Change.

This past week has been a hectic and eventful one and now I finally have some free time to sit here and update everyone, in case anyone actually cares =). (PS this is going to be a
LONG post, sorry!)

This past Wednesday was the Spring Design show which showcases the work of the interior design, graphic design and photography students from the past year. If you are a graduating senior, like I was, you get your own table to showcase yourself further which was exciting.

It was a great turnout. There were a LOT of people during the actual reception. I've already received a few offers to shoot things.







Keith and I =) He showed everyone up with an amazing layout at his table but it's ok cause he is awesome!












Staci!! =) One of my favorite classmates. She's insanely cool and funny.










Sharleen makes these lovely bunnies herself (they were part of her photographic senior project). I couldn't wait to get my own so I bought four. =)









Me next to one of my photos that was on the floor show, which won the Best in Show award. It was one of three to get the award out of like 200 images. Pretty awesome. I got a little glass award. =) I'm still shocked I won.









Me in front of my table.











And then in back of my table haha. We only had a little room to work with so I kept it simple. You can see my award in front of the Wizard of Oz photo.










Sam! One of my favorite of my photo professors at Sac State. I love to go bug him and Angie in their office. I know they will secretly miss me haha.

(Yes I love to thumbs up in pictures haha. I'm super cool, don't be jealous)









.... and then Thursday night I went to a little photo club get together at one of my other favorite professor's studio (no pictures, sorry) and then went to meet up with my family at a hotel in Sac only to discover that my brother from New Hampshire and my little niece flew in for my graduation to surprise me!!!!! And then we went to the airport and I was surprised with my other brother, who lives in Arizona, and his girlfriend!

...... then Friday was the big day. My graduation day. I graduated with honors. Top 15% of my class. Not that exciting after you have a brother who graduates first in his class haha. But whatever I'm incredibly proud of myself. I honestly went through so many horrible and traumatic experiences in the five years on the path to this degree. I honestly never thought I would make it so just to graduate, for me, is incredible.





My "special friend" (my professors term for who we shared a design table with haha) Ashley. Don't know what I would have done without her this semester.














Cristiano! I love this boy! He really is like a brother to me. I'm going to miss him so much!

Ashley, me, Sharleen, and Staci =). We had soo much fun at graduation. We were by far the loudest group there. We did the wave a few times and Staci kept high-fiveing random people as they passed haha. We were way too excited.














Photo kids do it better!














Ashley and I! We were the only people in studio lighting who worked as a pair the entire semester.
























Afterwards I went to dinner with my family. We went to Chevy's home to my favorite food on this planet, their flautas.






My brother Richie and his FIANCE Veronica. (He proposed Saturday night!!!! and of course she said yes. With a goofy face like that how could she resist him? haha)










My brother Brian.















My niece Sophie, and my brothers Jeff and Brian. So weird to have almost everyone together again.












Sophie really wanted to touch the stars in the restaurant and so her Druncle Brian helped her out (no that's not a mispelling. They call him Druncle on account of his alcoholism.. jk.)


Sophie was such a trooper that weekend and we had sooo much fun together. I can't wait to fly out and see her again in a week.







..... Saturday was spent packing and moving back home to the bay area where I spent the next three days, with my mom's wonderful help, painting my brother's old room for me to move into.






It looks awesome in person and it took a very long time, but it was fun and worth it.








Sorry for the long post everyone. That's pretty much it though. Everyone wants to know since I graduated what's next for me and honestly I don't know. All I know is MFA in a year or two probably.

Tomorrow, Sex and the City the Movie!!!!!!! And then in a week my mom and I are off to NY to FINALLY see Wicked and then to NH to see my family! A big thank you to my mom and dad for their support during these five years. I honestly could never have made it through without your financial (haha) and emotional support. Love you guys!! And thanks for the graduation presents!!

Packing, once again...

Packing really forces you to reflect on your past. While sorting through your belongings you recall so many memories that had been forgotten on the shelves. It's calming and disheartening at the same time.

Packing also has a way of making you realize you have way more crap than you thought. I have already filled 2 large boxes of clothes and am not done.

It has only been 9 months in this apartment but it feels like forever. A part of me will miss it. This was my first time living alone ever, so it really feels like a big part of me. I'm ready to go though. It's time. Living alone is not for me. It's too lonely. I find that if I go too long in the apartment I start to go a little wacky =).

I still have a little less than a week here. Less than a week to pack up everything I own and clean up the remnants of the past year. I spent the whole day scrubbing the bathroom and started to pack but yet I feel as though I accomplished nothing. There's still so much left to do.

One thing I realized while packing though is how familiar it is. Not only did I basically live out of a bag my entire time in high school, but I have lived in 13 houses, town-homes, condos, and apartments in my almost 23 years on this planet. That's quite a bit of moving. So once again I pack my bags and prepare to settle again for an unknown amount of time. I'm sure soon enough I will be packing once again.

Alternative Processes

For my alternative processes class my theme was labels. I had each person I photographed pick two labels for themselves and then I would literally label them on whatever body part they chose and photograph it, preferably one that related to the label. We did Cyanotypes, Argyrotypes, and Platinum and Palladium. Sorry for the poor quality of the images. I photographed the prints right before the final was due so they haven't been touched up or anything and the digital transparencies negatives did not work out so well to say the least.

Senior Portfolio

I will start by posting my senior portfolio which was based on fairytales. It didn't turn out at all really how I had wanted but I'm relatively happy with a few of the images.

A Sigh of Relief

Sorry I have been MIA lately. I have been scrambling, freaking out, and having panic attacks and nervous breakdowns trying to get all of my final portfolios done on time. Today though I turned in three out of four of them and had, wait for it...... my last class of undergraduate school ever!!!! Well, providing they don't discover some hidden class I all of a sudden need to take (knocks on wood).

I should feel relieved. Especially after the emotional roller-coaster of a week I just had trying to get this done. Though some of the emotions finally subsided, I haven't had a panic attack all day and I slept for more than 3 hours for the first time all week, I still feel anxious. For one thing I'm not so sure it has sunk in yet and I'm also still nervous that I forgot something or did it wrong. Either way though it is done. They are in and there is nothing I can do now. Sigh.

Perhaps I am unable to feel relieved because there is still so much to do. I still have another portfolio due Tuesday, then there is the Spring Design show, graduation and I have to pack up my entire apartment, clean it and move back home.

Now that my portfolios are done and turned in, for better or worse, I will post them all on here one by one for you to see.

One thing I will say is that I can't believe that I was able to get it all done. I can't believe I'm going to make it out of this year in one piece. It definitely wasn't easy but most definitely will all be worth it.

Venting

Ok does it annoy other people when people steal their ideas as much as it does me? Granted, I don't own overall concepts and everything has been done before, heck I've been inspired by many others, so I'm not talking generics. I'm talking about when people who go to your same school and are in your program completely rip off your idea. I mean it's pretty obvious that they got it from you since you did it first and you know they've seen it. It's such a small program that it makes me look unoriginal when other people take my ideas, which is completely aggravating because I spend a lot of time trying to conceptualize my ideas and be different from everyone there.

Grr... oh well. I guess I should just take it as a compliment or something. Don't think I'm being a diva. I get that art is all about inspiration and how wonderful to inspire someone but there is a fine line between inspiration and copying, especially when you know they've seen your work well before they made theirs. Ok I'm done venting. Sorry if this upsets someone I just needed to get that off my chest.

Oh and if you think I'm talking about you it's probably because you have a guilty conscience and know you stole my idea so I probably am..... hahaha jk... but really =)

Veronica and Danny

I did an engagement shoot for my friends Veronica and Danny last Saturday. Here are some of the images from the day

Why Hello There.

Sorry it has been SOO long since I have posted. It's been a crazy and hectic last semester. Only less than a month to go! Though this month will be insane and I still have a million assignments to do it will be so worth it when it's all over.

Nothing too exciting has happened. I just have been shooting and posing like a mad woman. You can refer to my flickr for some new shots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyprincess/

This weekend was fun. I finally got to go home. Friday I shot a 16 year olds birthday party that was America's Next Top Model themed which was so much fun. The girls were a blast. Then Saturday I had an engagement shoot with my friends Veronica and Danny (I'll post some later). Sunday I finally got to see the Annie Leibovitz with my mom which made me a have a panic attack due to the overload of people there but it was still amazing. And finally Monday I dyed my hair dark auburn. It's been quite a change. I walked into my classes Tuesday and literally the majority of my class was just staring at me. Super awkward.

Today I had a shoot with Stacy, one of my classmates. Her senior portfolio them is pin ups and she wanted me to pose for her. It was so much fun! The pictures looked great on the tv from what I could see so I'm excited to see the end products. She's an awesome photographer.

I did my own hair and makeup for the shoot and I was quite proud of my attempt at a 50's do especially considering I did it in like 5 minutes. I took a picture in my mirror before I took it out so you guys could see.


I really like my new hair color. It's not as drastic for me as other people because I dye my hair all the time but it's definitely a change from being platinum blond for the last year straight.