Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Ruiz.
Hi Jasmine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my professional career after college in the marketing field but I jumped between multiple jobs looking for something that felt fulfilling while hating every moment of the corporate experience.
I had taken photography classes in college and would escape to my favorite hobby, photography, every weekend learning how to master the art of it. I really fell in love with wedding photography when looking for my own wedding photographer and had never really considered it as a potential career up until that moment.
Once I started, I was obsessed with the ability to connect with couples and capture their relationship in a natural and romantic way that made them feel beautiful, confident, and worthy of having their love story illustrated. I’ve been doing it now for over five years and am still over the moon that this is what I get to do for a living. It never gets old!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Getting started was hands-down the hardest hurdle. You need an unshakeable resolve. Foolish persistence. I did so many free shoots, reaching out to complete strangers on the internet to meet up for a photo session. I offered to shoot for free for dozens of photographers with no response.
I finally caught a break when someone posted in a Facebook group they needed someone next day to help photograph a wedding. I showed up and worked as a second photographer, completely unpaid. Then a few weeks later, I saw another emergency posting, I jumped on that too showing them the gallery from that one and only wedding I had worked. They hired me and had me cover another wedding the following month. Things started to pick up speed from there.
For me, like a lot of artists, there’s a constant struggle of imposter syndrome, scarcity mindset and comparison which can lead to inaction. It’s a real rollercoaster, but despite that, I could never return to the corporate workforce after experiencing what it’s like to have my own business rather than report to someone else.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a wedding and elopement photographer. I specialize in capturing a blend of candid moments and editorial style. I love looking at the wedding day through an artistic lens and making my couples look and feel like the coolest kids on the block. I’m proud of connecting with couples that come to me as strangers in order to tell their love story in an authentic way that also makes them feel good and know that I’ve seen and heard them.
My photography style is very colorful and vibrant to reflect the joy of starting a new chapter in each couple’s lives. I like playing with perspectives to help challenge the standard of traditional shots and set a scene that feels like something that unfolds on your favorite rom-com or show because we all deserve to have our fairytale illustrated in that light.
I also do boudoir photography (Rise Boudoir) which is such an empowering way to help women feel beautiful and confident and sexy. It’s about reclaiming our bodies, having a genuine moment of gratitude and appreciation for how powerful we are and an “F U” to societal standards or anyone and anything that attempts to strip us of our power.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I owe a huge amount of my professional development and success to another wedding photographer, Brandon Bibbins. We met through a networking event and connected over the fact we both shot with a camera that was relatively new to the industry and not common for photographers to be using at the time.
Brandon brought me on as a consistent second shooter and was incredibly gracious in allowing me to utilize my work from shooting with him to build up my portfolio and my business in general. He gave me opportunities that helped fast-track my business’ growth and helped me master things like properly utilizing my gear and critiquing my work early on.
Pricing:
- Wedding Photography starting at $3,000
- Elopement Photography starting at $1,500
- Engagement/Lifestyle Sessions starting at $500
- Boudoir Sessions starting at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jasmineruiz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmineruiz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejasmineruiz
- Other: https://greenweddingshoes.com/modern-moto-wedding-inspiration/
Image Credits
Jasmine Ruiz (Me)
