20 on Tuesday: Jasmine Sargent

One of my biggest regrets so far in life has been not getting newborn pictures taken of my four kids.  Of course, they were all born before newborn photography really took hold the way it is today. And,  they were born before photography became a passion of mine so I wouldn’t have been able to capture them the way I would want to anyway.  If only I were young and just starting my family and had mad photography skillz…

Like Jasmine Sargent.  She’s a wonderful newborn, child, and family photographer out of North Dakota.  I’m so inspired by her ability to run a successful business in such a small town.  But she does it.  And does it well.  Her newborn work is fabulous as is her child photography.  I have a thing for black and white and Jasmine’s black and white images are killer!  Oh, and I can totally relate to her aspirations of organization.  I always have big plans but they never quite pan out.  I’m sure she’s more put together than I am!  I can’t wait to meet her next month at our Face 2 Face Bloom Workshop.

Hi Jasmine,

Where are you from?

I grew up in a small town in North Dakota, Stanton to be exact.  I was actually in the last class to graduate from the high school before it closed.  My class only had 11 in it.
Where is home now?

I now live only 10 miles from the town in which I grew up in and we live in the town in which my husband grew up in.  It’s so great to be in the same area as both of our families.  I always said I would never move back to a small town, but I’m happy we did!

Are you formally educated or self-taught in photography?

I’m self taught.  After getting my first DSLR, I read my manual and every internet article I could find.  I was constantly googling anything I was unsure of or wanted to know more about.  I also attended the fabulous Bloom Workshops. I have them to thank for so much knowledge and fabulous friends 🙂
What led you to pursuing photography as a career?

I only really ever wanted to take photos for fun and myself.  I started to have friends asking me to take their photos and then their friends asking.  Before I knew it, I was in business.  I never in a million years thought I would have a career I loved so much.

When you’re in a rut, what inspires you?

That’s a toughie.  I feel like I’m in a rut a lot lately.  I’ve just been trying to unplug from my usual blog stalking and trying to focus on why I loved this so much in the first place.
Talk to me about personal projects.  Are they important and what have you done lately?

After the craziness of last year, I have embarked on my first personal project with 19 other photographers.  We take one photo a week, based on a theme, for 52 weeks.  I hope this really challenges me to pick up my camera just because and not just whenever I have a session.  I’m really excited for it!

What would your ideal photo session look like?

Oh this is fun!  My ideal photo session would be on a beach with a little girl or boy that I got to style!  And since I don’t have any beaches near me in North Dakota, I would settle for shooting in a grass field too! 🙂  Oh and of course a newborn session where the baby sleeps the whole time and lets me move them whatever way I want!  Yup, that would be ideal!

If you could be invisible for one day with your camera…I

I would follow Brit & Carrie, the Baby as Art team around.  I absolutely adore their newborn work and would love to be a fly on the wall at one of their sessions.

Name a photographer you would like to take a portrait of?

I’m going to say Maureen Wilson and her family.  After many late night calls, I’ve gotten to know her pretty well over the last year.  I love her southern accent and hearing her kids in the background.  Her family is too cute and I would love to capture them.  Plus Maureen would make me laugh the whole time!
What’s your best advice to avoid stiff poses and fake smiles when working with clients?

Be a goofball!  I’ve been known to dance around and make up my own songs.  I made up a song about ice cream, suckers and movies at one session.  I wish someone would have had that on tape!

What’s in your camera bag?

In my fab Kelly Moore bag I have my Nikon D700, 24-70 2.8, 50 1.8 and my 70-200.  My 24-70 almost always is on my camera except in the summer.  I love my 70-200 for those fabulous grass field shots!

What have been your three best photography investments so far?

The Bloom Workshop, my 24-70 and Photocart.

If not a photographer what would you have been?

Well I was an X-ray Technologist before we moved back, but I’m not sure I would have continued.  I hope someday I can be a SAHM and still a photographer of course!

If you could live anywhere on this awesome planet where would you build your dream home?

Oh this is easy.  Hawaii.  A gorgeous house on Lanikai Beach on the island of Oahu with tons of windows!  I always say my dream house has to have a ton of windows!

What talent would you most like to have?

Organization.  I did not receive many organizational skills.  I really have high hopes of being organized but it never lasts.

What are the three words your spouse would use to describe you?

Beautiful, smart and feisty.  I cheated and asked him 🙂

Something that is over rated…

Gossip.

Your favorite movie of all time?

The Burbs.  Love that show.  It makes me laugh every single time!

If you could change one thing you did while starting your photography business, what would it be?

Not just jump into business right away.  I wish I would have taken more time to get everything ready instead of just adding things here and there.
What quote best represents you at this moment?

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Jasmine’s work can be found HERE.

Thanks, Jasmine!  Can’t wait to meet you next month.  🙂