of life by traveling the world, experiencing different cultures and cuisines, as well as expanding their social connections. In 2023, Bari decided to continue her education to become a licensed veterinary technician. She is currently enrolled part-time in courses while working as a veterinary assistant at a local Outer Banks veterinary hospital. 

 

Jesse's daring acts of composition to produce a quality image coupled with her editing prowess established the company name of Jesse Filter. When you view a Jesse Filter image, know that you're not only experiencing a memorable screenshot of time, but also a uniquely-crafted storyboard of life only seen through Jesse's eyes. Contact us to schedule a meet-and-greet. We want to get to know you. Let us be a part of your story as we highlight your next Outer Banks adventure!