They Do Exist

It's always nice to come across a person who makes good on their word... especially when it's sooner than one would have imagined.

A brief summary

Reasons why I suck at life:
- I fail at constant blogging
- I still have the beta version of the new website hidden in the secret corners of my old site and pass out the URL on an as-need basis, but have yet to switch it over to the main page. Bad SKG!

Reasons that I WIN:
- The business card I designed, which was used as the basis for the new site has been a success. Compliments abound when I hand them out at at the networking events that I've been making a point to go to.
- Although still no full-time job, lots of freelance work has been coming in and apparently, I ROCK! (that's a direct quote mind you.) Word is spreading of my love for all things research, organization, database creation and information dissemination. Quick, tell a friend!
- I'm making a big effort to learn (one of my favorite past times), engage, and conquer! Sites opening up to new industries and not thought of before career paths. Don't worry photography, you're still my first love.

Verdict: I only suck a little at life, but mostly I'm awesome!.... Even though I don't blog about it all the time. There's still something left to be said for human interaction. I'm a big believer.

Time: 1, SKG: 0

Time really shows no mercy here. July... and then next thing you know, October. September was really quite productive. I took an initiative to really get out and be social, in a professional, net-working, hire me kind of way. Surprising thing was that I actually enjoyed myself and met some really great people in the process. As much as it can get frustrating and overwhelming living in New York, when I stop and think about it... the options really are astounding! If you're not familiar with the website Meetup.com, I highly recommend it. It's what would happen if Facebook and LinkedIn had a baby that actually lived in the real world instead of just online. You connect with people of like interests and dialogue, but then you actually meet and have a real conversation. Novel idea, I know. It's fantastic!

Also, looking into grad school as an option. I'm no fool. I know that my resume can't stand up to the MA and MBAs of the world. If only I could put my personality and charm on the paper. ;) Until I figure that out...advanced degree, you're looking mighty fine!

Worth 1,000 at least

NY: Not even the bikes stand a chance around here... Yep, I think that pretty much sums up the mood surrounding the job market right now.

Just keep swimming... swimming!

The face lift is coming along on the website fantastically. It's nowhere near perfect, and it's a quick fix for now. I'm worried that the font is not going to translate on others' computers since it is one that I downloaded and installed on my machine for branding. Meaning.... that I will need to have it all in a rasterized/ image format if I actually want it to be viewed as I view it. I'm not so sure that this will be the final font anyhow. It's nice on my business card, but I don't know that it reads so well on the web unless at a pretty large size.

The thought that keeps me sane: Rome wasn't built in a day. I'm learning that here in New York, while things need to be perfect and amazing because there's 20 million others that are already better than yours, it needs to AT LEAST BE SEEN. Make it good. Make it seen. Make it perfect. Make it known! That might just be my new mantra. ;) I just copyrighted that in my head, in case you're wondering.

So, the content is up. It's actually out there in cyberspace for beta testing, only accessible with a super secret direct link ;). Family members and close friends, I will be asking you to view it soon and tell me what kinks I need to be fixing. I know you just can't wait!!

It's nothing super exciting, and yet somehow I'm super excited. Soon.

Web Development. Redesign. Go.

Today definitely didn't go the way I planned it. The weather was supposed to be beautiful. It was SUPPOSED to be a lovely day for making money! Then the rainclouds settled in, complete with one grumpy mood on a mission to make me completely unproductive. Then, along came Lynda (Lynda.com)! The rest of the night is designated to Dreamweaver tutorials and website redesign. Full-time photo industry job, YOU WILL BE MINE! :)

Overhaul

So, it occurs to me that if I'm going to aim to work as not a photographer, but rather an administrative assistant (for now...until I can take the photo world by storm as director, manager, consultant... something of the sorts ;) in the photography industry, I ought to market myself as just that. This includes not only new business cards, but an overhaul on my website. Take your last peak at the pretty pictures, and take it quickly! I imagine more text gracing the pages of stephaniekgould.com very soon.

To give you a little sneak peak, this is going to be used in the start-up branding:

Keeping Busy

While seeking out one of these things people call 'full-time jobs,' I've been trying to keep myself occupied, both with productive activities and ones of pure leisure. I think for the past month or so I've done well with the non-business side, having three friends visit NY. What?.... Last month was super busy. I thought a little break was in order....

As of this morning, it was back to business though. I had an appointment at PUBLICIDE, a design and printing company that does some specializing in letterpress. Got to talk with a fantastic gent by the name of Nolan. I'm in the market for some grown-up business cards that say "I'm a hard-working grown up that's serious and does good work, but I've still got a personality." One of the examples that he pulled was from a woman named Margaret Singsen of Scout Designs. Her website can be found at http://www.scout-designs.com/. I fell in love with her business card design immediately. Finally! Some inspiration! So, thanks Margaret Singsen, if you have a google notification that picked this blog up! A picture of the card will hopefully follow soon.

Following my appointment, I went and joined in on a lomography workshop dealing with double exposures. (Even though I'm not looking to be the photographer, I still enjoy learning and doing!) Unfortunately, this was not something I've experimented with at all, although have always been intrigued. Today was that day where I forced myself to be ok with imperfect and spontaneous. I put aside my desire to perfectly frame (except for a few times....) and just shot shot shot. Then, I rewound and shot shot shot again, on someone else's roll of film no less. There was a bit of team work that went on there. My film is currently being developed and I shall see some results after Friday. Until then.... here is one frame that I took on my camera phone after clicking it on the LC-A.

Enjoy!

Already, I'm enjoying this updated editor. New backgrounds and a template designer? Yes, please. Although, it makes me wonder how long I've NOT known this was available. Suddenly, I'm very aware of how not up to speed I am on blogging/ social media-ness.

The new background made me happy. It reminds me of this picture I took in Daytona Beach:

And this more recent snapshot from New York.

Good times. This really could be a new start :)

Could this be a return?

Playing around with the blog after a long time being away. I just got SO ANNOYED by the image uploading. Seeing as how a majority of my postings were to include pictures, pictures, pictures: NOT GOOD to be annoyed by the image uploading methods. But, it seems as though this may be fixed?!......

To be continued...

(maybe)

I'm not surprised

Just realized my last post was in July... and yet I'm not surprised. I've never been very good with keeping up to date on journals of any sort. What can I say? I'm just not good at things that require regularity or keeping schedules. Journals, not so much. Remember to take medicine when prescribed, negative. Keeping up on my dogs flea and heartworm medicine... well, you get the point. Must be the fire sign in me. ;)

I've finished up my two internships at the galleries, which frees up four days of my week. And yet, it seems as thought I have less time than before. My sister came up recently to visit for the holidays. She was here for about three weeks. She said that in two years when she finishes up school, she'd like to move here. As my one of my friends said, "I give it two months!" Can't wait to have the company! :) And I'll leave you with pictures from the last 5 months. (In random order of course..... I'm discovering I really hate Blogspot in terms of functionality and picture posting. There HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY! Please let me in on the secret if you know it!!! )

From the Top of the Rock

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Jenn looking at some Van Gogh's at the Met

Tree at Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center

The pooch on the day after the first big snowfall of the season.

Playing in the first snowfall of winter '09

You don't get shots like these in FL!

The boys helping my celebrate my birthday.

2 of the reasons 26 didn't suck so much.

My friends are starting to have BABIES!!!... well, baby (at least for now)

Dennis, why did you have to move to CANADA!?

The long time FL roomie visits me and the kiddo again!

Mein Feingold in the city! <3>

Photo bomb on the photogs in Times Square.

Waiting in line for the TODAY SHOW to see Jason Mraz