**SUPER LONG POST***
Last week I got to meet Jasmine* but all I could think was, “Oh mah gawd…I forgot to put lotion on my hands.”
So, I follow (literally on Facebook, Twitter, her blog, her husband on Twitter, if her dog had a blog I’d follow him too) Jasmine Star. She is fantastic. She’s considered a rising star (no pun intended) in the wedding photography industry. As usual, I was reading her blog and she mentioned in her post “I’ll be headed to the Professional Photographers of Sacramento Valley meeting…” and I blanked on everything else that was going on around me and said “I AM GOING TO SAC ON WEDNESDAY, HELL OR HIGH WATER.”
Wednesday rolled around and getting to the meet-up to see Jasmine* was seeming impossible.
[Side bar-Justin and I are doing our part to help Mother Earth by living "greener". One of the things we gave up a few years ago was our 2nd car. Our world was so small last year that everything we needed to do was within a three mile radius. Then Justin took a new job across town (7 miles from our house) and started coaching basketball and we are kicking ourselves for our commitment to the earth. Coordinating schedules for four people with one car is RIDICULOUS. And after driving circles around town to drop off and pick up my clan I was so tired that day. OK, side bar done.]
Wednesday came and making the drive up to Sacramento wasn’t happening. I felt defeated with the tasks of the day. I was sulking and looking pathetic. Finally, Justin looked at me and gave me the Phantom of the Opera’s “Go now, and leave me” song verse. I grabbed all my stuff, hopped in the G Ride and hit the road. In 5 o’clock traffic. Praying that the hour drive wouldn’t be any longer than that.
And you know what. I made it in an hour and five minutes, found the PPSV location, and received the best message about why being yourself in this industry is so important.
“People are choosing photographers, not photographs.”
There it was. The message I needed to hear. It was refreshing. And surreal to see her. To know that three years ago she made a life changing decision to do what she was passionate about. And that passion has positively affected her clients, her peers and others that are aspiring to get where she’s at. And I compared my story to hers and thought, I could have gone back to being a school counselor when we relocated, hitting my head on the desk because there is just so much baggage that comes with that job. But I stepped out. And it hasn’t been that long but I am getting used to my new job.
So anyhow, you want to know what happens when you meet a Star? You walk with a little more purpose, knowing that your road isn’t paved but the path is there. You just need to get to work.
And Jasmine Star didn’t even notice that I didn’t have lotion on my hands. Phew.
Here she is closing out the meeting. I am sure she was looking at JD, her sweet husband.
It was crazy that there was a line that wrapped around the room so people could say “What’s up?” It was like meeting the queen.
Thanks, Jasmine*. See you in 2010!
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