I recently had the honor of photographing Jenny Fuss. I asked her to tell me about her story, and this is what she said: “Mine is a story of facing challenges and adapting to the situation.”
Jenny moved from Germany to China while taking a significant step in the corporate ladder. The company she joined had a couple of operational challenges, a lack of resources, and insufficient talents on deck. Jenny needed to motivate people to do new things and change directions, but my straightforward German approach wasn’t resonating. Her business partner, the CEO, mentored her and helped her understand the culture better. Over the next few weeks, things started improving. Jenny grew, the team came together, and we turned the company around.
Jenny and her husband have lived in the US for almost 7 years now. She’s had to adapt to a new culture and practices, like being called “sweetheart” by a cashier in Houston, Texas. “I will never forget how my jaw dropped the first time it happened. But I learned to pause and understand cultural contexts and expectations before reacting. Today you might even overhear me calling someone ‘sweetheart’ when appropriate.”
Jenny’s life experiences have taught her how important it is to read and understand people around you—this is key to success. Today, life is still full of surprises, challenges, and opportunities.
Her surprise during this photoshoot is that I chose the pink outfit over the blue one! She laughed out loud. “I thought wearing blue would help me show up as ‘fitting in’ in the corporate world. Now I know and SEE it is not about fitting in; it is all about belonging as you are.”
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.