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Stop Hiding + Make It Happen
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I have two social crutches in my life: my camera and my phone. I hate admitting how uncomfortable I become in new situations or when I'm alone in public. I'm the kind of girl who'll eat in the car before eating alone in a restaurant...ugh. I want to delete the sentence I just wrote, but I'll leave it in light of keeping it real.
If I am alone in public, I am usually comforted by my phone or my camera, as I can hide behind a thin veil of technology. This was the case yesterday when I was commissioned to photograph a surprise proposal at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles. As I tried to camofluague my presence poolside, I was happy to be resting behind my camera and see the world from behind my lens. |
In the quiet moment, I remembered an email I received from a photographer that morning worried she wouldn't be able to leave her day job and become a full time photographer. What if I'm not good enough, she asked. The email was littered with doubt, but I told her to just do it. Just make her dreams happen.
Is it not what life is about? Finding your goal or passion and then making it happen? So often we cut ourselves short because we think of a thousand reasons why we can't do something, when we should pour that energy into figuring how to make it a reality. I completely understand there are mortgages, health care, school loans, and a lingering bill for laser hair removal you need to take care of before you drop everything and run toward your dream, but don't you at least want to take one step toward it? First, set your goal. Second, vocalize your dream to your trusted allies. Third, create an action plan to make things happen. Even if it takes ten months or ten years to make it a reality, work toward it. It's liberating if you're stuck in a windowless office and a sack lunch under your desk. Trust me, I was there too.
Sitting on the rooftop at sunset made me realize how happy I was to have worked toward my dreams. I sat my camera down and instead of hiding behind the lens, I let the sun fall on my face and embraced the moment. I hope wherever you are in the process of following your dreams you don't lean on your crutches or hide behind veils of excuses...go out and make things happen. |
    
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Ojai Wedding Photos in a Teepee
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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T hey met in college as friends. Amanda tried to strategically choose her seat according to where Nate sat and hoped they'd strike up long, meaningful, and deep conversations in a casual way so it didn't look like she was trying as hard as she was. But Nate was oblivious to her seat picking and simply saw Amanda as the sweet girl who made him smile.
The semester ended and though they were both English majors, Nate and Amanda didn't see each other much until she crossed his mind a couple months later. Again and again. Nate took a chance and sent her a message through Facebook and what he didn't see at the time was Amanda's reaction to his message. OH MY GOODNESS THE CUTE GUY FROM MY ENGLISH CLASS MAY OR MAY NOT BE HITTING ON ME!!!
That was the start of their whirlwind college romance which later led to a wedding and starting a life together. Much has changed since their English class days (they got a cute house, started a photography business, and adopted an adorable dog), but they decided to revive wedding memories for the sake of photos. And I couldn't have been more honored to document their love. |
| Nate and Amanda secured a perfect shoot location in Ojai, California for wedding photos...every inch was stunning... |
| And the light was beyond... |
| Many thanks to Jesi Haack for creating a stunning bouquet... |
| Oh, Amanda...you are beyond--BEYOND--stunning!! |
| One of the best things I learned about Amanda was that she sourced vintage clothes during college, restyled them, and sold them in an Etsy store...that's how she paid for college. She's even so creative she made her own wedding dress...love it! |
| After a few traditional wedding photos, the shoot took a slight spin to really show their personalities... |
| The lovely and uber talented Jesi Haack styled the shoot to reflect a Wes Andersen-inspired twist on camping... |
| I was so, so, so (that's three so's) thankful to have Beauty by Melina onsite for hair and makeup...I adore working with her and her sense of styling... |
| I asked Nate and Amanda for a few words on being newlyweds and if they had advice... I think it's good to frequently ask each other how you are doing. It's a simple question, but sometimes when you ask you find out that you had no clue your partner was even feeling a certain way. As cheesy as it sounds, make time to snuggle. 5 minutes of daily snuggling should be mandatory! ;) Don't stop being silly with one another...ever. Laughter is so important. And lastly, always remember how lucky you are that you got to marry your best friend. (These last 2 sentences are Nate's contribution. He's a man of few words...but a few heart-melting words)." |
| I'm incredibly honored to have this shoot featured on Green Wedding Shoes, so to see more photos, feel free to check it out! |
I f you've been following this blog for a while, you'll know I'm pretty serious about working out and JD...well my husband likes his workout to center around food. He'll do squats (on his way to the fridge) or ride his bike (to IHOP). Much to my delight and surprise JD took up swimming and he's been pretty dedicated. Most days you'll find him at the pool, so yesterday Polo and I decided to take a break and visit him.
Polo was feeling left out, so I snagged an extra pair of goggles and together we made quite the cheer squad. I'm sure JD loved every.last.minute of it... |
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Crestwood Inn Wedding : Lanier+Scott
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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T he house was filled with such beautiful decor it gave the impression it was made from the forest in which it resided. The floor, the ceiling, the chandelier were made of various woods, like the trees that once were took pride in their final form. Lanier's mom glided across the living room with trays of food, or jewelry, or a bouquet of flowers, ensuring her daughter was well taken care of. Because, well, the house was a place of respite and would continue to be on the wedding day.
Their vacation home in Blowing Rock, North Carolina was a special place, but for two memories in particular. A few years ago, Lanier valiantly battled cancer and after being treated by amazing doctors at UNC (Go Tarheels!), she recuperated in her family's cabin. Surrounded by trees and the sounds of birds singing, Lanier promised God to live a beautiful life if she was granted time.
Not only was Lanier granted time, God brought someone special into her life. Once Scott and Lanier met, their lives flipped upside down. Together they inspired their friends and family to shine brightly and give generously, but it wasn't until Scott spent the weekend with her family in their vacation home that he realized Lanier was destined to become his wife.
The trees and the forest on their wedding day reached their arms toward heaven and swayed in delight as two beautiful souls promised each other eternity.
Lanier and Scott, I have no words. To adequately sum up everything you are, the beauty of your day, and the fun of your wedding would be impossible, but what I hope is that these photos document your unadulterated love. Thank you for making us feel like part of the family (your dad invited us for holiday dinners, so don't be surprised if we show up again soon!) and surrounding us in your amazing care. The world is so much better with you two in it. Much Love and Appreciation... j* |
| Lanier donned a stunning Ines Di Santo gown. She made personal customizations to it with her seamstress for a unique look and I think it was perfectly suited for her! And just look at this stunner of a ring... |
| Lanier and I tried conspiring to have her dog a part of the wedding, but her father wasn't having any of it...at least she was around for prep photos! |
| The day started at Lanier's family's vacation home in Blowing Rock, North Carolina and just one weekend in that glorious state and now I swear I have roots there. I'm trying to be Southern without appearing like I'm trying too hard, y'all. And, boom, I failed. |
| Lanier and her father have such a special relationship...it made me teary-eyed at some points. The ring she is wearing on her right hand was given to her by her father years ago as a promise to wait for the perfect man to become her husband...as a wedding surprise for Scott, she removed one of the diamonds and set it on the inside of his wedding ring. She stayed true to her promise to her father. |
The wedding and reception was held at Crestwood Inn and Resort in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The wedding was supposed to outdoors, but it was pouring rain just hours before the ceremony...lo and behold, when the ceremony started, the sun peeked and made for an amazing background.
Just look how happy Lanier's dad is... |
| As they walked down the aisle, a choir sang and the sun burst from the clouds...like heaven itself was celebrating too! |
| Lanier and Scott carved out time for wedding photos and a moment to relax together and now I'm convinced every backdrop for North Carolina wedding photos is just perfect. Amen. |
| Oh, Lanier, just GO ON with your gorgeous self! |
| The details and the flow of the wedding day wouldn't have been possible without Ivy Robinson and her effortless coordination and design. She was the hardest working woman at the event and handled everything with such class...loved working with her! |
| The wedding was filled from top to bottom with so many flowers...it was like walking through the most stunning garden. Ever. Many thanks to John Lupton + Andrew Thomas for the stunning florals. |
| I don't even know where to begin to describe this wedding reception...suffice to say, it was so darn amazing I wanted to be a guest!!! The food, the music, the guests...everything was elegant, soul-filling, and perfect. |
| There aren't enough adjectives I could use to describe my love for The Party Crashers Band. They were flown in from Salt Lake City, Utah for this wedding and they were beyond. Beeeeyond. So much fun!! I couldn't help but shake along with them and they made the night extra amazing! |
| A perfect way to end a perfect day... |
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How to Get Client Feedback
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Dear Jasmine,
I love shooting weddings and feel like I pour my heart into my photos. When I send off the finished photos to the bride, I feel like I'm handing over a little piece of me. I get so excited to hear what the bride thinks... I wait, and wait... and wait.
Nothing.
Okay- so now to the actual question. Do you send a follow up survey? If so, other than "do you like the photos?", what kinds of questions would you ask?
Sincerely,
Feedback-less
Dear Feedback-less,
Firstly, I have to say you're not alone. As creatives, we look for affirmation from others, but--specifically--our clients because our work captured a moment in their lives. We're allowed to share in intimate moments and document a deeply personal time, so of course we desire feedback. But sometimes we don't get it. |
I think it has less to do with your clients' not liking your photos and more to do with their assumption you know they like them. After all, they hired you. Clients are attributing a large portion of their wedding budget to invest in your services, so naturally they'd assume you know they like your work. If they're sharing their wedding photos on Facebook or using one of your photos as their new profile pictures, then rest assured...they like them.
If, however, you're looking for ways to have clients express their feelings, it's best to establish a relationship before the wedding. If your client interactions are largely transactional in nature (book a wedding, shoot an engagement session, shoot a wedding) without personal communication (send a hand-written note, surprise them with a gift, write on their Facebook wall, etc) then you can't really expect them to treat you any differently than other business interactions. To put it simply, when is the last time you sent a thank you note to the guy who cut your hair? In most clients' minds, you're doing what they hired you to do...regardless of how personal you feel it is.
To answer your question, no, I don't send a survey or any sort of post-wedding form for feedback. However, quite a few of my clients will send emails, notes, or gifts because along the course of our working relationship, we found ways to connect on a personal level. If you'd like feedback, I encourage you to find ways to care and connect with your clients throughout your working relationship. This will yield stronger communication and personal conversations that lead to written responses you desire.
Stay Fabulous,
j*
To read more Dear Jasmine posts, feel free to click HERE. |
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