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 it turned out, our little posse (Nate, Audrey, Sachin, Stephanie and I) met Jasmine on the sidewalk just after we had finished our yummy breakfast and were headed to the studio for the workshop. We were laughing and talking amongst ourselves, and then suddenly someone said, “There she is!!” and it was like we had just spotted Brad Pitt or something: 5 adults just gushed with total giddy excitement. Only Jasmine was not surrounded by an entourage and did not disappear into a conveniently parked limo, instead, SHE seemed just as giddy and excited as US. Seriously. She bounced over and hugged us all and it was just… well, I don’t know, but better than meeting Brad Pitt! JD was there too; the perfect balance to Jasmine’s exuberant personality. He was super sweet; recognizing and greeting each one of us by name with a big sincere smile. This impromptu meeting set the tone for the rest of the day.
Jasmine's laughter and positive energy bubbles up inside her and pours out like fizz from a shaken soda can, spilling over onto anyone in the immediate vaccinity.
Jasmine in person is exactly like Jasmine on her blog. She talks like a California valley girl (like totally!!) and she KEEPS IT REAL! She is funny and genuine and insightful in a down to earth way that I can completely relate to. She shared so much of herself with us and was not afraid to open up about the challenges and struggles she has faced both personally and professionally. I laughed, I cried - then I got mascara in my eye and cried some more. But mostly I just listened and absorbed and was truly inspired.
Tomorrow we will be shooting Laura and Billy’s “first look” with Jasmine and JD… and I’m back to having the first-day-of-school butterflies about that. I did have a full table of new friends at lunch today though, so I’ll be walking with a more confident swagger tomorrow
Just to ramp it up a notch, I’ve challenged myself to shoot with my 50mm 1.4 – especially since Jasmine called my trusty 24-70mm the “lazy girl’s lens” today! I don’t usually shoot with prime lenses, so this will be a little out of my comfort zone, but that’s what learning and growing is all about, right? Just to get warmed up, I took a few behind-the-scenes shots with the 50mm 1.4 today. I’ve posted a few of my favorites below:
.gif "20100825-Seattle-003-Edit")
Sometime after this crazy week is over, I promise to dedicate an entire blog to the many faces of Nate!
.gif "20100825-Seattle-017-Edit")
Sachin experiencing iPad envy for Chase Jarvis' cool white iPad.
During our lunch break Jasmine showed us about natural reflectors using a warehouse wall and the lovely Audrey as a subject.
Stephanie and Jasmine hamming it up for the paparazzi.
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.