Graduation Incoming...

So it wasn't easy but it looks like I will be able to graduate in December after all. This semester will probably be tough, but I know it will be worth it to be able to graduate sooner. I am a bit worried about it making it really hard to work on my photography classes, but I'm just going to have to accept that I may progress at NYIP a little slower than planned but I will have plenty of time left after graduation to finish up as well. I am going to do my best to stay driven this semester and to make time to work on my photography lessons when possible.

I am so blessed to have the support of my family, my boyfriend, and my awesome friends, I am so excited to see what the future holds for me. It feels like I'm looking down a road to the real world that is getting shorter and shorter. The excitement is really building, I know the next few years are going to be filled with some very memorable milestones and I am  going to work hard now to make all those things that much sweeter!

Kacy Haydel, Certified Photographer?

I did it, I have officially enrolled with New York Institute of Photography for an online photograph program! I haven't gotten to do much work towards my first photo project yet but so far I am really enjoying the reading material and I am really excited to start applying what I am learning. (Note to self: stop being lazy and get out and shoot, shoot shoot!) I love the photo below but I can't wait to get some nice backdrops to use on my backdrop stand!

I start back at college (not NYIP, my academic college) for the spring semester in a couple days and am beyond stressed about it. I just found out that getting my degree in mass communications will take longer than I thought but if I do an individualized study plan I can likley graduate in December.

This is how I realized that I'd rather graduate early and follow my dream of opening my own design/photography studio than get my journalism degree. Tomorrow I find out if I can indeed graduate this December, I think if I find out otherwise I will be crushed but I am going to try to find the silver lining in whatever the outcome. Although this change will be a new challenge and people may judge me for making yet another tweak to my degree, I'm continuing to learn about myself and grow.

I hope to someday have a home studio complete with a nice office area with my mac, my wacom tablet for easier photoshop, and a nice printer so that I can start printing invitations and photos instead of doing digital only. I dream about having a cute little building in my backyard to give me the perfect separation from work and home life. I used to think of this as only a fantasy, something I would only do if I couldn't find a "real" career, but this twist of events has really made me think. I've decided I need to chase this dream. Sure, I may need to get a steady job in order to save up and make this studio possible but it will all be worth it to be making a living by doing something I love.

Here's an invitation I designs, available at my etsy shop along with a few of my favorite shots from this cute little man's birthday party. I want to thank his awesome mommy and my good friend for trusting me to design his invitations. It pushed me to create one of my favorite designs yet!