Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Reynoso.
Hi Jasmine, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I like to mark the start of my creative journey as the summer of 2018. My niche is primarily centered on Chicano or Mexican-American culture, which is usually underrepresented in pop culture and mainstream media. However, as the popularity of short-form videos grew, more and more people began to take it upon themselves to document the scene. I recall watching a few videos from local car shows and events that inspired me to start making my own content. In August 2018, I set out to film my first video all on my cell phone with no plan or method in mind. Needless to say, it wasn’t very good coverage. Rather than give up, I decided to research how to make better quality videos from a smartphone, as that was the only camera I had access to. Since then, I have learned how to produce content that I am proud of, and feel I have found my own style. I still rely on my phone for the majority of my content, which surprises a few people, but the old adage rings true: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I think most creatives experience some bumps along the road in their journeys. I’m naturally an introverted person and have always been private about my art. It took some time to muster up the courage to not only get out and film an event but to then post the content publicly. In the beginning, I wasn’t getting many views or interaction on my page. On the one hand, I’ve always been a firm believer in culture over clout; but on the other hand, I wanted to grow my audience. Social media is ever-changing, and while some people recommend staying on top of the latest trends, it’s not always easy to predict how your content will perform. I mean, three years ago, photos were the number one form of media. Now, videos have taken over that spot. I opted to do videos over photos because there was a lack of coverage on local events, but it was tempting to ditch that in favor of photography.
It’s easy to fall victim to imposter syndrome as well. There are so many talented individuals I look up to and follow. Sometimes you end up comparing yourself to others in a harsh way. There have been times where I questioned my skills and felt pressure to upgrade my equipment or risk the quality of work I was putting out.
Fortunately, sticking to my roots and putting out videos that reflect my upbringing paid off. I’m glad I didn’t focus on the numbers and decided to just have fun with it. When you make content for yourself, you don’t feel restricted; you can experiment with your style and find what works for you.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I like to consider myself a jack of all trades. I dabble in traditional art, digital art, and photo and video. Digital art has been a more recent addition to my repertoire, but it has been a very rewarding and creatively challenging process. It entails creating logos and branding for small businesses, as well as making my own artwork. I enjoy being able to bring clients’ visions to life, and it brings a great sense of accomplishment to see them succeed in their own endeavors. My current interests have all stemmed from one another, in the sense that the skills I learn in one regard serve to complement another. For instance, my digital art skills allow me to create opening credits to videos I make. In this digital age, I consider it important to branch out and gain more experience to ensure you not only retain your audience but also gain new viewers.
Primarily, my brand is centered on the videos I make covering various lowrider events. The scene has always been largely male-dominated and based in Los Angeles or northern California. So, what sets me apart is that I’m a woman from a small city in North County, San Diego. It’s important for me that my content is a reflection of the culture. Therefore, I opt to use music that makes the experience more immersive for the viewer. The soundtrack to my videos is composed of “oldies” or “old school” music from the 50s to the 80s. When I re-watch my old content, I’m proud of the progress I’ve made as a creator, and I’m excited to continue perfecting my craft. Aside from the car scene, I enjoy filming family events, promotional videos for small businesses, and other opportunities to expand my portfolio.
As previously mentioned, videos have taken social media by storm, and there is no shortage of content out there. It’s amazing to see the younger generation participating and making their own waves. I am always blown away when I receive messages of support and positive feedback. It’s kind of crazy to think that I may have inspired some people, especially when it wasn’t so long ago that I was in their shoes.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I attribute my wide range of interests to the fact that I grew up with two older brothers. I was like a sponge, absorbing everything they said and mirroring their behavior. They introduced me to things most girls my age weren’t interested in, such as video games, wrestling, cars, sci-fi and fantasy films, etc. My brothers were my dad’s sidekicks, so, unfortunately, I never got to attend any car shows with them. I make up for that now, of course, but I also don’t feel I missed out because I wasn’t particularly interested in cars at that age. I appreciate the age gap between us because as they grew into teenagers, I looked up to them and thought they were the absolute coolest. It also instilled in me a competitive nature. It’s probably the reason why I took an interest in art, music, and other hobbies; I wanted to master those skills to be better than my brothers!
That competitiveness also manifested in my education. I strived to excel in all my subjects, and my parents reinforced the significance of doing well in school. I enjoyed reading, writing, and learning new information.
Personality-wise, I’ve always been a reserved person, especially among people I don’t know very well. I preferred to stay in than go out with friends. To some, that may seem boring, but that alone time was instrumental in the honing of my skills. I’ve also always been inquisitive. If I saw something I thought was interesting, I would immediately think, “I wonder how they did that?” and then proceed to try to figure out the process. That’s an aspect of me that’s never changed and is pretty much how I began my creative journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jazzyx760.wixsite.com/portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzyx760/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jazzyx760
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/jazzyx760designs/
