YueStudio: wedding

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Modern Luxury Weddings 2012

Modern Luxury Weddings is a once a year bridal event that showcases the latest trend in wedding. From wedding dress and wedding venues to floral arrangements and table settings. This year is held in Ritz Carlton, San Francisco again and this year is the most crowded I have seen in the past few years. Looks like a lot of people are planning to get married this year. Here are some of the pictures from the event.

More images can be found here.

Bill and Maureen

I had the privilege to shoot at Bill and Maureen's unconventional wedding. School bus, coffee bar and taco trunk. How cool was that? Here are some of the pictures from that beautiful day in San Francisco.

And here is a bonus picture from their engagement session:

Day 2: Jasmine Star at Creative Live

Here is the note from Day 2.

Conducting a client meeting

the idea is to let people know about you as much as possible before they show up.
How it works:
- Initial contact: my website to my blog. Want to show them who I am to avoid mismatch later on.
- Client meeting:
  - I prefer skype interview.
  - 2-2.5 years met at Starbucks. After start charging $5500, meet at studio.
  - Create a conservation. Not a monologue.
  - We are interested.
  - How you guys met? I want to know about the sub-story. The sub-sub-story. That's how I know about the clients.
  - I never let the clients know that this is a jasmine show.
  - In 25 minutes, I never said a thing on how I shoot. The awards I won.
  - explain the importance of engagement session
  - Discuss wedding photography
- Who is your client:
  - What is the age? Shows she watches. Shoes she wears.

workflow and outsourcing

My first wedding I opened each of the pics in photoshop too... never again
I didn't get into photography to be a professional lightroomer.
What do I want:
- Shoot, write + be happy.
- Found ways to do only what I loved by outsourcing:
  - bookkeeping
  - accounting
  - post processing
  - print fulfillment
  - album design (here
  - Instead of waiting for them to ask the questions
  - The 25 questions are usually the same.
  - i.e.What do I wear at the wedding? I already have a photo of me at the wedding.
  - i.e.What's you style? If they are asking your style you aren't doing a good job showing it
  - Educate your client in advance

Marketing

Opportunity. Opportunity, Opportunity. Opportunity to be me.
I have no secret. I want to lose to the best person.
I believe in creating an opportunity for me to be me, so you can be you.
Social networking
Community
- OSP/The B school
- Google Calendar
- Vendor Promotion: how do you find way to make other people successful
- Networking is "What can U do for me? Net-making is "How can I help U?"
Image
- Anything that is online
- Your website is the big thing.
  - Free template website
  - roadblock
  - custom or template website
- Website changed everything
- starting point
- know what you want
- Have a critical eye
- If it is easy, lame, cheap and cheesy, don't do it.
- Do it wrong. Just do something. Then you know what works and not.
You
Finding my way:
- My blog: document my way to fail
- Had 2 readers for a very very long time.
- The more you write, the more you put out on the web, the higher your search-ability.
First wedding
web side shows
- The 12 bride maids powering the first j* power squad
- I firmly believe that web slideshows are J* commercials starring my clients
Price factor

Finding a photographic style aesthetic + voice.
Understanding the why then become the why.
process of dissection
- figuring out the how
- figuring the why
How the photo was taken?
Natural lit. Relax posing. Confident subject.
Art of confidence
It's not about the nose. It's about emotion.
How to create confident subjects
- I'm about to piss you off...
- vision execution is my responsibility.
- acting as the director of photography.
  - putting people at ease
  - create conversation
How to pre-visualize
- Think of idea in advance
- Sketch on a notepad
- Collect magazine ads
- Create actions for your clients
- Tell a story to narrate ideas
- Practice in advance

The permission to feel beautiful

She wants to be here and he wants to be there for her.
Between you and me, you are gorgeous. And he thinks you are gorgeous.
Let me feel how beautiful you are.

Staying in control on the wedding day:
- Communication: 6 weeks before the wedding to go over the time line.
- First look: tell them the advantages.

Other interesting quote:

By coming to my workshop, you will not leave with a brand.
Your brand is prompt email responses. your brand is taking care of your clients.
I'm business on top, party on the bottom.
I have a firm believer that no homy hook up, 'cause things get weird.
Your brand is showing your clients you care.
I know who I am and it's my job to show you who I am
how you love is first depicted in your love story
I dont have blue ribbons above my bed
I tell girls: If you feel beautiful, you shoot beautifully
Brides that it is an advantage to work with my husband
.. we sync cameras. I am all about syncing cameras ...
[Tell JD] Keep it on P Mode! I give you P Mode!
Be nice. That's a big thing
1600 ISO - that's your best friend
If you screw up on your first wedding, it is OOOOK.
Want your pictures to be the first experience the bride has of photography from her wedding day!
I am controlling her emotion before she see all the photos.
waiting for the P.S..... the family photos sucks.
You can control the emotions if you want to.
When you talk about branding, it is an experience.
The closer the pictures are to the moment, the stronger the emotional connection.
The more people drink the better my photos look!
What works for me, may not work for you.. It's totally about YOU.
I have opinions on opinions.
Shut up. Let them dictate the conversation.
If the client doesn't want to talk on the phone, I don't talk on the phone.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. it's organic more than structured.
If you [the client] don't have time to respond, then you are looking for a photographer, not me.
Does it sound diva...absolutely... I want you to want me
I never dismiss everybody
I'm an equal opportunist. You know that Pretty Woman moment? Yeah.
I'm trying to not burn dinner...
If everything you're doing isn't what you want, then find a way to let it go.
Making decisions to be happy results in happiness, it's that simple.
What the heck? I'm gonna baptize you with my SPIT!
I'm all about hand written notes.
VANILLA. I'm simple. Come back and get the same thing every time.
Under promise and over deliver
Preparation meets opportunity
Show me an industry that hasn't changed in 10 years and I'll show you an industry that is dying.
Cubicle cuti
My mom read my blog and maybe JD if he was bored at work
We love the underdog stories.
Word of mouse. This spread my name more than traditional advertising.
Even if you are in the bottom, be the top of the bottom.
I had all these friends online, but I didn't have any friends in real life.
You're stronger as a unit than individually.
Three wolves are stronger than one wolf.
If people don't want to be around you, you walk away.
You give me the shoulder i give you the palm!
You feel only what you let others make you feel
Back then, no one would hire me because I only had a blog.
Personality on the web is like jaaaaazz hands!!!
There is always something that goes wrong!
I could never look at the bride and say U r running late!
clients know what to expect because you told them what to expect
its not the clients job to be creative, its ur job to make them look good!
"Bount."
Get up and get uncomfortable
If you can shoot in a septic tank and make it work, you can shoot anything!!
Whatever...make it work!
Part of getting an evangelist is teaching them how to talk about you.
Got a flat tire? Just means I get a new tire!
It's the photographers job to make them FEEL it, not the client.
Give your bride permission to feel beautiful
I'll do it to make her happy
You can't run a marathon without running the first mile
The minute they invest in you, they have ownership in the shoot
everyone loves differently
again, if i said something to piss you off, i'm sorry
Hold yourself to a higher standard to make your clients feel *amazing*
You are the Director of Photography. You have to make it work
Be you. Don't fake the funk!
If u want confident subjects, u have 2 understand the art of making them FEEL confident
everything happens in life for a reason
The quickest way to perfection is through procrastination
shake what your mama gave you
If your website is not helping you its detouring you
I am not a wall flower. I am wall paper.
everything in life happened for a reason.
I have too much proud to take a tissue.
We work with un-professionals. It's our job to make them professionals.
We are the editor. We control the brand.
re-invent themselves.
This is who I am at this point in time.
Do things that you can add value. That's the only way other vendors will give you the time of the day.

Note from day one can be found here.

Jasmine Star @ Creative Live Workshop

Jasmin Star is back at Creative Live for a workshop on "Building Your Wedding Photography Business." Here is some note from the workshop:

Why David Jay's website stood out:

Use a video intro.
Create an emotional connection via slide shows (no longer a viewer but also a participant)
Unique bio section.
I become invested in him personally.

On how to be good:

Practice
Do it again, again and again. It only makes you better.
If you ask why you are just not getting any better, then tell me how much you practice.
You need to understand what changes you are going to make.
Whatever you have, you have to make it work.
Open the manual and start from page 1.
Create a personalized curriculum.
Teach myself online:
- osp forum
- The B School (Get 25% discount by using jstar25 coupon code)
you may not like where you are right now but you have come a long way and you like where you are going.

On second shooting

Create trust (trust is the currency on the web)
Offer feedback, start conversations, provide constructive criticism (when ask for)
How?
- engage online forum.
- comment on blog (people like to know that you like them)
- write on their facebook fanpage.
- talk back on twitter.
- leverage your assets.
You are the anonymous support for that photographer.
You are the extension of his brand.
The only thing you have as a second shooter is your creditably.
Never cool to pass out your own business card.
They ask you to jump. You ask how high.
Don't stand in the same position as the first photographer.
We pick people based on how that person makes us feel.
Solid 1st shooters always looking for solid 2nd shooters.
There is no better way than to show your true color.

On why feeling bad: Comparison, Insecurity and Resistance.

everyone else [has everything that I don't have] (I need to make myself feel better before I can make my photos better)
Jealous and envious.
Our work is the by product of who we are.
Acknowledgment.
- move on
- help others
- create a schedule
Book that she just read and highly recommends: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
It is not important to be the best. It is important to be difference.
You will never be good enough.
The minute you put yourself out there, the minute you grow.
Get uncomfortable.

Finding a photography mentor

The likelihood is none.
Why would someone teach you to drive him out of business.

On business financing

~$3000
- $1200 Canon 20D
- $1400 24-70
- $500 cool business cards
Rent to own.
First wedding was booked for $1500.
Profit went to saving for future gears.
Filing for a business license and tax id.
Sole proprietor.
Paying taxes.

On starting a business with my spouse

It takes a very different dynamic.
It doesn't mean that you married the wrong person.
I have built the Jasmine Star brand but we built the business together.
Have someone to believe in you even you don't believe in yourself.
I would rather you fail on doing something you love.
To him, my aspiration has no price tag.
His + her perspective (he was having a husband/wife conversation but I was having a 1st/2nd shooter conversation)
Create clearly defined roles.
Set clearly defined goals.
Set a schedule.
(from JD) be patient.
(from JD) assign project leaders.
(from JD) play to each strengths.

Inspiration

pages from magazines.
throwing up there on the wall with things I like.
Find those things.

On Posing

how to I attract my clients?
I don't pick my clients. My clients pick me.
I need to get better on interact with clients before I get paid for the shoot
Mental check-list
- Check my ISO
- Choose my aperture
I never invented a pose.
Copying is the best form of flattery.

How she learned to shoot manually

The "Magic settings:" f2.8 1/2500 ISO 100
Once I feel comfort with the camera settings, I can control the posing
Posing and shooting attract the client I want
if it is not your skill set, put it away until you get it.

Next dissecting the how:

how was the photo illuminated?
how was the photo captured?
how was the subject posed?
how did the photographer get them to pose that way?
how was the story told?

Note from Jasmine Star @ Creative Live (Last day).

Here are some of the quotes from the last day of the Wedding Photography Course with Jasmine Star. It's all about business.

"It's 20% photography and 80% business."
"[If you don't think about the business,] You probably have an expensive hobby."
(On what other photographers may think) "If she can be where she is, I am going to be a OK."
"Creating the experience."
"Clients don't hire me just for the photos. They hired me for the experience."
"You learn from J* but you can't be J*. I am J*."
"I am the secret. You are the secret. We all have our own secret."
"Can I execute a J* experience?"
"Their experience is how I interact with them."
"The bride's mom likes the pictures before I shoot the wedding because she likes me."
"They associate their emotion with the end result."
"The first photo the bride and groom sees for their wedding is mine. Not someone else's tagged on Facebook."
"People hire me for the 20% factor. What people paying me for 20% of who I am. It's mine. [The other 80% are photography that every photographer can do]"
"They are not judging us on our portfolio. They are judging us on who we are."
"We are going everywhere fast."
"Each of those pictures is priceless to the bride [even they are not spectacular]."
"It's OK to not having everything to be perfect."
"The pictures on my blog is as good as I get [at this point, technically]"
"Can you listen to criticism from people you trust?"
"Brides choose photographers based on who we are, not our photographs."
"Basically, what I want to brand is the experience."
"Blog post: this is the story of their day. My words. My lens."
"I leverage my prospective."
(On post processing, blogging, updating FG) "I work. All I do is work."
"The first 2 years I was meeting with clients at Starbucks. When I started charging $5000, I cannot meet them at Starbucks. That didn't reflect J* my experience."
"It's making sure people like the photos before they see the photos."
"I don't have a questionnaire. I listen to them. If you care about what they are talking about, you will get enough details."
"If you remember people's name, you are no longer a business entity. You are an extension of the wedding. I don't remember all 12. I only need to remember a few."
"If you meet grandma, hug grandma."
(Per JD) "On wedding day, I am not the husband. I am a business partner."
"I did arranged the photos out of order in order to tell a story."
"I am going to end the slideshow with them laughing.""
"I am doing the slideshow according to my brand."
"I want to end the slideshow with the highlight."
"Slideshows are online commercial for photographers."
"The music set the tone of what you are putting out."
"I cannot answer everyone's email but if I answer questions on Facebook wall, thousands of people can see the answers."
"Never say never. 4 years later we are half way there."
"4 minutes mark for slideshow. About 75 images. With 3.5 seconds each."
"Strangers will look for other stranger's photos for at most 4 minutes."
"The minute you say it's cheesy.It becomes cheesy."
"Don't think about anything else beside your brand."
"Start backward. Who do you want? Imagine the type of clients you want. Who do you want to hang out on Saturdays?"
"Edit. Edit. Edit. Cut it down to the photos that reflect your brand. What go on to my website or blog, I only showcase the branded photo."
"As a total girl moment, her waist looks very tiny."
"I can tell you all the settings but you will never get the exact same light, exact same dress, exact same bouquet and use the same settings to reproduce the picture."
"Get down and get dirty. Shoot it up. Shoot it down. Shoot it from the side. Practice. Practice. Practice. "
(On branding) "They are telling me how good it is before I taste it."
"Our job really begins right after the wedding."
"Am I going to destine to shoot $1000 weddings?"
(On increasing $300 after every 3 weddings) "Your price should reflect how good you are getting."
"Out shoot. Out hustle. Out do."
(On charging more after a few months) "I went to classes. I shot a few more weddings. I got better."
"I continue to raise prices to control the number of weddings I shoot."
(On a la carte vs. collections) "I created my collections based on how I want to see things."
"We've never gone debt. We rented lenses. Earned some money and then we allocated some money to buy the lenses."
"If you want me to show up and shoot, it will cost you X. If you want digital negatives, you will need X + cost of digital negatives. If you want digital negative plus album. it will cost X + cost of negative + album."
"50% retainer makes me feel that the client will not work away."
"Require immediate booking to lock in the day."
"As my prices went up, my profit increased."
"If you don't have goals, you don't know where you are heading."
"I'm just a squirrel trying to get a nut."
"It's hard work but it's easy marketing."
(On boudoir photos) "If you want to look hot for your husband, go ahead, rock it out."
"Allow other vendors to market her."
"I am creating marketing material for my florist. It has less incentive for her to pass out my card. It is more likely for her to pass out marketing material that has her logo [with a small credit of mine]. [Even if she does not pass them out,] at least, she appreciate my gesture."
"If you are a photographer and you don't have a picture of yourself. Shame on you."
"How can people trust you as a photographer if you don't put pictures of yourself on your website?"
"Please trust me on your most important day of your life but I won't show you how I look like."
"Allow people to trust you."
"We are not shooting for other photographers. We are shooting for un-educated audiences."
"I let my client print. I let my client share. I never have my client abuse that."
"The best way to sell yourself is your website...that's what sells me."
(On fashion magazines)"In magazine, just a full white page with the name...so confident. I am so good. Just my name will sell. I would love that."
"When I go to Target, I go to the Hallmark section and see cards."
"If you can give me window light [to] a 10x10 square [location], I will give you 10 poses."
"I want this. When it happens, I will feel so darn good."
(On sending price sheet electronically) "As a paper whore, I love it but it doesn't work for my clients. It doesn't fit my brand."
"I am a firm believer to pick one thing and do very very well."
(from Craig) "Build your business based on your strength. People who try to fix their weaknesses before they start their business will have a mediocre businesses."
"Most of our clients see our images on an un-calibrated PC. It is what it is."
"Revisit your old photos."
(On the spouses both want to be first shooter) "Your clients need to know who is in control."
(If your 2nd shooter taking your clients)"Then you are not doing your job."
(On shooting destination wedding) "She is responsible on getting my visa. Shots need to be taken, etc."
(On blogging) "If you are blogging once every 3-4 weeks, you are not a blogger."
(On blogging) "Keep it personal."

Note from the first few days is here.

Quotes from Jasmine Star @ Creative Live Course

Here are some of the quotes fromWedding Photography Course with Jasmine Star:

"I'd rather see you fail at something you love than to succeed at something you hate."
"Your website is your handshake and your blog is your voice."
"Under-promise, Over-deliver."
(On doing post processing) "I'm a photographer. Not a Lightroom or Photoshop expert."
(On using camera flash) "Nobody ever sees life in flash."
(On shoot at a ghetto location) "Take the Ghetto out and shoot the fabulous!"
"KIR Keep It Real."
"In the sea of professional sameness - I was the blip that was different."
"If I win at my own game, then the playing field will be equal."
(On being able to compete) "Create your own game and win it!"
"You create your own game. Don't let other create your game."
(On not having the best camera) "I can do more on my M-mode than you can do on your P-mode."
(On branding) "You can rent a camera, you can borrow your sisters computer, but you cannot rent or borrow your brand."
"When you wake up for the rest of your life and could choose every day what to do, what would it be?"
"A rising tide raises all ships."
"Take care of the vendors."
"You're either connecting or repelling."
(On saying yes to all client requests) "Yes, yes, yes. At the end of the day, you are paying to shoot their wedding."
(On writing so much personal stuff online) "I gave enough reasons for them to feel like my friends."
"Personalize. Personalize. Personalize."
"Brides are booking out of emotion."
(On setting up the shoot) "Take 5 seconds out of your time to move things. Remove. Always."
"I don't talk fast, you listen slow."
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
(On making the bride feel comfortable) "It is OK to be absolutely breath-taking and feel beautiful."
(On making the bride feel comfortable) "Make it fun, fresh, fierce."
(On being different) "A brick wall is a brick wall is a brick wall...Uncle Bob can shoot a brick wall"
(On being different) "What can we do to make a static environment comes to life?"
(On being different) "Know your style, get your clients posing to the image you want, and use those images on blog to pitch your style!"
(On posing) "You can't help a client get comfortable if you haven't experienced being uncomfortable."
(On posing) "It's not their fault that you put them in that dumb pose."
"I attract girls that think happy wife implies happy live."
(On posing) "Make him look cool. Make her beautiful. Everyone is happy."
"A lot of times guys are marrying out of their league. girls are hotter."
"Allow your client to be beautiful."
(On posing) "Swish it. Turn it. Love it."
(On make the clients feel comfortable) "When you talk behind your camera, you keep the client engaged."
(On posing) "You have to give them an action to move into that."
"Bring it, deliver, commit."
(On posing) "10 in 10x10"
"You have no other option but to make it work."
"Put yourself through and let it go."
(On running out of ideas) "And sometimes you just need to take a step back and take a look at the situation."
(On running out of ideas) "Whenever you are stuck, revert to the twirls."
(On client's request) "Shoot it and get it done. Move on."
(On shooting client's dog) "Love the dog, hug the dog, let the dog trust you."
(On out-sourcing the post processing) "I out-source my life because I want my life."
"If you don't have a second shooter, get one."
(On first look) "You have to show them what they don't know they want."
(On having your own style) "What are the three words that describe you?"
(On having your own style) "Are those three words describe you? Or are those describe what you want to be? If latter, you need to take a step back."
"If it's special to them, I want to shoot it."
"We make images of emotional moments people forget. [The images] will help them to rememeber."
(On being emotional in the wedding) "I want to be part of it but I cannot be submersed in it."
(On showing the same day slideshow) "My pictures get better the more you drink."
(On location shooting) "Nobody in the world will know there's a lawnmower 2 ft away!"
(On same day slideshow) "I want to teach people to be Jasmine Star Evangelist."
(On same day slideshow) "I want my photos to be the first photos the client see."
(On same day slideshow) "If you want something to grow, you want to start the conversation early on."
(On not delivering your pictures fast) "Yours probably is better but it's not new."
(On same day slideshow) "Same day advertising is what the Bride and Groom would appreciate."
"We know what we can do in the time given."
"Anything that makes the wedding unique, that's what I will be photographing."
"Anything beyond 2 people, I don't shoot with 1.2."
(Mother of the Bride worries about bags under her eyes) "My camera is special. No bag. This is an anti-bag camera."
"Probably not the optimal situation. I'll just take what's given me."
(On working with the wedding coordinator) "I am ready whenever you are ready. That's what all the wedding coordinators want to hear."
(On working with the wedding coordinator) "Whatever makes her job easier, that's what I will do."
(On 2nd shooter taking care of the clients) "The better experience they have, the better my photos will look to them later."
(On keeping the flash on camera the whole time) "It's called being prepared, homey."
(On being in a difficult lighting situation) "Why not? Why not just sauce it up?"
"The tongs cheapen the pictures"
"I always think the bride and groom make up the rules."
(Every time the bride wants something) "Whatever you want Laura."
"Clearly a breather does not exist on a wedding day."
(On the amount of time to shoot details) "Yes, I educate my clients."
"As long as she is happy, I am happy."
"There is no formality. Just tell me 'Give me a shot.'"
"Whatever make you feel good."
(On shooting details) "I will make adjustment as I see fit."
"Just take a little time to stylize the table, it will pay off dividend later."
"With my team like this, how can I fail."
"You are a beautiful 'cryer'"
"Absolutely, I will do that right now."
"When there is nice people like that, I want to do an extra good job."
"My camera loves you."
"My brides are always the shot callers."
(On picking the photos) "It's my job as an artist to choose the strongest."
"I want to make sure my bride feels good."
"I want to make sure they know I am looking after their best interest."
"I don't use any in camera settings."
"If you learn how to find good light and shoot confidently, that's all you need."
"I will find the focal point closet to the bride's eye and then point up or down or left or right."
(On why shooting so many pictures) "I want to make sure I have at least some photos that are tack sharp focus [because I shoot wide open]."
(No lens cover) "I am not worried about dust on the lens. I am shooting wide open, so dust is not an issue."
"I've never use the camera strip...I know how to handle my gears professionally...I know my settings."
"I've never drop a lens. I've never drop a camera."
(On table shoots) "They will never get purchased....I'll only do it by request."
(For canned photos) "JD uses 50 and 85."
(On fish eye lens) "People look funny. People will un-tag themselves if you post the picture on FB. If you want a wide lens, get a 16-35."
"Life is like an elaborate high school."
"I will always try to shoot with natural light."
(On putting the softbox on the wrong location) "If I know where the softbox is, I will naturally not shoot at that direction."
(On shooting something beside weddings) "I like shooting people. There is no greater satisfaction on bringing out something good from people. Sheep just doesn't do it for me"
"If you are shooting every weekend, your price is too low."
"I lose a wedding to someone I respect, I am OK with that."
(On shoot family photos) "I never did it for free. I want people to value my time."
"I want to be a boutique photographer. I want to be marketed for one thing. I want people to refer me for one thing."
"Doing that one thing extraordinary well."
(JD talked about his photography) "My eyes are not like Jasmine's but I trained under her. I saw so many of his pictures. I was her second shooter since her first wedding."
"First photographer is the tile. 2nd shooter is the grout. Even the tile is what people see, the grout is what hold everything together."
(On picking the selection) "I don't want to overwhelm the client. I am choosing what I feel are the strongest."
"This is an highly emotional setting. I don't want him to think I am second guessing."
"I don't change my ISO setting so much, especially shooting indoor."
(On having a ladder in the background of a picture) "It was what it was."
(On shooting at 1.2) "I focus on her eyes. If he is looking to the side, it's ok that his eyes are slightly out of focus.
"I will shoot the entire wedding at f1.2, ISO 3200, 1/40. I will never say that to a client."
"I know I can make people laugh."
(On having different mood in the poses) "All this is by changing the position of her hand."
(On Kevin Kubota) "I don't know what he is selling but I will buy whatever he sells me."
(On Photoshop) "It should just the salt for a meal. It should not be the meal."
(On B&W) "I do my edit in color. I give the option to my client on print color or b&w."
(On getting the laugh on picture)"Keeping the camera on the face while talking. Of course, you look stupid but my job is not to look cool. My job is to make them look cool."
"The florist loves her client but loves her work more."
"I know what looks good. I don't think you have an ugly side. I think you have a fear."
(On picking pictures) "You don't look beautiful but you look pretty. There is a different."
"Who put her hand on the hip? If you give her a reason to hold her dress, it looks more authentic."
"If there is a hot spot, that's life. I will deal with it."
"I will never run any action at 100%. I am not trying to recreate a Kubota picture. I am trying to create a Jasmine picture."
(On Photoshop Actions) "Enough to flavor and taste."
"There is a right way to use the S-curve but I don't care."
"There are people who are very good at Photoshop would think this girl is a hot mess."
"Always always get a single shot of the bride. Editors love that. Guys are cute but girls are hot."
"It is what it is. It is an alley. Give me pretty light."
(On Photoshop) "I don't know much but I know enough to get me by."
"Dodge and burn. Lift the skin. Slight changes make them pop from the screen."
(On dodge and burn) "I like to control what my light is doing."
"All we did is just manipulated good light. I am not a good photoshoper."
"100% auto white balance."
"Album spread. Album spread. Always thing about the end result."
"I got a full length. I got a half length. I got detail. I got horizontal. I got vertical. Give them options."
"Shoot for them and shoot for yourself."
"The album should tell the whole story."
"Magazine editors prefer vertical photos."
"Make sure get a safe shot. Shoot the safe shot of the rings when rhe rings in the box."
"Shoot others for myself, for editorial, for magazine."
"These are just safe shots that I know my bride needs."
"These are not spectacular photos but these will mean so much to Laura [the bride]."
"Random detail shots for transitions in the slide show."
"I don't want to keep pictures when the girls look silly."
"Clear the scene, put her in the perfect light, and let's wait for what happen."
"I missed the zipping but I am not going to ask them to pretend."
"Nothing spectacular about it but it tells a story."
"I have shots for her. Now these shots are for me."
"I never tell the girls to do something cute."
(On posing the girls) "Have them lean together."
"Shoot for the client but also shoot for yourself."
"Given what it available. It is what it is. Fly. Fly. Fly."
"Value your time. Shoot it right from the can."
"Always get the name cards."
"I memorized my settings."
"I have my flash on my camera but I just could not bring myself to turn it on."
"When it is too flunky to fix. Black and White."
"People hire me for 20% of their photos. [80% on the experience]"
(On having a 2nd shooter) "I like to shoot it just like I am the only shooter just to cover my butt."
"I don't want detail photos to be editorial. I want detail photos to be congratulatory."
(On shooting at f/1.2) "[Q] What if I don't have a 1.2? [A] Shoot at 1.4. [Q] I don't have a 1.4. [A] Buy a 1.4."
"I shot this at 1.2. This person is not focus. That person is not focus. But this picture tells a story."
"What if I don't have a safe shot? Boring flash. I am going back to my boring flash."
"I am shooting wide to tell the story. He is shooting tight to get the reaction."
"Just tell the story. The guys are no non-sense."
"People don't mind to be told what to do if they know they will get better pictures."
"I need the second shooter to find the other story."
"He has a different angle and it tells a different story."
"Always take reactionary shots of the parents."
"These are not the best photos but the clients are going to love them because these people means something to them."

Things that Jasmine and JD say a lot:

"No, no, no, no problem. No worry."
"I am sorry."
"Thank you."
"Thank you so much. Perfect."
"This is great. This is totally fine."
"That's beautiful!"
"Great!"
"Alright!"
"Oh yeah!"
"You look good."
"Awesome."
"Gorgeous."
"You look great."
(say to themselves) "Whatever. It is what it is."

What students and vendors say about Jasmine & JD:

"Jasmine is Jasmine and she is the brand. It is not just the logo and letterhead."
"She was in a mode. I just stayed out of her way."
"She was unbelievable."
"It's amazing to see how they worked and how they moved."
"One of her huge talent is she makes it work given what's available to her."
"They are very personal to the guests."
"Constantly making the bride feel comfortable."
"Keeping things in control."
"She is not going to make the bride wait. She is going to make it work."

And the note from the last day is here.

The second one is the San Francisco Wedding Fair at the Four Seasons and here are some of the pictures from that event:

The cake above is designed my Armani and this table setting is by Chanel:

And of course, it also had champagne and food to sample.

This cake looks like a Coach bag:

More picture from the shows can be found here and here.

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

Here are some of the wedding pictures we took at the San Francisco City Hall a couple weeks ago.

YueStudio

Modern Luxury Weddings 2012

Bill and Maureen

Day 2: Jasmine Star at Creative Live

Jasmine Star @ Creative Live Workshop

Note from Jasmine Star @ Creative Live (Last day).

Quotes from Jasmine Star @ Creative Live Course

Sarah & Mike Half Moon Bay Wedding

Session with Sugar Sweet Pastries

Wedding Shows in San Francisco

San Francisco City Hall Wedding

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