I’m not sure what I was doing at the age of 25, but it certainly did not involve writing a business plan, getting a bank loan and expanding my already successful business, which is what baker extraordinaire Randi Deskin has been up to. Saturday June 25th marked the grand opening of the new storefront for Baking Sweet,…
Today was the final day of our epic wedding photography adventure with Jasmine Star and Creative Live. It’s been a whirlwind, roller-coaster ride of highs and lows, with lots of laughs, but also many emotional moments for everyone involved. I feel as though I’ve been at a month-long summer camp for the past 5 days;…
11 comments
Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective! I loved watching y’all on Creative Live, it was an amazing 5 days. Way to push your boundaries, I LOVED that shot of Laura’s bouquet. 
Cheers to you!
Victoria, it was wonderful watching you and everyone else have a fabulous time in Seattle with the CreativeLive team. JD and Jasmine are not only wonderful people but also super teachers. Soooooooooo happy you had a great time learning and making precious memories together.
From a proud mom!
Hi there- even though I wasn’t *there* there- I was there and can totally relate to what you are saying. Well not totally of course because I only had a small taste and experienced it vicariously- but I will say that it has inspired me further in many ways.
I appreciated watching you (and EVERYONE involved there) fantastic stuff.
Now about dismantling the plane with your allan key ROFL.
Best,
M.
What a great weekend it was. Even my wife joined me to watch those long days and the inspiring talents that you all were, and she has NO photography interest whatsoever. I happened to do a job on Wednesday and for few hours on the weekend but watched just about everything else. Now I am waiting for my download link that my wife is going to purchase (I know she will buy it). Victoria, it was great to see a Montreal representation in this International workshop.
aww. “I’m such a girl”. Just something Jasmine had said and it stuck. I almost got teary eyed reading your post. I was only there in spirit but I didn’t want it to end either. Such a wealth of information for 5 days and I like you, I walk away learning more about who I am and what I want. I can’t wait to see the great things that lay ahead for you!
Victoria – I feel like I won the lottery as the “voice of the internet” at our epic summer camp. Thank you for being YOU. I love that you approached this week with challenging yourself to try new things and push yourself to the edge. J* and JD were too inspiring for words. But truly the creativeLIVE 5 represented all of us other photographers out there trying to build our businesses. I love love love that I had the opportunity to watch you all transform in front of my own eyes. Congrats on a job well done and your photography is just stunning. Your photo of the bouquet & Laura’s floral dress detail was the envy of the internet! Hope our paths cross again someday. Wish Susan could pack me in her bag for her travels to Montreal!
Dear Victoria,
with this post you brought out my tears AGAIN I already had yesterday (No, it was today VERY early in the morning around 3 am over here in Germany!).
I TOTALLY feel what you described and I’m so thankful that it was possible to share this whole amazing experience with you and Jasmine. She kicked my ass literally and I have so much stuff on my To Do-List now…. I hope we can grow together as photographers, as human beings, as artists and in our real life after this unreal web experience!
Much success, I will follow your next steps… 
!
I’m sure, we can do it!
Amazing job this week! I felt like I was right there with you, feeling anxious and excited as each new day unfolded. Thank you for putting your heart into this and for asking so many fantastic questions. It was great to hear confirmation from someone who is hugely successful that the best way to go is the authentic way – the way that feels true to you. I will continue to do this and I hope you will, too! Go get ‘em!
Very nice post, beautiful portrait! What can I say, I am going to miss you all, it was great spending 5 days with all of you, learning so much. I am also extremely grateful for the great opportunity. Awesome project, Creative Live, Jasmine, JD, Chase, Craig, Laura, Billy, and everybody else involved really, really ROCK!!
I work during the day, therefore I was watching the rewatch quite late at night into the early morning hours. Yesterday, I thought now that’s over, I’ll have time to sleep, but couldn’t because this course left me with so much learning and information, that my head can’t stop thinking and I am still absorbing everything that it was taught.
Thank you so much Victoria, I truly enjoyed your attitude towards learning.
Best of luck from California!
~A.
I was with you guys all five days and felt the emotional roller coaster. My daughter, who I 2nd shoot for, and I kept a constant chat on gmail throughout the weekend. Believe it or not, on Saturday morning, I awoke and felt hungover from the wedding the night before. With my aching knee I’m having surgery on soon, I took my shower and with no plans of leaving the house, I put pj’s back on, sat in my recliner armed with my laptop and took in more of you guys. I loved, loved, loved your best shots and that was only your second day in. Bride magazine quality. So glad you had the experience.
Great team picture, what a great 5 days, I had a few late night here in the UK, should have watched the re-runs. I now have a lot to think about in regards to my business,
Many Thank to Jasmine, JD, Chase, all the team at creativelive, the “Creativelive 5″ and special thanks to Laura and Billy for allowing the world to watch there wedding. You all Rock,
Peter
When I woke up this morning, the butterflies in my stomach from yesterday felt more like a flock of birds. Today, I would be shooting a part of Billy and Laura’s ”First Look” and CreativeLIVE would be filming and broadcasting everything LIVE, on the internet, to thousands of people. Ok, cool, I could handle that, no biggie (yeah, right!!)… What made those…
18 comments
boom chica wowow
Victoria, you were awesome on Creative Live. I really enjoyed watching you! (not in a stalker kind of way though! lol)
@ Kat
I think I know you. I know a few Montreal photographers with ugly attitude, you must be one of them. No wonder there is no link to your blog or site…
So fun to see what is happening when the camera is pointed someplace other than at Jasmine or Billy & Laura (which is where is should be pointed!) – sort of the back story, if you will. Fantastic shots! Just waiting for day 5 to start in less than 15 minutes and can’t wait to see the photos of your day.
Great pics! Love the behind the scene shots and the photo students shooting each other. I am really loving everyone’s updates and am so thankful to all of you for sharing all your beautiful pictures! Thank you!
wow. i am so impressed with you all. you take amazing pictures so no doubt the cream of the crop were chosen as jasmine’s studio students. You have all inspired so many people out there me included. I just wanted to tell you (and the other 4) that you’ve gained a fan in me and soooo many others out there. NO DOUBT!
I am happy that you are having fun and learning from this amazing experience.
People eigther will love your work or put your work down.
No matter what goes around you, just learn from both experiences.
Amanda
I’ve really enjoyed your behind the scenes photos and your blog. I’m also realizing just how much I need to push past my own comfort zones. Recently, it dawned on me that I had only been shooting with my 85mm and virtually ignoring all other lenses. Whatever, did my poor 50mm do to deserve such sad treatment? So for now, I am going to put an effort into shooting again with my other lenses. It might not be as tasty as a apple walnut tart….but I won’t know until I try it!
And btw, I have been so envious of everyone that was in the class; that is until Jasmine said, “and now I’ll let members of the class take their shots and I’ll add my critiques!” I think I even got a little nervous *for* you guys! But it was so very awesome! You’ve all done such a great job!
HEY KAT… nice post.. you are a class act for sure.
maybe you should head back into your parents basement and continue making bad porn.. people like you have big mouths and dont do a damn thing..
Victoria is learning and i am sure will advance her portfolio using lessons learned here and applying them to create more original content than you ever will sitting around being critical..
do yourself and all others a favor by going away…
I’m a LOVING the behind the scenes blogs y’all are posting – the pics are amazing and the posts are as exciting to read as watching y’all on tv. Can’t wait to see your pics from the wedding!
Another day of super photographs. I think Chase was born to be in black and white film – perfect with Billy too.
You never appeared to be nervous – mind you, so much was going on yesterday it wouldn’t have been noticed.
I love your message today, it’s as if you were talking directly to me, yes something different is what I will try today! Good luck and more cyberhugs for today’s shoot.
Too many Chris’s, so chrispixelalias on Creativelive
You did great Victoria! Loving these shots and can’t wait to be out there with you guys today at the wedding…
Hope you got some sleep
Drop me a line when youre up..
Sachin
[SK]
I don’t even know how can you call yourself a creative perspective. Have you ever look at work of some really talented people who comes up with new ideas and not a cliches poses. It all has been seen before…
I am having the best time going around to your blogs and reading your take on the day’s session and seeing the class’ behind the scenes shots. Nice, huge run-on sentence, don’t you think?!? Your shots are great and I really love the two of Nate! I look forward to seeing everyone’s photos after the wedding today. Congrats on getting to be a part of this epic adventure!
I love the shot of JD and Jasmine shooting. Love it!
Vic, I hope you have a great day today! I really enjoyed reading about your muffin story and I love it when little messages pop up in everyday life that can have a bigger meaning if you just stop to notice them. Have a killer day – your first day jitters are over! Miss you!
I have been enjoying you witnessing your journey over the past couple of days. And know that us out there watching are with you in spirit and are having epiphany moments right along with you. I have been trying to force myself to get outside my little box as well. My best friend the 35mm f1.8 (which is my workhorse) has been taking a backseat to my frienemy the 50 f1.4. When she’s on she gets BEAUTIFUL shots but sometimes she wants to be difficult. I am so bummed I will no t be able to watch today but will definitely be popping in to your blog from now on!
I have been sat here in Germany all morning refreshing your blog, to find out how you enjoyed your day yesterday! I will be following from now on, you have a lovely interesting style of writing and your photos are amazing!
Enjoy yourself at the wedding today and I’ll be back tomorrow to see just how much you did.
Now I am trying to get to the right bit of the re-watch of yesterday, as just when it got really interesting (not that there was a boring moment) but your lunch break was our bedtime, so I missed the actual photo shoot, so hopefully I will get to see it in the re-watch!
Again, have a great day
Hugs
Kerri, who felt she just had to commment, after enjoying reading your blog and seeing your pics!
Today was the first day of the CreativeLIVE workshop with Jasmine Star. I felt like a kid on the first day of school: Nervous and excited, not sure what to expect, full of questions and expectations… and just hoping that people would like me so I would have someone to sit with at lunch time. As…
61 comments
Hola,
Interesante, no va a continuar con este artнculo?
Gracias
Great writing! You should definitely follow up on this topic?!
Kindest regards
Ina
Could be the greatest blog that I read this year…
-Kind regards,
Adela
What a cool opportunity! Looks like so much fun. I think you did a terrific job of capturing things behind the scenes. I didn’t realize Nate was so hilarious from watching the classes, but I think it’s awesome that you’ve caught that. I’m so excited for all five of you!
It is so awesome to watch this workshop and to learn. I can’t wait to take in tomorrow’s wedding. I really can’t imagine how it must feel to be there in person.
Thanks for the blog comment Mike! To answer your question: I use a Photoshop action from Blogstomp to make the white border around my blog photos and insert my logo. Jasmine uses the same action – that’s how I found out about them After I apply the white border, I add a second action that I created to include the 1 pixel black frame around the whole thing so that it stands out against the white background of my blog. Check out the Blogstomp website to download the actions (they also have black borders and other stuff) and get video tutorials on how to use them.
THANK-YOU!! You have no idea how much I needed a big cyber hug today! Saying I was “nervous” would be like saying that Jasmine is “good”: such a total understatement!!
I totally thought I submitted a comment earlier, but it’s not here, so I might have written but not submitted. I do that. A lot. If I did submit and it’s waiting moderation, please disregard this one. Anyway, I saw a tweet on @creativeLIVE and it said to come comment here, so I thought I’d check out what you’ve written. Fantastic shots and I’m so totally jealous that I’m not sitting amongst you. What a blast you all must be having! Enjoy your 50mm 1.4 – I LOVE mine!
Great recap! I’m learning so much just from watching bits and pieces online – can’t IMAGINE how great it would be to be there.
I am absolutely head over heels in love with my 50mm 1.4. I’m excited to hear how you like shooting with it. I think once you use it a bit more, you’ll adore it too!
-Laura
Saw the creativeLIVE tweet to come comment on your blog. Great shots from yesterday and totally jealous that I can’t be there sitting amongst you. I LOVE my 50mm 1.4 – have fun with yours.
Just wanted to say hi!! I’m watching the live feed and I can’t imagine how nervous you must be. Wanted to leave you some blog love
THANKS for sharing your experience. As I read it I remembered having the same reaction when I first met her. It was like meeting a celebrity…BUT BETTER! HAVE FUN and ENJOY THIS EXPERIENCE. Can’t wait to see what more you blog about.
ooohhh! you’re so luck to be there!!! Have funfunfunnn! thanks for sharing victoria!:)
Hi Victoria! Love your photos and your writing too. Especially the analogy of the shaken soda can. It’s so true. I was lucky enough to attend a J* workshop and I just loved getting to chat with Jasmine and JD up close and personal. Have fun!
Fun! Enjoy every moment of it, use that 50mm too!!!
I’ve been watching you guys on CLive and it’s been great. Fun pictures and write up! Have fun with it.
I think you know how many people are insanely jealous of you but wanted to let you know that I’m one of them. Glad you’re having a good time!
Great images and post. Congrats on being part of the lucky few who get to be part of the course. Wishing you great success and I look forward to seeing more of your work.
Very cool! Thank you for sharing this. I am now offically living vicariously through your post, lol. Good luck today!
thanks for giving us some scoop!! i loved watching j* – wish i could b there, too! you guys are having lots of fun!
Hey! Great posting! Looking forward to hearing your account of the rest of the course!
What fun it is to read from your perspective. I love your photographs and entry.
I’m bummed though, to learn that my nice new lens that I saved up for, has been labeled a “lazy girl’s lens”. Mind you, since I’m not trying to be anything other than a doting grandmum making fun pictures, I guess it’s okay.
Wonderful comments! Loved every minute of The Creative Live with Jasmine Star. I know you have butterflies, but don’t forget to have fun and take it all in. You’re going to be GREAT! Believe in yourself
Hope you have a great day 2. How fun to be there in person, because I’m having a great time even from my house. Jasmine keeps it so upbeat and packed with info! Why couldn’t I have had teachers like that in High School ?? LOL!
A great course from an amazingly talented photographer!
HELLO VICTORIA!
WOW! Want to trade places with me for the day? Or the next few days? PLEASE!!!
I have to say I really envy you and the others in the lucky posse. The flamboyant fun, pulsating positivity, wisdomatic quotes, (wonder if Jasmine has ever used that word) and overflow of creative ideas from Jasmine had left my head spinning so much yesterday that I had to see it all again in the Rewatch last night.
Sure you feel very blessed to be in the presence of someone that great in the game. I know I would feel exactly like you, nervous/excited, so much so that you’d have two really fast talkers going back and forth making the rest of the posse’s heads spin! HA! Imagine that!
Well have a blast while making a mental recording of every minute of your exciting adventure. That’s one little chunk of time in your life that will go down as a BIGGER than LIFE experience. At least I know it would for me. : )
Really enjoyed the article, and watching yesterday! Im a gear hound too so im watching with interest how you come through with J*’s challenge about the less is more equipment! I was gobsmacked to see the minimal equipment she uses!
Hey Victoria…..Looks like you’re having a blast. I really like the photos you are producing with your 50mm 1.4. I also like the photo white border that resembles the kind Jasmine uses on her blog. Care to start sharing as to how we could accomplish the same thing? Thanks….Mike
She LOVES you Victoria…and you guys all deserve to be there! It’s like winning the lottery i bet! Seeing her on live o U stream is like winning a scratch ticket!!!
Wonderful post. I’m hooked. Thanks for sharing.
That’s awesome you take a lunch break and go outside to shoot pictures. Sounds like it’s going to be a roller coaster of a weekend for you. I’ll be watching as much as I can online.
Hi Victoria! I watched almost the entire show yesterday and am so excited to read about your experiences. The photos you took with the 50mm 1.4 are awesome! I moved over to primes about 6 months ago and am in love with the quality and sharpness….my lazy girl lens hasn’t been touched since! Wishing you all good luck today and tomorrow…soak it all in and I can’t wait to read the rest of your experiences! Thanks for sharing!
What a wonderful blog… I will continue to follow you! Thanks to creativelive for hooking me up
What a wonderful blog… I will continue to follow you! Thanks to creative live for hooking me up
How awesome!! I watched yesterday and I can’t wait for it to start again today!! Love the post and how you are documenting it!! Have a great time..I’ll be watching for sure!!
I’m so jealous that you got to meet THE J*! I watched online yesterday and wished that I was there in person. Today is going to be amazing too, I’m sure. Good luck and just have fun!
I saw the link to your blog on the Creative Live site. Great pics Victoria!! Thanks for sharing how your day with Jasmine went. Wish I was there…looks like such a awesome experience…have fun!!
First of all congrats! I was watching yesterday and thinking, why didn’t I submit a video? lol but honestly, I gained so much from watching from home, I feel I might have missed it, basking in all the fun and glory with you guys in person! Rock it out! TP.
Hey Kid! I’m jealous of you! I’m not interested at all in wedding photography, but I wish I was in your shoes! You’ll love the primes when you get used to them. When I *have* to use a zoom I forget that I don’t have to zoom with my feet. Oh… and being scared is good! It keeps you moving forward cause you hate where you are!
Great post Victoria! Even though I was able to watch most of the live show yesterday, I still read your entire post! I bet your excited for round 2! Have fun with your 50mm!
@tramod
Wow, Victoria… I can only imagine the excitement you are feeling. Thanks for posting your point of view and sharing with us. Enjoy your remaining days of “class” and have fun.
I’ll be watching all of you from up here, in Canada
Wow. This totally made my morning and made me smile a whole lot! I am as excited as you to see her live, but you more so in person! She is so real and inspiring & I thank you for seconding that with this blog!
Before you know it you’ll be in love with that 50mm f/1.4. Trust me and Jasmine, it’s the best! It looks like you’re getting the hang of it already, those shots are great!
Victoria – fabulous recap and pictures! I watched some of yesterday online and can’t wait to watch more! Keep having fun and soaking it all in. PS – I recently got a 50/1.4 and looovve it. Yes, it’s a challenge but you’ll do great with it
This is great. Thanks for sharing your experience with everyone! It’s seems like your having the adventure of a lifetime. Rock out and Have fun!!
Hey! Thanks so much for being there as a rep for all the photogs out there… I am super jealous you are experience J*’s greatness front and center! I am living it through you so don’t leave a detail out! much love from Indianapolis, Lydia
Wow, I’m in awe of your experience there. I only caught a couple of hours yesterday. Hoping that I catch more today (while at work). Have fun in Seattle!!
Hi Victoria, I am so excited for you! I watched most of the day yesterday. What an incredible experience! You have done a great job with your 50mm 1.4 so far! I can’t wait to see what you post from today. I, too, use the 24-70mm. But it’s the only lens I’ve got so far. I haven’t been able to invest in any other good lenses. Anyway thank you so much for sharing your experience with the rest of the world.
Great blog post! Thanks so much for sharing the behind the scenes info with us! Can’t wait to read more!
Have fun today! I’ll be watching(*read: living vicariously through you and the other photographers there) through the end of the course. How exciting to get to work with J*. She is such an inspiration. I checked out the rest of your blog & I love your portrait work. Beautiful.
~Rakeda
Great Blog Post!!!! I have been watching online (while at my day job!… sssshhhhh!) and I blogged about it too. Have fun, and make sure you fill us in on all you learned working side by side with her!
saw you on TV yesterday. Looked like a great day and can’t wait to see what we will learn from today’s session.
I was a viewer last night (east coast). I found myself wishing I was there. I loved reading this post. Most of all I love how you compare J* to a shaken soda can, great analogy! You have just aquired a new follower. Can’t wait for tonights broadcast!!
Love the first picture of J* you posted here! It’s a very strong image. Sounds like you’re having fun!
Ahh, you go girl! Will be cheering you on over the weekend! I suddenly feel like I have, literally, a million things to do after just day one of the J* extravaganza, so I can only imagine how you guys must feel! Happy shooting!
I watched as much as I had time for yesterday and was totally enthralled. That’s a whole lot of energy that girl brings! Thanks for an inside look into your day yesterday. I have to admit, I was a bit envious of all of you. I’m learning quite a bit even though I’m sitting in Vermont. Can’t wait for Day 2! Big thank you to creative live, too.
Thanks for sharing this. I watched it and I enjoyed and learned a lot from her too. I like that she strikes me as a person too instead of just an educator. there are times when you listen or even watch someone share their knowledge or what-not they don’t seem to feel like a person talking to you but rather a machine that is giving you information and thats it plain and simple. thanks again for sharing your photos and the activities that happens on breaks:-)
Great write-up, and you’re doing great with the 50 1.4! OWN it!
Nice set of images, was a great first day, can’t wait for tonight’s, being in the UK I will have to stay up past my bedtime. lol.
Victoria – it’s like we have the same brain seriously it’s pretty scary:D Looks like the meeting of Jasmine in the street gave us a pretty similar feeling, too funny…oh, and butterflies are GOOD
Hey Victoria! You look like you are having an amazing time. I am truly so happy for you. I watched for about three hours yesterday, and loved, loved, loved it. I learned a lot, too. I think Jasmine had great advice on working the internet to create a network for any type of creative business. I was starting to really wish I was there with you. Even with my crappy 50mm lens.
Have a great day two! I will be watching!
Nice, you seem to have a lot of fun with Jasmine and the gang; it showed on screen too!
Have fun again today! Say hi to Jasmine and tell Craig and Chase to keep up the good work.
Whew! Today has been a long day… After spending the whole night packing last night for my big trip to Seattle (finally wound up with FOUR bags, and that’s AFTER purging non-essentials!!), I slept for about 2 hours then headed to the airport at 5:00am to board my flight to Toronto. I arrived in Toronto at…
4 comments
lol. this post cracks me up. love the part about the HOT captain.
CONGRATS on your awesome video & being chosen. LOVE seeing you online at the live course. THANKS for SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE on your blog!!!!
Hi Victoria, saw you on the creative live cast and I thought I would look at your blog. I love the story about your husband rescuing the jay – you definitely have a good one
I am a crazy cat lady too. It’s a good way to be.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the rest of your week with Jasmine – I’m so jealous!
lol at you for not finding the flush button… girls and technology, no matter how basic it is…
Have fun; I’ll be tuning in while working.
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Hello! Just want to say thank you for this interesting article! =) Peace, Joy.
Like the blog
Great pictures Victoria, so crisp and fresh, makes me want to have a couple of those delicious cupcakes!!
Very nice food photography – lovely little cupcakes!
Congratulations Randi! Your new bakery is incredible! I am so proud of you
And Victoria, your pictures are amazing as always, thanks for sharing them!