What day is it?

So, it's really been a while.  I can't possibly sum up the last several weeks in one post, but some of the highlights include...

* 26 photo shoots

* more than one 17 hour day at school (no kidding)

* numerous hours of editing

* one failed attempt at the famous "master cleanse"

* trip to Hartford

* assisting opportunities with Justin & Mary Marantz, Jim Roselli, and Dani Fine Photography

* numerous evenings in a row with 3 hours of sleep

* two evenings since with more than 12 hours of sleep

* one trip to Boston

* six days of portfolio reviews

* one marathon of "Jon and Kate plus 8"... did you know they get $75,000 an episode?

* lots of thought as to what my future holds :)

School ramped down so quickly that we were all left with strange sleep schedules and the stress of reviews through mid-June.  All-in-all an exciting process.  Imagine your work being critiqued by three industry professionals with wonderful credentials in front of the staff and student body of Hallmark.  It's a bit like defending your thesis (with a little less talk).  I have until the 11th-12th of June before I'll be "called to the stand" so wish me luck!

BTW - I do realize it's Friday! ;)

The perfect clouds...

Things have been infinitely crazy with final portfolio coming due. We've all been madly shooting and editing (less editing in my case). The one thing that I am thankful for is that photography takes me outside on a day like this!

It was actually an assignment for me to find beautiful clouds to shoot for a background. No silver lining, but it was a beautiful day...

PS - I am more active on Twitter than here at the moment but I've linked my Twitter Status on the upper right of this page. To follow me on Twitter, see http://twitter.com/monikamichelle or see the "Links" section above.

The Hallmark House is Open!

It's this time of year that hallmark feels just like a home. I'm certain that I spend more time there than in my apartment! We have just moved into Phase IV of the program which means we are preparing for our final portfolio. Our work has finally reached the point that the school is using some of the images as the rotating banner on their website (new selections every week). Even more exciting than that, the first gallery for the class of 2009 was posted to the site. It's associated with the student-run open house coming up in April so it is temporary, but it's great to see some of our work brought together.

Take a look for yourself!

http://student.hallmark.edu/openhouse

Life as a student.

Yeah right.  It's like all the stresses of professional photography!  I just turned in my Phase III assignments (18 of them in all) and I was given another 8 assignments only 4 hours later.  My plan to relax and catch up with friends/family has been foiled until the 13th!  Does anyone find it funny that this will be the second Friday the thirteenth in two months?  Good thing I'm not superstitious.

PS - Send the warm weather.  It was 10 degrees when I started the car this morning. :)

Id, Ud, we all scream for Adobe!

Along with shooting right and left, we've been working on marketing and career plans.  Here is my work so far on my logo and the associated stationary.  I'm not sure if the colors are as fine tuned as I'd hoped.  I'd actually like to steer away from a single color and instead accent the logo with colors that compliment the work being printed or displayed. Let me know what you think!