Ria Mishaal Photography Blog

I scanned down the list of Top 10 Wedding Photographers by American Photo Magazine, and my eyes rested on a slightly unusual name. It was 2009, my lunch break, and I was scoring the web again for wedding photographers…looking for inspiration. I clicked on the link, and almost immediately I was greeted by a pretty, smiley American girl, my age, telling me all about her loves, her dreams and her photography. I was quite taken aback, and, well, to be honest, I sort of ran away. It was like nothing my British eyes had seen before. But the following day, when 12.30 came round again I was drawn back…and then I discovered Jasmine Star’s blog, and over the next week I was hooked. And I was not the only one. Jasmine Star now has over 40,000 likes for her facebook page and over 30,000 followers on twitter.

My discovery of Kat Williams was a little more recent. Earlier this year, as a bride, looking for inspiration I found myself looking at wedding blogs, and Rock n’ Roll Bride stands as a fiercely independent voice for the uniquely beautiful. Kat herself, in cyberspace, is larger than life, uncompromising, appreciative and sharp.

So when that these two exceptional women were teaming up for Jasmine’s first ever UK workshop, I was going to have to be there.

Sometimes I still surprise myself how shy I can be. I thought that having had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Jasmine over skype when I interviewed her in January for The Photography Parlour would have lessened my nerves at the mixer on the night before the workshop. Kat had organised a meet in the roof top bar of The Sanctum Soho. Something about the combination of excitement and meeting so many of my peers who were full of enthusiasm and accomplishment left me a little tongue-tied. Until Jake reminded me to look out and not in. Don’t think about how others are perceiving you but instead ask, listen and learn. And I did, and I grew.

The workshop was one high-octane day. The venue, One Marylebone, was stunning. And I mean STUNNING. Tall leaded windows letting the light pour in to the high ceiling rooms, bathing the beautiful arrangements brought in for the afternoon shoot. We glimpsed these as we entered before sitting down for the morning’s seminar.

Jasmine gave the most informative, clear account of how she set up her business, focusing on branding and an open, honest account of things she learnt along the way. I have been asked since the workshop, as Jasmine has been so giving in her knowledge and experience both on her blog and in ventures with CreativeLIVE, how was the workshop different from what I had learnt previously from her? And I would say that her genuine willingness to answer any questions AT ALL, her poise, her real-ness (for want of a better word) and watching her in action, in real life, were incomparable.

Kat had brought together a talented team for a shoot with a genuine newly married couple, Rachel & Dan, who were so beautiful and so lovely (how lucky were we?). Jasmine demonstrated her shooting style, use of natural light and interaction, and then we, shy as we were, had a go and Jasmine gave her constructive input. And I learnt a lot, both from her and from my peers.

At this point I want to give a shout out to JD, Jasmine’s husband. He works with Jasmine and is the slightly quieter partner. Jake and I agree that he is rather great. We both had the opportunity to talk with him, and I really appreciated the sound advice he gave me.

I have been lucky enough to train with some of the best in the industry whom I admire greatly. And I have learnt a lot. A lot of different business models, different branding approaches, different shooting approaches, and different client care. Jasmine’s teaching gave me a much clearer understanding of what I want, what I think will work for me and more confidence, and that is such a gift to have been given.

I came away with a slightly different way of seeing and a slightly different way of being, a little bit of star dust that might just make all the difference.

I want to give an enormous thank you to everyone who was part of this incredible experience. Thank you!

Venue: One Marylebone http://www.onemarylebone.com/ (Alicia)
Flowers: Pollen Nation http://www.pollen-nation.co.uk/
Large Rose Cake: The Art of Cake http://janetmohapibanks.com/
Miniature cakes: Restoration Cake http://www.restorationcake.co.uk/
Furniture (chairs/tables/screen/sofas): Great Hire http://www.greathire.co.uk/
Caterers: The Recipe http://www.the-recipe.co.uk/
Hair: Severin Hubert of The Hepburn Collection http://www.hepburncollection.com/
Make Up: Elbie Van Eeden http://elbiehairandmakeup.wordpress.com/
Behind the Scenes Video: Richard Wakefield of FX Films http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/
Organiser/general dogsbody: Kat Williams of Rock n Roll Bride http://www.rocknrollbride.com/
Models: Rachel & Dan