The winds are changing

[adina]

For the past few years, I've been actually working, portrait sessions and such. Every year, about this time, we step back and evaluate what I've done the previous year, what I want to do the upcoming year, what goals I've hit, what goals I've missed.

On my list has always been college. I've put it off, for one reason or another, for 10 years. As dh pointed out the other night, the timing is never going to get easier, only harder, unless I want to be attending with the girls.

I've got an appointment next week to take a look at an art school in our area. If it feels right, I'll get the application together, write my essay, and put together a portfolio. They need 20+ of my best.

IF, and right now it's a big if, this works with our schedule, and if they'll take me, I'd continue shooting portrait sessions, but limit it to the babies/children, which is what I really love doing. Anything else would be referred out.

Over the next few days, I'm going to be going back thru my images, and putting together a folder of potentials. If anyone has any favorites or comments, hit me with them. Whether they pertain to a portfolio, or just a major upheaval in general. This whole thing is kind of intimidating.

I'll be on and off as we get this going...everything should be in place in a month or so.

adina

[rylan]

I havent seen any of your work but i wish you good luck! some schools are picky im sure you will get in

[photophorous]

20 shots? That's all? No problem. You'll do great. :thumbsup:

Paul

[gahspidy]

Adina, I think your doing the right thing and it takes guts to get out of your comfort zone and make a move. I had a very quick browse through some of your works and these are what immediately struck me. you will have no problem getting in, just make the best of it.
We usually never regret the things we do, only the things we never did.
Here are some of my choices . . .

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...m/IMG_7460.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com..._7459_copy.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...0/IMG_8279.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...m/IMG_3734.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...m/IMG_4180.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...m/IMG_4187.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...m/IMG_4181.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...m/IMG_3951.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...m/IMG_2253.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...m/IMG_0952.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com.../IMG_00091.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com..._0004_copy.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...69IMG_0282.jpg

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...69IMG_4653.jpg

[MJS]

They'll never make it past a shot or two of yours and your daughters eyes. Good luck with the choices. Gary make some great suggestions by the way.

[Xia_Ke]

Congrats on your decision to go back to school. It is never too late. My mom is a perfect example of that. She worked her butt off to support us growing up. She always played piano and organ, giving lessons on the side and playing organ at her church. When my sister and I graduated, she packed up and went to college to get her Bachelors degree as a music major. Her senior year, she answered an ad about a work study in England for a pipe organ company. Low and behold she loved it and they loved her. She moved over after graduation and has been living there for about 4 years now tuning and buildings pipe organs at churches and cathedrals all over Europe. Just goes to show you never know where life can take you. Follow your heart and you'll be fine :thumbsup:

[brmill26]

Good luck with your decision, Adina. I think once they see your work they'll just hand you a degree

[Old Timer]

Wonderful opportunity for you. Your lucky to have a supportive family. Best of luck getting the app and portfolio together, just be sure to add a few of those gorgeous little ones.

[Sebastian]

Adina,

Good luck with your endeavor. When putting together your portfolio, remember to try and showcase your vision more than the subject matter. You have a great eye, shouldn't be too hard.

Good luck!

[Old Timer]

A self portrait or two wouldn't hurt. You have some great ones. Don't know who could resist those.

[WesternGuy]

Adina, good luck and best wishes on getting accepted to your school of choice. From what I have seen of your images over the past year or so, you should have no trouble getting in :thumbsup: . Also, congratulations with the decision to go back to school , I don't know how many times in my professional life I went back to night school to pick up that additional course or two, I mean after all, when you have had at least four or five different careers as I have over my life (I am now retired for 5 years), you have to go back and upgrade or add to your knowledge base every once in a while, in my case, it was because being in IT and Management Consulting, the technology and methodology change so fast and so often, that you had to adapt or else...and lastly, yes it can be intimidating, but think of it as embarking on a journey to another place you have never been, the challenge and excitement of getting there and exploring the new landscape...just grrreat!!

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[Asylum Steve]

I havent seen any of your work but i wish you good luck!...

Well, I've see a lot of your work, but none of it was very memorable, so I've forgotten it. Maybe you could repost some pics???...

Heh heh, lil' Monday morning joke...

Seriously, I'm available for personal portfolio evaluations. The cost of flying me up to Wis-cahn-sen, putting me up in a nice hotel, feeding me, taking me out to Milwaukee's finest watering holes, and of course, having me meet Brett Favre personally so I can talk him out of retirement pales in comparison to what's at stake here for your future... :thumbsup:

Ok, really seriously, this is a very exciting time for you. My only advice at the moment would be to keep in mind an art school may not be impressed with portraits of children, no matter how adorable they are.

Just make sure any work you submit supports the vision they expect you to have to earn the right to study in their program.

Oh my! That sounds so profound! Sometimes I scare myself... :eek6:

[MB1]

If so you are already way ahead on a career path that art school graduates would love to take. I know that in this town an art school degree will only get you an entry level position against hard competition from folks with masters degrees. The pay and hours expected for any of those entry level positions is pretty bad too.

I'm not saying you shouldn't go to school if you want to but don't forget; those places are businesses that must make money off their students. Would 4 years of art school get you ahead of where you would be if you put the same effort, time and money into your photography business?

As near as I can tell you already have the photo skills and eye for photography to create outstanding images. Perhaps what you really need are a few night business classes and take the rest of the money and time you would use on an art degree to further your portrait business.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

[Asylum Steve]

A self portrait or two wouldn't hurt...

Don't forget one with you wearing The Tiara.

Including "voted self-portrait queen" in your awards and personal accomplishments will surely impress them!

[another view]

Fast forward to a few years from now: "Adina? Yeah, I remember when she used to hang out with us common-folk in Chicago every November..."

It's a big step, and congratulations to you for taking it.

[jgredline]

Way to go...One of my biggest regrets in life was not finishing college and dropping out, but for me, I really did not have a choice as I had a little one on the way and she needed to eat, so I went to work...

As has been pointed out, your work speaks for itself...I do not think you will learn anything, but instead be teaching them; However, for credibility from those that do not know, nor have seen your work, it will be nice to have that diploma...

[racingpinarello]

Hey Adina,

It never hurts to expore your options and to see if it feels right for you. When it comes to you having 20+ strong images I think you will have no problem in this area. Consistenly you show images that have "soul".

Whatever you do I wish you happiness for you and your family.

Loren

[adina]

Thanks guys.

If I was going to a "pictures of kids" school, I'd not be concerned. But like Steve and Sebastian mentioned, cute kids are cute kids. Great for selling to the parents, but if it's a strangers kid, I think the image looses impact. So that's my biggest issue right now, is everything I've shot for the past few years has been peoples kids. I've got a few that I think are universally appealling, and will probably include, but as a whole, I want to stretch. Although they are just asking for 20+ of my best, I'm hoping I've got something else besides kids to add, not sure if anything else is really all that great.

My options right now...as it stands...school, I'm going to apply and fill out all the paperwork, but we are looking at $100,000 for 4 years. We're fine with that, but if I finish and end up photographing peoples kids, well, that's a bit of a waste of time and money, given where I am right now. What would be ideal, is that the actual degree would open a few more doors. I have the connections and the work, but career wise, I don't know if this is what I want to do forever. I'd love to stay in the art field, but don't know if I want to be behind the camera, or self employed, in the long run.

Leasing space...as big of a commitment as school, both time and money wise. Except I need to be making that money now, instead of 4 years from now. I need about 1 more session a month, and to bump my average up about $100. Totally doable, but again, a huge commitment of both time and money, although it would still give me the flexibilty I need. Also, it would fill the "working from home sucks the life out of you" aspect of things.

Building the garage with a studio on top...financially, the smallest commitment. However, I'm not sure how long that would satisfy me. Like I said, I'm getting to the point where the thrill of working from home is getting old. I'm too easily distracted, and there are no boundries.

I'm meeting with a counseller from the school on Wednesday, and will tour the school, I'm not even sure yet if it will feel right. Gathering numbers here at home, once we have all the info we will be closer to a decision.

My fourth option....I could throw it all out the window and be June Cleaver. Dh likes that one....

btw...we were talking about this the other day, and my oldest asked if I could go to college someplace close, so I could still live at home.

Here's one I'm thinking about, along with the baby in the basket, I posted that one before, not sure if it's still on the computer....

[adina]

A self portrait or two wouldn't hurt. You have some great ones. Don't know who could resist those.

actually, I printed out the portfolio suggestions off the website, they do recommend including one. I might end up with 20+ of me, if I can't find anything else.....

[MB1]

Now see, I think your stuff is just so d@mn good that there just isn't anything you are going to get out of school that is going to be more marketable than what you are already capable of doing.

And $100k for 4 years=OUCH!

IMHO Put in a hard 3 months (let alone 4 years) getting out and selling yourself as a photographer and you will be on your way to a great career. And just think, earn only $25k a year for those 4 years while you are marketing yourself and you will be $200k ahead (the $100k you earned plus the $100k you didn't spend on school).

Still the bottom line is you and your family have to be happy with what you are doing and the direction you are moving in-not some bozo on the internet.

[adina]

an update...had to push my appt at the school back, one kid was puking so much she popped blood vessels in her eye, the other has what looks like strep, but isn't strep, it's viral, so we just need to wait it out. I'm wondering if this is a sign. Business means I can make a few calls and shuffle my schedule, school means I need to make a few calls to make up what I missed...

More later...I'm out of coffee and am not functioning quite right.

[MJS]

I hope that the little ones feel better. My 12 year old needs an xray of her shoulder, flag football turned into tackle when a cute boy had was trying to run the ball past her in PE. He didn't make it. It is keeping her out of her waterpolo match and dance class tonight until we see what the problem is.

Hope they don't get you with it.

[adina]

wow, gotta love the search feature....

funny the way things work...i'll be starting school in the fall...

[jetrim]

This thread was started before I found PR, but congratulations on finally putting your plans to work. It's a big step, but with everything I've seen you accomplish since I got here, I'm sure you'll do just fine!