Working with Jamii was honestly a big step for me, both as a person and as an artist. It gave me the chance to see my photography in a new way and to push myself past where I thought I was at. Having mentorship, collaboration, and the space to learn made me realize how much growth can happen when you’re in the right environment. 

Artistic and Personal Learnings

In my session with Laura, I picked up some lessons that really changed how I look at my work. She showed me how wide crowd shots can capture the energy of a moment, not just the people in it. That opened my eyes to storytelling through photography, not just taking nice pictures. She also reminded me to get clean portraits of each artist and to bring more variety into my shots, which is something I know I’ll carry forward. Hearing her say she really loved some of my photos gave me a lot of confidence. 

With Jae, I learned a whole lot about the technical side. He broke down focus points and anticipation, which helped me understand how to catch the right moment instead of just reacting late. We also went deep into how shutter speed and ISO change depending on light. That knowledge gave me way more control, especially in darker or brighter environments where before I’d just hope for the best. Personally, these sessions taught me patience and being more intentional. Photography isn’t just snapping, it’s being present enough to see the moment coming before it happens. 

Challenges and How I Handled Them 

One of my biggest challenges was adapting to different environments, especially when the lighting changed. At first I struggled, but with guidance I learned to adjust my settings faster and not panic. Another challenge was self-doubt. Sometimes I’d look at other people’s work and wonder if I was good enough. What helped was opening up to feedback and realizing critique is about growth, not comparison. 

Collaboration and Mentorship 

The collaborative vibe at Jamii stood out to me. Seeing other artists work in their own way gave me ideas and inspired me to try new things. The mentorship from Laura and Jae was also huge because they didn’t just tell me what to do they let me figure things out while guiding me in the right direction. That balance made me feel supported but also responsible for my own growth. 

Insights and Feedback 

This whole experience showed me the power of community. Having people to guide you, share feedback, and encourage you really speeds up growth. It also made me realize how important it is to be adaptable and bring variety into my art. 

Overall, I’m walking away with more confidence, sharper skills, and a better sense of direction. I’m grateful for Jamii giving me the chance to learn, grow, and see my photography in a new light.