my beautiful, Huge, catalog/ dictionary

It all started with a jersey. A Yankees baseball jersey that is.  My friend and fellow photographer, Gabriella Rosario, posted as her Facebook status that she was selling two jerseys, so I figured, hey, why not repost this & help her out. Thats how nice I am :] .  From facebook, we moved on to a texting session about photography and then to schooling.  As I described to her my position in the photography field, I compared it to the dotted line on the roads.

You know, the one that allows you to pass the annoyingly slow person in front of you?? Yes. That one.

The reason why I compared my skill level to the infamous "dotted line" is because I feel as though I know some things about photography but I'm missing information of some of the small things.  For example, I recently worked as a second shooter with Mr. Christopher Barth, who was extremely patient with me and remarkable to work with.  I noticed with previous jobs that I was having some trouble with my lighting.  He told me to lower my ISO [to eliminate graininess] and work with my shutter.  Anyways, this helped my pictures a Bunch! 

So back to Gabs [Gabriella]. She mentioned to me I should, maybe, enroll in the School of Visual Arts in NY.  As my first step, I requested to receive some information thinking I'd receive a few pamphlets about the school.  Then, this incredibly Large book arrived, I WAS SO EXCITED !! I reacted as though they sent me a letter stating I was accepted and classes start tomorrow!! but, this was just the information catalog in the form of a HUGE book that looks like a dictionary.

I'm really thinking about doing this.  Why not take my photography to another level and expand my horizons??  I brought the book with me as I drove around the city today.  Just to show it off and say "No. I cant. I have class tomorrow" haha.

I'm going to think long and hard about this. Well, not too long because I'd like to start in Fall but I'll keep you posted.  Heres a few photos I captured of my beautiful, Huge, catalog/ dictionary. & yes. He already received his own mini photo shoot. :]

                        

    Do you see my hand print on the book??  Isn't that soo cool?? 

Its Friday !!!! Enjoy your beautiful weekend everyone!!!

And that girl is me

This is my diary.  Of course, I wont be writing about the new, cute boy in class or the reason my mom yelled at me today. OK, well, maybe Kuddy will play the role of the cute boy and I may throw my mom in here yelling sommmetimes but this is the journey of a girl who started from scratch. A girl who didn't know anything about photography but knew that with a click of a button a memory is saved. Forever. And that girl is me.

I was working at a bank in NY for 4 & 1/2 years.  I didn't know exactly where my life was headed but I knew the next step in my career was the assistant managers position and I didn't want it.  So the beginning to where I am now began to unfold.  At my cousins baby shower in NJ.

While Kuddy and I sat at a round table surrounded by laughter, jokes and a huge room drained with loud music and mingling, I spot a woman with a huge camera.  Now, you need to understand, Kuddy purchased my first digital camera for me about 3 months before the baby shower so the sight of her huge camera muted the room and the heavens opened with a bright light as angels sang hallelujah.  I swear !

I turned to Kuddy in search for the push I needed to approach her.


Babe, look, a photographer! a REAL one! 
Go ask her how to get started Kat..
But what if she thinks i sound dumb.. or I'm a groupie?!
Just ask her for her business card..


The light bulb goes off in my head and I approach her as the groupie that I really was. :]

i want to do what you do.  i want to be a photographer. how do i get started??


She was a little busy because duhh kathy shes working!! but I felt as though I couldn't let her get away!!! Stalker, i know. So, she handed me her card which said Feuza Reis Photography and told me to go home and search Jasmine Star Photography Blog.  I thanked her maybe a million times, unless I'm just being easy on myself, and went back to my seat next to Kuddy and gave him my wide smile of success.

When I got home I jumped on the computer like a mad scientist who found the cure to a disease I'd been searching for for years.  From that point on and with many tabs opened to the internet, I went from one page to the next, then the next of linked links & I ordered my first DSLR camera.  Thank you Feuza.  You've made me realize that just a few seconds of time can change someones life completely.  And J* for your awesome blog. You both inspire the heck out of me and I'm forever thankful!

A girls path is opening up.  Slowly but surely. And that girl is me. :]

Have a Fun Friday all!

Kathy with a K

So I want to make this post about myself.  I want my readers to get to know me so here we go.

I was born and raised in The Bronx, NY.
I'm twenty something and I'm a Capricorn :] .
I moved back and forth between several parts of Florida and NY throughout my life.
I'm Puerto Rican but my Spanish you can call Spanglish.
I eat chicken and turkey and stay away from beef, pork, steak and all the rest of them.
I love to laugh and love to make people laugh.
I always put other peoples concerns and judgments before myself but in recent years I've learned how to make myself happy and not really give a crap how I'd be judged.
I speak very loud (not intentional though, I swear).
My laugh is horrendous and I'm sorry I cant change it (trust me I've tried) .
I have an annoying tendency to mute TV's and  radio's if someone is talking or I am trying to have a conversation. I dont know why I do this.  Maybe my ears cant handle the commotion of two things going on at once, weird huh??
I love God and i believe everything happens for a reason.
I believe in karma but I dont wish it upon anyone.
I'm tall -- 5' 10 and as I grew older I learn to love and embrace my tallness :] .
All the rest you will find out through this blog little by little.. I mean, Hey.. I have to leave some mystery right??
And oh yea, I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY !! :]

Happy Tenacious Tuesday!

Blah-ish

At times I feel 'Blah-ish'.  You know! When you just feel at a standstill, or helpless, or just plain disgusted.  Well thats how I feel with my photography.  I thought this was going to be easier.  Get a camera, lenses, reflector, editing programs, etc.  Then comes the 'promote yourself' part.  Ugh! "Do I look like I've taken a class on this??".  So I turn to Kuddy, my boyfriend.  "I dont know what to do next?? Should I stand outside with a huge cardboard sign??".  Of course I get the "are you crazy?" look but its ok because Kuddy's always full of inspiring ideas and great advice.  

So he talks to me about Digital Stock Photography which I didn't know anything about until I started investigating.  Yes, at times I picture myself in a white doctors jacket walking around the C.S.I.(Crime Scene Investigation) lab like I own it.  Hey, a girl can dream right?? ;)


So this stock photography has been growing on me because I need a way, of course, to make money using my photography.  I'm not 100% sure what kind of photography I want to focus my business on but this will help to inspire my creative side and hopefully I find my calling.


So heres a toast to photography, inspiration, and believing that one day I'll be able to inspire people like myself to do what they love!

CHANCE

I laughed and joked. Just a little too confident I was getting the job. I was denied by 2 managers before but for some crazy reason I felt confident. Confident that she would give me the chance to prove myself as a bank teller. And she did. She hired me and the chance was mine. I celebrated my 21st birthday with my new colleagues and she bought me my first shot. "Lick, drink, and suck", she said and that was what I did. It was great! Now I'm 24 and she's still around. The best manager I've ever had from Kalifornia straight to NYC to bless my life with a chance. And today she's celebrating her 27th birthday!!! Silvia, thank you so much for the time we've shared venting, talking, sharing a drink, or just having girl time. You are the best! And can't wait to be able to experience your side of the hood in Kali-for-na-ay one day! Enjoy your birthday WEEK (as we put it)!! Saturday will be off-the-hook!! Because thats how we roll!! We shut places DOWN!! :) Love you and God bless you in everything you do!! Here is myself and Silvia at her birthday bash in Manhattan in 2007! This photo is also from the summer of 2007 at my familys picnic. I look horrible but shes fabulous of course.. & its her birthday so I'll let her shine!

Im Excited

Hi Fellow Readers!! I finally have a Blog!! Whoooow! So happy Google has enabled this :)! My name is Kathy, of course. I'm a beginner in photography. I will soon own a wedding photography business (positive thinking right?) in New Jersey. Im 24 yrs old and LOOOOOVE to take photos. Not sure why I never realized my calling but Im happy I finally did. Anyhoo, I will be babbling on about my path to success. I talk a lot so I know this Blogging thing wont be too hard. Just hope people have time to read it.. Thanks for your time!!