We recently connected with Jasmine Keen and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jasmine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I took a gigantic risk starting my photography business. I was a new mom, new to adulthood and I hadn’t touched a camera in almost 10 years. One Christmas I asked for a camera…. I got it. A beginner Canon Rebel, that baby got me to where I am now. Within 6 months I bought a used 80D, 6 months after that I bought a Mark IV…. The sky was my limit and I was soaring! My photography made it possible for me to tend to my young child as I sought fit as well as never missing a school occasion. It was HARD. It took a lot of LONG nights staying up editing. Because of my determination of love of the job I graduated to my current camera, a Canon R6.
My life took a drastic turn after years of devotion to my craft and I stopped. Cold turkey. My fire has been reignited recently and I am back behind my camera. With all the thanks to my kids and husband for being my biggest cheerleaders.

Jasmine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

To be honest… I looked at photography as “quick, easy money”. It is FAR from that. I had no conception of the hours it would soak up or even the toll it takes on your mental and physical health. I went into the business not taking it seriously. I now have a degree in photography and a very successful business that I have poured my entire soul into. I love what I do and absolutely have a respect for those before me that I never knew was possible.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Life did what life does… it beat me down. My grandmother, grandfather, uncle and mother all died within 2 years… my business suffered tremendously and i allowed it. I went from adoring everything about my business to despising it in a matter of months. Something I grew from infancy to something I just wanted to avoid. I screwed my head back on and I’m back in the saddle now with a new love and desire to create magic again.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Reputation is everything! Especially in this business, the biggest help for me was being honest. I don’t try to be anything but my authentic crazyyyy self. That has helped me take the most shy, reserved clients and turn them into beautiful courageous butterflies.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Just Kidding Photography LLC
• Other: Justkiddingphotography1@gmail.com