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Meet Negine Jasmine of Hello Jasmine Photography

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Negine Jasmine.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Negine. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been taking photos since I can remember. I used to take my mom’s empty disposable cameras and point and shoot for days on end, even though there were no physical prints to look forward to– I simply enjoyed searching for beauty through the viewfinder of the camera. My fondness for film photography trickled into my early teens when I purchased my first 35mm camera. It was a Pentax ME Super and my rolls of film effortlessly filled with photos of my grinning friends, sunbeams, and concerts that I frequented every weekend in downtown Phoenix.

I was introduced to digital photography toward the end of high school and began taking portraits of everyone around me. I did it for fun. Even though it was a fully satisfying and rewarding experience for me, I never imagined taking on a career in it years later. It was not until I watched the film “Rushmore” by Wes Anderson, that I firmly made the decision that I wanted to become a filmmaker. I started making all kinds of little movies by myself or with my cousins, from comedic soap operas to Beyoncé-inspired music videos. I pursued Cinema at Glendale Community College, followed with a Communications degree at Arizona State University. Throughout my education, I continued to hone my craft as a photographer and filmmaker, creating visual art whenever I could. I landed a job at a wedding company, who’s long sixteen hours shifts and non-stop travel helped to further develop my skills.

Confident in the experience I had gained, I set forth on my own and launched Hello Jasmine Photography. Since its launch, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and photograph so many people, weddings, and events already, and I’m really looking forward to watching Hello Jasmine Photography bloom.

Has it been a smooth road?
As I’ve become more involved in this industry, I’ve realized how competitive it is. Which is no surprise, but I wish that people understood that there is enough space for everyone to thrive in. I’ve been exposed to a lot of underlying aggression from other photographers and I’ve never been able to wrap my head around that type of approach. It is important to understand that everyone is trying and that sharing/allowing light will only make the end product that much more special. I also would like to reflect upon the lack of dialogue pertaining to sexual harassment in the wedding industry.

This is a huge challenge that me and other women in this field have dealt with on hundreds of occasions. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received inappropriate comments from guests, or the amount of times I’ve had to deal with overly touchy attendees at weddings. Not only is it a degrading experience, but it takes you away from doing an excellent job. Which is why I now have a “sexual harassment clause” in my contract, it states that I can terminate a contract and leave an event if I feel like I’m being sexually harassed. I can’t say it enough, but whoever you are and whatever field you’re in, make sure to have this clause in your contract.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hello Jasmine Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
More than anything, I want to document personal history for people. I’m obsessed with the photographs that my mom brought along with her from Afghanistan in the 70’s. I have the ability to align the tales my grandmother has told me about my ancestors with the photographs from her Afghanistan, and that is so special to me. This is why I want to dedicate my life to telling stories and capturing significant moments that will live for generations. Through my experience as an Afghan woman in America, I have been exposed to so many cultures and traditions.

As a result of my experiences, I know the importance of culture and being able to capture it in the right way. In this male-dominated industry, I’m able to offer an understanding of what a woman is looking for in her end product, especially a woman from the Eastern part of the world. I want to be accessible to the Muslim community while building a foundation of trust and thoroughly getting to know my clients. I believe in keeping history alive and the idea that there is so much knowledge from our past, so I will continue to document the life around me.

Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years?  Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
With the advance of technology, more and more photographers are emerging. In the next five years, who knows how capable the iPhone camera will be, and how this will impact those that are professionals. With so many people dipping their toes into photography, jobs and opportunities for those that have dived deep into the profession will become bleak. I believe that professional photographers could easily be replaced with technological advancements, this is why it’s important for me to keep up with these advancements and always be one step ahead.

Questions I continuously ask myself are: What can I offer that the bride’s brother with a Nikon camera can’t? How can I make my work stand out when so many people are doing the same thing? I stand by what I said before, that there is enough space in the world for everyone to thrive. Though, it’s important to realize the difference from a professional that has dedicated their lives to the craft vs. an iPhone photographer.

Pricing:

  • Portrait sessions are simply $175 an hour
  • Wedding packages vary but the main one that I offer includes seven hours of photography and a highlights film for $1000

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Eunice Beck and Sydney Cisco

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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