Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Russell.
Hi Jasmine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey could definitely be a movie!
As the friend with the right angles, the storage of my iPhone 5s couldn’t catch a break. From cityscapes to how I dressed my dinner plate, you could bet that I was capturing anything that caught my eye.
As a former mute, photography became a way for me to creatively express myself. I was told that I had an eye for things, but I just attributed that to my attention to detail. Someone even shared how they couldn’t explain it but that my pictures told them a deeper story. At the time, hearing such comments was almost comical. Despite my personal desire, I believed what I heard. “Photography could only be a hobby.”
I appreciated those who supported my ambition to be a full-time photographer, and the commentary from the doubters even motivated me, but it wasn’t until I shut out all of the noise that my passion became my therapy.
I casually shared the excitement that photography provided with an artist when I was 16, and even though I didn’t think much of it at the time, he saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.
While pursing everything that I was advised to do, I lost what felt like everything in the matter of a week. As much as I was hurt as I was perplexed, I prayed for guidance on what to do all night.The next morning, the same artist that I spoke to when I was 16 gifted me with a camera kit. I had no clue how to use a professional camera, but with time, a need to release, and curiosity, I found what was right for me!
I began using ordinary things, such as plants, to practice my lighting and attended sporting events to work on timing. Prom season provided space for me to be creative while showcasing what I learned.
During this time, I’d just upgraded from my iPhone 5s to a Canon Tsi in 2018. This camera wasn’t the worst, but it was far from the best. I was self-assured in my work and knew what I was capable of.To my surprise, my first client didn’t show. Of course I was disappointed, but I knew I had to give my next clients my best.
The location was unconventional, but I knew the random palm trees could take any portrait to the next level. Even though it was 55 degrees outside, our photos looked like we were in the spotlight of Miami!
As the sun went down, I ended that session somewhere in between motivated and discouraged, but I knew that I had to keep going.
I told myself that “any ground is my playground.”
My next chapter landed me at a local nonprofit while on school break from Darton State College. While there, I bonded with children by teaching them creative study skills and daring them to chase their biggest dreams. I often asked them to share their dreams out loud, and one day they asked me. After sharing my dreams of being a photographer, these third graders pushed me to practice! Playtime usually turned into a full photoshoot, but looking back, I can see that they taught me to not only dream but also to be intentional and do.
I went back to my vision board and reflected on what I wanted to do before my imagination grew crowded by doubts. After a little research, I found that Albany Technical College offered photography classes that were taught by two graduates of my dream school, New York University.
There was no way that it was a coincidence. I considered myself self-taught, but I knew that mentorship at ATC could take me further than I could see. Attending their classes was like fine-tuning my creativity. Learning about product, editorial, food, portrait, documentary photography, and more prepared me for any avenue that I wanted to take.
The audacity to believe in my dreams, my gifts, and the one who provided the vision has led me into rooms that I couldn’t imagine.
Being able to spread happiness, promote audacity, and ultimately help others tell their story is so rewarding.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Facing the fear of failure head-on will never be easy. I will say that I know the future I deserve is worth every risk.
I didn’t know if I could get the jobs, make the connections, or even complete school. With my commute to class being almost two hours away, there were times when transportation, housing, and finances were questionable.
After being stretched to a point where I knew that I needed help, I was told to “give up and go home.” Those words sat with me for a minute; I considered them, but ultimately they only motivated me to keep going.
Now, I have to figure out how to connect with the right people connected to hosts like LiveNation, the NFL, and the New York Times, take portraits of the first family, or even make the cover of National Wildlife!
I won’t limit myself or my dreams, so there’s no way I can expect this voyage to come easily.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a creative portrait photographer who likes to highlight the little things. What that means is that we have all that we need to create a masterpiece.
I enjoy capturing people or things in their natural element, which helps tell a story without having to say anything. Subjects or people are often more confident where they’re comfortable, and it provides me the opportunity to add a flare of creative expression.
As far as genres like landscape or street photography , we move so quickly that it’s easy to miss the details of life, but I enjoy sharing my perspective on things.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like the least?
I love that I’m from an area where everyone knows one another, so the support is readily available. What I dislike about my area is that there is a lack of appreciated art and opportunities.
I believe this is why it was so hard for me to fully believe in my dream. It wasn’t evident that it was possible until I began traveling.
That’s when I saw the value and possibilities that art could bring.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.dot_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KDotShots/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KDotPhotography/featured
- Other: https://jasminerussell.myportfolio.com/
Image Credits
Myself : Jasmine Russell of K. Dot Photography
