40 Under Forty: Jaime Kowal

Photographer/Entrepreneur

Kathy Strong 40 under Forty 2014

 

Jaime Kowal
Photographer/Entrepreneur
Age: 35

 

Jaime Kowal has worked as an editorial and commercial photographer, building her portfolio of work globally over the past 14 years while simultaneously developing her love and appreciation for all things design.

The midcentury architecture of a run-down apartment complex in Palm Springs caught Kowal’s artistic eye in 2013, she purchased the building, moved to the desert, and renovated it with an elegant “desert chic” aesthetic, repositioning it as a boutique hotel called The Amado.

“The Amado is consistently booked to a creative and celebrity clientele,” says Kowal, who is quickly adding more businesses to her portfolio.

An entrepreneur, Kowal has teamed with designer Chris Pardo for her recent enterprise, Ernest Coffee and Bootlegger Tiki.

“We wanted to create a design-driven atmosphere for our community to enjoy high-quality coffee and craft cocktails,” Kowal says. “I love building out ideas and seeing them come to life. Palm Springs is an exciting place to be now — there is so much energy in the city.”

Next, Kowal says she would like to spend more time photographing personal work including documentary and fine art projects.

“I’m an artist at heart and love getting lost in my art.”

 

VIDEO: Jaime Kowal says she is very loyal to good people.