Jasmine Star Workshop -Chicago-

First, I want to begin by saying if you do not know Jasmine, you SHOULD!    Following her and reading her blogs became online inspiration and a way to try and keep my mind heading in the right direction.  This market is flooded with every John & Betty out there and sometimes it is hard to know your place.  Some days you wonder how to be different from others or how to stand out amongst the thousands of others wanting to become the next wedding photographer.  Jasmine gives a positive vibe, an emotion, an inspiration, an understanding through her words to make me keep pushing through….to keep my heart & mind on the right track and for that I am more than THANKFUL! Jasmine is a person who wants others to succeed in the industry.  She is a person who wants to help others and a person who believes in what YOU are doing. Even if you don’t know her personally, her blog makes you feel like she is talking directly to you.  Those who give, those who help and those who are willing to do more for others over themselves are and will be successful at what they do.  In this industry you can’t worry about being better than the next person, you have to be YOU! -be unique-

When I met Jasmine & JD on Wednesday evening, I was crazy with emotion inside.  For those of you that know me, I can be loud and obnoxious, but at this time I was quiet and SUPER nervous.  I sat on a couch across from Jasmine, engaging in conversation and left that night still not believing that had just happened.  I read her words and I felt like I already knew her, but really I just met her??  Phew it was a lot to take in……I was in “awe.”  But, honestly she is so much more in person.  She is humble and charismatic, artistic and intelligent, talented and ambitious, she is so kind hearted and sweet and she is fearless & FABULOUS!  For me, the way she is driven grabs my attention.  She describes her husband, JD as being her rock, her extra push and the one that keeps her moving forward, telling her “she can.”  After being with her all day at the workshop, her drive for teaching us was apparent and the way she spoke with such charisma and truth made me know she truly does care about us, about me and my spot in the industry.

During dinner, we were able to talk more about our personal lives.  I was excited to learn more about Jasmine & JD and how they became such a strong couple.  If you know me, you know I love LOVE & hugs…I love emotion and I am a very genuine person.  I think that is why dinner spoke to me so much….learning the inside of their lives and how she handles both her business and real life.  How JD is a part of all this and how much he does as well. I saw how much heart she truly has and how much strength comes from her.  I witnessed the smiles that came from both of them as if they meeting for the first time their senior year.  After reading so much from her blog and then meeting her, you say to yourself, “this fabulous person IS TRULY more than fabulous in person!”  I am so blessed to have been given this opportunity to learn from the two of them, but also to just chat with them as “normal” people…even if I had to pay for it 😉  I would do it all over again & again…….. THANK YOU JASMINE & JD FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!  You are both impeccable and thank you for being so inspiring!

Before I share a few images that I was able to get…I must say a huge THANK YOU to my best friend, my husband for this amazing opportunity.  In life, we are put with someone who you go through life with and I truly believe GOD knew what he was doing.  Besides being a husband and dad, he is a speech pathologist, my 2nd shooter and my ROCK through this business.  I could not do what I do without him by my side.  He is always looking for ways to help me grow and push me and I am so very blessed to have him.  THANK YOU MR. SOOTS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.  You are my entire world and I love you 🙂