How to be "posh" according to Alan Smith

"If you're too stupid to use the apostrophe, then you're too stupid to have a degree from this university!" 

   My blogging class at UCO had the pleasure of hearing British writer and teacher, Alan Smith, speak to our class yesterday! Alan is a writer for one of the world's best newspapers, The Guardian. He writes a lot about prison because he used to work in a prison so he has seen things in quite different perspectives. Smith didn't start writing until he was 50 (and let me tell you - he barely even looked 50 to me) so I was quite surprised to hear this! Before he started writing he worked construction pouring concrete. He explained to us that one day he was walking home from work and he looked up in a school building and through the window saw a student leaning against a rail talking to his professor. He explained how relaxed that conversation looked and was envious of them. So he decided to go to school and become a teacher. 

   At 49 years old Alan Smith started writing his first novel because he had planned to have it published by the time he turned 50. He told us how he made 400 copies trying to sell his books and get them put on the shelves of bookstores, but at the end of the day he "came home with his heart in his boots," and never sold one copy. By the end of the week he ended up selling the film rights of his novel for $1,500.00. Unfortunately, the film never actually got made because the man who was suppose to make the film went on to make the Harry Potter movies. He made a joke about seeing the man now excepting an Oscar on TV for his movies, and he was standing their guest speaking to a University in little ole Oklahoma.

   The main things I took away from hearing him speak was the importance of never giving up and basically not taking no for an answer. He told us to "always write for something - don't ever write for free." He explained to us how he called every agent from A-Z, and not giving up because he found an agent by the name of Patrick Walsh (hints the "W" being at the end of the alphabet).

   The end of his rant was all directed towards education and grammar. He said, "you have to be able to spell, know how to use a semi-colon, and the apostrophe. Using an apostrophe is like putting on the right tie for the day. It separates the stupid from the intelligent. Apostrophe is the perfect dish to get into the posh club and the posh club pays." 

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Clete, Lyndi, & Honey

This last week I had the pleasure of photographing this cute little family. Lyndi contacted me for fall pictures that she could use for christmas cards this year. And she hadn't had any photos of her and Clete since they got married a few years ago. 

I actually was friends with Clete when I was in high school and they are from Muskogee, which is the area I grew up in as well! So I was really excited to shoot this session because I knew that a ton of people from my home town would see them on Facebook. I am just really proud of my work and I want everyone that ever doubted me to see that I have actually learned how to produce good work! 

When they showed up to the session to my surprise they brought their little doggie daughter, Honey! She was just the best little model ever! And of course, I had to win her over with treats first. :) Clete and Lyndi were very happy with their pictures so now I am shooting their entire extended family next weekend... with my camera of course ;)

American Beauty

Ever since I started taking pictures I've wanted to try a vintage pin up style photo-shoot. When I met Miranda I knew she would be a perfect model for this. So I gathered my ideas and inspirations and put everything I had into this photo-shoot. While working on the post processing I knew I wanted the pictures to resemble the old pin-up paintings from the 1950's. I could not have been more happy and proud of my end result.

Hair: Larissa Farris
Make-up: Miranda Schaeffer
Model: Miranda Schaeffer
Stylist: Julie Bowen

S.O.S.

Unfortunately, my grandpa passed away a couple weeks ago. He was actually my step-grandpa, but it never ever felt that way. He was always my number one guy. Such a free spirit and one of the most kind christian men you would ever meet. He married my grandmother, June, 29 years ago.. So technically he has been around ever since I was born... event though him and my grandma went through some hard times... he was always there for me and my family - making us feel like his own. 

one of my favorite pictures of him showing his goofy side

At the beginning of the year in January, Roy was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma at 89 years old. Even though he had a very slim chance to rid the virus - Roy wanted to go through chemotherapy. So he made the trek and made it through. But when he got his test results back the cancer had started to spread to his organs already. The doctors assumed that Roy had already had the cancer for about 4 years and had no idea. 

Roy has been through so much in his lifetime.. starting with the great depression, then fighting in Vietnam war, then coming home and marrying his love the very next day after he got back from the war. Her name was Betty, and they had four kids together. Betty passed away of cancer when she was 55, so my grandpa then remarried to my sweet grandmother. My grandmother is so very dear to me, and that is one reason why I was so fond of my grandpa Roy boy. He was always so sweet to her. He literally told her she was beautiful every single day. The world needs more men like my grandpa. 

papa Roy boy and my grandma Junie

My grandpa was known for his sayings and nicknames he made up for people. So I will leave with my favorite of his that will stick with me always...
"Every day is a good day, some are just better than others."

R.I.P. papa Roy boy, I love you so much and will miss you dearly. 

two thumbs up! :)

Assignments

Over the last couple weeks in Blogging for Journalism we have had two guest speakers. First was Dr. Kurt Hochenauer who started blogging in 2004. His background is filled with experience in journalism. His blog Okie Funk is where he rants about politics and can share his liberal views. In class I asked what was it that kept him going? He responded by saying, "I write now for people to read later." During this presidential election many will be able to go back and read and get different points of view. He also made it a point to be the one to speak out and be a leader for Oklahoma so others may speak out too.

Dr. Kurt Hochenauer

The second guest speaker we had was Mr. Dave Rhea. Dave is a social media blogger and is the editor of the Journal Record, the statewide daily business-focused media company in Oklahoma City. Dave gave some great advice for us amateur bloggers. One thing we have talked about with both guest speakers is the fact that everyone and their mom has a blog now. Blogging about whatever they want. Dave says that if you blog then you need to find a niche, something you are interested in to  blog about. One problem though that I see with blogging - he couldn't have addressed better by saying, "if you give everyone a microphone, you're going to have a lot of noise."

Mr. Rhea and my professor, Mr. Clark

To improve my blog, I think I definitely need to start posting more. I have found my niche - photography. The only problem with that is photography blogs are so overpopulated.. but the good thing is that it gives your clients something to look at and follow you on. Second, I need to work on my writing skills - even though my blog is mostly pictures. These two guest speakers have given us amateur bloggers a lot to think about and work on! So I'd better get to work!

Photomontage

 This is a set a of multiple self portraits I did. I can't say a lot about these... I take photos because it makes me feel good. And because I don't have to think about anything else that is going on. My grandpa died last week (which I will be blogging about soon) so I really just wanted to go out one day and do something for me...

"Every day is a good day, some are just better than others." - my sweet papa Roy boy 

Tyler, Cassie, & Reese

Tyler and Cassie came to me wanting pictures of their daughter, Reese, who would be turning two years old at the end of the month. I was more than happy to take up the opportunity! I swear it had seemed like forever since anyone had contacted me to take pictures... and Tyler is my cousin too! :)

It just so happened the red balloons I brought matched her outfit perfectly! i love it when things like that happen :) 

Happy 2nd Birthday Reese!