I think most wedding photographers, whether aspiring or professional, know who Jasmine Star is. If you’ve never heard of her, I suggest you check out her blog to find out who she is. Although I’ve never met her in person it seems as if I know her with how candid, open and friendly she is on her website and blog.

Recently Jasmine wrote and published a magazine that details her journey to becoming a professional photographer. Not only is she an amazing photographer but she is also quite an exceptional writer. Seeing as I’m trained in the art of prose myself, her writing ability is definitely something I can appreciate. As I was reading through the 160-paged “Exposed,” I saw a lot of myself in the accomplished photographer and business woman. A lot of the struggles she describes, like feeling inadequate or seeming-like an outsider, in such a saturated market, are things I can certainly attest to feeling myself. In addition I feel a shared kinship with her as she describes her drive, passion and hunger to succeed. I love it when she says:

  “The naked truth, however, was I had less than most. I just wanted it more.”

and…

“I was desperate. And desperation makes people do whatever it takes to stay afloat, regardless of how bleak the horizon appears or how hard the work.”

Inadvertently, Jasmine has given me the freedom to declare things about myself and my business that I had been afraid to admit, even to myself. That I want this… more than anything else, I am desperate to make this work, I love what I do and… that I am talented. These are the things that drive me because at the end of the day. So work it shall… and as Jasmine pointed out, “Jump… and the net will appear.”

~Saadia Me*Chel