My name is Jason Groupp. I’m from NYC, but I live in NJ. Exit 135. I studied fashion photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in NYC. It was hard. I have been shooting weddings for 23 years. I think I’m pretty good at it. It’s still hard. Doing what I love, and following my dreams has been the easiest thing I’ve ever done.

From Jason:
“So, keep your eyes open. If you see anything, take it. Remember – you’re as good as your last picture. One day you’re hero, the next day you’re a bum… ““If you’re thinking about coming to another After Dark Event remember, every city is different, and having the opportunity to work hands on gives you the chance to do something great each time you attend. If you’ve never been to After Dark Before remember, get some sleep before attending!

How did you get started in the business? Who helped/guided/mentored you?
I started working for a local wedding photographer when I was 16, and stayed with him for over 13 years. He was my greatest mentor, and almost like a second Father to me. He gave me the tools I needed to succeed in this business….I took a Joe Bussink workshop many years ago, he told me I needed to learn to respect and appreciate myself. At first I was like “WTF?! What does that mean?” After thinking about it, I realized what that meant to me, and it has helped me “break out of my shell”. As artists we don’t always have all the “tools” but with some work, we can all strengthen our weaknesses.

How many After Dark Events have you attended and what’s your favorite moment?
I’ve participated in 1 AD Events and my favorite part was watching all the buzz and hard work that goes into prepping all the shoots. It’s inspiring!

Why is education important to you? How long have you been teaching? What made you get into teaching? What do you get out of being a mentor?
I’ve been teaching for about 4 years, and I love that “aha!” moment when a student gets that something they were looking for.

What are the top 5 skills you’ll be teaching at After Dark?