NOW BOOKING: Family and Children Photography

For the past year or so, I've been traveling around the country exclusively shooting events. It's been an exciting adventure and I'm super grateful, but I'm definitely ready to get back to my roots a bit. When I started my photography business, my first clients were families and children. Now, after having Hendrix and being her personal photographer, I'm realizing how much I actually miss capturing sweet family moments. My baby has turned me back into the softie that I truly am and I'm embracing it!! That said, I'm now shooting with families again. :D

To get my portfolio back up to date, I reached out to the coolest mommy and me duo - Melanie and AnnDrew. Mel is a mompreneur and "travelista" (her new word, lol). And, baby AnnDrew is a child model who's currently shooting with big names like Target! Yup, I told you. They're the coolest!! Check out the pics from our shoot below and let me know what you think! (FUN FACT - I did this whole shoot with Hendrix on my back. I added the behind the scenes pic at the end.)

To book your family or child shoot, email Jasmine@JasmineAlston. I'm based in Philadelphia, but (obviously) I travel everywhere!

Here's the behind the scenes pic. Hendrix was a champ the whole shoot. She was just chilling watching AnnDrew and Mel get their model on. ;)

Then, I took her out to stretch her legs and attempt to get a shot of the babies together. This is the best I could get... Both of them were just about over it at that point. LOL! **Special thanks to Mel for dancing and making noises behind the camera to get them to focus!**

Booking info - Jasmine@JasmineAlston.com. I'd love to capture you and your family next!!!

Traveling With a Baby: St. Thomas and St. John

“To travel to is to live. And, we just livin life! ”

Travel is my life! No, really. It's one of my biggest passions (outside of business, God and family). I got my first passport in 2012 and I've been on the go ever since. Almost 30 countries and 5 continents deep, I guess you can say it's a part of who I am. 

When I first had Hendrix, some people told me that travel would have to take a back seat to motherhood. But, thank God I don't let other people dictate my life. ;) It's possible to be a dope mom and still pursue your passions! 

Yeah.. I can't do wild stuff anymore like hang off cliffs and swim with whale sharks, but we still have a good time!! Nothing beats seeing your baby's first reaction to sand and the ocean! (Even if she HATED the water because it was too cold, LOL! The sand was a winner though!)

Anywho, check out our album from the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas and St. John. We went with my cousin/Hendrix's Godmom, Katrina.  (P.S. If you're an American citizen, you don't need a passport to visit!) Also, if you do go, wear lots of bug spray. The "noseeums" didn't bother Hendrix, but they ate us adults up!! 

Have any cool/funny/inspiring travel stories? Would love to hear about them! Or, any questions about travel? Hit me up on instagram! @JasmineAlston . Let's talk!

When I Learned to Say "NO" as an Entrepreneur

No. Nah. Nope. No, thank you. Nizzy.

As an entrepreneur who offers a service, learning when to say "no" was a little difficult for me. For a while, I would take on projects simply because I needed the money or I was too afraid to decline a request (even if I had no interest in it). Sad, I know. However, on my journey, I've learned that peace of mind and professional dignity is much more valuable than temporary monetary gain. After all, saying "no" really isn't that hard if you're respectful and have sincere intentions. 

Keep reading to check out a few reasons why I've had to say "no" along my entrepreneurial journey:

1 - The Vibe is Off. 

Sometimes, you can tell immediately if a client is a good fit for you or not. It's kind of like dating, you know? If your personalities or creative views don't mesh well, that's okay. Every client is not for you and you are not for every client. Save both of you a headache in the long run. 

2 - Family and Friend Requests.

I love my family and friends! I really do. BUT, we all know that family and friends sometimes expect the "homegirl hookup." Now, I'm not saying never help family and friends. I'm just saying know your boundaries! If their request is something that's going to take up a lot of your time and energy, don't be afraid to say no. Business is business. Family is family. They'll still love you afterwards (hopefully)!

3 - Requests Outside of Your Niche.

Here's a simple example... When I first started photography, I would shoot parties and nightclubs. I had no desire to be there and I knew deep down that wasn't for me. (I was also afraid of my expensive camera being damaged in there!) So, I stopped shooting that niche of work. Nowadays, if I get requests outside of my desired niche, I just recommend other amazing photographers who specialize in that field. Try to stay focused on doing only the work that is aligned with your main goals.

4 - Low Budget or No Budget. 

This one is pretty self-explanatory. As business owners, we have to learn to set standards. If you set a standard as the cheap option, it's hard to break free from that. Why would someone pay you more if they know you'll accept little or nothing? Learn to stand your ground and value your work and time. Remember, professional dignity is much more valuable than temporary monetary gain. You'll thank yourself in the long run!

Have you had an experience with learning how or when to say "no" in business? Share it with me in the comment section! 

Be Great Today! ~Jasmine