Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmin Tafreshi.
Jasmin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My artistic journey began at the age of 13 when my grandfather passed down my first film camera. I remember holding the camera in my hand absolutely amazed with all the buttons and knobs that were all unknown to me. Since I was a toddler, I would always snatch my parents cell phones and take photos of literally anything in site, from flowers to forcing my playmates and little brother to pose in front of the camera. It was all so amusing to me how we can capture one moment in an instant and that moment will never change.
In high school, I began the first Photography club. This is where my creative mind took its first steps professionally. I had an amazing teacher who taught me all the essentials of not only art, but photography itself. I was always self-taught prior and relied on YouTube videos but now I had a real live professional, teaching me all the tools I need to create essentially my hidden inner-imaginative self. From then on, I made constant connections and started going to meet ups. This allowed me to shoot a variety of subjects and gain a better grasp on what my artistic persona was.
Senior year, I decided to open my own photography business. This started with shooting simple senior portraits, to shooting birthdays and family photos. A couple years later, I began shooting professional models and this is where I really found my passion for the photography I do today. High fashion and unique faces along with finding different perspectives allowed me bring my creativity to the forefront.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In every story, there will come hardships that mold you as a person. Mine started in Highschool, when I found out my best friend since I was a child had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. The same day we received the news we additionally found out she had a couple months left. These couple months were undoubtedly the most challenging times of my entire life. Prior to this occurrence, I’m not going to lie, I most certainly took my healthy life for granted.
Now, everything has changed. I spent those couple months recreating myself as a person. I took the time to take in all those moments and privileges life had to offer. This hardship influenced my art heavily, as in these few months my photography became darker. I began to document more and more nuances of everyday life. Whether it was simply my friends and family members laughing or doing everyday tasks. Darker tones were reflected along with more black and white portraiture. This art form helped me reflect the confusion and sorrow I felt in the only ways I knew how. Photography gave me that control I never had.
For once in my life, the camera was mine to create what I wanted to expose to the world. You gain control of how you frame the world. Depression and anxiety had stripped my life of its colors, but as I looked through a lens it all was slowly painting back. In this short period of time the world is a whole new place to me. Photography became my outlet of expression, completely in my control,
Jasmin Tafreshi Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As far as experience goes, I have performed in a variety of spheres in the photography realm. I build modeling portfolios, create and direct runways, shoot family portraits, events, and weddings. I specialize in creating timeless idiosyncratic portraits that will allow the observer to connect with the subject and open their mind, entering my realm of creativity. I enjoy and often shoot timeless unique high fashion portraiture, it allows me to portray my inventiveness in fashion. I am most proud of coming all this way single handed at a young age.
Furthermore, I am proud of getting a number of my models into top modeling agencies. This includes: Ford, Freedom, and Wilhelmina. What sets me apart from others is the distinctive style I illustrate. I aspire to reflect bare emotion and allow my observer to sink into a new dimension of reflection. All beings are so divergent and I strive to paint each individual in their own way, forcing the observer to enter each photo in a different light.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career thus far is simply when the photographers and visual artists I look up to the most began to recognize my work and some reaching out. This was a very proud moment in my career because these individual prodigious artists are beings that have inspired me and kept me creating over the years. Having these masterminds notice me and additionally reach out, spoke to me in ways indescribable. I was something, someone, and they expressed my true potential.
Pricing:
- Creative sessions generally range from 250-350$ per hr.
Contact Info:
- Email: jasmintafreshi@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmintafreshiphotography/
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