.: post graduation :.

well, i have finished my thesis, and i am now down with school, with an mfa in commercial photography. but what now? that is the seemingly huge question that lingers in my mind every day. i feel that moment of panic rush over me for a brief second, as i am currently unemployed and have to make ends meet. but as i work every day on my brand i realized this is a never ending process. i have a list of the next steps - make a self promo, email advertising agencies, email photographers on the apa to try and find assisting jobs, email studios, email galleries. i am working hard to stay on this path without letting myself get distracted. i keep having large dollar signs flash in my head reminding me of my looming school loans. it is inevitable. as an artist, we hear it all the time while in school, that 90% of artists fail because of bad business sense. i will not let that be me. i will continue shooting and emailing, and somehow in the middle of that i may have to get a part-time job to pay my bills. my friends have said that it takes about a year post-graduation to build clients. i am expecting it to take me that long as well, but i am hoping it happens sooner. best of luck abby. make a schedule every day. stick to it. be disciplined. be determined.

.: haight space :.

this is my thesis, which i got a full pass this past thursday. so i guess i am now graduated, no longer a professional student. just professional. the last few years have been complicated, interesting, rewarding, frustrating and full of colorful trials and errors. i feel so many emotions running through my blood. i must sharpen my business skills and figure it all out. i must continue this creative energy and not let myself get consumed by life's hardships. i must keep a clear head. i must exercise to feel good. i must eat healthy foods. i must trust my instincts. i must believe.

in the limelight

gary salter

i really LOVE this guy's work. it has a pretty commercial look, which is not something that i am overly attracted to, but his images are just awsome. his subjects are more fringe society, not the 'model' look that most photographers are attracted to. there are images of bikers, old women, prison mates in witty and humorous poses. his images activate the viewer to really love these characters and their personalities. his images also incorporate groups of people, which can be very tricky in photography. the more people there are in a scene, the more difficult the lighting becomes.

http://www.garysalter.com/