Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Lowe.
Hi Jasmine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started photography back in January of 2020 before COVID hit. I was originally attending college to become a nurse, but when I had my oldest son at 19 years old I realized I wanted to do something that allowed me to stay home with him as much as possible. My mom was always around for all of my milestones growing up and I wanted to make sure my kids got the same from me.
I had always loved taking photos of whatever I could when I had the chance. I’ve had digital cameras as long as I can remember, taking pictures of anything and everything and my favorite thing to do growing up was look through the huge box of all the printed albums my mom had of our family. So picking up a camera came pretty naturally to me.
I was working in the “Sweet Shoppe” candy store in Dollywood making candy at the time, when I told my husband I wanted to try out photography. He was super supportive, he got me my first DSLR for Christmas, I finished out my season at Dollywood and started offering to do free shoots to get practice on Facebook. I was really surprised when I got 8 or 9 volunteers right off the bat. I made my social media accounts, started posting my practice shoots, and then quickly started getting paid bookings from friends and people in my hometown,
After about a year I became an official business, created my first website, shot my first wedding and obtained my permit to be able to do shoots in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Joining the smoky mountain photographer’s collective page gave me a huge jumpstart to reaching more clients. I started getting tons of tourists who wanted family photos and engagement photos and that eventually led to doing weddings and elopements in the national park.
I’m going on 6 years now and I absolutely love that this is the career I turned to.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would not say it’s been smooth sailing. Starting a business in the height of COVID created some huge obstacles in getting bookings. Lots of shoots that I had booked had to be canceled/ rescheduled and of course the restrictions and fear everyone had put photoshoots at the bottom of most everyone’s priority list.
Although it was tough I can really say that being home all the time gave me the time and motivation to get better at shooting and editing, and it gave me lots of time to learn how to show up on social media and advertising myself. Even if it was just posting self portraits or pictures I took of the mountains from my front yard, I was posting virtually every day and it grew my following quickly.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The last few years I have almost exclusively been shooting elopements and micro-weddings in the Smokies and WOW is it something I adore doing! Of course while I always love being part of a huge party with 150+ people celebrating love at a gorgeous venue, there is just something so special and intimate about elopements and smaller weddings that really captures my heart. The connections I get to witness and all the special things that go into these more intimate ceremonies helps me not only tell my clients love story but it also gives me an opportunity to really get to know my couple and create friendships that I might not have had otherwise. I can also confidently say that the Smoky Mountains is just the perfect backdrop to showcase a cozy, homegrown love story. The mountains, woods, creeks and open fields just present so much opportunity to capture the couples free, intimate and unconditional love for each other.
When it comes to things I am proud of in my business, I have to say I am proud of how much this has allowed me to come out of my shell over the years. I was always known as “sweet, shy and quiet” growing up and learning how to put myself out there and get the confidence my clients need from me has really pushed me to be who I really am and let me clients in on that part of me to form real connections.
The Smoky Mountains is obviously a huge tourist destination, so of course people want to come and have photos taken while they’re on vacation or get married here. I really feel like what sets me apart in this area is the way that I connect with my clients. I want my clients to feel like they aren’t just hiring someone random to take their vacation or wedding photos because that’s super easy to do in a touristy area. I want them to have a real experience with me and really take the time to step out of the Gatlinburg/ Pigeon Forge of it all and take in the beauty that’s actually here. There are so many spots in the mountains that are absolutely serene and quiet and those spots are what make the Smokies what they originally got famous for. I want you to see and FEEL the peace of the Smokies in your photos when you work with me.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I definitely would not have made it this far in my business without my support system. My husband Jesse is obviously my number one. He has never doubted me in what I believe I can do and has always always always encouraged me to keep pushing, to get better and grow and believe in myself. Him and my kids are the reason I do what I do and they are the ones that push me to do something I am so passionate about so I can be the best version of myself for them.
My parents also always pushed me to think outside of the box and gave me the confidence growing up that I could do absolutely anything I set my mind to. I’ve also been insanely blessed to have my friends that encourage me, uplift me and always let me take their photos when they need them done! My photographer friend Savannah Franks (Serenity Shots by S) started photography at the same time I did and we have always pushed each other to learn and grow in this industry and I would not have made it this far if it wasn’t for her encouragement.
Of course my biggest motivation is my faith in Jesus Christ. He gave me the creative eye and the love for others that I have and put me in the position in life that I’m in to be able to serve others in some of the greatest, most meaningful and important moments of their lives. I am endlessly blessed and will forever be grateful for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jasminelowephotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminelowephotography/
