Photographer of the week: Jasmine Owens

The “Photographer of the Week” series is dedicated to highlighting photographers within the SCAD community that demonstrate unique abilities behind the lens. This week, Jasmine Owens, a graduate student pursuing an MFA in photography, shares her recent projects and personal insight.

1. What or who helped you develop an interest in being a photographer and what significance does photography hold for you? 

I had a graphic design teacher in high school, Alicia Baynes, and in the third year of her class, we learned photography. It inspired me to keep looking at the world with a different eye.

2. Do you have a muse? If so, who, and or what is it? 

I am inspired a lot by Alexander Wulf (@droningalex on Instagram).

3. What is your overall creative process per project? Do you like to follow the common steps of photographing or is there something more unique to the way you work? 

I brand myself as a “documentary photographer with a fine art spin,” so a lot of my work is documentary while “personal.” When producing work, I typically start by meditating and listening to music. A lot of my work is inspired by lyrics or my past. Once I have a project determined, I figure out the particular style of the work. Is it a drone series? Is it pictures of pictures? Once I figure out the rough details, I get to work. I typically shoot anything and everything that I deem fits and edit down.

4. What impact do you want to have within the industry? 

I always want to provide a different perspective on things we see every day.

5. What challenges have you faced in your creative journey? 

One of the biggest challenges I face while creating is the weather. Since I always shoot with natural light, I have to rely on sunlight to shoot. If I’m shooting drone work, I also have to consider wind speeds and direction.

6. Is there any advice you’d like to leave for other photographers or SCAD students? 

Shoot for you. We attend a school that wants us to produce our best work. When you are invested in your project, you spend more time working on it than you would if you are doing the assignment for a grade. Make the assignment a passion project.

To find more of Owen’s work, you may visit her Instagram.