For a while I've wanted to pour out everything in my heart, but it's been bottled up. Out of fear, humiliation, and hurt. What I've encountered in the past few days is one of the hardest moments of my professional life, but I need to address this face-forward.
There are truth and lies swarming the internet and I need to take a moment to clear the air. But before I do that, I need to apologize to anyone I've offended. Knowing I've let people down is one of the hardest things to accept. Beyond all else, I've let myself down and the shame I feel is overwhelming.
Firstly, I need to address the most pressing matter at hand. For the past seven years I've blogged 1,500+ posts. I was passionate about creating a blog to share content I learned along the way. I placed an inordinate amount of pressure on myself to write and produce content every day. This {self-imposed} pressure led me to compromise my ethics and publish four blog posts using content I sourced from other blogs. I absolutely should have cited the sources, but didn't. I was wrong. I totally admit this is my fault and I'm humiliated by my actions.
The posts (three posts written in 2012 and one in 2013) were removed, I contacted the publishers of each blog, and I apologized. I offered to make amends any way I could and, thankfully, they responded gracefully.
Since then, a petition has started to remove my name from a list of speakers at WPPI. The petition is unnecessary because I've removed myself from the speaker list. This was a difficult decision to make, but I love this industry too much to see a group of people use my flaws to polarize photographers.
Secondly, those accusing me of stealing a photo to promote a workshop are wrong. I've never used someone else's photo as my own. In 2010, I was invited to speak at a workshop (hosted by a magazine and I was an invited guest) and they created marketing material on their own. The magazine used an image to promote the event. I spoke for free, gave of my time, and didn't have a say as to how the event would be promoted.
Thirdly, on August 16, 2013, I addressed and apologized for misleading my Twitter followers. You can read the entirety here:
Lastly, for anyone who has accused me of using a fake name is wrong. I was born Jasmine Star Juarez, and later changed it to Jasmine Star DeLaTorre (my married name). I've never hidden this fact, and have chosen to use my first and middle name for business purposes.
I appreciate those who've stood by my side during this time. It's been a humiliating lesson, but those who have encouraged me to move forward are priceless and I appreciate it more than I can express. My actions are entirely my own and I accept full culpability. These explanations aren't suppose to justify my actions, but merely commit to making better decisions and bring full disclosure to the situation. Again, my sincerest apologies.
Why can't everyone take a chill pill, move on and let this go? The girl apologized for her wrongdoing; what more do you want? No need to attack someone you barely even know.
It's hard to let it go because she apologized because she had to...after the third time getting caught. She went on all summer with not a mention of what she did hoping it would blow over and people would forget. Even this wasn't much of an apology. She brushed it off by saying four plagiarisms over 1500 posts isn't that bad. If she was really genuine and apologetic she would have stepped up to the plate right away and made things right. Instead, her ego and fame drove her to steal even more content and pass it off as her own. Now she comes across as "Poor me...I've been so stressed". Please...
The point is we as strangers to her looked up to her. We paid for her workshops and products. We trusted her. Just think if she didn't get caught. We'd be buying into her work not knowing that she lifts content. I'm sure she would have kept doing it had she not got caught.
Her slogan was "Be You", yet she couldn't be herself. How ironic.
Because unlike a Paula Dean who said bad things 30 yrs ago... or unlike someone who cheated on their spouse etc.. SHE VIOLATED THE MOST BASIC PREMISE OF THE INDUSTRY SHE REPRESENTS - she violated the primary tentant of our industry and thats copyright infringement - she is well WELL aware of this as she not only has copyrighted her material and has trademarks and so on she dismisses it - That's why the real professionals in this comment thread are so heated and passionate about this. Its not a personal attack. She represents this genre in an entire industry as a leader. She needs to set the standard for the industry not dismiss the standard.
Because unlike a Paula Dean who said bad things 30 yrs ago... or unlike someone who cheated on their spouse etc.. SHE VIOLATED THE MOST BASIC PREMISE OF THE INDUSTRY SHE REPRESENTS - she violated the primary tenant of our industry and thats copyright infringement - she is well WELL aware of this as she not only has copyrighted her material and has trademarks and so on she dismisses it - That's why the real professionals in this comment thread are so heated and passionate about this. Its not a personal attack. She represents this genre in an entire industry as a leader. She needs to set the standard for the industry not dismiss the standard.
If you make money in this industry or intend to you should be less forgiving.
It didn't make any difference to me whether she "borrowed" ideas from someone else or not...people benefited. So f_ing what! She will no doubt continue to get weddings because of talent, not by what little minded people in the industry think of her.... Shame on you who diss her for what? 3 minor indiscretions? Keep on trucking Jasmine! I love you!
Theft of intellectual property is never a minor indiscretion...especially to the person who created it. People speaking up against wrongdoing are not "little minded" unless you feel that it is wrong to stand for ethics and integrity. Would Jasmine have "apologized" if she hadn't been caught, of course not. Would she have stopped "borrowing" the work of others and passing it off as her own, of course not. And "borrowing" ideas from others does not involve copying entire posts with very few changes (that is, actually, textbook definition plagiarism.) I don't begrudge anyone success in their chosen field, but when you do it dishonestly and at the expense of others, that is just plain wrong.
It is not little minded to stand for ethics and integrity. You are absolutely right. However it is little minded to not be able to forgive, to never give benefit of doubt, and to believe that holding on to negative feelings is better than letting go of them.
I think it should be up to the authors of that " intellectual property" to make the judgement call of whether to or not to impugne Jasmine.... hardly passing on suggestions on backlighting a subject, and other basic photographic techniques, justifies the backlash from all these people.... a little bit overdone in my opinion..... has not the point been made? she will still blog I will continue to read her blogs whether she wrote them or not, I don't care.... I learn from what I read were ever it comes from....
Just one more bad thing David Jay "Created" - Fake it till you make it. Right David?
No, fake, steal, then make it, then sell it, apologize and repeat.
Who is Jasmine Star?
Someone who is great at marketing, but photographs on a amateur/intermediate level .
I think that's kind of absurd. I'm a photographer myself, and Jasmine's work is great. An Am doesn't have 1/10th the talent and skill Jasmine has.
You think it's absurd? why? because I have been in the industry for over 30 plus years and i have seen a lot of photographers make a great living at mediocre pictures. Jasmine even admits to still being less than stellar but say she is learning her craft daily. she saids in her on words that she considers herself intermediate, so what do you know. Don't piss on my bricks because I simply spoke the truth which is her truth.
Just out of curiosity, how would you rate your own work?
The same you rate yours, it's based on your experience, recognition with many magazine publications and so forth.
thats not at all how i rate my work, i rate it based on my personal satisfaction, if i've made myself proud, who else's opinion on my art matters.
So because SHE says she's less than Stellar, she is? Any REALLY good photographer that's actually humble will probably say the same thing. Look at guys like Jeremy Cowart, John Keatley, etc. Those guys also say they think their work stinks, more often than them actually LIKING their own work.
You've been in the industry for 30 years? That's great. I cant wait until I can say that (honestly). It's just too bad that being in the industry for 30 years has stopped you from seeing the beauty in photos that are beautiful.
I really want to see your work. Do you have a website?
Saying she's intermediate is called humility and wisdom. No one masters a craft. They will be learning and growing their entire career, be it 60 days or 60 years. It's a shame you don't know that.
Hallelujah "ettventer" now I know why she so successful ... By the way do you know how to turn cam on? Just asking ....
Who died and made you Queen of Deciding Who Shoots At A Professional Level Or Not?
Jasmine did, she stated this herself, I have been shooting for over 30 plus years and I not only made that decision, most in the upper profession of this area agree, but as stated ask Jasmine and she will tell you the same.
30 years?
Poetic!
BOOM!!!
Headshot!
*Facepalm*
Oops
If you say she's average, I'd like to see your work (I'm serious by the way, not trying to be sarcastic or disrespectful in any way) do you have a website where I could see it? Thanks.
Same answer as above. Society decides greatness. Were there better artists than Picasso complaining about his reputation and success? Definitely. Do we care in the last? No. They died in obscurity. Talent, fresh ideas, and marketing determine the greats, not comparing yourself to others or time spent in your field.
how can we state that annie leibovitz is a great photographer!?... The same exact way we say she is a great photographer, for the same reasons, we must say Jasmin Star is not. Does not mean she can't be a good human being, even with mistakes; like all of us!
Society decides the greats. She's banking and you're not. Society says she's great and you're not.
I think her photos are incredible! She's a marketing genius as well!
Her photos are mostly staged. She is a complete fraud and one day everyone will find out the real truth about the scam artist. I am looking forward to the day the J-star will go supernova.
+1
Jealousy. Ugly. The end.
Let's not forget who sells a lot of stuff online to aspiring mum photographers.
Personally, I've always questioned someone who has time to sell to photographers, when they're supposed to be selling to their customers.
well said. and it seems to be the way now.
I've only recently gotten into photography and it's amazing to me how much jealousy, envy, ego, and competitiveness is in this field. The online world is rife with ego and negativity, everyone bragging or arguing about their better gear, better ideas, better talent. People rarely give anyone else their props. It's sad. I've seen it in other fields - like music and writing - but nowhere near this level. Maybe it's because anyone can buy a camera so their ego says I have to show how awesome I am by putting others down, questioning their techniques, disparaging their gear, and minimizing their efforts? I don't know.
Personally, I've always questioned someone who has time to sell to post on Discus or disparage others when they're supposed to be selling to their customers.
WHAT? Did you fall out of a tree? She is a great photographer and is nowhere near amateur level. She is highly popular and yes, she is great at marketing. You have to sell yourself in order to get clients, because the clients are investing in you and if you can't sell yourself, you can't excel at your craft. Jasmine has mastered that, something most amateurs could never do.
Oh jealousy, thy name is Guest.
Are you a pro? I would love to see your work :)
I know many people who do this type of thing in other industries. Okay she did something wrong she wont do it again. There is worse things going on in the real world like women putting their babies in washing machines to drinking toxins in the water.
Her actions was not a mistake! they were acts of being lazy. She intended to use someone else's writing to benefit herself. That is no different than steeling someones image and marketing it as there own. Jasmine if your reading this try to keep in mind that just because you removed the blog posts does not and will not make it better. You have shown to the community of photographers that you feel that justice already has been served. When people hold high standards of you, in turn you yourself should hold those same standards. You purposely stole to make money, how is a simple apology acceptable here? You to me are like a singer who lip sings to songs and then call it your own voice.
She apologized move on. She's given more to the photo community than most ever will. I respect people who go after their dreams especially the creatives who who entertain and educate us. Allow her time to regroup after this senseless onslaught of keyboard bullies. I think it's a small majority who want to have her fall from the heights she has climbed in her career. My only advice is she not take this too hard upon herself, take a break come back stronger and show em what your made of. No one can deny Jasmine a top level photographer. Try to argue that.
Good ownership Jasmine. Life is about making mistakes and learning from them. Congratulations, that means you're human.
I know not of any of your 'indiscretions' and have not formed an opinion as to same, I only offer that, in my opinion, any postings made by anonymous persons are invalid and not worthy of any emotional entanglement, real or imagined. I have used, and do use, nom de plumes on some sites but not via facebook, so I do understand the mindset. In closing, things are never as bad, nor as good, as they seem. Shrug and move along.
"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." - Bruce Lee
Thank you Jasmine for writing this. You have done a lot for photographers in this industry. I hope you continue teaching and inspiring us.