alyssa.noel's photostream

May 12, 2012
Meet my lovely new friend.... My Nikon D700 :)

What a semester this has been!
I can now assuredly say, I could not have made a better choice in transferring to Nashville State.
I have grown so much this past semester, not necessarily photographically,
but certainly in where I would like to be photographically.
This semester began preparing me for my future like never before!
After getting over the initial hump of everything new and exciting,
through Business of Photography 101 and many-a-mentor,
I have slowly and gradually developed to where I am now:

It is my hope, prayer, and dream to someday soon be running my own photography business
specializing in wedding and portrait photography.
Over the next year and a half, I plan on working part time, while attending school and
pursuing photography part time, as well.
This summer, I am so grateful to be interning with the lovely and talented Huber duo of:
>www.caliashtonphotography.com<
I have about 7 classes until I can technically graduate,
which I am attempting to spread out over 3 more semesters.
I'm incredibly excited for these semesters, as the classes I have left directly relate to preparing for my future.

I am very excited and very nervous, but again,
I am so very grateful and blessed to know for certain what it is I want to do.
I would greatly appreciate your prayers over the next year as I get closer and closer to graduating.
Also, be on the lookout for my website coming soon!

January 9, 2011~
Christmas break has been lovely... simply lovely.

To begin, I have now moved back home for who knows how long,
I am now the proud owner of a white, 2002 honda accord. :)
I love my job.
My family stayed home for Christmas, which we hardly ever do.
It was very nice and laid back.
I am no longer a teenager... I hit the big 20 on the 30th. :)
My family went to Knoxville for New Years.
As always, it was so good to see everyone there.
On the 3rd, Ray and I traveled what's becoming a bi-annual trip for us- up to Pennsylvania.
It was jam packed, but a really, really great, much-needed trip.
And we got to celebrate our 1 year anniversary by driving home 13 hours. :P

Home now, praying all of my Nashville State mess clears up so I can start school on Thursday!
Again... time is absolutely, positively flying.

December 12, 2011

When did it turn into December??
I swear.... the clocks are moving faster than ever.

After every semester I say the exact same thing,
but this time I mean it more than ever: I can't believe it's over.
It was JUST August... I was JUST starting my sophomore year...
I was JUST moving into my apartment...
and now, here I sit, packing up my room yet again.

I don't wish the time would slow down,
but I do wish I was better at change.
I feel as though the rest of my life is simply going to be change after change.
Changing schools, changing friends, changing homes.
It's exhausting... mostly emotional...
I think the older you get the more you just learn to....
let things go... move on... because you have no other choice.

So now would be a good time to let you know that I've decided to transfer schools.
I will be attending Nashville State come January 12th
as a Visual Communications major with an emphasis in photography.
Watkins is an incredible school that will always have a special place in my heart.
I would recommend it to anyone looking to have a career in fine arts photography.
I, however, have discovered that I am not looking for that career,
and my heart lies with more commercial photography: weddings, portraits, etc.
Watkins has provided an amazing foundation for my photography,
but I feel like Nashville State will provide more of what I am looking to do.
It used to seem like a really big thing to me.
Few people begin college with the idea of transferring in the middle of their sophomore year...
It took me by surprise as much as anyone else I suppose.
It's incredibly bittersweet especially when you throw in the relationships I've built at Watkins,
like the lovely people above^^
but I can't describe how wholeheartedly I feel like this is the path I should take.
I'm really excited, and mostly I just feel so blessed to know what I want and what I need to get there.

So looking forward to rest in the midst of lots of activity this holiday season. :)
Hopefully I can post pictures from my final Photo III assignment soon.
It was quite a labor of love!

November 18, 2011

My word... where has the past month gone?

Shortly after my last post, I got a new job!
I am now working for Carrie's Coffee...
Carrie runs two little coffee shop/convenience stores inside major office buildings.
I work with all women ages ranging 20-late 50s.
We all have a blast making sandwiches and chatting with the office people.
I feel really blessed to have found such a laid back environment that pays well and works for my schedule!
I am thoroughly enjoying it, though the early mornings it requires are starting to take their toll on me.
I'm not really a morning person and where it feels good to be up and productive early in the day,
the late nights my school work requires is becoming entirely exhausting.

I only have THREE more weeks of school left, though. I can't believe it.
The semester literally just started it feels like.
They are going to be intense,
but once I get the writing papers part out of the way,
I will be free to take photo after photo for all my classes!

In other news... I'm finally getting a car!!!
We're trying to find the perfect one, which is a little frustrating,
but I can't wait until we find it!
The Lord has certainly humbled me over the last year or so
regarding material objects and trusting his provision.
I've been pretty dependent on Ray or Courtney to get me everywhere,
and I'm more thankful than I think they realize for such selfless friends as them!!

Hoping to get some good sleep this weekend/over Thanksgiving break.
Wish me luck!

October 22, 2011~

Oh how I love family photo day!
My family was decently cooperative this year.
After I picked out everyone's outfits, ironed them, etc...
They willingly posed for a good half hour.
Dad even put his LSU game on hold... wow! ;)
They may put up a fuss, but one day they'll thank me- I'm sure of it!!