What's Happening at Hallmark, Week by Week

Every week brings something new in Hallmark's intensive 10-month program. Follow along with our 2009 class on their journey to graduation day and their future careers.

To find out what the coming weeks and months have in store -- classes, guest lectures, field trips -- see our "Year at Hallmark" pages as well as our schedule of upcoming events.

Graduation — Luck was with us Friday, June 19th as the weather held out for 195 graduates from the Class of 2009 to receive their Certificates of Completion. Although the morning started with a fine mist under threatening skies, Keynote Speaker, Sam Abell, was quick to point out the quality of light in these conditions, from a photographer's point of view. Sam, a highly acclaimed photographer whose career has spanned 3 decades working for "National Geographic", talked to the graduates about his career and made note of how envious he was that their Hallmark education emphasized specific business training, something he wished he'd had the opportunity to receive when he was starting out. Sam's career was encouraged by his father in a darkroom in the basement of their home while growing up in Ohio and has taken him all over the globe since those meager beginnings. As a result, Sam, in turn, encouraged the class not only to seek challenges and go after their dreams, but to also work to maintain important relationships, as he did with this father. His message being success is a noble goal, but sweeter when shared with those who have supported you in your quest for it.
Graduation — Luck was with us Friday, June 19th as the weather held out for 195 graduates from the Class of 2009 to receive their Certificates of Completion. Although the morning started with a fine mist under threatening skies, Keynote Speaker, Sam Abell, was quick to point out the quality of light in these conditions, from a photographer's point of view. Sam, a highly acclaimed photographer whose career has spanned 3 decades working for "National Geographic", talked to the graduates about his career and made note of how envious he was that their Hallmark education emphasized specific business training, something he wished he'd had the opportunity to receive when he was starting out. In this photo, the graduates shared one of many laughs with Tony Downer, Director of Education and Photographic Operations, as well as Master of Ceremonies for the day. Not only did he impart pieces of wisdom throughout the graduation, but he did it the same way he's been doing it in the classroom all year long, with combined humor and grace. Our best wishes go out to the Class of 2009!

Click here to see our Relay For Life gallery

Week Forty-One — Hallmark's intensive 10-month program comes to a close for the Class of 2009 with Friday, June 19th's Graduation Ceremony. After three weeks of portfolio review, student photographers have now officially joined the ranks of professional photographers in the highly competitive imaging industry. Additional classes will be offered this week for those wanting to learn more about Location Shooting, Printing with Cyanotype and Advanced Photoshop Techniques. Others will put finishing touches on résumés and cover letters as they wait anxiously to hear about scheduling job interviews. Some will just spend time reflecting on the crucial feedback they received during portfolio review leading them to make some changes in their own portfolios. Emotions will be at a high as each and every individual cannot help but reflect on the relationships they've built as well as the overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride they feel. Over the weekend, many students and staff also participated in the American Cancer Society's "Relay For Life". Pictured: Current student Clint captures a touching moment as a Relay For Life volunteer lights a Luminaria as the sun sets.

Click here to see slideshow of Year-end Portfolio Review

Week Forty — This week, our panel of professionals including photography marketing consultant Skip Cohen, art director Tamara Behar, and world renowned photographer Greg Heisler, enter their final week of reviewing each individual student's Year-end Portfolio. While the intensity and emotion of this process are clearly present, both are well deserved, as they follow months upon months of hard work and determination and culminate each student's Hallmark experience. Pictured: Portfolio Panelists (from l - r) Skip, Tamara and Greg review a current student's body of work, while making note of the portfolio's strengths as well as its areas for improvement.

Click here to follow along with Sarah's review.

Week Thirty-Nine — While each individual student continues through the Year-end Portfolio Review process, many of them are also using these final few weeks to take advantage of Hallmark's facilities. In the Imaging Theater, many students are busy making prints to fulfill client orders. In the Design Lab, students are putting the finishing touches on their résumés, cover letters and promotional materials as they continue the employment seeking process. In addition, there are a host of "break-out" classes being offered which specialize in certain areas of the industry. Some example's of this week's offerings include, Editing Images for Stock Submission, Funding Your Small Business and Networking: Wired & Wireless. Also this week, Portfolio Review Panelist and Photography Marketing Consultant, Skip Cohen, will present a special evening program to students entitled: "The Whacko Factor - It's not who you know, it's who knows you!" Pictured: Current student, Sarah, awaits the Portfolio Review Panelists' decision on her final Year-end Portfolio, while instructor Tony Downer is by her side. The images to the right are two of Sarah's many beautiful portraits. Soon after this shot, she heard the words "Sarah, Portfolio Accepted."
Week Thirty-Eight — It's finally here! Year-end Portfolios are submitted this week after long days and nights of shooting, editing, retouching, and printing. Nerves and excitement collide as each individual student has his/her body of work scored and critiqued by our panel of working professionals, which includes photography marketing consultant Skip Cohen, art director Tamara Behar, and world renowned photographer Greg Heisler. The feedback these three individuals bring is phenomenal, not only pointing out areas for improvement technically and artistically, but also recognizing the student's strengths. While Skip offers a wealth of industry experience, Tamara brings her art and design background, and Greg brings his iconic vision and technical mastery to the important observation and feedback process. Each and every student will receive the individual attention he/she deserves after completing the intensive Year-end Portfolio process. We are off to a great start! Pictured: Panelist Greg Heisler critiques the portfolio of current student John Paul, who is seated on stage to the left with his supporters. The entire student body looks on as John Paul listens intently to Greg's feedback. The four projection screens above get close to the action so the audience can also learn from the panelists as they discuss each print in the portfolio.
Week Thirty-Seven — The beginning of the week finds students taking care of last minute details, finishing up the editing of their images, and working with instructors on the layout of their individual Year-end Portfolios. Months of hard work culminates with the submission of the Final Year-end Portfolio on Wednesday evening, where a cumulative sigh of relief for all of the work that has been accomplished can be heard. Thursday morning marks the beginning of Portfolio Review, which is a formal process by which three professionals from the industry analyze and provide commentary on each individual student's body of work. We are thrilled to have on our Portfolio Review Panel Tamara Behar, an Art Director from New York; Skip Cohen, President of Marketing Essentials International, a marketing consulting firm specializing in projects dedicated to photography; and Gregory Heisler, renowned New York photographer whose images appear regularly on the cover of TIME magazine, among others. Pictured: Instructor David Frazier (left), holding a digital sound recorder, looks on as current students Becky, Sionnie, Tyler, and Paola (left to right) synchronize a spoken audio track with images they shot to create a multi-media slide show.
Week Thirty-Six — This week, as he has done for many years, Gregory Heisler will close out the 2009 Guest Lecturer Series. Greg is one of the foremost image makers in the world, and we are delighted to have him join the Class of 2009 for this last and always memorable event. With less than two weeks to go before Final Year-end Portfolios are due, the activity starts to shift from shooting in the Portrait and Commercial Studios to editing and retouching in the Design Lab and Imaging Theater. Students truly begin to put the final touches on each of twenty-seven assignments that make up the portfolio they will submit for their Year-end Portfolio Assignment. There are specially designated Portfolio Preparation classes this week, in which the student photographer is able to have his/her entire body of work critiqued by instructors. The purpose of this is to ensure the student is putting his/her best foot forward, just like proof-reading and editing a thesis before it is handed in. Pictured: Instructor Michael Zide (r) and current student, Kevin, both Californians, share a laugh as Michael critiques some of Kevin's Year-end Portfolio images in a way that can only be understood by a couple of west coast guys.

Photo courtesy of Konrad Brattke

Week Thirty-Five — As we near the end of the school year with just a few weeks to go before final Year-end Portfolios are due, students find themselves sitting in on vitally important business classes. This week, job estimating is covered in the Contracts & Proposals class. In Packaging and Allied Products, students learn about what kind of presentation materials are available to them; would their clients prefer a leather bound or cloth bound album? Should their personal portfolio be presented in a bound book or in a box with separate mats? And in Recordkeeping, students will get a wrap-up of the Quickbooks software. The Guest Lecturer this week is Vincent Versace. Vincent is an award winning photographer, educator, author, digital artist and photoshop expert who will share his unique art and digital insights and techniques with the class. Pictured: Current students, Bryan and Chris, photograph portrait instructor, Lindsay Ciavattone during a car shoot they set up for the Student Open House. Prior to the event, Bryan and Chris worked diligently to construct the giant softbox hanging from the rafters to create the proper lighting for the highly reflective metal of the car.

Watch the YouTube video slideshow of preparations for the car shoot.

Read how a group of passionate students took their idea from concept to reality.
Week Thirty-Four — This week, students take a field trip to a local church for their class on Location Lighting. Instructors have worked diligently to put together all the components of a real church wedding in a mock wedding ceremony. Since wedding photography can be one of the most lucrative areas of the industry, knowing how to cover the events of a wedding using proper lighting and camera controls is crucial. Equally important are the business classes, and this week, in Financing, Bank of America will join us to present information on budgeting, setting up business accounts, small business loans etc. Our Guest Lecturer Series continues as we welcome Rick Souders, a commercial photographer specializing in food photography in Denver, CO. Rick will share his award winning commercial photography techniques, and his communication skills and philosophy highlighted in his popular book, "The Art and Attitude of Commercial Photography." Pictured: Current student, Michael, is in the "hot seat" as he interviews for a position in the photography industry. Photographers and studio managers from well-known, established studios, joined us in class to create real-world employment scenarios as a means for students to experience the interview process.
Week Thirty-Three — The week begins with two more extraordinary guest lecturers. Al Satterwhite, freelance magazine photographer, is considered an authority on color and design, and has four published books of his work on this subject. Barbara Bordnick set the stage for many female fashion and commercial photographers, beginning her career in Copenhagen and Paris at a time when there were only a small number of women in this industry. The Career Conference Review team will meet again with each student this week to ensure that each and every one of them is progressing towards the successful completion of his/her Year-end Portfolio. They will take a look at images that have already been produced and make sure that the student's work is in line with his/her own Career Business Plan. Along with their regularly scheduled classes and shooting assignments, the student body is also putting the finishing touches on the Student Open House to be held this coming weekend. In addition to being an outlet to exhibit their work for family, friends, alumni, and industry leaders, the Student Open House is organized solely by the student body, teaching them how to plan an event and all its details from the exhibit itself to entertainment, refreshments, public relations and advertising. Pictured: Current student Ashley is thrilled to hear feedback as Russell Hart, Executive Editor of American Photo magazine, critiques her work. Russell and photographer Brian Smith, sponsored by American Photo, PopPhoto On Campus, and Sony, shared images and tips with students on getting one's work published. Selected students, such as Ashley, were able to have Russell and Brian review their current portfolios, as part of the evening's events.
Week Thirty-Two — Reality will be here for Hallmark's students in just a few short months. Therefore, this week's Business Communications class will focus on interviewing tools and techniques. Several professionals from the industry will join us to set up mock interviews with the students, which will be taped and then reviewed in class in an effort to point out the "do's" and "don'ts" when interviewing for a position in the imaging industry. Branding is covered in the Product Development class where students will learn how to position themselves within the photographic industry. Two outstanding Guest Lecturers join us this week as well. Douglas Dubler has been a fashion, beauty and fine art photographer for over 30 years, seamlessly using his craft and creativity to produce images in editorial, advertising and fine art photography. Beth Reynolds shows us how documentary photography walks a fine line between empathy and exploitation. She has mastered this fine line and will share her amazing insights and imagery with the class. Pictured: Current student Bryan shoots the front of this Lexus for his Highly Reflective Metal assignment. Bryan's assistant, current student Patrick, checks out the shot with him. Bryan used a remote trigger for the camera, a trick of the trade, so that his reflection couldn't be seen in the metal.
Week Thirty-One — Separating Hallmark from all the other art and photography schools is its primary curriculum focus on the relevant business practices within the photography and imaging industry. In fact, Hallmark cleverly devotes nearly 40% of its curriculum to the business aspects of photography as we intertwine these important classes with the practical application of the necessary technical and artistic information. This week several new topics and concepts are covered including business software in the Recordkeeping class, media literacy and visual vocabulary are discussed in Principles class, and students learn how to plan for the selling season and use advertising effectively in Planning & Analysis class. Hallmark is also happy to welcome, once again, the husband and wife team of Alison and Bleu Cotton to our Guest Lecturer Series. Alison is a 1995 Hallmark Graduate, and along with her husband, owns and operates a very successful, high-end wedding and portrait photography business in Southern California. Pictured: Current student, Heather, has constructed an elaborate set in the Commercial Studio, as she prepares to shoot a classmate's son, "fishing". The challenging nature of this shoot is proof of the confidence students have gained in their own skills, as they begin pushing the envelope to get images that are not only technically correct, but also have that "WOW" factor.
Week Thirty — This week, shooting both in the studios and at remote locations kicks into high gear, as students begin to put in motion their plans and ideas for their Year-end Portfolios. Classes continue, with the focus shifting from new information to reinforcing those techniques already learned and fine-tuning skills that increase the overall quality of their body of work. Students are introduced to different types of portfolio options for use in presenting their work in Portfolio Preparation this week. There are a number of products available with which to enhance one's portfolio when showing it to a potential employer, and the presentation of a portfolio can be just as important as the images themselves. Our Guest Lecturer Series continues as we welcome Catherine Hall, a San Francisco based photographer who will share her outstanding imagery, creative marketing ideas and unlimited enthusiasm with the class. In addition, we also welcome Stephen Johnson, whose work has concentrated on landscape projects -- exploring wild, endangered spaces, and human altered lands, while focusing on soft color and abstract design. Pictured: Kneeling in the foreground, current student Andy, shooting with the Canon 5D, photographs current student Hribar, on skateboard. (Inset photograph shows Andy's final image from the shoot.) The on-camera Speedlite wirelessly triggers the Speedlites held by current students Kristen and Des, as current student Caleab looks on. The students created this scenario as part of an in-class exercise designed to enhance sports photography skills, offered by Instructor John Nordell.
Week Twenty-Nine — Students return from Spring Recess this week by welcoming in Phase IV, the final and most rewarding phase of Hallmark's 10-month program. Starting off with Portfolio Preparation on Monday morning, students will be introduced to their Final Year-end Portfolio Assignment. Students will have the opportunity to craft a body of work that is in keeping with the interest and goals outlined in their Career Business Plan Assignment in Phase III. In addition to beginning this exciting creative process, students return to the intensive classroom schedule and captivating Guest Lecturer Series by welcoming to Hallmark for his first visit, Guest Lecturer, Steve Schapiro. Schapiro's career has spanned many decades and earned him prestigious assignments for the thriving picture/news magazines Life, Look, Time and Newsweek. Pictured: Guest Lecturer, Eric Meola, explains to the student audience how he captured his vivid, colorful images, while one of them appears on the screen behind him.
Week Twenty-Eight — While many students are celebrating Spring Recess by enjoying a well-deserved week off, others are pushing the envelope and utilizing the school's facilities to their fullest extent. In either case, Spring Recess represents a time in Hallmark's 10-month program that brings with it an air of excitement, while at the same time, a confident anticipation. Upon the students' return, Portfolio Preparation class will introduce them to the final components of their Year-end Portfolio Assignment. Pictured: The model seen here posed for 1987 graduate, Bill Diodato, as he held a live photo shoot during his presentation in Hallmark's auditorium. Bill brought a make-up artist and several assistants with him, including 2008 graduate, Andrea, and then asked for student volunteers from the audience. This was a big production that allowed current students to witness, hands-on, what a fashion shoot is really like. Click here to see a slideshow of the shoot.
Week Twenty-Seven — In this final week before Spring Recess, students are working diligently on the Additional Personal Submissions component of their Year-end Portfolio assignment, due at the end of the week. The studios are as busy as ever, hosting officers in uniform, little girls in princess dresses, cats and dogs and anything else a student's imagination can come up with as they strive to put their own unique personality into their images. In Business Communications, students learn about some of the great historical and contemporary photographers as groups continue to present their findings on significant photographers of the world. And Hallmark is thrilled to have Bill Diodato, a 1987 Hallmark graduate, present as part of our Guest Lecturer Series. Bill has become one of the most successful and sought after photographers working in the ultra-competitive New York Commercial Market and is always happy to share his story with Hallmark students. His clients include Avon, Victoria's Secret, Clinique and Clairol to name a few. Pictured: During her individual Career Conference, current student, Ali, listens as Executive Director of Education, Lisa Robinson gives her feedback about her Career Business Plan. In the background, (l - r) Director of Design & Imaging Arts, Joan Terry and Director of Commercial Photography, Dick D'Alessandro listen in, while Director of Portrait Photography, Rich Barnes, checks out Ali's Phase III Portfolio.
Week Twenty-Six — This week marks the beginning of the Significant Photographer Presentations in the Business Communications class. In groups of 3 - 5, students have chosen a photographer who has made, or is currently making, an impact in the industry. The groups have spent the past several weeks researching their chosen photographer and in some cases, setting up an interview with the individual. This will culminate in a 20 minute presentation about the photographer's life, his/her work, and the influence he/she has had on the students and the rest of the world. Hallmark also welcomes Eric Meola, known for his boldly graphic and intensely colorful image making, as part of our Guest Lecturer Series. We are also happy to have Kevin Bubriski back as a Guest Instructor in the classroom. Kevin has joined us as a Guest Lecturer in the past, and will now take on the task of sharing his documentary photography experience on a more intimate level in the smaller classroom environment. Pictured: Instructor David Turner (center) teaches an advanced lighting class, breaking out the big guns with silver umbrellas ranging from 3 feet to over 8 feet. Current student Hribar poses, demonstrating how the Capture One Pro capture software allows the photographer to shoot live to the screen above.
Week Twenty-Five — This week, like most, is packed with activity here at Hallmark. In Portfolio Preparation, at the beginning of the week, an assignment goes out for students to create and present seven Additional Personal Submissions for their portfolio. This assignment allows students to personalize their portfolio by using image submissions with few restrictions, giving them the opportunity to steer their portfolio in a specific direction. In the Portrait Studio, demonstrations include model testing for magazine covers and pet photography, while the unique art of food photography is discussed in Commercial Studio. Our Guest Lecturer Series continues with David Trust, CEO of the Professional Photographers of America, who will offer guidance on Branding for the Professional. Also this week, Career Conferences begin. The Career Conference gives each and every student the opportunity to meet individually with the Career Conference Review Team, in a formal setting, to discuss his/her Career Business Plan and Phase III Portfolio. It is a crucial checkpoint allowing a student to gain understanding of what areas he/she is excelling in, what areas need more attention, and how the last few months of our 10-month program can give them an even stronger base of technique and knowledge to use as they pursue their individual career goals presented in the Career Business Plan. Pictured: World-renowned photographer Douglas Kirkland speaks from the podium on stage in the Hallmark auditorium about the image on the screen behind him. The image was shot 11 days prior to Kirkland's Hallmark visit and depicts actor Pierfrancesco Favino, who plays Commander Olivetti in the new Ron Howard film, Angels & Demons, opening in theaters on May 15.
Week Twenty-Four — This week begins with the submission of the students' Career Business Plans, which will be graded by a team of instructors so that feedback can be delivered quickly and any necessary changes can be made. Hallmark is honored to welcome back Douglas Kirkland, renowned for his movie stills and celebrity portraits including everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Nicole Kidman. Douglas's storied career is always a fascinating presentation. In addition, David Wells rounds out the Guest Lecturer Series this week. An editorial, commercial, and location photographer working across New England, David focuses on photo-essays for publication and exhibition. The studios and labs remain busy as students put the finishing touches on their Phase III Portfolio. Critique classes will focus this week not just on the quality of individual images, but the overall presentation of the students' portfolios as they each put together their first full body of work for submission. Pictured: The Design Lab is the popular location this week where students, including Marica and Juanita, seen in the foreground, can be found putting the finishing touches on the stationery, resume, and business card components of their Career Business Plans. In the background, instructors can be seen working one-on-one with a number of students.
Week Twenty-Three — The Critique classes are the place to be this week, as instructors continue to work, one-on-one with students, providing essential feedback on everything from family portraits to interior architectural shots, all part of the students' Phase III body of work which is due in several weeks. Rick Sammon, well-known master of digital photography, wears the hat of guest instructor this week as he joins us in the classroom to discuss not only digital imaging, but marketing and promoting one's work, as well. In addition to Rick Sammon's visit, the Guest Lecturer Series continues with a presentation by Bobbi Lane, a commercial photographer who specializes in creative portraits, travel and stock, as well as Bill Sumner, the first photographer Bobbi Lane ever assisted for. In Web Site Design, students have been instructed on how to purchase a domain name, the first step in taking their personal web site live. And the finishing touches, such as financial statements, stationary and business cards, are being added to the students' Career Business Plans, as they prepare to turn them in for review next week. Pictured: During a Critique class, Instructor Dick D'Allessandro, in the background, works with currrent student, Sarah, to provide feedback on her image of a highly reflective metal object for color product illustration. In the foreground, instructor David Turner discusses the lighting and posing of her child portrait, to current student, Justine.
Week Twenty-Two — Hallmark's Guest Lecturer Series continues this week with two exceptional speakers. On Tuesday, Vincent Laforet, Pulitzer Prize winning National Contract Photographer for The New York Times, discusses his career as a photojournalist who has seen and photographed so many of this generation's triumphs and tragedies. On Thursday, highly acclaimed documentary photographer Beth Reynolds joins us to share her moving work and the stories she has told through her lens. In the classrooms, students will begin the Phase III Critique process where they work with instructors to get constructive criticism and feedback in order to edit their images and build a Phase III Portfolio. Additionally, the portrait and commercial studios, and the design and imaging labs will continue to be busy with activity as the deadline for completion of the Phase III Portfolio edges closer. Pictured: Current students, Michael and Trevor, review their images for an in-class assignment during Instructor John Nordell's class on event photography. During John's demo for this class, images captured are instantly projected on a large screen and technique is discussed.
Week Twenty-One — Students continue to branch out, creatively, as they look to include more of their own ideas and individualism in their Phase III Portfolio assignments. The Education Center is buzzing with activity, day and night, while students continue to invite outside models in for sittings in the portrait studios, work painstakingly to set up a product shoot in the commercial studio and work on their web sites and career business plans as part of their business curriculum. Hallmark also invites three spectacular guest lecturers this week. Judy Hermann, current president of ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers), not only shares her images, but also her wealth of knowledge regarding how to become successful in this competitive imaging world. Lou Manna is a New York City based food photographer, who discusses the tricks of the trade that landed his images in over thirty (30) cookbooks and numerous advertisements around the country. Selina Maitreya is the founder of Port Authority, and helps professionals by taking a holistic approach to the business and art of the industry. Pictured: Current student Maggie, gets down to eye level with her little model in the portrait studio, while Director of Portrait Photography, Rich Barnes, uses his twenty-plus years of kid-friendly tricks to keep the little guy smiling.
Week Twenty — This week, Hallmark's Guest Lecturer Series continues as Justin and Mary Marantz, travel destination photographers, share their secrets to owning and operating a profitable and successful photography business here in New England. That same afternoon, renowned New York City wedding photographer, Andy Marcus, imparts his knowledge of the high-end wedding business. Eddie Murphy, Donald Trump and Mary Tyler Moore are a short list of Marcus' clientele. Photographically, students are working in the Portrait Studios, in most cases for the first time, with models that are not their fellow classmates, but children, families, executives etc. from the local community. This 'real-world' experience calls upon the students' ability to work with key skills of running a successful photography business such as scheduling, organization and time management. The Commercial Studio has students incorporating all they've learned thus far into actual advertising, catalog and brochure layouts. Business Writing and Advertising Design coincide as students work on business cards, cover letters and résumés, some of the key components of their Career Business Plan assignment. Pictured: Using the infinity table, current student, Leia, prepares a commercial shoot for a submission to her Phase III portfolio.
Week Nineteen — This week kicks off our Guest Lecturer Series with a morning lecture and visual presentation by world-renowned photographer Jay Maisel, followed by an afternoon presentation by David Turner, former staff photographer for Hearst Publications. The Guest Lecturer Series will run throughout the winter and spring bringing in professional photographers, artists and business professionals to share their experiences in the industry with the Class of 2009. This week also marks the beginning of Phase III. Students are provided with a syllabus of assignments to complete over the next ten weeks which will showcase the skills they've learned thus far. This body of work will provide them with the solid foundation from which they will build their Year-end Final Portfolio. They will also be introduced to the Career Business Plan, a comprehensive, working plan that each student will create for his/her own career goals, focusing on what they want to do upon graduation and how they plan to attain those goals. Pictured: At the conclusion of the afternoon session on Monday, January 12th, it is announced to the students that David Turner has agreed to join the Hallmark Staff as a full-time faculty member, effective immediately. Here, the students meet this news with a standing ovation.
Week Eighteen — Upon returning from Holiday Recess, students will spend this week wrapping up Phase II of the Hallmark program. Instruction this week includes delving into some advanced lighting techniques and finding and using props to enhance the look of the Art Historical Reference assignment. Now that students have the basic knowledge of building web pages, they will begin to gather their own work in an effort to create their own website galleries. Product Development focuses on branding, while visual literacy is the topic in Visual Arts this week. As usual, students are multi-tasking, working with all the elements needed to be successful in the field of photography and imaging. Pictured: While students were away over the Holiday Recess, our Digital Team along with MAC Group employees completed the installation of brand new, technically superb Eizo monitors in Hallmark's Imaging Theater. Left - right, Scott Harris, Director of Media Relations, Ed Martin, Director of Business Operations, Shelley Nicholson, Director of Academic Services and Thom Burden, Director of Operations, get their first look at the high quality images displayed on the monitors.
Happy Holidays — This week, Hallmark's Class of 2009 continues a well deserved two-week Holiday Recess. While the majority of students will take this chance to fly or drive home to visit loved ones, many of them will also be using the time to shoot their own families for a family portrait assignment that is due upon their return. Others have no plans to slow down and will use the break from classes to schedule some paying jobs, shooting senior portraits, newborn babies and/or weddings. Pictured: A seasonal image by current student Paige, from the Environmental Studio Still-Life assignment.
Week Fifteen — In this final week before a two-week Holiday Recess, students are engaged in a number of different assignments. In Portrait classes, students are introduced to the beauty of window light, as well as the proper studio lighting for high-key portraiture. In the Commercial Studio, students work on perfecting the intricacies of photographing small products for catalog use. Careers in Visual Media presentations continue in Business Communications with the dual purpose of the presenters learning important public speaking skills while their classmates in the audience learn more about the diverse fields in which to work in the photography and imaging industry. In other classes this week, the business of Stock Photography is explored in Career Development while taxes for small businesses are covered in Business Organization. Pictured: Current students Jason and Chelsea demonstrate posing techniques to be used when photographing couples. Students use their Mamiya 645AFD medium format camera and LEAF Aptus 22 digital back tethered to the computer in the Portrait Studio, so images can be reviewed instantly on the monitor.
Week Fourteen — There's no slowing down this week as students begin their presentations on Careers in Visual Media as part of the ongoing Business Communications course. Fine tuning lighting and posing skills are still the main focus in the Portrait Studio as students are given their first Family photo assignment to work on at home with their own families over the upcoming holiday break. In Commercial Studio, students work on creating an environmental still-life while their Art History assignment asks them to select a well-known art piece and re-create the scene in a photograph. Pictured: Current student Tiare, from Mexico, is elated to have her feet back on the ground as instructor Tony Downer welcomes her home. Small fixed-wing planes, like the one shown, carried three Hallmark students at a time, along with a seasoned pilot who was helpful in locating all the best scenic areas for the students to shoot their aerial assignments.
Week Thirteen — Rested from their brief Thanksgiving Recess, students return with anticipation as they take to the air to complete their first aerial assignment, providing them with the experience of photographing from a small fixed-wing aircraft. In the studios, Portrait and Digital Imaging classes merge, as students learn the capture software necessary to shoot tethered to a computer in the Portrait Studios. Student familiarity and confidence in posing people begins to heighten as they focus on new posing methods, this week with an emphasis on groups and families. In the Commercial Studios, students build mini-sets and work on creating lighting to evoke a specific mood for environmental still-lifes. Pictured: Instructor Tom Prutisto discusses a proper histogram for digital capture with current students Steve, Monika, and Christina. A histogram is a curve that shows how all the dark and light areas are distributed across a digitally captured image.
Week Twelve — Before departing for their Thanksgiving Recess at the conclusion of classes on Tuesday, students were treated to an Alumni Roundtable event featuring eight Hallmark alumni who returned to Turners Falls for a day-long panel discussion. The alumni, representing graduates from the past ten years, shared their broad experiences in the photography industry ranging from working in the wedding and portrait business to advertising and fashion, fine art and documentary, to working as a digital technician. In many cases the Alumni Roundtable Discussion is the first introduction that current students have with graduates. The networking opportunities that become instantly available on this day, as well as the bond created between current students and graduates within the Hallmark family, are of immeasurable value to them and their future pursuits. Alumni participants include Tim Briner '00, Faith Dugan '05, Lara Kimmerer '03, Wendy Maybury '00, Gary Noel '97, Kris Payne '06, Melissa Robin '08 and Chat Sirichanvimol '04. Pictured: Panelists look on as Melissa Robin '08 responds to a current student's question.
Week Eleven — Now that students have a command of using the large-format 4x5 view camera with film, they will incorporate digital capture, which they have already been using with medium-format, into their 4x5 commercial shoots. Portraiture can involve as little as one person, up to large families or corporate groups; because of this, posing people correctly is crucial to the outcome of an image. With technical skills soundly in place, students will now focus more time on learning to pose people in a manner that depicts them in the most flattering way. The pose of an individual brings out his/her personality, while showing interaction amongst two or more people tells a story about their relationship. Also this week, students have a lecture in aerial photography, in preparation for their flights to photograph an aerial assignment after the Thanksgiving Holiday. Pictured: Instructor Rich Barnes offers feedback to current student, Jan, on her recent portrait assignment, "Introduction to Fill Light". By reviewing each student's assignment with him/her individually and in-person, there is opportunity for the instructor to advise the student on what is successful, as well as areas that may be in need of improvement. This unique one-on-one grading format allows for a meaningful environment that promotes a clear and concise exchange between student and instructor.
Week Ten — Students are off and running as Phase II begins. With their current technical and artistic skills, as well as a strong command of their equipment, students begin to spend more time in open studios and labs where they start to incorporate their own creativity into their portrait and product shoots. This week marks the beginning of Website Design classes, where students will learn the process of creating pages for their own website to be used as a marketing and promotional tool upon beginning their careers in professional photography. Also this week, a group of Hallmark students and instructors will take advantage of the Veterans Day holiday to volunteer their time to a United Way project at the local hospital. Hospital employees will be able to have family photographs taken by Hallmark students with all proceeds from the print sales going to the United Way. Pictured: With the entire student body and faculty coming together in the Auditorium to review the results of the students' final Phase I assignment, Instructor David Frazier expresses constructive criticism and accolades for one of the specific requirements: warm and cool colors.
Week Nine — Phase 1, the first of four phases in Hallmark's 10-month curriculum, concludes this week with the formal Final Phase 1 Review. The entire student body, as well as faculty and staff will be on hand in the school's auditorium to witness the critique of students' work from the first eight weeks of the program. In addition to showcasing the technical and artistic skills that students have learned up to this point, the mini-portfolio that each student submits, also represents lessons learned in multi-tasking and time management. It is the first time students must present a body of work, including ten different photographic procedures, rather than a single assignment. Pictured: Current student, Megan, sets up a shot of current students Amy and Kirt (Catwoman and Spider-Man) to document Halloween Day, 2008, while current students, Jacquie and Jess assist with the reflector and light meter.
Week Eight — With the first of four phases from the 2008/2009 school year coming to a close, students are anxiously giving it their all as they continue working on their Phase I Final Assignment. This assignment encompasses all the technical and artistic skills that students have been introduced to thus far. Included in this mini-portfolio will be foundational requirements such as a portrait of a person in an outdoor location, an indoor portrait of two or more people, a consumer product photographed on location using minimum depth of field, the always-expressive self-portrait, and many more. In addition, students will wrap up their five-minute auto-biographical speeches in Business Communications, and in Business Writing they'll be introduced to resumes and business letters as they pertain to the photographic marketplace. Pictured: Hallmark Instructor Michael Zide speaks animatedly in front of a number of Hallmark students and other guests at the Bogen Imaging booth at PhotoPlus Expo in New York City as he discusses his career as a fine art landscape photographer. Michael credits the Bogen tripod seen behind him with saving his life some thirty years ago: after shooting all day in the desert of White Sands, NM, a cold winter night set in quickly leaving Michael stranded. He began dragging the tripod through the snow, leaving a trail which eventually led rescuers to find him.
Week Seven — Phase I intensifies as students are introduced to their Phase I final assignment. This represents the first time students will take all the technical and artistic skills they've learned in the first seven weeks, and use them to create and present an entire body of work. The instructional staff will then critique the work in a formal portfolio review during Week Nine. Also this week, the student body travels via motor coach to New York City to attend the PhotoPlus Expo, the largest photography expo in the United States. Pictured: Jan Lederman, President of MAC Group, on stage in the Auditorium in front of an image of 50 Cent that was used in an ad by Profoto. The image was created by photographer Gary Land. Mr. Lederman was on-hand to welcome Hallmark's Class of 2009 to the imaging industry, while previewing their upcoming visit to the PhotoPlus Expo.
Week Six — Students continue to become acclimated to the large format, 4x5 view cameras as their commercial assignment this week focuses on lighting round and rectangular objects. The purpose of this shoot is to begin to understand the difference between hard light and soft light and how the distance of light to a subject can affect the outcome of the image. Additionally, as part of their personality development course, students will hone their creative skills as they explore creating composition using shapes. Students also delve into the history of photography this week in an effort to understand the importance of imagery in our culture as it has evolved over the years. Pictured: Current students Carol and Katy go over some lighting requirements with instructor Dick D'Alessandro, as they prepare to shoot with the 4x5 view camera in the commercial studio.
Week Five — There is a feeling of confidence in the air as students are feeling comfortable with their now sound technical skills. They continue to shoot with the Leaf Aptus 22 digital back incorporating the use of portable strobe indoors to balance existing light. In addition, students are introduced to the Large Format 4x5 View Cameras in the commercial studio where they will shoot film as a means to learn the camera system and perspective controls. Stock photography is discussed in Current Studio Operations as a viable product line for professionals as well as students. Pictured: Current student, Christina, models while current student, Monika sets up the shot in downtown Northampton, MA. This assignment requires students to create a focal point for their images. Students learn to use leading lines, angle and perspective to bring attention to what's important in an image. Focal points are the basis of any successful image and eclectic Northampton provides an array of promising subjects for this assignment.
Week Four — Basic technical skills are beginning to take hold and become second nature as students continue to take advantage of shooting in the outdoor environment. The warm, early fall weather this week is ideal as students practice creating depth of field while shooting with his/her very own LEAF Aptus 22 digital back, issued at the conclusion of Week 3 for the student's exclusive use throughout the remainder of our 10-month program. In addition, students travel to nearby Northampton, MA on a field trip where the assignment requires they create a focal point for their images. Students learn to use leading lines, angle and perspective to bring attention to what's important in an image. Focal points are the basis of any successful image and eclectic Northampton provides an array of promising subjects for this assignment. Pictured: In a demonstration to show the concept of viewpoint, students mug for the camera for instructor Paul Teeling. Learning how to look at the world from a different point of view is one of the ways successful photographers bring attention to their work and bring in business.
Week Three — This week students continue to explore lighting and its immense impact on the outcome of an image while at the same time they are encouraged to implement some basic design elements into their photographs. The crisp, late summer days have provided a number of opportunities for students to photograph people in an outdoor environment and a field trip to picturesque Shelburne Falls, MA, allowed them the backdrop for integrating color and line forms into their images. Also this week, in recognition of Constitution Day, students learned about key Constitutional provisions, such as freedom of the press, right to privacy and copyright. They took this one step further with an assignment requiring them to photographically illustrate freedom; one of the core concepts of the Constitution. Pictured: Current students, Kylene, Sara-Renee and Shannon, use a reflector to raise the illumination of the shadows in this outdoor portrait.
Week Two — Working with a base of technical skills learned in Week One, students are primed for shooting assignments both on location and in the studio this week. Photography related business classes are an extremely important aspect of the Hallmark curriculum; therefore, shooting assignments are integrated with classes that deal with marketing and self-promotion. Many of the assignments that students will encounter during Hallmark's 10-month program encompass more than one objective. This week, students have a public relations assignment in which they will be photographed for an upcoming press release they will write. The obvious objective is to create a photograph that can accompany the student's press release. However, the secondary objective is just as important as it allows the future professional photographer to experience how it actually feels to be the portrait subject. Pictured: Current student, Marcus, poses for a public relations photograph, while another student is being prepped in the background.
Week One - Off and Shooting! — Armed with medium-format cameras and new concepts learned in technical lectures early in the week, students were anxious to put everything to use during their first field trip to nearby Historic Old Deerfield. The two assignments shot during the field trip focused on exposure control and direction of light. As you can see, students were eager to work with each other to begin building on their individual knowledge and increase their base of technical skills. Pictured: Students Michael and Kevin discuss the camera functions before setting up a shot in Old Deerfield.
Does It Get Any Better Than This on Day 1 of Photography School? — On Monday, September 8th, Hallmark's Class of 2009 officially began their 10-month educational journey into professional photography. One of the first orders of business is for students to receive instruction on their medium-format camera systems, issued to each student for their use throughout Hallmark's 10-month program as part of their "Tool Kit For Today's Professional Photographer". This versatile film and digital system is a staple for professional photographers and for today's photography student who wants to pursue their education at the highest level possible. Additional "Tools of the Photographer's Trade", such as a Leaf Aptus 22 Digital Back and a Canon DSLR will be issued in the coming days. After spending Day 1 in the classroom getting to know their gear and learning some of the basic concepts, students test out their knowledge this week on a field trip to nearby Historic Old Deerfield. Pictured: Current student Kristen, from Washington State, affectionately grasps her Mamiya 645AFD II camera with an 80mm lens.
Class of 2009 Arrives — On Wednesday, September 3rd, members of Hallmark's 34th class arrived to register for classes and begin their 3-day Orientation. This also marks the most culturally diverse class to ever enter Hallmark Institute of Photography. Students from forty-two (42) states and ten (10) different countries, including Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Dominica, Ecuador, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico and Singapore, will begin their professional photographic education at Hallmark this month. The 3-day Orientation is packed with information to help students prepare for the 10-month curriculum and begins with a presentation by legendary documentary portrait photographer, Mary Ellen Mark. Pictured: New Student Drew, from California registers while Mike, from New York and others wait patiently under the backdrop of international flags representing all the countries students have come from.
Opening Day Preparations — With only a week remaining prior to the Class of 2009 arriving on the Hallmark campus, faculty and staff are busy putting the finishing touches on their areas of expertise. During their summer hiatus, members of Hallmark's committed and talented faculty attended seminars and workshops to gain additional insight into new technologies and processes currently being used in the fields of photography, imaging and design. This allows Hallmark the opportunity to continually update and revise its curriculum to ensure that the most relevant methods and practices are presented. Pictured: Student Resource Manager, Brenda Codella, and Director of Academic Services, Shelley Nicholson, finalize the fresh new look in the School Store, where everything from Hallmark logo gear to photographic supplies are available.
Photography Around the World — In the spirit of embracing international culture and celebrating diversity, the lobby of our Educational Center displays flags of all of the countries of origin of Hallmark students, past and present. Our student body is comprised of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, who are united in their love of photography. We are proud to attract such a diverse, global community and will continue to provide an outstanding photographic education to those around the world who are serious about taking their first step toward a career in professional photography. Pictured: Thom Burden, Director of Operations, adds the flag of Ireland to our growing international family.