Monthly Archives: October 2009

It’s not about them.

Saturday, October 24, 2009 Posted in Personal, Photography

Has it been one of those days, or just one of those days?? Had I known when I woke up this morning that today would turn out how it did, I’m pretty sure I would have stayed in bed and not bothered resetting my alarm seven times.

This all became apparent to me as I stood at the front of room 251 of Newhouse III – forty eyes scrutinizing my every move, from rows of seats and desks cascading toward me. It was.. “dun dun DUN”… my senior portfolio review.

Don’t get me wrong, Newhouse has made me all too used to having my work ripped apart by its professors in the VIC (Visual and Interactive Communications) department. Weekly critiques of photo assignments has been my life for the past three years. But, come on.. None of us photo majors have ever stopped dreading it. Not sure I ever will.

Hey now, I’m not saying constructive criticism isn’t helpful. And I’m not saying I’m not eternally grateful for the impact that Newhouse has made on my work. I am so blessed to be able to attend one of the premiere schools for public communications in the world. I love how all my professors, past and present, make it a point to remember my name, get to know who I am, and possess a genuine care for what lies ahead of me after graduating.

Still… Today was just one of those days.

One might figure that instructors in a communications school would let us know we had a portfolio review a little more than a week ahead of time, and with a bit more specifics about what was to be included in our portfolios or the format of the review. Oh well. No one can communicate perfectly all the time. I showed up at 11AM with thumb drive in hand, and stomach in knots.

11AM. 12PM. 1PM. 2PM came and went. I watched my classmates present their work one at a time, and watched them each nod with a fake “I’m okay” smile after five professors told them they didn’t have clear vision, or that some of their work was just plain “useless.” I’m sure you can picture me sitting in the middle of the third row, grinding my teeth in fear. My heart pounding. I know.. I get worked up.

I finally got up the nerve to volunteer my turn – the third from last person to present. I had been planning what I’d say first, and it went a little something like this.. “I was under the impression that we were to bring more of a Newhouse-y portfolio, which I have. But, it is not at all indicative of what I plan to do after graduating. Therefore, I also have a second portfolio, if you’d like to see that.”

“Just get to your images,” one professor piped up. If the projector hadn’t been the only source of light in the room, I swear people would have seen me turn all shades of red.

In all honesty, I can’t say I’m proud of all the images in my Newhouse-y portfolio. And the reason: my heart’s not into it. I don’t want to shoot for newspaper.. And I don’t want to shoot for magazines. The majority of the four hours was spent mourning the fact that I’m not as well-traveled as my fellow photogs. I don’t have spectacular images of Egyptian camel herders, or Muslim men feeding pigeons (which I assure you, are indeed spectacular – props to Max and Brad). Of course I know I should be able to capture amazing images in my own backyard. But the fact is, capturing images such as these isn’t what makes me happy.. It isn’t what makes me feel fulfilled.

In case you’re wondering.. Only a third of my portfolio was deemed acceptable.

But then, I showed my “Alyse French Photography” portfolio. Photos I am proud of. Photos that make me happy. Fulfilled. And guess what? They still didn’t like them.. Go figure! At the very least, I came prepared to hear this. Prepared with mantra in my mind – “It’s not about them. It’s not about them.”

It’s about my clients. It’s about you. And it’s about me. It’s about having fun, and getting to know people, and producing quality images that clients can enjoy for forever. It’s about capturing the head-over-heels kind of love between a newly-minted bride and her husband, or between a couple preparing for that journey. It’s about the giggles shared between siblings during a family shoot. And on, and on, and on. After a good shoot, when I simply cannot wait to dump them on my Mac and begin editing, I know I’m on the right career path. I know my images matter. And that even though the Newhouse elite aren’t fond of them, some people just are.

So, that was my day. And I know I promised to be uploading a recent shoot this week. But my computer is dead, as is my precious charger. As soon as my computer is alive again though, you can guarantee it! Check back tomorrow, just in case. ;) Also, I’ve been meaning to thank those of you who follow my blog using Google Reader. For ya’ll who don’t know about this amazing tool, it’s Google’s way of allowing you to keep tabs on your favorite blogs and news sites. Check out the link above, and subscribe to http://www.alysefrenchphotography.wordpress.com to know when a new post is up!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

by Alyse

no comments

add a comment
link to this post
email a friend

I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man!

Monday, October 19, 2009 Posted in Personal, Photography

Yes, I know, I know.. I’m a white girl with no rapping skills.. Still, thought it was clever. ;) Anyway!

So, I know I haven’t blogged in a while! Where, oh where to start??

The past two weeks have been in-SANE. The first semester of senior year is now half-way over, in what seems like the span of a week. I honestly don’t know where my time has gone. Oh wait, yes I do.. A lot of it has been spent putting off laundry – so much that it spills into my roommate’s side of the closet. GROSS. Sorry, Niya!! :( A LOT of it has been spent stressing over wedding planning – I still don’t know what color my bridesmaids are wearing! Suggestions?? And a bit more time has been spent stressing over business, business, business. My Google task bar is overflowing with projects and ideas to make my business grow, all while trying to finish school. Stressful? Yes. Still exciting? YESSSS.

Some ideas? Well, a little background on me: I tend to get overly excited over very small things. (Case in point – being the first one to open the peanut butter jar, strangers who smile at you for no reason, really crunchy leaves, etc., etc., etc.) Therefore, it’s no surprise that I am SUPER excited about designing new packaging. Envelopes! Stationary! DVD labels! :) Told ya.. Dylan and I are also in the process of creating a multi-media component for my site with the help of our television/radio/film friend extraordinaire, Kevin Luk, which will allow visitors to get a feel for what a typical shoot with us feels like!! (WOOOT, EXCITED!) Keep checking the blog/site for updates on that! :)

Speaking of shoots! A couple weeks ago, Dylan and I had our engagement photos taken by our dear friends, Gina Meola and Marcus Murphy. The two will be tying the knot themselves in TWELVE days!! I’m so thrilled for them, and beyond thrilled to know such a talented team of wedding/portrait photogs.

I’ll leave you with a few of the engagement pics I’ve been given so far. And will post some more when they’re available to me! Also, check back this week for Ryan and Molly’s engagement shoot, as well as some various wedding planning documentation. :)

Happy Monday!!

by Alyse

no comments

add a comment
link to this post
email a friend

Sorry, I’ve been M.I.A. :( But I’m ENGAGED!! :)

Friday, October 2, 2009 Posted in Engagements, Personal

Way to go, Alyse!! You haven’t blogged in over a week. :( However, I do have my reasons.. And maybe I’ll make this a little long to make up for it! :) Bear with me..

About two years ago, I thought I had my mind made up. I was to be single for the rest of my life. And it wasn’t that I felt there was no hope for anyone loving me (there wasn’t much hope, but there was at least some). It was more like my own choice. Past relationships and watching ones that had been ruined within my extended family throughout my life, had made its impact. It wasn’t worth it. It wasn’t worth the constant thinking about someone – the kind that stops you from getting school work done, or anything else for that matter. It wasn’t worth the over-analyzing of little remarks. It wasn’t worth the bad. And to me, it wasn’t worth the good.

I remember telling my parents I was never going to get married. And I remember them outright laughing at me, too. Of course, marriage had always been something I wanted when I was a little girl. But things had changed. And circumstances led me to believe I was to dedicate my life to other things. And I was finally feeling content with that.

But then, what do you know? Dylan had to come and screw everything up! In February of 2008, I was a sophomore in college. On one pleasant Thursday evening, I was helping lead worship at SU’s weekly Campus Crusade for Christ meeting. As the team and I were practicing before people got there, I distinctly remember this guy walking around the auditorium, stopping suddenly, and staring at me for a solid minute. I don’t know if I thought anything about it at the time, other than, “Um.. Would you quit staring at me!”

A couple weeks later, I was mingling with a group of people at Cru. That same guy, Dylan, was to my left. And we had never met. I took initiative, sticking my hand out rather quickly, and probably awkwardly.. “Hi! I’m Alyse!” Bahahah, I almost cringe with embarrassment thinking back on it. Hopefully, I’m just over-analyzing like I always do. :) Dylan reciprocated very kindly, “Hi, I’m Dylan!” AND he had a good, firm handshake – a good sign. :)

The next few months were full of chats on AIM until 3AM.. I know, I know.. Lame. But so much fun! Dylan also stuck by me when I was being stalked by the ICOC (cult alert!! – a story way too long for this blog..) and some 30-year-old “student” at SU. Crap, did I just write that in my blog??!! Anyway, I’d like to think our story is quite the unusual one. :) After three months of friendship, Dylan and I sat in my room, watching To Kill a Mockingbird (my FAVE movie of all time!). As the credits began rolling though, Dylan became visibly nervous – anxiously playing with the corner of my pillow. This was “THE talk.” As I explained in an earlier post, Dylan would be graduating in 5 days, I’d be leaving for Sharon in a week, and Dylan would soon be making a big move to Manhattan and launching his career with CSC. The obvious answer seemed to be, “No..” But we decided we’d both pray about it, and ask our close friends, and families to help us make this decision. And, TUH-DAH!! We’ve been dating for nearly a year and a half.

Man, this is getting LONG. But hey, even if you guys have given up reading by this point, I’m having fun! :)

K, SO.. On Tuesday, Dylan picked me up from campus and began driving back to my apartment. Right before you make a right onto Slocum Drive to park, you can also make a left to get the mail. I asked Dylan to take a left so I could do just that. And although he said “Okay,” he immediately made a right. My reaction?? “HELLO?!?! I JUST asked you to make a LEFT!” Of course, I couldn’t be too upset – Dylan’s was all smiles.. “It’s a good day for a walk,” he said with a smirk. Mind you, the weather SUCKED on Tuesday!! As I got out of the car and began walking to the mailbox, Dylan convincingly said, “Hey! Did someone do something to our tree?? I think someone did something to our tree!!” (Flashback to last year: I was in the next apartment block over, and there was this beautiful cherry blossom tree right outside my window. One day, I decided we must carve our initials in said tree.. Hence, it is OUR tree. K, fast forward!) My first thought – “WHO did something to our tree, and WHY and HOW?! I’ll KILL ‘em!!” Second thought.. “OMG.. This is it?!?! There’s a ring tucked in one of our initials..” I walked toward the tree, looking specifically for a ring. And I didn’t see one.. I’m not sure how, in the span of literally 5 seconds, I could have had so many different thoughts! It took me another second or two to realize the “MARRY ME?” carved above our initials.. And then what I remember thinking was – “We’ve been talking about this for so long.. And now, this is IT. No, seriously. THIS is IT!! OMG..” When I turned around, Dylan was on his knee. (Good boy!) With a crack of his sweet voice, he asked me again, “Will you marry me?” And then.. Romantically.. My knees gave out, and I fell on all the little crab-apple thingys that squish so pleasantly under your feet and get all over your jeans. I remember holding his face in my hand (although, I could totally be making that up – it was such a whirlwind!) and saying.. “Yes” and sobbing for foreverrrrr. My ring is BEAUTIFUL. It’s so shiny and sparkly and great, and somehow, I’m still shocked every time I see it after not looking at it for a few minutes. :) I then asked, “Wait! Did you ask my dad??” – “Yes, like two weeks ago! I was waiting until the ring came in this morning to ask you!” My third thought: “HOW on EARTH will I be able to study for my COM Law exam tomorrow?!?!” Fourth thought: Who cares! I’m getting married!! :)

And so, bloggers. That is my post for today. And probably the week. I am loved. And happy. And content. And ENGAGED. OMG. :) And because every post is better with pictures, here is my ring! And our tree!

engaged

tree

by Alyse

no comments

add a comment
link to this post
email a friend

© 2009-2010 Alyse French Photography. All Rights Reserved. | ProPhoto Photographer Blog by NetRivet

T w i t t e r
F a c e b o o k
P o r t f o l i o