Looking back my 2009, I went to AAU for 4 weeks by Caltrain/Bart; my East meets West Meetup Group going to be 2- year old; our once a month Wine Friday has been 3 years now; the most crazy but best decision I have made was the time in Missoula, Montana for the 5-month intensive photography training.
Since I came back from Montana in the end of October, I went to New York for my first Photography Conferences; apply for Business
License and Seller Permit; Open Business Bank Account; joined American
Society of Media Photographers (asmp); meet with different professional
photographers in SF seeking assisting opportunity; attended 10+ business social network events before year ended; taking new software classes; print
new business card, and create new photos.
One of the reviewer in Montana once say to me, “You are
ready. What you need to do after
school is to get your name out. If
no one knows you and your work, you never get a job.” Therefore, I am very actively doing social networking when I came back from Montana. I keep meeting new people, introduce myself and what I do, and ask for the opportunity to work together on a project.
My 2010 New Year Resolutions are very simple, only 4 things on the list:
1. One Picture A Day For One Year.
If you have watched the movie "Julie & Julia", you should remember what wish Julie made - One recipe a day, to cook through Julia's 524 pages cookbook in one year. Not only that, Julie start a new blog so she can posts her cooking diary everyday. I am so proud of Julie for her determination because I know I couldn't do it. I love to eat but not that crazy about cooking.
So my "One Picture a Day" would be a challenge to me because it is a 365 days promise but it also force me to pick up my camera everyday looking for something simple and interesting to documenting what I see or feel. I will post my daily image on my blog to share with you and also give me a chance to look back again next year to see what did I shoot the whole year. It should be an interesting project.
2. Exercise 30 Minutes Everyday.
I bought a used Elliptical Trainer on Craigslist in November because I really feel the fact that aging is slowing down my metabolism. Although I watch what I eat and how much I eat, more green less meat, no sweets or snacks but my weight still gaining slowly. For American Standard, I might not consider fat but I do feel tire easily, doesn't sleep well sometimes so I am guessing one of reason might be needing more exercise to help the blood circulation to the heart.
3. To Make People Feel Important or Special.
I went to New York in the end of October for the PDN Photo EXPO. One morning I went to see EXPO earlier than the door open so I waited in the seating area. I saw a gentle man seating near by who is also waiting for the door open so I start making small talk with him. His name is John
Dessereau, who is Calumet New York’s Store
Manager. We talked about an hour, exchange business cards and then say goodbye so we can go into the EXPO.
If you think the store ended here, you are wrong.
Few days after I got back to the Bay Area I received a package, from John
Dessereau which surprise me. More surprisingly was he remember our conversation and "loan" me a copy of Digital Food Photography
by Lou Manna with autograph. John wrote this on his business card, “Thought you would love
this, consider it on long term loan”. What a wonderful surprise!!
Just because I talked about food and house/building are the subject I love to photograph the most in our conversation, I didn't realized he takes it into the heart and loan me his personal copy. I was touched and speechless. To him, I am no body
but he made me feel special. Actually, I was plan to send him a card because we had a great conversation but he was one setp ahead of me.
Honestly, it feels really good when someone make you feel important or special. No matter what it is - a compliment, a Thank You, a bit understanding, pay attention on what you say. . . these don't cost money but could make other people feel very good about themselves that are better than flowers, gifts or chocolate. So, I am going to make other people feel special too (not kiss ass type). It’s a good feeling.
4. To have my First Photography Show as a celebration for my 10th Year in the States.
I moved to the US since June 2000 which is going to be 10 years this coming year. In the past ten years I have been married, graduated from college, start a real estate business with my husband, learning photography and now starting my photography business. It's not easy but fulfilled. I met many good friends during these years which is very fortunate. I want to have this show as a milestone to share with everyone who has been supportive along the way.
However, planing a show need a lot of help, and involve a lot of time and money. The first thing is finding a location. My initial thought is to find a empty store front, a small gallery or a coffee shop located in South Bay (Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga). One month would be nice but I could do just few weeks or even few days depends on the location. If you came across a place, please let me know and I will go check it myself.
6 months to plan a show is really not much time so I would need all the help I can get from every one of you to make it happen.
How is your 2009? What's your plan and wish for 2010? Please share with me if you would like.
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