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Coddling + A Flea Market of Experiences
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L ast week a friend mentioned she was surprised to discover I listen to Animal Collective. I wanted to tell her I also listen to Bon Iver, The Xx, and Jack Penate, but I felt that was trying too hard. But I do. Listen to them. I mean, yes, I love me some Ke$ha and Rhianna (and other music that might make Paulie D proud), but the tuneage cranking through my house is often indie. JD makes fun of me and insists I'm trying to be one of the cool kids, but I secretly think he likes my taste. Specifically, in men.
And herein lies who I am. A thousand mismatched pieces making me a walking flea market of experiences.
I know the person I project to be (heels, enough mascara to make Tammy Faye Baker jealous, and a fluffy white dog)...I know the person I want to be (bought these jeans at a thrift store and refurbished them with burlap and mulch, and move over Mother Teresa!)...and I know the person I am (my closet wouldn't even make Mary Poppins jealous, I read at night with illuminated frameless glasses, and obsess over the quality of my dental floss). And through it all, I'm trying to stay true to who I am.
There are moments when I want to be everything to everyone, then pass out performance reports on my progress in hopes of getting above a 94%. Because I was coddled as a child and positive reinforcement was all the rage in the 80s. Perhaps one day I won't feel like I'm wearing a costume in my heels, or maybe I will go thrifting in tattered penny loafers and stockings. Until then, I'm totally okay finding my own way. Double-waxed dental floss and all. |
| Here's a picture from our last wedding. Just before dinner. JD said to give him the Look I give him when I'm upset. Look at that eyebrow arch...that arch makes lions stop mid-prowl and turn around the other way. |
    
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YWD Magazine : Girl in a Chair Workshop
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E very so often an opportunity comes my way and it blows my socks off. The ones with the holes in them. A bit ago, I was contacted by Thea Lignos-Hargrove, Editor of Your Wedding Day Magazine, and she proposed an idea. Now, I've been a huge fan of YWD (specifically their focus on wedding fashion editorials) and it was a honor to see my work featured in the last issue of the magazine. I got to know Thea through that process, so when she called it was a treat to speak with her again.
Thea proposed an idea to host a workshop teaching photographers how to submit their work for possible publication and teaching how to shoot weddings with an editorial flair. And she invited me to join her and Cathryn VanBreene, YWD's Fashion Director, in hosting the first one in Orange County. That's when my socks blew off.
Yesterday we had the pleasure of having the most amazing group of photographers join us from all over the United States. The couldn't have been more perfect because they were a crew of top-notch professionals. I loved it! The workshop was such a great learning experience--myself included--and I know the industry is headed for amazing things with photographers like these leading the way... |
| We started the morning discussing editorial work, getting published in wedding magazines, and branding your work... |
| We worked with the sweetest models, although there was a time when I had to adjust Stephanie's dress...which made for a too-close-for-comfort moment... |
Me and the workshop attendees are not able to post photos from the four sets that were set up for the editorial shoot until the magazine is published, but I got direct permission from Thea to post this single picture since it doesn't give too much away! ;)
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| Because we also worked with the models outside, I'm able to show a couple of those... |
| Melissa was a total dream to photograph as well... |
| Lastly, many, many thanks to Thea and Cathryn for inviting me on this adventure...I'm incredibly grateful for such an awesome opportunity and I can't wait to see what the future holds! :) |
I suppose if I moved to a new country, it'd take some getting used to. The language, directions, holidays. But after 30-something years, I think I'd get the swing of things. Pilgrims meet Indians, who help them survive the winter, and they share dinner to celebrate. Feathers, shoe buckles, and all. Thanksgiving.
And then there's my dad. Who, like, gets the concept but refuses to adhere to the whole turkey ideal.
Growing up, I dreamed of dining at a long, mahogany table, complete with personalized seating cards. In the shape of maple leaves. My father--who'd be wearing a suit and be freshly shaven--would carve the turkey. In a single slice. We'd all sit around the table, toast with apple cider, and quietly enjoy the fruits of our labor.
And then there's my dad. Who, like, has other ideas about Thanksgiving.
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Like the one year he made won ton soup. On Thanksgiving. Lemme repeat that in case you didn't read it: WON TON SOUP. That year his sister and her family joined us for Thanksgiving and he had! this! great! idea! to make won ton soup for no apparent reason. As my siblings and I sat at the kid table--covered in a gold, metallic table cloth that burned my retinas--I wanted to scream, Sacagawea did NOT eat won ton soup!!! And it was unlikely that she made salsa to put on her turkey, but I had a feeling that argument would go no where in my household.
And then there's my dad. Who says the Thanksgiving prayer. In his heavily accented cadence. And thanks God for his chance to come to America, the ability to put food on the table, and raise a family who loves him.
And that right there? That's like a pass to serve won ton soup FOR LIFE. |
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San Francisco Wedding : Meg + Tim
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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T here are people who see beauty in ways others don't. In crevices, cracks, broken pieces. Meg is one such person. Not only seeing what's on the surface, she's always looking for what's below. Inside. In between the cracks. Perhaps that's why when she called her mother to let her know she met a cute musician in Los Angeles, her mom asked her the important questions. Prodding for answers that might lie in the crevices. Though Meg's responses were the norm (he's cute, nice, and funny!) time later revealed Tim was more than what was in the surface. He's kind, thoughtful, and funny...with great penmanship.
Seven years later--after an occasional tour with his band, staying in hotels with astroturf in lieu of carpeting--Meg moved with Tim to San Jose, California. They share an office in a craftsmen style house, their desks placed so they face each other. Because that's how they've grown. Through the mangled path called Life, Meg and Tim face each other. Always. They know that, together, they can navigate the sometimes jagged turns. And through it all, they've learned to see beauty in the crevices, cracks, and broken pieces.
Meg and Tim... IS THIS REAL LIFE?! I want to crawl through this computer right to Hawaii and squeeze you. Tightly. You have no idea how special it was to document your love. I've always been honored to be called a friend, but--as your wedding photographer--I find no greater pride. Your day was gorgeous and a perfect depiction of your love. Thank you for opening your hearts and letting me capture it all. Much Love and Appreciation... j* |
| Having a few necklace options to wear on her wedding day, Meg decided to go with her mom's locket...and donned a pair of fabbbbbulous Chanel heels... |
| Many thanks to Lisa Strutz and Elizabeth Chang of Symmetry Beauty for doing Meg and her bridesmaids hair and makeup... |
| In true Meg form, she bought her Carolina Herrera wedding dress two months before her wedding...she chose another dress, but later realized it wasn't what she wanted. So she called her mom and said, We need to go shopping! |
| But her reaction to getting into the dress is priceless...this is a girl who's ready to wear a wedding dress! |
| Meg's mom and sister--Donna and Emma--helped dress Meg... |
| ...and this was the outcome. This is Meg in the hotel lobby of Casa Madrona...looking stunning. |
| Phil--Meg's awesome dad--picked us up in his VW van...filled with awesome reads... |
| The ride wouldn't have been complete if Meg and her bridesmaids didn't sing, Goin' to the cha-pel...and we're gon-na git marrrrrried! |
| Each of Meg's bridesmaids wore unique vintage dresses...and I loved them all! |
| Like always, I'm thrilledthrilledthrilled when a couple opts for a First Look. Meg and Tim wanted plenty of time for photos and to enjoy their day, so they saw each other before the wedding ceremony. His reaction to Meg's beauty is priceless... |
| Special thanks to Studio Choo for providing such beautiful wedding florals... |
| Tim, you're handsome. Just thought I'd state the obvious. |
| I was in lurrrrve with Meg's Studio Choo wedding bouquet. It was a mix of peonies, roses, and wild flowers, and a perfect reflection to the style of the wedding day. |
| Go on wit yo bad self, Meggipoo! |
| Shot this photo with my brand, spankin' new 35mm, 1.4...more on that lens coming soon... |
| Meg is a genius. She delivered furniture to San Francisco to ensure she had funky bridal party and family formal pictures... |
| As I was going through JD's cards, I noticed of set of Meg. How or when they were taken is beyond me, but she looks divine. Then I fist-bumped JD for being so handsome. |
| Okay. So. Here's where a huge, huge, HUGE thank you must go. Yelena with Stylish Soiree was my backbone on the wedding day. To say there was a lot going on would be a major understatement (the venue was expansive, there were a ton of details, and time constraints), but she made sure everything was everywhere I needed it, when I needed it. Yelena worked with Meg from the beginning to execute her vision for the wedding day and I couldn't have been more proud to work alongside such an amazing planner and event designer. |
| Rich, burgundy fruits like plum and pomegranates were used throughout the wedding, so it seemed like a perfect sitting for the rings... |
| I'm a huge fan of personal vows and Meg didn't disappoint. Their wedding was personal, unique, and totally reflective of their family, friends, and love. |
| Did I mention how much I loved this bridal party? Because I did. Love them. A lot. |
| We spent 10 minutes catching the last bit of sunset and these are some of my favorite wedding photos of the day...it was supposed to rain in San Francisco, but the sun rallied and showed in true form... |
| After dinner, everyone headed upstairs for the First Dance... |
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FAQ : Selective Clientele
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T here's something about my brides I completely adore. Whole-heartedly, eat-out-of-the-palm-of-their-hands love. It's like if we met in college, we'd have lunch together and share a study group. And shop together. Duh. This goes beyond mere chance and I attribute it to Selective Clientele. It has nothing to do with age, height, weight, skin color, or preference of Real Housewives city...and much less with me selecting them.
Essentially, THEY choose ME.
Early on in my business, this wasn't the case. Back in the day, we kinda just fell in each other's laps. Most often, I was priced right for a budget, I was nice, and I liked to smile. That's how I started my wedding photography career. Now, however, I've learned the more I put of myself on the web, the more of the same type of person I attract. My photography website is honed to attract a very specific type of bride. My blog furthers this attraction. Each component of my brand--both personal and professional--does one of two things:
1. Attracts - Makes a prospective bride like me more (perhaps she likes dogs, chocolate, reality tv, and falafels as much as me)
2. Repels - Makes a prospective bride dislike me (perhaps she likes celery, Chekhov, and crocheting by the fire) |
If you're trying to work with clients who fit your personality like a glove, here are a few things to consider...
1. Ensure your website is a true reflection of WHO you are, not WHAT you do.
2. Embrace the personal perspective of your business and showcase that perspective.
3. Showcase the type of imagery you want to always shoot (e.g. I want to shoot fun people, so I showcase fun/silly/laughing photos).
4. Educate prospective clients. (e.g. I want my brides to do a First Look, so I explain the importance and value).
5. Be personal. Yes, this means making yourself vulnerable. If people don't like you, who cares?! Be true to you...and those who love you will become you're biggest fans.
**EDITED TO ADD**
For all you Chekov fans...I like the guy too. But it takes a special Russian author to bring a smile to my face and he's not really in the running. ;) |
2013
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