I graduated now what? Keeping the flame lit.

It's the end of another semester and for many of my students they have finished their last portfolio review and are graduating. The last semester for many of them has been a flash of ideas, shooting sessions, late nights in the darkroom, (or in front of a monitor) and placing photographs into matte's and then finally the portfolio review. During that crazy last semester, little attention is paid to what's next. I would like to answer some of the questions that my students have asked me over the past few years, usually a few months after graduation. Usually it's an e-mail sometimes a phone call, basically it boils down to two questions.

1. How do I make money doing this?

2. I haven't taken a picture in months?

The first question, I regret, takes a lot longer to answer and I hope to visit that topic over time. Today I would like to take the first step in answering the second.

If you attend any educational institution you have assignments. Those assignments, have deadlines and a critical review. But once you take that last critique and that experience is over you are entering - my world - the real world.

There is no demand, no deadlines, nothing that you have to do. As a creative person with a need to create, you have no limitations and therefore nothing to do. In my experience you will need to create a framework, with rules, guidelines and limitations. Narrow your decisions and take a step forward to being a craftsman and a professional. You will have to be disciplined and self-motivating to move forward.

I am very project motivated. A project - even the personal ones, need these basic attributes:

1. A mission. Why do I want to do this? what is my passion? what is my story?

2. A deadline. If there is no end date, you will be less likely to finish. I like exhibits as a motivation.

3. A schedule and budget. to keep you on track.

4. Peer and Mentor review. Periodically it is a good idea to share what you are doing to get feedback. Just like when you were in school you chatted by the printer or the print washer and your "peers" or your "Mentors" gave you immediate feedback. You are going to still want that interaction.

5. A box. When the project is complete put it in a box. This is really a metaphor to hang it on a wall, put it on the web, create a book. But when you have completed your mission celebrate by sharing it and then move on to the next project . (go back to 1 and repeat.)

We will continue with projects and developing the mission.