I had the honor of photographing Janelle Pacheco Winowich. Janelle, thank you so much for the opportunity.
I asked Janelle to tell me about herself. This is what she said:
“My family always tries to infuse humor into everything. My mom was in a car accident when I was 4 and she was disabled, in and out of hospitals, lots of surgery, very up and down. I had to say goodbye at least once. Thankfully, my mom is doing much better today! My father had to work several jobs to support our family. Being the first in my family to get a bachelor’s and master’s degree is one of my greatest achievements.
Because of my childhood I take hold of everything, have a wide world view and look at all experiences as opportunities. My experiences with my family and competitive sports have given me a calm demeanor, I perform well under pressure and I can adapt quickly. I lead with empathy and being very open-minded. I found my niche in product development and my career has skyrocketed from there. I’m a big champion for women in the workplace, especially in tech. Being a Latina in tech I have been able to enter the room where I am the “only”, and because of my experiences and support system, I’ve been able to overcome the imposter syndrome. The last several years I’ve felt that I’ve been transitioning to more of a mentor, making sure women and minorities have a voice in the workplace. I want to ensure others see someone like them in the room where it happens. I transitioned from Ad Tech into Web3 recently and have completely immersed myself in this exciting space.”
Janelle’s takeaway – Be confident in what you bring to the table and find your group of supporters that encourage and support you completely.
Janelle, thank you so much for being a mentor and making sure people have a voice in the workplace!
About Alissa
Alissa Randall is a portrait photographer based in New Jersey and New York City, known for creating images that feel both elevated and deeply personal. While professional headshots remain a cornerstone of her work, her photography has grown to include personal branding, women’s empowerment, family connection sessions, and expressive portraits of dogs and the people who love them.
Her approach blends editorial artistry with empathy and guidance, helping people feel comfortable enough to be fully seen in front of the camera. Whether photographing an executive, an entrepreneur, a family, or a beloved dog, Alissa creates photographs that reflect more than appearance. They reflect presence, personality, connection, and story.
Alissa photographs in NJ, NYC, and on location beyond the tri-state area. Explore more of her work on the homepage and discover stories behind the images on the blog.