Vanessa A. Simmons

PHOTOGRAPHER

Media Communications Expert & Brand Strategist Career Profile

Location: Chula Vista, San Diego County

With 15 years of digital media expertise in photography, video, web design, I have positioned my business communications client work and strategy to ignite the personal branding efforts of entrepreneurs looking to stand out in their industry. My social media marketing projects are positively featured in the international press, and my public speaking and professional coaching align with a self-published International Amazon Bestseller. I am a strong adaptable visual artist and writer ready to bring my leadership skills and industry knowledge to emerging public figures and organizations who are ready to create a global impact and leave a lasting legacy.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

EDUCATION

2025 Strategic Communication

Point Loma Nazarene University - Currently Enrolled

2025 Brand Management: Aligning Business, Brand, & Behavior

Certificate of Completion - University of London

2025 Goal Setting to Success Coach

Certificate of Completion - Transformation Academy, Inc.

2021 Blactation Educator
Certificate of Completion - The B.L.A.C.K. Course

2020 Professional Speaker

Certificate of Completion - Les Brown Power Voice Academy

2018 Certificated Lactation Educator Counselor
UCSD Extension Lactation Education

2011-2013 Professional Photographer

Southwestern College

2011 General & Physical Education

San Diego City College

2004-2005 Ancient Greek & Biblical Studies

Southern California Seminary

2003-2004 Communications & Biblical Studies

San Diego Christian College

2001-2002 Philosophy & Choreography
Middle of Tennessee State University

2000-2001 Dance & Choreography
Southwestern College

PUBLISHING

PRINTED BOOKS
2023 Latch The Gap:

The Powerhouse Advocate's Guide to Help

Black Parents Know Better & Do Better

International Amazon Bestseller

EBOOKS

2023 Latch the Gap

2024 "Burnout to Breakthrough"

Co-authored by Oz & Vanessa Simmons

2021 "10 Steps To Alignment with Your Life Assignment"

BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY, DEVELOPMENT, AND STRATEGY

2025 Brand Advertising Retainer & Launch

Nikki Lee Health - Nashville, TN

2025 Brand Strategy & Launch

Ma Chere Lab, Xavier University - New Orleans, LA

2024 Brand Landing Page Design

Fayth Polite Solutions

2024 Brand Photography & Video

4Kira4Moms, Black Maternal Health Week - Google, San Francisco, CA

2024 BMHW Logo Design

Ma Chere Lab, Xavier University - New Orleans, LA

2024 BMHW Non-Profit Media Kit Design

Flourishing Families Inc. 501c3

2024 Business Logo Design

Marbella Creations

2023 Personal Brand Photography

Joyful Home Sales - Tamara Peterson Realtor

2022 Personal Brand Photography

A RISE To Greatness - Dr. LaQueta R. Hatton

2020 Personal Brand Photography

The Black Doula - Sabia Wade

2019 Personal Brand Headshot
Gaby Cavins

2018 Commercial Branding Photography

Philadelphia Department of Public Health - Division of Maternal, Child & Family Health

2018 Commercial Branding Production & Event Photography

MIT Media Lab Hackathon Event

2018 Commercial Branding Photography UNC at Chapel Hill Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute Childcare Posters

2018 Personal Brand Photography

LATCH: A Breastfeeding Handbook for Confidence at Every Stage

San Diego Breastfeeding Center - Robin Kaplan, IBCLC

2017 Commercial Branding Strategy & Production

Philadelphia Department of Public Health - Division of Maternal, Child & Family Health

2016 Commercial Brand Strategy & Photography

Novant Health Foundation

2016 Commercial Brand Photography

The Babywearing Handbook

2016 Brand Strategy & Design

National WIC Association Conference

2015-2017 Brand Photography, Development, & Strategy

Normalize Breastfeeding Tour

2015 Commercial Event Photography

California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit

2014 Brand Photography

Normalize Breastfeeding

2013 Web Designer

California Families for Access To Midwives

2013 Brand Photography, Development, & Strategy

Asian Persuasion Food Truck

2011 Commercial Event Photography

California Associations of Licensed Midwives

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2025 Resilient Advocacy: Practical Strategies to Help Breastfeeding Supporters Thrive Without Burnout

GOLD Lactation Conference | Virtual Speaker

2025 Entrepreneurship And The Courage to Carry On

Los Angeles Metro T.E.C.W. Talk

2024 Latch the Gap: Author Meet & Greet, Book Reading, Q&A

Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere Breastfeeding & Equity Summit | Virtual Speaker

2024 Pay to Play: How to Amplify Your Brand with Social Media Advertising

California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit | Virtual Speaker

2022 Latch the Gap: How to Build Bridge for Black Birth & Breastfeeding Justice

Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere Breastfeeding & Equity Summit | New Orleans, LA

2020 Liberate Millennials from the Pressure to Breastfeed With the Power of Social Media

GOLD Lactation Conference | Virtual Speaker

2019 Capturing WIC Stories and Supporting Families with Social Media

Texas State WIC Conference | Austin, TX

2019 The Purpose of Capturing WIC Stories and Supporting Families with Social Media

National WIC Association Educational Conference | Baltimore, MD

KEYNOTE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2024 Latch the Gap: How to Build Bridge for Black Birth & Breastfeeding Justice

San Ysidro Health WIC 50th Anniversary | San Ysidro, CA

2020 Liberate Millennials from the Pressure to Breastfeed With the Power of Social Media

MAINE WIC Conference | Virtual Speaker

2020 Liberate Millennials from the Pressure to Breastfeed With the Power of Social Media

INDIANA WIC Conference | Virtual Speaker

SPEAKING PRESENTATIONS

2024 Powerhouse Advocate Strategies to Normalize Breastfeeding

Conference Presentation, CityMatCH Epidemiology & Maternal Health Conference | Seattle, WA

2023 Latch the Gap:

How to Build Bridge for Black Birth & Breastfeeding Justice - Poster Presentation
California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit | Virtual Presentation

2019 Building your Breastfeeding Support Group with Social Media - Stage Presentation
California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit | Anaheim, CA

2016 Lunch & Learn - "Normalize Breastfeeding" A Talk for Clinicians - Conference Presentation

Novant Health Hospital | Charlotte, NC

2015 Uprooting Misrepresentations of Black Breastfeeding Mothers in Today’s Modern Literature - Conference Presentation, Black Mother’s Breastfeeding Association | Detroit, MI

2015 Spoken Word Poetry - “At the Breast” - Stage Presentation

California Breastfeeding Coalition Summit | Anaheim, CA

PODCASTS

2025 PREMIER

Focused & Fulfilled Podcast w/ Oz & Vanessa

2015-CURRENT

Normalize Breastfeeding Podcast

AWARDS / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS / EXHIBITIONS

2021 Power Voice Summit Speaker & Summit/Program Closer
Les Brown Power Voice Academy

2018 20 Billboards & City-Wide Media Saturation

Philadelphia Department of Public Health

2018 Portrait Gallery Exhibition: Make the Breast Pump Not Suck Hackathon