An Evening With Jasmine Star || The Fix

I sat down this morning with a homemade cappuccino and started to write about my trip to Seattle, WA.  I gathered up some photos, and was about to share about my awesome adventure when I realized that the story didn't actually start in Seattle.  It started at The Fix in Nashville, TN on March 6, 2012.  Yes, it's almost been 2 years, and I never posted about that night.

This might sound cliché, but I really do remember The Fix like it happened last week.  I remember signing up for it and not knowing why, or even what I would do there.  I remember laying out my clothes the night before and making sure my camera batteries were charged.  I remember stalking the Fix's Facebook group just to keep up to date with what was going on.  I remember getting to the venue super early and asking Zach and Jody where I could kill some time in downtown Nashville.  I remember walking through different shops with my dad and hearing Eric Church's "Drink in my Hand" three times within an hour (seriously, we thought someone was playing a joke on us.)  But most of all, I remember a feeling that I got that night.

 



 



 

As I walked into the building, I saw tons of *professional* photographers and felt completely overwhelmed.  Even though I had been shooting since 2008, I had only started up my business two days before The Fix.  That's right, only *2* days.

Everyone seemed to know everyone else, so I decided to just sit down and wait for Jasmine to start talking.

I honestly can't remember much of what Jasmine said.  Maybe I was star-stuck (pun totally intended).  Maybe I was too busy being inspired.  Maybe I was laughing too hard at her jokes. No matter what, I came away that night realizing that the only thing I wanted to do at that moment was pick up my camera and start shooting like crazy.  She inspired me to go for what I wanted, and to not let the fear of mistakes get in my way.  I don't think there is a word in the dictionary to describe the feeling she gave me - it was just really amazing.  I was on fire.

 

 



 

At the end of the night I went over to get my copy of Exposed signed.   I am *such* an introvert and was really nervous about having to actually talk to someone that night, but Jasmine has the amazing ability to make anyone feel instantly comfortable around her.  I can't remember what we talked about, but I remember that we were both laughing a lot.

After I had my photo taken with Jasmine, my dad asked if she would take a photo of him and me together.  It was completely embarrassing at first, but she and I started laughing and it sure happened folks!  We had a group of people watching and laughing with us, and Jasmine was coaching my dad and I through a few shots.  It was fabulous.

 

 

 

 

I got home über late that night (Nashville was about an hour and a half away from our farm), unloaded my photos, and then curled up and read about half of Exposed.  Anyone who knows me knows that I don't like reading - so this was practically a miracle.  If you don't already have a copy of her magazine you *really* need to buy it.  I was absolutely glued to it until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.  (and these aren't affiliate links - I don't get anything from recommending it to you.  It's just too good not to share!)

 

Come back next week to see how on earth a night in downtown Nashville was the start to my Seattle journey. :)

 

Happy Friday!

~~le