“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
― Ira Glass
I had made it. Still tired from the bus ride from D.C., I sat in my chair at WPPI/PhotoPlus Expo anxiously waiting for Jasmine Star. If you have ever asked me about photography or asked me which industry professional I most admire, you already know my “Justin Bieber-esque” awe for Jasmine Star. If you haven’t yet, get ready for me to geek out.
As I sat there, I began to think: how did I get here? Not even a year ago, I had never even given a thought to being a photographer, let alone a wedding photographer. It was only a few months ago, I sat in my bedroom watching Jasmine’s Creative Live & realized that not only she was fabulously dressed, she was REAL & her story was similar to my own.
As she gave her presentation she delivered not only in message but in style. I laughed, I cried, & learned to never give up on my dream! Because at the end of the day, the blood, sweat and tears are worth the sweetness of success.
Afterwards, I had the honor of meeting her and, sweet baby jesus, did I geek out!!!! I’m pretty sure it went something like: HiImABigFan, ImReallySorryButImGoingToTotallyGeekOutRightNow!!! How did she respond? With a Hug. =)
Thank you to Jasmine Star, the woman who never fails to remind me why I took the leap of faith and began my journey to become a Wedding Photographer.
