Hi Friends,
In this email you'll see a beautiful and inspiration letter written by my girlfriend, Melanie -- many of you may know her from our wedding and the incredible job she did photographing and designing our invitations and programs. Melanie is embarking on an admirable journey over the next year to eliminate her personal debt by providing beautiful, low cost prints of many of her beloved photographs. Please read on for her explanation of her project and how you may choose to participate.
I first met Melanie when we worked together at Starbucks in Santa Barbara. We began working there within two weeks of each other; with our matching Starbucks uniforms and our long, blonde hair pulled back in ponytails many customers mistook one of us for the other. We got a kick out of that, and quickly formed a connection. We worked together for two years, but it wasn't until I quit the store that our friendship really began to develop, and it wasn't until the year she spent by my side helping me brainstorm and plan many elements of my wedding that I began to think of her as one of my very best friends.
Not only did we wile away the hours hand-making wedding invitations, addressing envelopes, editing photographs and working with color, layout and design, we made time for happy hours and dinner out and coffees downtown. We shared many a good bottle of wine and for awhile were each other's frequent date to the movies. When Will and I moved it was Melanie who packed boxes until well past midnight and then appeared on our doorstep before sunrise the next morning -- coffees in hand -- ready to help unload the U-haul truck. Melanie is one of the most selfless, giving, inspirational and talented people I've ever had the privilege to know, and her friendship means so much to me. I love her dearly... and wish her all the luck in the world with this admirable project.
Kelly Sweda - 1st Degree
Santa Barbara, CA
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Click on the months below to view all images
Blog Archive
About Me - Melanie Bess Hogan
I was born October 28th, 1978 and raised in Southern Oregon, in the small, lovely town of Applegate, located just west of Medford. With three siblings and many cousins living within a mile stretch, most of my childhood was spent outdoors. Whether we were riding bikes, building forts, playing tag, trying to catch crawdads in Thompson Creek, swimming in the Applegate River, sleeping under the stars or helping out with the farming chores, it was an incredible time. My Gram's property stretches just over 600 acres, and 19 of those were certified a Century Ranch in 2003, receiving recognition as being owned and operated as a working ranch for 100 years within my family. I feel so fortunate to have grown up with such history, not to mention the freedom and encouragement to explore the wide-open spaces of the countryside that my family has maintained through hard work and perseverance! I love being a country girl!
I knew I wanted to be a photographer since I was a junior in high school and applied to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California. Art has been something I have always enjoyed and still-framing moments to later watch come to life again in the darkroom had me completely intrigued! How can you not love it? It is such a magical process! I was forever hooked when I took my first photography class at Southern Oregon University, while also taking the general education classes required to officially enroll at Brooks.
The reality of the financial requirement to follow this passion of photography sank in, and I made the decision to put off going until I could save more money. This is when the notion of becoming a nanny was put in front of me, and within two weeks of checking into it, I was on a plane to meet a family back East. After two years with the same family, and a little money tucked away for Brooks, I had yet another reality to choose, and that was whether or not to see the world. Brooks or the world? This was a no-brainer, as I have always been one for adventure. So I put off Brooks again and spent most of 2000 back-packing overseas. This was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I've ever made, and if you get the chance, DO IT!
Using up all the money I had saved for Brooks while traveling, I was back to square one. So with nearly another two more years of nannying, serving up lattes at Starbucks and saving, I was ready to start. I arrived in Santa Barbara on my 24th birthday and began Brooks just days later. It was a goal set and a goal achieved, well worth the six-year hiatus it took me to get there!
I graduated cum laude three years later with a Bachelor's Degree in Photography, double majoring in Commercial Advertising and Advertising. Even while attending school I was freelancing, along with maintaining my position at Starbucks and being a part-time, live-in nanny. Since graduating I have shot weddings, portraiture, fine art, worked as a studio manager for Door 9 Studios, and had the great privilege of working as the Photo Editor for America's Underwater Treasures, a book put out by Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society.
I jumped at the opportunity to exchange palm trees for pine trees in July 2007 and moved to the Inland Northwest. My move, although partly to escape the high costs of living in Santa Barbara, was to assist my sister Jennifer with her brand new coffee stand, Droolin Dog Espresso, located on Ramsey Road in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Perhaps I wouldn't have thought of this project had I not been on that road trip back from Jackson Hole, and that wouldn't have happened had I not made the decision to share in my sister's new adventures. I am grateful for both!
My goal, besides successfully completing this project and being Debt-Free by 30, is to inspire others! I want to travel, and being a destination photographer is the way to make two of my passions a reality. On the road getting there and when I finally do, need always come my desire to be true to myself and true to others, and in that comes inspiration!
Your thoughts?
Below each post, you will see the word "comments"...if you click on it you can leave me your thoughts, impressions, ideas...good or a good critique, I would love to hear them! Mb
No comments:
Post a Comment