Junior Seminar Questionnaire

Junior Photo Seminar
Questionnaire

When do you plan on graduating?
I'm hoping to graduate in December of 2012 but it looks like it may be May of 2013.

Where have you, or will you be interning?
I have not done any internships yet but I have been looking, applying, and will continue to do so.

What are your plans and goals for after graduation? Grad school? Starting a business? Getting a job? Being an artist/commercial shooter? Please be as specific as possible. How do you plan on making a living?
After I graduate I want to move to Austin. It's by far my favorite city and I really thrive there. I haven't decided if I want to do grad school yet but I feel like if I do I would come back to Commerce because I love the photo program too much. Ultimately I want to do fashion, editorial, magazine photos but in Austin I was thinking that I could do some work with the music business taking shots of bands and live shows since there are tons of musicians out there. Also trying to get some jobs with the local newspapers will be on my list. Obviously I think that I'll probably have to get a waitressing job or something else of the sort to get by before I really start to take off.

Establish a budget for yourself, post-graduation. What does it cost to live in a manner that you’d be comfortable? Again, be specific. Do you have school loans, credit card debt? Need insurance? A place to live?
If I moved to New York to pursue Vanity Fair or Rolling Stone like I want to then the cost of living would be much much higher than it is here in Texas. I would probably have to live in New Jersey and commute to the city like a lot of people do but I wouldn't mind. I have school loans as well which would take a good chunk of the money I make.

Do you require any special equipment to make your work or start your business (for example, a wood shop, studio, video equipment, cameras, computers, printers) that might be cost-prohibitive or difficult to access after you graduate? If so, what kind?
I know having a studio will be the biggest thing I will need but I can always rent other studios and use the outside which is what i love to do. A printer is also on my list as well as a new camera body, new lenses, etc etc. It will be much harder to get these things after I graduate because money will be much tighter.

Are you planning to go to graduate school? If yes: right away, or later? Have you started researching graduate schools? Why do you want to go to graduate school? Tell me what five schools you'd like to go to, and how you plan on doing it.
I haven't decided yet. I've been going over the pros and cons for a about two years now and I still can't decide whether I want to or not. If I were to go to graduate school I would probably come back to Commerce but I will most definitely research other schools. Also I know I would have to take out more loans in order to go back to school.


What kind of job would you most like to find?
It's a huge ambition but I want to photograph for Vanity Fair, Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Interview, W, Rolling Stone, etc, etc. I want to walk by a newspaper/magazine stand and see my photo on the cover. It is my ultimate dream.

What kind of job do you expect to find?
I know I will not stop until I get where I want to be. Doing anything in photography will make me happy as long as I'm getting closer to my ultimate dream. So at first I know I'll be doing lots of odd jobs here and there but it doesn't bother me. 

Name either a dozen potential employers, clients, galleries or graduate schools, depending on your goals.
Vanity Fair, Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Cosmo, Interview, W, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, GQ, Details, Glamour, Alure, Style

Do you plan to live off freelance work or commissions (perhaps in addition to a part-time job)?
I plan on living off of freelance but I will not turn down a job for commission. I know I'm gonna need a part-time job as I start off.

What did you do this summer to move you toward your goals? What art have you seen this summer? How much work did you make?
Honestly, this summer I went through a lot of personal issues and didn't shoot as much as I wanted to. I applied for an internship at D Magazine and at Rolling Stone but didn't hear back from either. I think that might have triggered my personal funk but there are a lot of other stuff I am dealing with and my photos suffered because of it. But I'm back in school and I'm prepared to kick ass. Get ready.
Do you have a portfolio of your work? Website? Blog? Can you tell me in 30 seconds what your work is about? Do it.
My online portfolio can be found at http://taylorannephotography.daportfolio.com. My website is currently http://taylorannephotography.tumblr.com. And this is my blog! My work is about making the person I am shooting look beautiful inside and out. It may sound incredibly cheesy but I truly believe that. Personalities shine and even when I'm taking pictures of concerts I know I've captured an amazing moment in time. 

What artists, musicians, photographers, writers, movies, books have influenced you/your work?
Photographers: Annie Leibovitz, Ellen Von Unwerth, Norman Jean Roy, Mario Testino
Artists: Molly Crabapple, Brigid V.
Musicians: Incubus, Muse, Arcade Fire, The Beatles, The Strokes, The Civil Wars, Washed Out, Foster The People, Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple, The Spill Canvas
Movies: Garden State, The Dark Knight, The Social Network, Black Swan, Another Earth, The Ring, Across the Universe
Writers: JK Rowling, Shakespeare
Please share any important websites that you are referencing for art/photo competitions and/or information. Name at least five of them. 
I'm ashamed to say that I don't have any. Usually when I'm on the internet I can stumble across some but I've never actually had any website that I go to for reference. Just recently however I entered a contest at onelifephotos.com and I'm excited to see how it goes!

What do you feel is lacking in your education to prepare you for your future? What is lacking in your portfolio? Please be specific.
I haven't taken the studio class yet so everything that has to do with lighting is something that I don't quite know yet. As far as my portfolio goes I believe that I am missing more high fashion type of photos. I love taking portraits and I know it's something I'm good at but I just need that high fashion editorial stuff.

Why does someone want to hire you? What makes you unique?
I know I can bring something to the table that not a lot of photographers have. Not only do I believe I am incredibly kind and can work well with everyone but I feel that my ideas are rather innovative and impressing.