So I finally got a job with that studio I've been trying to get into for a while. Best job of my life. Hands down. I started working there early September. But I'm taking a break for this next semester so I can get some more school hours in. My last day was Christmas Eve. They all but begged me to come back to work as soon as I can.

I can't believe how much I've learned in the past few months. The studio (which shall go unnamed since it is a nation-wide chain) gave me the most experience I could expect in such a short time. Even studying under a local photographer didn't teach me as much as the studio did. I wish I could show my work and prove my accomplishments, but all photos are property of the studio... even if I were to get release forms from the subjects. But now at least I can apply everything I've learned to my own personal photography. I can't wait to get started and build up a new portfolio.

I never thought I'd like portrait photography. It always seemed so posed. In many ways, it is. When it came to children or adults who were old enough to listen... It was all posed and a quick breeze. In and out. Babies were the most fun. Toddlers too of course. You can't necessarily pose them as easily, so you follow simple guidelines and then capture whatever you can. That's where I found myself loving portrait photography. Seeing each child react, play, and explore in their own special way. And capturing their own unique personalities. Sounds like a load of crap maybe, that the studio made up as it's slogan... But it's actually quite true.

I was at Olive Garden this week for lunch, when a young toddler ran freely past my table with his mother in tow. He stopped abruptly at an empty chair just to bang his hands on it and flash his audience a flirtatious smile. I let out an "aww", along with the other women who were paying attention, but at the same time I felt a pang. I already really miss taking photos of adorable babies.

I also thoroughly enjoyed selling to my customers after the shoot. Not the actual act of selling, I mean. But being able to present to them all the wonderful images. Seeing delight on their faces or when they longed to just buy them all. It was especially rewarding when the kids would recognize themselves and light up with delight.

I also took my first film class this past semester. I was nervous at first. I figured most of the people taking the class had toyed with photography their whole lives, whereas I didn't even become remotely serious about the hobby until about a year ago. Turns out the majority of them were complete amateurs or in the same boat as me. I met some great people in that class and we all learned so much from each other. Thanks to that class, I've been trained to look at almost any picture and think about all the possible combinations of settings that would recreate it. Such education also made the class much easier when trying to take film pictures with my broken light meter. >.< I guess the broken meter was a blessing in disguise because unlike the other students, I didn't have to rely on it. Though I will admit I used my digital for reference on some shots.

I've got lots of prints and lots of digital pictures from the past couple months to put up, but I just got a new laptop with Vista. >.< It seems none of my editing programs are working and I don't have original CDs... So I'm still working on that. I think I've even got a stockpile of summer pictures waiting to be done, like from vacation. So sorry for the lack of recent pictures for the past... year and a half.