Jasmine Star's style...

[pnmd]

I've been on POTN for a while contributing on the Small Flash and Studio lighting forum. I've learned alot, learned how to use Elinchrom strobes, Skyports and Mola beauty dishes... My pics thus far have been "model" type shoots with heavy photoshop in post.

A friend at work asked me to do a bridal shoot after her photographer shot. I did and all her friends loved the pics but someone mentioned they would use me for "pre-bridal" because my style was more a fashion style shoot, which I now realize is true. You can see the pics on my flickr. That got me mad and I started looking into wedding photography. Like many others when you search the web for popular wedding photogs, Jasmine Star comes up. I really like her style.

http://www.jasminestarblog.com/

Some things I've discerned from checking out her blog:

-she shoots mostly wide open for a shallow depth of field ie-50/1.2 which really isolates the subject giving a 3D feel. Something I think she got from Mike Colon. I watched his 4 day intensive dvd and she was a model in it.

-mostly natural light and very little flash. From watching Colon's dvd, in terms of flash, he sparingly uses an on camera Nikon speedlight but avoids it in favor of hi iso, wide aperture and ambient light.

-skies are usually overexposed because she doesn't believe in fill flash outdoors. She exposes for the subject so the skies get blown out. However, after looking at many of her pics the blown out skies look simple and nice. Kinda like a hi key background.

-she likes bright colorful images and probably significant sharpening in photoshop. I find it hard to believe that an L lens alone can render the sharpness seen in her images

-her greatest strength- she's able to get true emotions and generate genuine smiles in her subjects

I'm going to be shooting a friend's wedding (less than 50 people) in November and it seems like Jasmine Star's clean, simple style would make the bride and groom happy. Anyone else care to opine on her techniques?

[bnlearle]

Jasmine's a great friend and an incredible photographer/businesswoman to look up to :D She's one of those people that if she liked yogurt, she'd have the #1 yogurt place in all the world...

Bobby

[pnmd]

Jasmine's a great friend and an incredible photographer/businesswoman to look up to :D She's one of those people that if she liked yogurt, she'd have the #1 yogurt place in all the world...

Bobby

Bobby, I've been checking out pics on here and I really like your style. Your pics have a unique feel which is not forced or overdone, just right. Very elegant and timeless- instant keepsakes.

[DanielSPhoto]

I think that when you book a photographer, you can request a certain star style (http://www.celebguru.com/entry/profiling-star-style-sarah-jessica-parker/) of photograhy you prefer, and if they are truly a professional, they will stick with that. Keep in mind, photos are going to be your lasting memory of your wedding..! For me, spending a little more on photography was not a big sacrifice for me, b/c I know we will cerish those pictures for a long time coming.

With Jasmine Star, maybe she has associate photographers she deals with, so you can get someone that has similar style/background, without breaking the bank. You should contact her, and find out! :)

I disagree with you on this one. There are lots of wedding photographers to choose from. Everyone have a somewhat different style. Some have several styles to choose from maybe. But the client can never decide which style the photographer should shoot with. If they don´t like a certain photographers style, then choose another one.

It´s like telling a rock musician to play hip-hop instead because you like hip-hop.

Of course you should listen to your clients and what they need and want, but I wouldn´t change my style to look like someones elses style to please a client.
I would want clients who choose me because they like my style of photography.

But that´s my opinion.

Best regards/Daniel

[scorpio_e]

I think she is a better business woman than photographer. There are certainly more creative photographers out there. Just my opinion.

[Peacefield]

I think she is a better business woman than photographer. There are certainly more creative photographers out there. Just my opinion.

No disrespect to Jasmine or those who like her, but this has always been my view, too, and I've already heard it shared by many others as well.

She does good work, she's a good photographer, has a good eye, and gets the most out of her subjects. And while not every photographer can do all or even any of these things, a very large bunch of other photographers can. It's her business skills that have allowed her to set herself from the pack.

Please understand, I am not criticizing her work, I'm recognizing her business acumen.

[dche5390]

Find. Your. Own. Voice.

[memoriesoftomorrow]

Find. Your. Own. Voice.

Shouldn't that be Vision? :)

Seriously though I have to agree. Define your own style rather than trying to imitate. In my opinion it is one of the most important things. Saying that though it may take a while for you to figure you what your style is.

Personally mine is evolving all the time. I did some edits to an album design from February this year today and boy I have changed since then in just seven months.

[umphotography]

Jasmine's a great friend and an incredible photographer/businesswoman to look up to :D She's one of those people that if she liked yogurt, she'd have the #1 yogurt place in all the world...

Bobby


Thats a great connection for you. She does nice work. Looked through her blog and she is very creative. Definately has a great female perspective. Sounds like a great gal and I like her work as well as yours alot. First time ive heard of her and i like what i see alot.

[nicksan]

Thread resurrection eh? And a one about Mrs. Star at that. :lol:

I think she is a better business woman than photographer. There are certainly more creative photographers out there. Just my opinion.

This. Not to say she's not a very good photographer, because she is. But I think she's a FAR better business woman and that is what counts when you are trying to make money doesn't it? :)

[scorpio_e]

Thread resurrection eh? And a one about Mrs. Star at that. :lol:



This. Not to say she's not a very good photographer, because she is. But I think she's a FAR better business woman and that is what counts when you are trying to make money doesn't it? :)

ABSOLUTELY NO doubt about her ability to brand herself and make money.

[helloagain36]

Shouldn't that be Vision? :)

Seriously though I have to agree. Define your own style rather than trying to imitate. In my opinion it is one of the most important things. Saying that though it may take a while for you to figure you what your style is.



Find. Your. Own. Voice.

While I do agree with both of you about how finding your own vision/voice is REALLY important, I have to add that I think we all imitate someone/something and especially so in the beginning. It is just part of the development process.

Finding your personal vision/voice/style is not something that is easily done and certainly doesn't happen overnight. It takes a lot of time behind the camera and eventually a style will develop but not first without pulling inspiration from someone/something else and picking and choosing what works for you. Just my opinion anyway. :)

[PeaceFire]

No disrespect to Jasmine or those who like her, but this has always been my view, too, and I've already heard it shared by many others as well.

She does good work, she's a good photographer, has a good eye, and gets the most out of her subjects. And while not every photographer can do all or even any of these things, a very large bunch of other photographers can. It's her business skills that have allowed her to set herself from the pack.

Please understand, I am not criticizing her work, I'm recognizing her business acumen.

This, completely. I walked into WPPI last year and spotted her, out of everyone else in the room. My eyes ZOOMED to Jasmine Star. Mind you, I'm not much of a stalker of other photographers but I had checked out Jasmine's website and she does something that's so brilliant but something not everyone can pull off- she shows a video of herself when you first go to her website. It creates a "celebrity" feel. Seeing that video ONCE made it so I recognized her in a crowded convention hall. She just seems to exude charisma which is not something you can train yourself to have, IMO. Look her name on up on Twitter and quite often you'll see posts of brides RAVING that they just booked Jasmine Star to be at their weddings. Not to shoot their wedding (though that's what she'll do) but BE at her wedding. Brides want HER almost as much, if not more than, her photos.

[Gel]

Shooting a wedding on a 50mm at 1.2 is a bit risky. But I like sharp images.

[digital paradise]

I'm not even close to being in the same league as the experienced photogs around here so I can't really say that she is an OK photographer and a better business person. For my level her images look pretty good to me.

From a business point no one seemed to disagree that she has done a great job marketing herself. I did have one thought on that. Just her name alone must help tremendously. I find it intriguing to put it one way. It would take a guess it stands out on a list. Sometimes it a culmination of many things that just fall into that correct alignment to propel things forward.

[kellmeister]

So many better photographer's, true, but the more I learn about the business the more I respect people like her. Many photographer's have a hard time with the business side and marketing themselves. They struggle to improve their confidence and overcome fear which goes with making art and putting yourself out there.

[SchwettyLens]

If people talk about you = you made it

Doesnt matter if there are better photographers out there.