Monday, July 17, 2017

Final Portfolio at Randolph Community College

 This is the link to my final portfolio slide show.  I hope you enjoy it!



 I have had an amazing time at RCC and I'm going to miss it so much.  I've learned so much and I'm so grateful for the wonderful people I've met.

 

Final_

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Reflection on the past two years




The time has come. I’m graduating next week.  I can’t believe it.  These last two years of my life have been full of ups and downs.  I started at the bottom, not knowing anything and now look at me!  I went through all the tough classes.  6 semesters to be exact. There was a lot of tears and lots of victories as I slowly learned what I needed to know to become a professional.  Wow, I said it, a Professional.  That’s ME now! I can’t believe it!


I remember the first week of college…  I didn’t want to go.  I remember coming home crying to my mother,  “Why do I have to do this?!  I can be a photographer without this!”    Wow,  I’m so glad I stayed.   After that first week, one of my instructors showed us a video,  it was the final portfolio video for the 2nd year class that graduated just before we started our classes.  I remember watching that video and thinking: “That’s going to be me!”  After that day, I found the strength to keep going.  I wanted that to be me. And now, here I am, graduating.


I’m also so glad for the wonderful classmates I have had!  I’ve met some amazing people along this journey!   They were always so helpful and we were all so supportive of one another.  I will miss them.  I hope to be able to keep in touch with them!


I’m so proud of myself and all I’ve accomplished in such a short period of time.  



Sunday, July 2, 2017

Seeing the world like a child



Since my post is about "Seeing the world like a child",  I thought it was only appropriate to post a photograph I took of a child. 

You know what I think we should all stop and do?  I think we need to stop being so serious all the time and look at the world a little more how children see it.  Life is way too short to act like most adults do: Stressed, busy, and always on the go. 

Adults get so involved into what they are doing that I think we forget how to actually have fun and think outside the box, like a child.  Children are so creative.  Don't you remember playing make believe with your parents, friends, or even by yourself?  They can make a cardboard box a spaceship in their mind, or anything they want it to be.  I'm not saying we all need to stop and make a cardboard box a spaceship!  But sometimes I think we need to step away from our hectic lives and actually let our minds wander, like a child.  Be creative and have fun!

Sunday, June 25, 2017

People

Madison W.    Bridal Portrait





Hi everyone! 

I'm writing later than I normally do because my great uncle fell.  So as soon as I got back to my house after a 7pm session, my mother told me we had to go check on him because he wouldn't answer his phone. 

Yes!  He is ok and back up on his feet. Kind of.  He's in a lot of pain now.


So on another note...  I have decided to talk about people tonight!  You know, when I first started photography school, I was so shy and scared to death to talk to people!  As I went along in school, it started getting a little easier.

In like my 3rd semester, I went through this class called "Small-Format" and I got a new teacher.  His name is Jay.  I was so nervous because I heard he was a super tough teacher!  Long story short.  Yes, he is a tough teacher, but I survived and turns out he isn't so scary after all!  And it was one of my favorite classes I've had!  

He had this assignment called "Strangers" and with this assignment, we had to go out and photograph 36 random strangers.  You think "Oh, that doesn't sound too hard!"  Let me tell you.... Ohhhhh yes it is!  I was so nervous!! Plus we had to use a flash in some of the portraits, which we had just started using, and ask them different questions. 

It was super nerve racking.  I got through it though!  I do have to say, that really did help develop my social skills and help me talk to more people.  Now, I can walk up to someone and ask them if I can take their photograph without even flinching!  If I see a shot, I have to get it!

All thanks to Jay!  Thank you Jay!

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Father's Day



I would like to take the time in this blog post and wish all the fathers (and the mothers who raised their children on their own) a Happy Father's Day. 

I'm not very close with my dad.  Never have been.  My mother raised me by herself and I'm very glad she did.  She is a wonderful lady and I'm very glad to call her my mother.  Thank you for all you have done for me to make me the woman I am today!

So here is to all the dads and mother's! 

Happy Father's Day!

Monday, June 5, 2017

My dog


In this blog post, I wanted to take the time to talk about my dog, Maddie!

I’ve known her since the day she was born but have had her in my home since she was 8 weeks old. She is now one and a half.  She is a lab/boxer mix!  I absolutely love that doggie!  She goes everywhere she can with me.


Maddie is my best friend, I'm so glad she is my dog and if I didn't have her in my life, my life would not be the same.  I can tell her anything and guess what? She doesn't talk back! HAHA!

The photograph I posted along with this blog post is an image of my girl I took this past semester.  We had to do an assignment with a dog in it and I chose to use my Maddie.  I was kind of worried she wouldn’t stay still, just because at the time she was only around a year old (still at that rambunctious little puppy stage).  But as the time went on in the studio, she started to settle down more and more. Finally I got her to sit in the chair with her looking in my direction!

I was so excited that I got the shot!  I’m seriously thinking about using this in my final portfolio!



"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."
 -Josh Billings

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Graduation is almost here...







 I have decided to talk about some emotion this blog post.  It’s coming up, very soon.  I’m graduating!  I can’t believe it!  I’ve been working so hard these past two years!  I started from the bottom, not knowing anything about photography and now, here I am, flying the nest of the photography program.  It’s a very emotional time right now.  I’m excited, nervous, and stressed.  All these emotions rolled into one person! 

I will be opening my own studio in Southern Pines NC.  More than likely it will be October 2017 before I open my store front.  

It’s a lot to think about while opening your own business.  I never knew how many things you have to think about before opening a business.  It’s so scary…  But as my instructor Erin says: “Life is full of flat squirrels that can’t make their minds up.”  So it is time to start making some decisions to help benefit my future!


I want to thank all the wonderful instructors I’ve had at Randolph Community College!  They are all wonderful people, who really care about their students!  I’m very lucky I got to meet them and so thankful that they were there for me along this very tough journey!

Also a big thank you to my mother and everyone else who has been behind me on this road.  I know it has been very tough for you all as well, being as though I haven't been around a lot with all the homework and projects I’ve had.

Last but not least, a huge thank you to my portrait instructor Erin!  She has helped me so much these last couple years!  From cutting my first mat board, to lighting, to posing people, and so much more.  Without her, I wouldn’t be the same person I am today.  I am so thankful for her and her knowledge in the photography field.