Life and Work with Jasmine Coro

Has it been a smooth road?
As a woman of color, I always will have to work harder than anyone else around me. My intelligence, character, skills, appearance, communication and spirit will always be tested in our society. To my fellow sisters who find themselves in the same boat, do not let these false boundaries stop you from having a life that you deserve. Be fierce in your presence. You come from a legacy of trailblazers and you are what pushes humanity forward. When faced with challenges, doubt or bigotry, remember that fear can try to bring you down. Challenge that by being brave and always staying true to your most authentic self. Build up those around you to spread that same positive energy. My favorite quote, by Marianne Williamson, reminds me of the power I hold:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frighten us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
To put it simply, I’m a multi-hyphenate. I have a passion for seeing the world through a fresh set of eyes and experiencing it all. Much like any artist, I don’t box myself into one category. I take pride in expression. The ability to share my creativity and communicate through a variety of mediums is what motivates me. I specialize as a photographer, videographer, director, designer, choreographer, dancer, stylist, traveler, linguist, translator, social media specialist, writer, and digital marketer.

As a creative, especially in the realm of photo, direction, style, and video, I believe a camera is an instrument of human anthropology. In this day and age, we have the ability to instantly capture history and emotion. Through visuals, we are able to learn about ourselves and beyond. My styles range in portrait, fashion, event, concert, commercial, product, travel, journalism and lifestyle. Through my lens, I’ve seen celebrities and figures such as President Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Ludacris, Mario, Chuck D, and B2k. My destination images cause wanderlust from places like Costa Rica, Panama, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Also, my creative concepts have come to life with models, dancers, brands, businesses, artists, individual clients and even a full 12-month calendar of a dog!

During my university time, I honed skills to take my creative mind to a professional level. Studying Advertising and Spanish allowed me to learn how to effectively communicate with a diverse audience. It also combined the many facets of my interests, such as technology, creativity, business, communication, history, linguistics, politics, and anthropology. My goal is to be an advocate for people portrayed in media and entertainment at an international level. The images we see should be a mirror of the society where we live by sharing honest representations of diverse audiences, information, stories, locations, and feelings. It’s an issue when societal pressures and structures are based on consumer intake. I hope to be a leader in changing that narrative for the better.

Aside from my studies, I was teaching dance classes in hip hop, contemporary, heels, jazz, Latin, African, etc. I discovered a deep passion for movement that started as a young girl in a church in the praise Tapestry in Motion ministry. I am now also pursuing a career in choreography and professional dance. I’ve had the honor of training under great talents in Phoenix, Portland, and Los Angeles. I also perform and create for showcases, music videos, concerts and concepts videos. I’m excited to continue to grow and see where a “5-6-7-8” takes me next.

To see some of my work and keep up with what’s happening in my life, visit my website www.jasminecoro.com or connect with me on social media @jasminecoro. Hope you join me for the journey!

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Production Programs: Adobe Creative Cloud

iPhone Apps/Creative: Planoly, Hootsuite, Adobe Spark, Photoshop Express, Snapseed, Pinterest, Behance, Unsplash, Meetup, Mindbody, Steezy.co, Flaticon, Creative Market, Lynda and B&H Photo.

Language: Duolingo, Linguee, Google Translate, Meetup and Spanish Dict. Find shows, music, movies, videos, events and reads in the language you want to learn too! Practice, practice, practice.

Travel: Google Flights (private mode), Rome to Rio, Hostelworld, Trip Advisor, Booking.com, Airbnb, Grab, Foody, Trip Advisor, Yelp, Google Maps and Globe Convert.

Blogs/Youtube/Social Media: Shameless Maya, Shannon Boodram, SuperHolly, Jackie Aina, Pero Like, Say it Loud, Mitú, Origin of Everything, The Quietest Revolution, Damon and Jo, Shut Up and Go, Jessica Kobeissi, Geography Now, All Things Adrienne, Jeannie Mai/Hello Hunnay, Ravie B, Jessy J Photo, My Life as Eva, Bella Doña and Legendary Rootz.

Podcast/Radio: OtherTone, The Voices In My Head, Friendzone, Deconstructed, Hot 97/Ebro Darden, Soulection, Jesus and Jollof, 2 Dope Queens, The Read and Small Doses.

Book: Choose Wonder Over Worry x Amber Rae

I think it’s important to keep a journal or even the notes app in your phone handy too.  Always be ready to jot down an idea, thought or sketch. Or even posting it on social media! You’ll never know what oppurtunies or connections will come out of putting yourself out there. Manifest your mind. Also, I can also be a resource for you, so feel free to reach out. I’m here to support, share and inspire!