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Polo and the Start of CreativeLive
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| As some of you who follow me on Twitter might already know, I'm in Seattle for the creativeLIVE course right now. I'm beyond honored and I still can't believe it's happening. I, of course, am the most nervous I've ever been in my life (except that one time when I had to retake my driving test after failing...twice), so a prayer or two would be most appreciated. We'll be filming live for the next five days, so if you'd like to tune in, you can join the conversation by clicking on the Watch It LIVE link! |
Also, since I'm away, my dearest Polo will be at home with my parents, and for a bit with my sister-in-law. It's hard to believe I actually have the nerve to ask our families to spend so much time at our house when we're away, but Polo is a diva and can't handle life any other way. But with a face like that, who could say no?
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T here's no rational way to explain the urge. Or, as I like to refer to it, The Urge. We rolled into our St. Louis hotel suite at 1:30am last Wednesday and tried falling asleep. Don't forget, I whispered to JD, I wanna see the Arch tomorrow. And there you have it: The Urge. I'm not a touristy person. In fact, anywhere you might spot Hawaiian shirts, fanny packs, and maps, I'm headed in the opposite direction. So of course it was odd I contracted a case of The Urge.
We woke the next morning and after calculating the time, expense, and drama involved, JD suggested chilling out instead. But what about my arch? My beloved arch?! The arch I never cared about until I planned on visiting St. Louis, but suddenly needed to see?! JD vacillated, but was convinced when I brought out the big guns: If I die tomorrow, I will have want to have known I saw the arch...it's even on the Cingular commercial...it must be important!
So off to the arch we went. It was humid, there were bugs, but I finally saw my arch. Oh! And! The! Pictures! Yes, Internet, I busted out in full tourist mode and took pictures. Here's JD with the My-wife-shoots-everything face...and me. Please don't ask what I was doing. I have no idea. But I can't help but think I look like I'm talking to an invisible friend. Let's call her Gretchen. My invisible friend, Gretchen. |
Much to JD's chagrin, I asked a stranger to take our photo. Here's the two things that make this photo epic:
1. JD's eyes are closed. I'll simply pretend he's soaking in our happy moment together.
2. The top of the arch is cut off. Let's just IMAGINE the arch is complete. |
| Later that night, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking at the St. Louis Shot Party, hosted by Kelly Manno. I had an absolutely ah-maz-zing time!! Meeting so many fabulous photographers just tickled me happy. The best part of the event is that Kelly decided to put it on all on her own. No organization, no formalities, no prior experience. She'd hosted events in the past, but decided to create a large-scale event and I have to commend her on a job well done! |
So, my trip to St. Louis was fabulous, for more than one reason. Besides seeing the arch, JD and I ate at Pappy's BBQ, had Ted Drewe's concrete ice cream, played a penny slot at the Ameristar casino, and met one of the nicest groups. Ever. I hope to go back one day in the future!
Happy Tuesday! |
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Los Angeles Engagement : Marie+Charlie
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H e was the one shaking hands and saying hello on the first day of class. His smiled beamed and he walked with a confident stride. And if there were babies to be held or cats to be saved from trees, he would likely do it. He was on a mission to be class president. Or at least Marie thought so. Gunner. That's the first thing she thought when she saw him and his beaming smile.
On the first day of medical school, Marie and a couple friends reviewed the incoming students on a list posted to a wall. Her eyes fell upon a singular name, followed by the letters PhD. Her fingers gingerly pointed to his name and said, This guy already has a PhD! In a stroke of fate, he stood next to her and said, That's me...hi, I'm Charlie... Of course. Of course Charlie would already have a PhD. He was handsome, his smile beamed, and he'd save a cat from a tree. Charlie stuck out his hand and they shook. As much as she wanted to deny it, Gunner was cute.
They remained friends, dated other people, and enjoyed BBQ's throughout the school year. Charlie was a master party planner and event coordinator, but one night turned the reigns over to Marie to plan bowling night. In the midst of a snow storm, no one RSVP'd. Except Charlie. They bowled together, Marie won (which she notes whenever possible), and they watched a movie at her place. That's how their love story began. And the best part? Marie voted for Charlie for class president.
I'm thrilled to be shooting their wedding next May in Pennsylvania...everything tells me their wedding is going to be just as fabulous as them...they flew to Los Angeles for their engagement session last week and I'm completely smitten with everything they are... |
| I love shooting in Los Angeles...I'm a total city girl. There's something about the grit, the imperfection, the rawness of it all...Marie and Charlie have a way of making it look gorgeous... |
| I love this photo. I don't know what it is...I just do. |
| My favorite photo. Hands down. Marie looks like she can grace the pages of any fashion magazine...and for those who asked, her dress is by French Connection |
| This photo isn't really my style, but I decided to try something new and use light differently...I still have a lot to learn to make it better, but I like the feeling... |
| Now for some soft, dewey light...my fav... |
| For a few months I've had this urge to take an aerial photo. I've been waiting. And waiting. And previsualizing. When I arrived in LA for their engagement session, I roamed the streets to find shooting locations. I found this driveway (with a walkway overhead) and I knew I could make it work...I just had to convince Marie and Charlie. Lucky for me, it took very little convincing (I loooooove them!) and I hope they like the photo...and didn't think I was too crazy for asking such a random request... |
Okay, so I'll end this post with the following photos. The backstory...
Marie teaches Zumba. And she's a great teacher. So good people write on her Facebook page to ask about her music, and moves. Not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous. Anyway, I told her via email I'd likely request her to show her moves during the engagement session. At the end, I was all, Okay, Marie...show me what you got! Then she just stood there. Feet solidly placed on the pavement. Apparently, Marie had performance anxiety. Now, I probably should have let it go...but I didn't. I call this subtle technique PEER PRESSURE. Finally, after much cajoling, Charlie turned to Marie and told her they didn't fly 3,000 miles for engagement photos to not be her silly self. So he offered to dance with her. This.Is.Love. |
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An email to my best friends
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T oday I sent an email to my best friends. Since so many of us are all over the world right now, email is the best form of communication and keeps us close. I wrote an email and I decided to post it here. For posterity's sake. After reading it a bit later, I realized I want to remember how I'm feeling at this exact moment. The good, the bad, and the slightly German.
To: Best Friendos
From: Jasmine Star
Date: Sunday, August, 22. 2010
Subject: Re: Re:
so i'm sitting here getting a pedicure and crying. you know, a little bit. the frey is playing on KBIG, you know...that soft rock station. the one we made fun of in high school. and now i'm crying to the music. what has happened to me!?!!? what's next...crying at folgers commercials?
i think i'm just extra emotional because i'm stressed and scared about next week and the creativelive course.
i didn't even want to get a pedicure. but, really, i can't go to seattle with jacked up feet. that's just wrong. on so many levels. what if i wear open-toe shoes and then everyone runs away? that would be embarrassing...because it's live on the internet and all.
so here's the deal. i'm just gonna lay it all out there because if all this goes south, you'll be there to help support me.
*we got home from the wedding last night at 1:30am. and we ate quesadillas. at 1:30am. if i've ever experienced eater's remorse, it was then. i'm feeling so puffy it ain't even funny.
*i feel like i might have bitten off more than i can chew. and i'm not talking about the quesadillas. this seattle event is scaring the crap outta me. like, every last bit of anything. i've been a walking ball of nerves for the past two weeks. i wake up in the morning and my first thought is: i hope i don't suck.
*i feel so much pressure shooting the wedding. there's so, so much going into the production of this event...but that's the craziest thing of all: it's not an event. it's her WEDDING. i'm just so overwhelmed wanting to give her everything she deserves, but at the same time balancing the fact that people are tuning in to watch me work. the.pressure.is.killing.me. please pray i can keep everything balanced and in perspective.
*all i really want to do is crawl in between the couch cushions with a pint of ben&jerry's and catch up on project runway. because, really, i need me some heidi klum to visper dat everyting will be AUF WIEDERSEHEN!!
in lighter news, i can't wait to see everyone at bi's wedding. am i the only one dying to 'cat claw' on the dancefloor?! bring it.
soft rock, puffy, and craving ice cream,
j* |
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Survey...and win $50 iTunes card!
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L ately I've received questions from people asking the type of people who read my blog. And since I'm way educated, I answer smartly with: I dunno. This got me thinking...who are you? What do you want to read more of? Things like that.
If you could take just one minute and answer this survey (only five questions), I hope it'll help direct the trajectory of this blog and help me understand more of who my audience is. If you opt to add your email, it will only be used for the contest purposes. One lucky winner will receive a $50 iTunes gift certificate!
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| Thank you SO much for your time...I totally appreciate it! And in other news, I'm working on a Los Angeles engagement session, so here's a sneak peek of what's in store... |
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