Preserving Stories and Legacies, One Photo at a Time
Jacqui O’Shea’s journey to entrepreneurship didn’t follow a straight line. Starting at just 19, she built a successful career in technology and sales—spanning hardware, SaaS, e-commerce, and leading high-performing teams at Fortune 500 companies.
Then, everything changed.
A major company restructure resulted in widespread layoffs, including Jacqui and the team she had worked tirelessly to build. Suddenly, she was facing the question so many entrepreneurs encounter unexpectedly: What’s next?
Burned out on tech and uninterested in returning to another corporate role, Jacqui knew it was time for something different—something more meaningful.
The Thumb Drive That Changed Everything
A New England native and the youngest of four siblings, Jacqui had long been the unofficial “keeper” of her family’s photos and memories. After both parents passed away, boxes and bins of photos, journals, and recordings began piling up in her basement—along with a growing sense of guilt and overwhelm.
Determined not to ship these irreplaceable items away, Jacqui found a local professional to help her digitize and preserve them. What emerged was extraordinary: audio recordings of her mother singing opera, journals from uncles who had lived in southern France, and decades of family photos.
On New Year’s Eve 2022, Jacqui drove home clutching a thumb drive filled with newly uncovered history. As her uncle’s voice filled the car—sharing stories of life abroad and world travels—Jacqui realized she was discovering parts of her family’s story she never knew existed. That experience changed everything.
The woman who helped Jacqui introduced her to The Photo Managers, a global organization dedicated to preserving memories. Jacqui joined within a week and attended their conference just 60 days later.
“I was so inspired and emotionally moved by my own experience,” Jacqui says. “I knew I wanted to help others overcome the overwhelm and indecision that keeps these stories hidden.”
Magic Lantern Memories was born.
The name came to her instinctively. Later, she learned that a “magic lantern” was an early image projection device invented in the late 1800s—glass images projected onto walls for storytelling and entertainment. The symbolism felt perfect.
It Takes a Village—and the SBDC
Jacqui knew she couldn’t build this business alone.
She learned about the NH Small Business Development Center (SBDC) through one of The Photo Managers’ calls and was connected with SBDC Advisor Andrea O’Brien.
“We hit it off right away,” Jacqui says. “Andrea is like a dose of B12 for my business!”
Andrea helped Jacqui navigate early-stage decisions—from contracts and business structure to choosing between an LLC and S-Corp. In January 2023, Jacqui officially formed her NH-based LLC and immediately began building her website.
Beyond the basics, Andrea became a connector and champion. She introduced Jacqui to key referral partners—including an estate sales owner and a senior move management company—both of which led directly to new clients and business growth. Andrea also consistently shared information about grants, funding opportunities, and resources tailored to Jacqui’s needs.
Through Andrea, Jacqui learned about the NH Community Loan Fund, which enabled her to invest in specialized digitization equipment. Today, she can carefully preserve delicate photos and documents—some dating back to the 1800s.
From Chaos to Joy
Today, Jacqui helps families and businesses transform chaos into clarity—and memories into lasting legacies. She offers white-glove services, handling everything from pickup to meticulous preservation in her studio. She also works collaboratively with clients who want to be involved, guiding them through organizing collections, creating video montages, legacy books, and audio documentation.
With a natural talent for training and teaching, Jacqui partners with complementary professionals to help them add preservation services to their own offerings. She connects them with the right tools, resources, and education to get started.
As more memories face the risk of being lost, Jacqui’s mission is simple: give people meaningful options to preserve what matters most.
Looking Ahead
Jacqui’s long-term vision includes opening a brick-and-mortar location, potentially in partnership with another aligned business. In the coming year, she plans to expand her B2B services—helping business owners with 30+ years of history document their stories and preserve their legacies.
Advice for Fellow Entrepreneurs
When asked what advice she’d offer aspiring entrepreneurs, Jacqui doesn’t hesitate:
“Understand that it takes an army. No one person can do it all.”
She encourages business owners to lean on coaches, advisors, and mentors—and to take full advantage of low-cost and no-cost resources like the SBDC.
“Keep your ears, eyes, and heart open when networking,” she adds. “You never know who you’ll meet or where it might lead.”
Looking back, Jacqui credits the NH SBDC—and Andrea’s belief in her—for helping turn an idea into a thriving business.
Now on a mission to help others reconnect with their loved ones and stories, Jacqui O’Shea has found her calling—combining her love of people, storytelling, and preservation into something truly magical.