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Okay, so I have this, this, that, and aeoiruazxcpeih…and sorilsekawrqawefh…and seitpeiadawrth…and… I was rambling like a complete buffoon as I listed the litany of things I needed to accomplish. JD placed his hands firmly on my shoulders and looked me in my scattered eyes.
It’s time for us to get you a good book, isn’t it?
And it was. Time for a good book, that is. Ever since childhood, reading was an escape; a place where my life was invisible and an environment where a protagonist was everything I wished I could be. Still to this day, I curl up with a good book and it calms the crazy aspects of my life.
I recently read a laundry list of mediocre books—none of them worth mentioning at all—but I thought I’d highlight some fresh reads that have rocked my world.
The World
First off, I read What is What by Dave Eggers while vacationing. I cried through the first third of the book and it radically changed my views of the world. It chronicles the life of a child who became part of the Lost Boys after the mass genocides in Sudan, who later was moved to the United States to create a new life. It’s poignant, humorous, wry, and truly emotional. I hope to one day travel to Sudan and take pictures of the remaining Lost Boys in hopes of educating the world of their plight.
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Business
I also read Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders. My good friend David Jay recommended it and I was hooked after the first three pages! It’s an easy read (I finished reading it entirely while sitting in a local Borders) and it’ll completely change the way you do business. LOVED it!
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American Politics
I recently finished A Bound Man by Shelby Steele. It was actually the subtitle that lured me in: “Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can’t Win”. The short book dissects the role race plays in American politics and it’s well crafted. I came to discover that the author—like Obama—is a biracial man, so his synthesis is heartfelt and he somehow finds a way to assess the situation without causing the reading to feel a sense of racial guilt. It’s interesting and a good read. However, I’m a political junkie, so be warned! ;)
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Fiction/Biography
I’m currently reading A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. I will not encourage or discourage anyone from reading this book. While I know it received plenty of slack due to the author’s fabrications of facts and history, it’s written painfully well. Regardless if it’s a memoir or fiction, the story is compelling and I view drug and alcohol addiction in a new light. However, please note that this book has inordinate amounts of vulgarity and drug-use descriptions. I’d hate for someone to read the book and blame me for corrupting their minds! Again, I am not endorsing the book, I’m merely stating I’m reading it. |
| And a special thanks to my buddy Eric McCarty for surprising me with a gift certificate to Audible.com, which is an online audio bookstore! I simply download a book and listen while I edit. Genius! What will they think of next?! ;) Thanks, Eric...you're the best! |
    
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The Perils of a Third Shooter
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I received a lovely surprise from Kimberlee a few days ago. Okay, well, it wasn't lovely per say, but I did get a hearty laugh! :)
My usual shooting preference is to have only one assistant shooter. I don't mind having two assistants, but I've grown accustomed to having only one by my side. Because JD's hand--after severely burning it while on vacation a few weeks ago--couldn't undergo the rigors of a full wedding-day shoot, I invited Kimberlee to come along. JD arrived to Helen and David's Wedding just in time for their First Look and Ceremony.
While JD and I often have fun capturing truly heinous pictures of each other while shooting, we were NOT AWARE there was another devious photographer in our midst! ;) As much as I cringed when I saw these pictures, I really like them! These are the first images I have of the two of us working together, so they hold a special place in my heart. Thanks, Kimmie...you're the best! |
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Details, Details Open House
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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Y esterday I had the pleasure of shooting Details, Details Wedding and Event Coordination as they hosted their first ever Open House. Jeannie Savage recently opened the doors to her new and beautiful studio in Irvine, California, so she asked if I’d be able to document a portion of the day.
Jeannie, Brooke, and Michelle are some of the hardest working women in the industry and they’ve carved a lovely niche for themselves. They attract fashion-forward and detail-oriented brides who want nothing but the absolute best from their wedding day…and it shows! Their work is constantly published, industry vendors turn to them in planning their own events, and they’re just so darn nice, you can’t help but love them!
For more information regarding their services, be sure to check out their website, and to see their most recent work, be sure to check out their blog!
The Details, Details studio... |
| Jeannie's shoes deserved a picture all their own...they were SO cute! A wedding client actually made them for her...in case any of my clients have the shoe hook-up, I wear a size 8.5!! ;) |
| The uber fabulous Jeannie Savage |
| The famous and electric Peter Papadopoulos was spinning on the ones and twos...okay, I'm not quite sure he was spinning exactly, but I've always wanted to say that! ;) Really, though, Peter is amazing and I've come to truly understand what makes him one of the most sought-after DJ's in southern California...he's awesome! |
| It was great seeing Aaron Delesie! It took everything in my power to NOT ask him about his experience photographing Lauri&George's wedding...you know, the beautiful couple from The Real Housewives of Orange County!! Geesh, I hate to admit it, but I love that show!! (Just kidding, dad!) |
| In case the dessert table wasn't enough, there was a candy bar stocked with goodies... |
| Brooke speaking with Annette of Triple Cord Photography...they'll be going to Kenya together on a charity trip together...they're amazing! :) |
| It was great seeing Drew...she's such a trooper! Here you can see her belly...AND SHE'S CARRYING HER CAMERA!!?! She's due in 10 days, but nothing stops this girl from snapping away! :) (love you, drew!) |
| A special thanks to Jeannie for inviting me to document this special day. Not only is she AMAZING at what she does, she's an even better person. Her kindness and love abounds and it's no wonder she's leading the industry in coordinating the most opulent, gorgeous, and breath-taking weddings and events! |
T his morning I awoke to a pleasant surprise…the talented Sean McLellan was my 5,000th Commentor! Yay! Sean will receive a $20 iTunes card for being so cool!
I realize I say this too much, but THANK YOU to my blog readers, but an extra B.I.G. THANK YOU to those of you who leave comments. It’s nice to know my parents aren’t the only people reading my blog and your feedback is a true encouragement. I appreciate the time you spend sharing in a small piece of my world.
In staying true with the random love affair I have with Google, I googled “5,000” and came up with the following image…I know it deals with Jesus Christ’s miracle of Feeding The 5,000, but wouldn’t it be cool if I had the same t-shirts made and gave them to my blog commentors?!? ;)
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S ince the beginning of my business, I’ve realized the importance of setting goals. How can I aim for the target if I don’t even know where the bullseye is located? When I started in 2007, I wrote my goals in a spiral bound notebook....these hopes and aspirations were also written on the tablet of my heart. I often dreamed of my business trajectory, but as 2008 began, I saw how far I had come in a single year. Of my many forlorn dreams, none of them compared to the reality of what my life had become. I still have such a very long way to go, but I’m so thankful to how far I’ve come.
While on vacation a couple weeks ago, JD and I discussed our goals for 2008, both personal and professional. However, this time I wrote them down. I want to look back in 2009 and see if I missed the mark, or hit the proverbial bullseye. I listed realistic goals, hopeful goals, and audacious goals.
It’s so important for entrepreneurs to set goals, so I want to challenge my blog readers to take time of your busy schedules to think about where you want your arrow to land at the end of this year. If you find this to be a challenge or a daunting project, be sure to check out my article at PPR this month. In the article I address how to get started and the importance of such an act.
I feel so blessed because one of my 2008 goals has already been met! One of my top priorities has been to volunteer my time and photographic ability, so recently working with Volunteers of America has made feel like I’m headed in the right direction! :) Myself, Jenna Walker, Crystal Goss, Shyla Darlirifar, Liana Lehman, Sarah Barlow, and Amy Nave worked together this past week in Denver, and it was a complete success. I feel like I’m truly a different person and my priorities have been realigned…the trip had such an indelible impact! A special thanks to Shyla and Sarah for this collage of us in Vail!
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If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment box and I’ll try to get back to them ASAP.
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2013
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2012
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2011
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2010
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2009
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2008
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2007
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