Jasmine Star's 5 Minute Presentation
I love this woman. I want to bake her cookies and send them to her every week for the rest of my life.
This is a transcript of her 5-minute presentation at WPPI in Las Vegas this week. I wish I could have been there but I know I'll meet her there next year, if not before. She photographed her first wedding a mere two years before I did my first and she speaks directly to my heart.
"My name is Jasmine Star for those of you who might not have known
And I want to thank you for the kindness that you have shown
in welcoming me, and retweeting and reading my blog
And allowing me the privilege to stand here and talk.
You know it's crazy, believe me, cause I'm just like you
And can relate on every level to the things that we go through
From bad days to daily stresses to amotivation,
onto heavy concerns like financial limitations
but in all of these issues there lies a common theme
they're nothing but obstacles standing in the way of our dream
So I thought I'd talk about it since it's often overlooked
but before you're booked on any wedding, any portrait shoot
On anything that you do, something will stand in your way
it's just a matter of who or what or when
it could take any form
Please know that smooth and easy days are definitely not the norm
You'll no doubt struggle, especially if you're new to the game
but soon enough you'll realize it's just more of the same
types of dramas and dilemmas and some new ones as well
but before I get there, if you'll allow me to tell you a little bit
about how it was when I first started out
cheap camera, no knowledge, and like, negative clout
and on top of these things, I was incredibly insecure
lucky for me I had a husband who was a little bit more than sure
he was right and I knew it and he helped me realize
that no risk can trump the value of the ultimate prize
our lives are short, believe it, and we've wasted a day
with every sunset we let roll by with the junk that's in our way
be it critics, be it haters, let them do what they do
it is not about what they call you, but what you answer to
someone tells you you can't do it, even warns you not to try
you can choose to let that stop you, but i just don't know why
you ought let it, because really who are they?
what are they to you?
why should their opinions cloud the fact of things you know to be true
so no matter what deters you, be it fear, money or doubt
be it critics or something i haven't talked about
i'm here to tell youit will never go away
it will always be hard and you'll always have to pay
no matter the amount of sweat or tears
and i've shed my share of both
it will lead you to a higher ground
there is failure in growth
i can't stress enough - you're all that's in your way
when fear makes up excuses, don't listen to the things that they say
because you'll never beat an enemy who has an outpost in your head
so i heavily suggest you listen to your heart instead
press on and you can't lose
be hotter than hot shoes
if passion is your reason then you will happily pay your dues
just focus and if at times it's not so automatic
start slowly, use manual, and blur out all the static
that surrounds you, the naysayers, the doubt within yourself
and please remember you have been gifted with the greatest of wealth
that being art, an eye for beauty, and its incredible worth
and to pursue that art full time is like snapple,
made from the best stuff on earth
anything that's in your way, despite how hard it may seem
isn't worth the cost of sacrificing your dream
i'd stake everything i own on that, so you can take that to the bank
please live it, love it, white kid glove it
good day, good luck, and thank you"
This is a transcript of her 5-minute presentation at WPPI in Las Vegas this week. I wish I could have been there but I know I'll meet her there next year, if not before. She photographed her first wedding a mere two years before I did my first and she speaks directly to my heart.
"My name is Jasmine Star for those of you who might not have known
And I want to thank you for the kindness that you have shown
in welcoming me, and retweeting and reading my blog
And allowing me the privilege to stand here and talk.
You know it's crazy, believe me, cause I'm just like you
And can relate on every level to the things that we go through
From bad days to daily stresses to amotivation,
onto heavy concerns like financial limitations
but in all of these issues there lies a common theme
they're nothing but obstacles standing in the way of our dream
So I thought I'd talk about it since it's often overlooked
but before you're booked on any wedding, any portrait shoot
On anything that you do, something will stand in your way
it's just a matter of who or what or when
it could take any form
Please know that smooth and easy days are definitely not the norm
You'll no doubt struggle, especially if you're new to the game
but soon enough you'll realize it's just more of the same
types of dramas and dilemmas and some new ones as well
but before I get there, if you'll allow me to tell you a little bit
about how it was when I first started out
cheap camera, no knowledge, and like, negative clout
and on top of these things, I was incredibly insecure
lucky for me I had a husband who was a little bit more than sure
he was right and I knew it and he helped me realize
that no risk can trump the value of the ultimate prize
our lives are short, believe it, and we've wasted a day
with every sunset we let roll by with the junk that's in our way
be it critics, be it haters, let them do what they do
it is not about what they call you, but what you answer to
someone tells you you can't do it, even warns you not to try
you can choose to let that stop you, but i just don't know why
you ought let it, because really who are they?
what are they to you?
why should their opinions cloud the fact of things you know to be true
so no matter what deters you, be it fear, money or doubt
be it critics or something i haven't talked about
i'm here to tell youit will never go away
it will always be hard and you'll always have to pay
no matter the amount of sweat or tears
and i've shed my share of both
it will lead you to a higher ground
there is failure in growth
i can't stress enough - you're all that's in your way
when fear makes up excuses, don't listen to the things that they say
because you'll never beat an enemy who has an outpost in your head
so i heavily suggest you listen to your heart instead
press on and you can't lose
be hotter than hot shoes
if passion is your reason then you will happily pay your dues
just focus and if at times it's not so automatic
start slowly, use manual, and blur out all the static
that surrounds you, the naysayers, the doubt within yourself
and please remember you have been gifted with the greatest of wealth
that being art, an eye for beauty, and its incredible worth
and to pursue that art full time is like snapple,
made from the best stuff on earth
anything that's in your way, despite how hard it may seem
isn't worth the cost of sacrificing your dream
i'd stake everything i own on that, so you can take that to the bank
please live it, love it, white kid glove it
good day, good luck, and thank you"