Events

Guest Speaker: Bill Diodato

Friday, February 3rd
Alumnus Bill Diodato returns to Hallmark to share his knowledge and photographic wisdom with the current class. Mr. Diodato has been working in New York since 1990, producing images walk that fine line between pure artistic vision and commercial art. His expressive and individual sense of beauty and style has evolved into the perfect medium. His vast client list includes Self, Vogue, Vibe and Travel & Leisure Magazines, Clinique, Nike, Cambell's Soup, Prada and many, many more.
More information: http://billdiodato.com/

Hallmark to Host Red Cross Blood Drive

Wednesday, February 1st

Did you know?

• Blood cannot be manufactured, it can only come from healthy volunteer donors.
• Only 5% of the eligible population donates blood, supporting the other 95%.
• The biggest users of blood are cancer patients.
• The #1 reason why most people don’t give blood is because they’ve never been asked. Consider yourself asked!

The Red Cross Blood Drive takes place at Hallmark's Educational Center on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 10am - 3pm. Many staff, faculty and students have already signed up to donate as Hallmark looks to exceed its goal of 60 pints. This blood drive is open to the public and appointments can be set by calling Tammy Murphy, Director of Student and Community Services, at 413.863.2478 or by contacting the Red Cross directly at 800-922-4376. For more information about donating, please visit redcrossblood.org.

When you give blood, you give another birthday, another date, another dance, another laugh, another hug, another chance.

Guest Speaker: Lindsay Adler

Monday, January 23rd
Ms. Adler is a professional fashion and portrait photographer based in New York City. Her visual artwork crosses many disciplines within photography as well as video, and has been featured in both national and international publications. Her first book is titled "The Linked Photographers' Guide to Online Marketing and Social Media" and her presentation will be geared towards helping emerging students navigate the business of photography.
More information: http://www.lindsayadlerphotography.com/

October Graduating Class of 2012 Welcome

Wednesday, January 11th – Friday, January 13th

Wednesday, January 11th
Our Orientation program commences with registration, followed by a formal presentation introducing our facilities, faculty, and staff. Then come some fun surprises to break the ice, help the students get to know each other, and make everyone feel at home. We'll also introduce our new class to some of the highlights we have planned for them during their 10-month journey. Our afternoon session will undoubtedly be filled with inspiration as Hallmark's very own Artist-in-Residence, Gregory Heisler, arrives at Hallmark to kick off our prominent Guest Lecturer Series. He will share his iconic imagery and passion from his illustrious career. gregoryheisler.com

Thursday, January 12th
Thursday's morning session focuses on fostering an educational environment with a spirit of mutual respect, cooperation, and integrity, throughout our 10-month training program. The afternoon session features a presentation by renowned portrait and fashion photographer, and Hallmark Instructor, David Turner. David started his career in Milan, Italy shooting features for top fashion magazines. Twenty years later he is still a favorite among fashion designers and is known for his magical portraits of Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and many more. David has used his extraordinary talent in both the fashion and still life field, and has been a major contributor to W Magazine, Harpers Bazaar and Seventeen Magazine. davidturnerphotography.com

Friday, January 13th
Our final day of Orientation is full of surprises. We'll start the day at The Gallery, located at 85 Avenue A in downtown Turners Falls where the students will join Hallmark's Artist-in-Residence, Gregory Heisler and Instructor, David Turner for a very special morning photo event. We'll then return to the Educational Center for a pizza lunch and then we'll embark on a fun-filled photo project with Instructors Dick D'Alessandro and Kemachat Sirichanvimol.

Jack Reznicki and Edward Greenberg

Friday, December 9th, 2011
Hallmark welcomes guest speakers Jack Reznicki and Edward Greenberg, co-authors of the book Photographer's Survival Manual: A Legal Guide for Artists in the Digital Age. Jack, the former president of Professional Photographers of America and Ed, a leading New York copyright attorney, will help guide students through the legal jungle of copyright law and arm them with the legal and business knowledge that professional photographers and visual artists need.
More information: http://thecopyrightzone.com/

Hallmark to Host Red Cross Blood Drive

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Did you know?

• Blood cannot be manufactured, it can only come from healthy volunteer donors.
• Only 5% of the eligible population donates blood, supporting the other 95%.
• The biggest users of blood are cancer patients.
• The #1 reason why most people don’t give blood is because they’ve never been asked. Consider yourself asked!

The Red Cross Blood Drive takes place at Hallmark's Educational Center on Wednesday, December 6, 2011 from 10am - 3pm. Many staff, faculty and students have already signed up to donate as Hallmark looks to exceed its goal of 60 pints. This blood drive is open to the public and appointments can be set by calling Tammy Murphy, Director of Student and Community Services, at 413.863.2478 or by contacting the Red Cross directly at 800-922-4376. Each presenting donor will receive a Red Cross stainless steel water bottle. For more information about donating, please visit redcrossblood.org.

When you give blood, you give another birthday, another date, another dance, another laugh, another hug, another chance.

Open House for Careers in Photography

Sunday, December 4th, 2011

Sounds Incredible? Come See For Yourself…

Alumni Roundtable

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
Before students head home for the Thanksgiving Recess during the week of November 21st, they will be treated to a day-long event like no other at Hallmark: the Alumni Roundtable Discussion. During this presentation, graduates from years past share their insight into the industry, including how Hallmark prepared them for their respective careers, and tips about what they have learned since graduating one, three, five or more years ago. Joining our panel this year will be Konrad Brattke '09, Scott Zuehlke '99, Wendy Maybury '00, Katie Lewis '06, Katie Suellentrop '08, and Jorge Rivas '07. Following a shared Holiday Luncheon between faculty, staff, alumni and students, there is a question and answer session and some time for one-on-one conversations between today's photographers and tomorrow's competitors.

Family Portraits to benefit the United Way of Franklin County

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

On Saturday November 19, Hallmark students and staff will volunteer their time to photograph family portraits and raise money for Baystate Franklin Medical Center's Employee United Way campaign.

Students will donate their time and photography skills to help stage the day-long event. With faculty supervision, students will greet families, photograph in our state-of-the art facilities, assist in the studios, edit images and fulfill print orders right on the spot. All proceeds from this even will directly benefit the United Way of Franklin County.

Sittings will be scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (at 15-minute intervals) at Hallmark on Industrial Blvd in Turners Falls. There is a $20 sitting fee for each 15-minute sitting. Sittings can be reserved by paying in advance.

Various photo packages printed while you wait will be available. Families can include well-behaved pets, on a leash or in a small cage (be sure to mention the pet when booking an appointment).

For further information or to schedule a sitting, call Laurie Sibilia at 413-773-2455.

Hallmark's Class of 2012 to Invade PhotoPlus Expo

Friday, October 28th, 2011

An exciting annual event for all of us at Hallmark Institute of Photography. The entire class and staff will travel to NYC to attend and participate in the world's most important trade show and conference for commercial photographers: PhotoPlus Expo. With our current students coming from all over the world, this will be the first time that many of them will have had the opportunity to visit NYC. Be prepared for a fun-filled day to, from, and in NYC with the whole gang!

More information: http://www.photoplusexpo.com/

October 2011 Graduation

Thursday, October 27th, 2011
After 10 months of hard work and determination, the October graduating Class of 2011 is about to step out into the professional world of photography with loads of knowledge and talent! To recognize and honor the accomplishments of this class, staff and faculty of Hallmark will gather at a private and intimate celebration for the students and their families. We're sorry, but this event is not open to the general public.

We are honored to have World Renown Photographers, Steve Kronberg and Jodi Buren join us to present the Keynote Address.



Jodi Buren & Steve Krongard have traveled the world shooting formal portraits, as well as journalistic reportage for a client list that reads like a who's who of the world's great magazines and corporations. They bring their craft and vision to each event that they photograph, capturing the unique flavor and special moments of each day in an unscripted way.

Open House for Careers in Photography

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

Sounds Incredible? Come See For Yourself…

October Graduating Class of 2011 Final Portfolio Review

Wednesday, October 19th – Thursday, October 20th, 2011
The Year-end Portfolio Review process is the culmination of a student's 10-month professional photography training at Hallmark. During the Portfolio Review process, a review panel made up of working professional photographers will critically analyze each individual student portfolio to determine whether or not it possesses the necessary technical and artistic skills to qualify the student for employment in the field of professional photography and imaging. Each student will receive in-depth commentary from the panelists as to the areas of strength and weakness represented in his or her portfolio. Upon successful completion of the year-end portfolio process, the student qualifies for a Certificate of Completion from Hallmark.

The October Graduating Class of 2011 is honored to have three powerful industry leaders reviewing and critiquing their final year-end portfolio. Each panelist specializes in a different area of professional photography, and their collected experiences and knowledge are unrivaled.

Sam Abell has been shooting for the National Geographic Society since 1970. His sage guidance, worldwide experience and notoriety has earned him a place in the top visual story tellers of the world. Sam has been a mentor for many up and coming image makers, helping one and all to achieve their personal and professional goals. His images from the National Geographic Society Magazine are a national treasure, as are his one of a kind experiences from his travels around the world. He is one of those artists who is always willing to share his amazing insights with his imaging contemporaries.

Simon Alexander is the Studio Manager for Hearst Publishing of NYC as well as an accomplished fashion and portrait photographer. He was born in England; educated in the Middle East, the Far East, and London; and now resides in New York City. His portraits are collected privately, and are held in the permanent collections of The Design Museum and The National Portrait Gallery in London. With extensive experience in the publishing industry, his insight on students' portfolios is invaluable.

Grant Peterson is a commercial still life photographer who, in three decades of work, left his mark on virtually every aspect of photography. Peterson's uses of light, color, design and printing has influenced a generation of photographers, filmmakers and artists, and was pivotal to the development of advertising's use of a personal vision to sell a brand. In 1989, Photo District News crowned him "The Sun King". In January 2002, "WTC," a show on the design, build, and destruction of the World Trade Center was held at the New York Historical Society. Paul Goldberger of The New York Times called Peterson's images "epic." Peterson currently works and lives in New York City with his wife and daughter.

This event is open only to family members and supporters of the October Graduating Class of 2011, the Class of 2012, alumni, members of the photographic profession, and applicants and enrollees of the October Class of 2012 and the Class of 2013.

Hallmark to Host Red Cross Blood Drive

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Did you know?

• Blood cannot be manufactured, it can only come from healthy volunteer donors.
• Only 5% of the eligible population donates blood, supporting the other 95%.
• The biggest users of blood are cancer patients.
• The #1 reason why most people don’t give blood is because they’ve never been asked. Consider yourself asked!

The Red Cross Blood Drive takes place at Hallmark's Educational Center on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 from 10am - 3pm. Many staff, faculty and students have already signed up to donate as Hallmark looks to exceed its goal of 60 pints. This blood drive is open to the public and appointments can be set by calling Tammy Murphy, Director of Student and Community Services, at 413.863.2478 or by contacting the Red Cross directly at 800-922-4376. Each presenting donor will receive a Red Cross stainless steel water bottle. For more information about donating, please visit redcrossblood.org.

When you give blood, you give another birthday, another date, another dance, another laugh, another hug, another chance.

Class of 2012 Welcome

Wednesday, September 7th – Friday, September 9th, 2011

Wednesday, September 7th
Our Orientation program commences with registration, followed by a formal presentation introducing our facilities, faculty, and staff. Then come some fun surprises to break the ice, help the students get to know each other, and make everyone feel at home. We'll also introduce our new class to some of the highlights we have planned for them during their 10-month journey. Our afternoon session will undoubtedly be filled with inspiration as Hallmark's very own Artist-in-Residence, Gregory Heisler, arrives at Hallmark to kick off our prominent Guest Lecturer Series. He will share his iconic imagery and passion from his illustrious career. gregoryheisler.com

Thursday, September 8th
Thursday's morning session focuses on fostering an educational environment with a spirit of mutual respect, cooperation, and integrity, throughout our 10-month training program. The afternoon session features a presentation by renowned portrait and fashion photographer Barbara Bordnick. Barbara began her illustrious career in Copenhagen and Paris creating fashion imagery for the pages of Harpers Bazaar. In 1968, she returned to NYC to open her own studio and begin her forty-year career as one of the first and foremost women photographers in the nation. Barbara is an inspiration to all, having laid the groundwork for females in the fashion industry once dominated only by males. barbarabordnick.com

Friday, September 9th
Our final day of Orientation begins with an introduction into the unique educational training process that leads our students to success in the still and motion photography and imaging arts fields. Our Orientation Week comes to a close with what promises to be an action-packed presentation by unconventional and extremely talented photographer Clay Patrick McBride. He is one of the young stars in the NYC commercial photography scene. For over 15 years, Clay, a cutting edge entertainment photographer, has been documenting the elite stars of sports, hip-hop, and rock and roll. His unforgettable style will inspire all who want to have fun and make a mark in the high-energy commercial imaging world. claypatrickmcbride.com

Class of 2011 June Graduation

Friday, June 24th, 2011
Join the faculty, staff, and alumni of Hallmark, as well as distinguished members of the photographic profession, in honoring the accomplishments of the Class of 2011 in a casual yet professional outdoor setting. This event is open to the general public. If you are interested in attending, please contact us.

We are honored to have Joe McNally as our graduation speaker.

McNally is an internationally acclaimed photographer whose thirty-year career has taken him to over 50 countries. His work includes cover stories for TIME, Newsweek, Fortune, New York, Entertainment weekly The New York Times Sunday Magazine and Men's Journal. In addition, he was a LIFE Magazine staff photographer, contract photographer for Sports Illustrated and an ongoing 23-year contributor to National Geographic.

He was named by American Photo as one of the 100 most important people in photography. He has won numerous awards to include the first Alfred Eisenstaedt for Journalism Impact, Communication Arts, PDN, Graphis, American Photo, POY, and The World Press Photo Foundation awards. One of his resounding accomplishments was created in the aftermath of 911, "Faces of Ground Zero" done with Polaroid's 20x24 inch film and camera. The show travelled through 2002, became a book and helped to generate approximately $2 million dollars for the relief effort. Joes outstanding career is a testament to our unique imaging industry.

www.joemcnally.com

Class of 2011 Final Portfolio Review

Thursday, June 2nd – Friday, June 17th, 2011
The Year-end Portfolio Review process is the culmination of a student's 10-month professional photography training at Hallmark. During the Portfolio Review process, a review panel made up of working professional photographers will critically analyze each individual student portfolio to determine whether or not it possesses the necessary technical and artistic skills to qualify the student for employment in the field of professional photography and imaging. Each student will receive in-depth commentary from the panelists as to the areas of strength and weakness represented in his or her portfolio. Upon successful completion of the year-end portfolio process, the student qualifies for a Certificate of Completion from Hallmark.

The Class of 2011 is honored to have three powerful industry leaders reviewing and critiquing their final year-end portfolio. Each panelist specializes in a different area of professional photography, and their collected experiences and knowledge are unrivaled.

Grant Peterson is a commercial still life photographer who, in three decades of work, left his mark on virtually every aspect of photography. Peterson's uses of light, color, design and printing has influenced a generation of photographers, filmmakers and artists, and was pivotal to the development of advertising's use of a personal vision to sell a brand. In 1989, Photo District News crowned him "The Sun King". In January 2002, "WTC," a show on the design, build, and destruction of the World Trade Center was held at the New York Historical Society. Paul Goldberger of The New York Times called Peterson's images "epic." Peterson currently works and lives in New York City with his wife and daughter.

Lois Greenfield began her career as a photojournalist but was drawn to the graphic potential of dance. For twenty years she covered the experimental dance scene for the Village Voice. In 1982, she decided to open a studio where she could not only control the lighting, but could also direct the dancers in her exploration of movement's expressive potential. Her unique approach to photographing the human form in motion has radically redefined the genre, and influenced a generation of young photographers.

Matthew Jordan Smith has worked with an A-List celebrity clientele including Oprah, Jennifer Connelly, Halle Berry, Britney Spears, Mandy Moore, Jamie Foxx and many more. Top beauty clients including Pantene, L'Oreal, Revlon, and Olay are just a few of Matthew's long-term clientele that have experienced the magic Matthews brings to every assignment. In addition to Matthew's work behind the lens, he has been the subject of countless interviews ranging fromIn Style to Zoom Magazines. He has appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, E! Entertainment, America's Next Top Model and Good Day New York. In 2001, Matthew published his first book Sepia Dreams published by St. Martin's Press with an introduction by Vanessa Williams. In 2006, Matthew's second book, Lost & Found, was sanctioned by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and sponsored by Microsoft. Matthew is currently working on his third book inspired by his trip to India in late 2010.

This event is open only to family members and supporters of the Class of 2011, alumni, members of the photographic profession, and applicants and enrollees of the Class of 2012.

Guest Speaker: Sam Abell

Monday, May 16th, 2011
Sam is one of the legendary photographers of our time. Once a member of the prestigious National Geographic staff, Sam will share his lifetime of imagery and wealth of inspiration. He is a memorable speaker who will bring our 2011 speaker series to an close. An important Hallmark friend who has always contributed all that he can to our organization. I really look forward to seeing Sam again! Sponsored by Canon.
More information: http://samabell-thephotographiclife.com/

Guest Speaker: Rick Souders

Monday, May 2nd, 2011
Dever based food photographer Rick Souders will show and illustrate his award winning imagery from this very interesting and profitable niche of our industry. He will also spend much of his day helping to guide each and every student in making the right decisions for their careers. His talk is always very uplifting to everyone in the audience.
More information: http://soudersstudios.com/

Special Event: 2010 Alumnae Kelley Riley and Hallmark Present "Hope for Malawi"

Friday, April 29th, 2011


2010 Alumnae Kelley Riley, will have a show of her photographs at ARTSPACE (10 Mill Street, Greenfield) as a fund-raising opportunity to benefit Friends of Little Field Home (FLFH). The opening reception is April 29th, from 5:30 to 7:30pm.

FLFH is a 501(C)3 non-profit based in Hebron Maine that funds orphans, vulnerable children and women in Malawi, Africa. They are currently raising money for an orphan care center, health clinic, clean water project and much more. Please join us in supporting their efforts to lift the villagers of Ntchisi out of poverty and into a healthier and happier environment.
More information: http://www.littlefieldhome.org

Guest Speaker: Alex Buono

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
California based Oscar nominated film director and SNL Director of Photography, Alex Buono, will be here to entertain and enlighten the class of 2011. He has a lot of great information to share like how he shot the opening credits for SNL in available night time city light with only a small battery powered LED light and the Canon 5D MK2 camera. This will be a very interesting morning for anyone wanting to better understand where our industry is moving because of the wonderful and powerful tools now available to us all. Sponsored by Canon.

Guest Speaker: Sebastian Smith

Monday, April 25th, 2011
Sebastian is an international photographer working in NYC, LA and Europe. His 16 year career has him working with magazines, designers and top models. This young photographers exciting work will be an inspiration for all.
More information: http://sebastiansmithphoto.com

Guest Speaker: Pauline St Denis

Friday, April 22nd, 2011
Pauline, a frequent guest and contributor to Hallmark, will share her energetic personality and imagery with us. Her edgy commercial work, successful wedding business and fine art imagery with the Holga camera will make this an enjoyable and inspiring day.
More information: http://www.paulinestdenis.com

Guest Speaker: Ron Wyatt

Friday, April 22nd, 2011
Roy Wyatt, a NJ based commercial, editorial, portrait and sports photographer was working on the GM assembly line in Linden NJ when he decided to follow his dream, that of being a professional photographer. Still making that journey, Ron will share his story and imagery to a class with many students whose motivation for being here is similar. A talk that should inspire us all.
More information: http://www.ronwyattphotos.com/

Guest Speaker: Elizabeth Waugh

Monday, April 11th, 2011
Hallmark Graduate Elizabeth Waugh will share her experience as a working professional and the journey she made after graduating from Hallmark and going to the exciting world of NYC commercial photography. Her story of her career in commercial imaging in the NYC marketplace will be a great opportunity for those planning their careers in NYC after graduation to learn from someone from here who is busy succeeding in a very tough marketplace.
More information: http://elizabethwaughphotography.com

Guest Speaker: Parish Kohanim

Monday, April 11th, 2011
A Canon Explorer of Light, Parish is an inspiring image maker from Atlanta, Georgia whose blend of commercial perfection and fine art sensibility has made him one of the most memorable contemporary image makers in the country. His talk is always an inspiration to those who are lucky to attend one of his lectures. Sponsored by Canon.
More information: http://www.parishkohanim.com

Class of 2011 Student Open House

Sunday, April 10th, 2011
The Hallmark Institute of Photography announces its annual student open house, on April 10, 2011 to be held at the Educational Center on Industrial Boulevard in Turners Falls, Massachusetts. This open house differs from the other open houses put on by Hallmark because the student body is solely responsible for the execution of the entire event. Family members, friends, interested parties and working professionals in the field of photography are encouraged to attend and discover why every year Hallmark graduates are in high demand.

Throughout the event, visitors will meet with resident students for guided tours through Hallmark's industry envied educational facility, as well as view photographic websites being created, follow a digital image through it's workflow, view a print exhibit and observe actual photo shoots both in the portrait studio and commercial studio. Hallmark is known for its intensive 10-month program in the art, business and technology of photography. The student open house allows resident students to showcase all that they have learned during this program. Visitors will experience a first hand look into the life of a Hallmark student as every aspect of Hallmark's curriculum is showcased during the open house.

Guest Speaker: Steve Shapiro

Monday, April 4th, 2011
Steve Shapiro is a documentary photographer whose images of our country and its people have now become historical documents in their own right. From the days of Martin Luther King and Bobbi Kennedy, to the intimate portraits of great figures of the time like Muhammad Ali, Steve's images and stories will educate and illuminate the class on the importance of our craft to our enduring history.
More information: http://www.steveschapiro.com

Guest Speaker: Al Satterwhite

Monday, April 4th, 2011
Al Satterwhite is a very successful California based photographer whose commercial career has bridged many decades. He will share his experiences in the field when large commercial budgets were commonplace, and his transformation into a contemporary image maker. His background in film making will also be of interest to everyone in the class. Sponsored by Canon.
More information: http://www.alsatterwhite.com