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Photoplus Expo Presentation{s}
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I 'm not gonna lie. When he emailed, I was excited. I turned to JD and told him Chase Jarvis asked for 30 minutes of my time while we were in New York. He probably wants to grab coffee, I told JD after pressing the send button of my confirmation email. That's cool...and whatever happens, make sure you pick up the tab. I agreed. For Chase's overwhelming support, the least I could do was buy him coffee.
Two days ago, I received another email from Chase confirming my appearance with him at his keynote presentation at Photoplus Expo. And then I was confused. I turned to JD and read the email aloud. Bewildered, JD asked, So, did it read "Dear Jasmine"...because it might have been sent to the wrong person. After some clarification, I discovered Chase didn't want to meet for coffee, but, rather, wanted to share the stage with Vincent Laforet, Rob Haggart, Joey Lawrence, and Zack Arias...and me. Or should I write, and me?
We discussed the idea of Social Photography, the state of the photography industry, and to actively find ways to be creative. To be there--in that moment--was one of the most special moments I've ever experienced and will be a carefully archived memory. |
| The keynote presentation was broadcasted live to thousands of people worldwide... |
| I'm just gonna come out and say whatever everyone is thinking...I was not having a good hair day. |
| Later that afternoon, I had the distinct pleasure of hosting my presentation and I couldn't have been more thankful for those who showed up. At first I was inordinately nervous because everyone was quiet. Like, library quiet. And if you know me in person I'm loud. With a high-pitched and chipmunk voice. Once we got through breaking down communication walls, everyone was talking back to me like they were at CHURRRRCH. |
| A special thanks to my good friend Becker for showing up to the presentation. He was one of the first OC photographers who supported me and still stands by my side. He introduced my presentation and stay afterward to snap a few photos of the SHOOTSAC giveaway winners... |
    
W e circled JFK Airport what felt like one million and one times. It's the fog. It's the rain. And I was all, I don't care WHAT it is...I'm suffering from Middle Seat Syndrome, so let's get this baby landed, okay?! Whoa, boy. Now wasn't I a joy to sit next to yesterday? JD and I were seated separately or else he would have been the lucky person to hear me Fog!Rain!Cloud! myself into oblivion.
The good news was that we finally landed and arrived in Manhattan for the PhotoPlus Expo 2010. I'll be speaking today and I'm excited. Okay, I'm more nervous, but what's new?
Whoa, I just reread this post and is it just me or AM I ALREADY SOUNDING LIKE A NEW YORKER?! Somebody throw me a hot dog because I'm feeling way legit.
In other news, I'll also be joining Chase Jarvis for his keynote presentation--along with Vincent Laforet, Rob Haggart, Joey Lawrence, and Zack Arias--this afternoon. The best part is that he'll be broadcasting it LIVE, so if you'd like to join the conversation, it'll be happening TODAY at 8:30PST/11:30EST at ChaseJarvis.com/Live! |
| And this picture? JD and I went out for a late dinner and snapped a photo before hopping into the elevator. Unfortunately, my focus was a little off. It's what I like to call ARTISTIC. |
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Pelican Hill Wedding : Catherine + Jimmy
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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T heir love story started on a winter's night. A snow storm hung over the Boston skyline and students holed up with friends for the night. Jimmy fell asleep on Catherine's dorm room floor, which later turned into nights of Scrabble and him copying her homework. And love.
That snowy night in Massachusetts morphed into blue skies along the Newport Beach coast at Pelican Hill Resort. Twelve years of Scrabble, In-n-Out, Jimmy's distain of chop suey, life in Hong Kong, and financial sectors. Twelve years to say I Do. And they did. In front of childhood friends and family, they promised to never let go. Of late-night Scrabble. And of love.
Catherine and Jimmy, I appreciate the honor of documenting your wedding day. Seeing your lives come together was awesome and I hope you're enjoying every minute of your time in the Caribbean. And when the time comes for your African safari, I hope you rock your Nikon and get photos you're proud of! Much Love and Appreciation...j*
The wedding was held at gorgeous Pelican Hill, so I thought the wedding rings might make the Pelican quite happy... |
| Many thanks to Joyce of Joyce Luck Style for hair and makeup...and Destiny for staying with Catherine all day ensuring she looked amazing in every look... |
| Last minute comparison of notes... |
| Cathering and Jimmy had a traditional Chinese tea ceremony at it was such an honor to be a part of... |
| Part of tradition is the bride receiving jewelry and monetary gifts, all while wearing a fab red wedding dress... |
| One of my favorite photos of the wedding day... |
| After wedding photos in her Chinese wedding dress, Catherine changed into a traditional wedding dress...she also wore a pair of Christian Louboutin heels. They looked particularly fab when paired with an Enchanted Florist bouquet... |
| Now...the wedding dress...here I swoon. Catherine bought a Jenny Lee wedding dress (on the left), but had her heart set on the Vera Wang gown, which she was told was unable for purchase. Well, the ever fab Jeannie Savage with Details, Details had a few connections, called in a favor, and worked her Jeannie magic. Needless to say, everyone was thrilled with the outcome. Myself included. |
| Catherine wore Chanel gardenia perfume, which blended with the overall orchid and gardenia vibe of the wedding... |
| I don't think I need to repeat myself...BUT I WILL. I lovelovelove when a bride and groom opt to see each other before the ceremony. The weather was inclimate all week (it was raining the morning of the wedding), so Catherine made the decision to invest plenty of time for photos and given the fast pace of the wedding, I couldn't have been happier! JD was ready for the First Look... |
| ...and he caught Catherine's reaction... |
| ...while I caught Jimmy's reaction... |
| JD captured the following photos... |
| Like usual, I'll focus on the bride and JD will focus on the groom...here's the relatively the same moment from two perspectives... |
| Unexpectedly, the sun came out in full effect in Newport Beach for Saturday's wedding...and the light around Pelican Hill Resort was spectacular... |
| The sun still shone for the wedding ceremony... |
| Many thanks to JP Reynolds for always delivering beautiful wedding ceremonies...he's the best... |
| Now, before I move forward with wedding reception pictures, a HUGE thank you must go to Jeannie of Details, Details, Nisie of Enchanted Florist, and Erin and George of Pelican Hill Resort for tirelessly making this day perfectly flawless. It's impossible for me to do what I do without the help from such amazing wedding professionals. I'm indebted to their kindness and support... |
| The evening was filled with plenty of heartfelt moments, the speeches being some of them... |
| The First Dance...and special thanks to Kyle and Peter of Elysium Productions for being amazing videographers to work with (and for providing that video light I love so much!) and Peter of Vive Entertainment for being such a wonderful DJ... |
I t was late. And my feet? They were ready to wave a white flag of surrender. I reminded myself to smile. Because I was doing everything I wanted to be doing with my life. The DJ opened the dancefloor, but guests mingled along the periphery finishing dinner.
Smile.
Out a nowhere, a woman approached the dancefloor by herself. She swirled and swayed to the beat, touching every corner with her toes. Smiling, she danced to the beat in such a way I couldn't help but laugh. I was astonished. JD made his way to me, grinning. I love this lady, I shouted into his ear. He rolled his eyes. JD said I liked her so much because we danced the same.
Finding our own beats, uncaring of judgmental eyes, arms flailing. He was right. |
| At the end of a long day, I found myself smiling bigger than I had all day. This lady--with her swinging arms and wiggling toes--reminded me to dance like I wouldn't be tagged on Facebook. |
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FAQ : How To Start A Photography Business
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T he second most asked question I receive from photographers is how I started my journey as a wedding photographer. As I mentioned before, I photographed three weddings in October of 2006, then shot 38 weddings in 2007...all without formal training or money. When I began, I dared myself to dream and fail. JD and I planned for me to give this whole photography thing a try for one year and if it didn't work, I'd go back and reclaim my scholarship to law school.
Okay, so that's the story, but most people who ask want to know the how. What was the lynchpin holding my dreams and reality? Well--at the risk of being repetitive--I can attribute my growth and development to three main things...although I'm the first to say I probably did everything wrong and this advice isn't worth the time to read it...but it's still my story nevertheless... |
I started my 'business' with a Canon 20D and a 24-70mm, 2.8 lens. That's it. I had nothing else, but I took what I had and made it work...much like anyone else starting out. Now, I knew nothing about my camera. Nothing. I read and reread my manual then set out and practiced. And practiced. Then I scoured the web for answers when I didn't know what an f/stop was.
Practice and honing a craft is the key to growing success. Hands down. There isn't a magic pill to just get better. Trust me, I prayed for it. And it didn't come in a package on my doorstep...it came, rather, in the form of blood, sweat, and tears. Day after day of giving myself practice assignments with my camera, second shooting, and participating in photography forums to help my progress.
If you're not getting better, go and practice. |
Because of a strong relationship my clients and I build throughout the wedding planning process (and, specifically, the engagement session), I'm invited into their lives during its most important part: Their wedding. When they see their images blogged and/or their slideshow, they're immediately taken back to their special day and they're quite appreciative. Their gratitude has taken the form of personal endorsement. My brides and grooms (and their friends and family members) have become a cheer squad of epic proportions and the only thing they're missing are pom-poms. Most of my clients have been referred to me by a past bride, or is someone who has seen one of my slideshows from a friend of a friend of a friend of the bride.
It's quite amazing and I'm humbled by the magnitude of it all.
The slideshows I link here on my blog have been the epicenter of my business growth...unknowingly, they have become a marketing tool...only buttressed by the personal endorsement from my cheer squad. When asked this question by other photographers, I'm proud to tell them I've never taken an advertisement or passed out business cards like they were on fire. My clients are my promoters-human commercials, if you will-and I wouldn't want it any other way. |
This is the cornerstone. Of my business. Of my life. When I first started my business, I was one of hundreds of thousands who was trying to do the same. However, everyone else had everything better. A nicer camera, car, studio, sample albums, computer, lenses, lifestyle...nicer everything. And I had Polo. And a part-time job, an 11-inch MacBook, one 2G memory card, and a lot of heart. To put it plainly, I couldn't compete playing the established game.
So I changed the game.
Instead of resting on the laurels of things that purportedly made me a professional (camera, studio, lenses, etc), I simply showcased who I was. That's it. Where others showcased their everythingness, I merely wrote about life. My life. What I ate for dinner. The Lakers jersey I bought for Polo. Tropical Island lotion. You know, LIFE ALTERING THINGS.
And yet, strangely, it worked. Being myself on the web--on my website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter--has given people more than enough information to Like me or Dislike me. Both outcomes are fine with me.
I've come to believe when running a niche business, giving prospective clients an opportunity to connect (liking what you like, laughing at your jokes, sharing idiosyncrasies) or repel (they don't like Britney Spears, think you're as humorous as a door knob, think you're just weird) is worth its weight in gold.
So. That's it. That's all I got. When I first started, I couldn't have dreamed my photography business would morph into what it is today. Yes, there are days when I want to pound my head on the desk {repeatedly}, but the joys of doing what I love far outweigh the life I was destined to lead in the corner office in Downtown Los Angeles. For this, I couldn't be more thankful. |
2013
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