How I Started My Photography Business

By: Sophia Trischitta

Back in 2020, yes right in the middle of covid, I picked up a camera and everything changed for me. And I really do mean everything! I had some previous experience with photography, as I had a Canon Rebel T6 camera from 2017. I pretty much used this camera for vacations, pictures of me and my friends, and just lots of random things. In 2020, my friends suggested to me that I take people’s senior portraits over the summer to make a little extra cash. I immediately thought it was a great idea because I wanted extra money and knew how to use a basic camera. So I posted on my Instagram and told people that I want to take senior portraits, and ended up getting around 2-3 people who reached out to me with interest. 

Fast forward a couple of weeks, I photographed around 5-10 seniors and really enjoyed doing it. I charged them $75 and air dropped the photos right after we took them. It is definitely quite humbling looking back at some of my old business tactics, but you live and you learn!

After I did all of those senior portraits, I asked some of my friends to model some creative portrait photoshoots to explore other niches of photography. I quickly found that posing, styling, and creativity was my favorite part of the whole process. I continued to do creative portraits with my friends using random props I found on TikTok, seeing other photographers do certain photoshoots, and anything that sparked my curiosity. That Christmas, I received a 35 mm lens, which in photography terms is a go-to lens for any kind of portraits. I also joined an education group online which taught me everything from clientele, taxes, building a website, and so much more valuable information. 

In the Spring of 2021, I started booking graduation photos! I knew this was the best way to consistently book photoshoots and bring in that money. I lost track of how many I did because I was booking that consistently. This is when I knew that this passion of mine was something that I could really turn into a career. I decided it was time for me to invest in a new camera. This investment was scary to me as it really put a dent in the bank account, but I knew it would be worth it because I would have it for years. I purchased my camera in April of 2021 and was so excited to start using it. You could see the shift in my photos once I got this new camera because of how crisp and sharp the photos came out. At this point, I was photographing creatives, seniors, sometimes sports media days, and eventually my first couples shoot. 

In May of 2021 I had the opportunity to photograph my first wedding. Let me tell you, I was insanely nervous about it. However, it was a great learning experience and I got some really great photos. I knew after this that I wanted my niche to be weddings and couples. That summer I worked hard to compose creative work as well as market myself on social media to attract all the clients I wanted. Soon came my freshman year of college, where I took a little hiatus from actively photographing and started to work on creating a website.

Once my website was made (sophialynnephoto.com), I was consistently booking photoshoots ranging from all types of photography. And I have been doing exactly that ever since! I shot 4 weddings this past year, and also have a couple more in my calendar for this upcoming year. 

At the beginning of my sophomore year, I began my position as the Historian for WiB. This opened the door to so many learning opportunities for both my business and my education. I was able to photograph over 70 students at our headshot fundraiser this past semester, as well as talk about my business to all of you! Over this past winter break, I  started a podcast, Caught on Camera, where I discuss all things photography and lifestyle. I'll chat more about that later! This semester I am serving a double role as the Historian and Blog Chair for WiB which I am so thrilled about. I am excited to learn more things about the business world through my education at UMass. 

Overall, I never thought that when I took senior portraits in 2020 that this side business of mine would quickly turn into my dream and passion. I am so excited to share my experience with the world and can't wait for all the photoshoots and opportunities that are to come in the future!

Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: Why You Need to Take Time for Yourself in College

By: Olivia Vadnais

College is such a transformative time in a person’s life. There are so many fun and exciting changes and events that occur that never have before, and ultimately is an extremely formative experience. You learn a lot about yourself and become a totally different person after four years. Within this time, life is fast paced with many new experiences and feelings which makes it difficult to take a step back and recollect ourselves. We don’t always have to keep pushing forward to go to that next interview, go out to that next party, or get two weeks ahead of work for that course. It is important to take time for yourself and appreciate how far you’ve come.

It becomes difficult to separate ourselves from our schedules and work lives as students. We are so consumed by academics, internships, work, social life etc. that we forget to take care of the most important part of those components: ourselves. Treating our minds, bodies and souls with care and respect is something we should be making a priority. This can include doing many things, such as a self-care night, exercising, meditating, etc. that may not seem like game changers , but in our overall wellness can make a huge difference in academic, career and personal growth. Feeling better, looking better, and being content with both our outward and inner presence are keys to success not only in college but in life. 

Self-care can involve prioritizing yourself, and if you’re a people pleaser like myself, this can be extremely difficult. You want to make everyone else around you happy and be there for others more than you are for yourself,  We forget to make ourselves happy in the process. If you don’t want to do something, you don’t have to do it. If you don’t feel like going out to a party and you’d rather eat pizza and watch a movie or just get some extra sleep, you should feel empowered to do so. There will be other parties and events, you won’t need to kick yourself for taking a night off. If you’re feeling burnt out from assignments, take a break. Watch an episode of Gilmore Girls then jump back in once you’re refueled. Take a walk in the fresh air and appreciate the body you are in. Don’t let other people’s expectations or wants influence your choices about what is best for you. If anything, you learn who your true friends are when they respect your wishes and support your self-improvement. 

While college is a time of new beginnings and new experiences, it should not come at the cost of taking care of your greatest asset, yourself. What this means for you may change over your time at school, and ultimately what makes you feel your best are things you should be putting time and effort into. As college students we should not only nurture our minds, but also our bodies and spirit in order to get the best out of our experience. 

Western Mass Winter Blues

By: Ayesha Devani

The transition into holiday season is usually associated with warmth, comfort, and hopefully hot chocolate.  The downfall of this transition comes with something most of us like to call seasonal depression. With the sun setting earlier, a lot of us feel like our days are shorter. Lesser sunlight and colder winds make us feel drained of energy. The weather is out of our control, but how we cope is indeed something in our control. As college students, we are consistently overwhelmed by our surroundings. Exiting an academic building after a 75-minute lecture whilst the sun has set is possibly the most discouraging feeling. Self-care is a term that we usually throw around while giving it little to no importance. In a time where the weather seems to drastically impact our mood, it is important to emphasize the role of self-care. Mood-boosting exercises are a set of activities that allow us to decompress enough to then be productive and break out of the funk winter transitions leave us in.

As humans, we often depend on external factors for our own happiness. In a seasonally dull time, it is important to base our vibe off our internal likes and dislikes. This could be in the form of a healthy meal, physical exercise, reading or even socializing. As much as people mention the importance of hydration, it is something that can never be emphasized enough. Sometimes, all we truly need is to slow down and appreciate the impact the holiday season has on us. Picking up a hobby and integrating that into our routines can truly allow us to look forward to something while enjoying the present. Even though our days get shorter, enjoying the time we do have outside can truly revitalize us.

A lot of these things sound perfect but are not usually found in an everyday college student’s routine.  Winter is usually associated with finals, which only amplifies the impacts of seasonal depression. Socializing, even in the smallest form, allows me to personally appreciate my surroundings more. Knowing that we cannot control many aspects of fighting winter blues, we need to emphasize the importance of acceptance. As young adults, change is the only constant in our lives. In accepting that weather changes and adopting a different and consistent routine we find the key to staying happy amidst the blues. For many of us, enjoying the winter season’s simple pleasures like Christmas decorations, horror movies or even seasonal beverages we allow ourselves to see a better and more wholesome aspect of weather change. Many of us living on the east coast have an illusion that college students on the west coast live a happier, fuller, and quite literally, sunnier life. However, change in weather is an example of all other changes that we will face at some point in our lives. We must accept our different, sadder, and duller emotions, to appreciate the happy ones.

References:

https://jennyinneverland.com/2022/11/07/mood-boosting-winter-activities/

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/winter-indoor-things-to-do-36822433 

New Brand Moves in the Fashion World

By: Melanie Rosenblatt

Brands are constantly changing and evolving from partnerships to new product launches. Ranging from skincare to fashion, brands are unpredictable. Here are some of the most fascinating changes within fashion/skin care brands that have recently surfaced in the media! 

Burberry x Minecraft 

One recent brand partnership that caught my attention is the Burberry Minecraft collection being advertised across various social media platforms. This collection includes a variety of pieces with Minecraft elements. The classic plaid Burberry printed scarf with Minecraft bees on it, a Burberry tee shift with a Minecraft character in the background and many other new designs. This collection is unique and out of the ordinary because it features the widely known pixelated design of the game that is recognizable. Minecraft also added a Burberry game feature like the Burberry printed block, so the collaboration promotes both brands on their platforms.  

Asics x Solana 

The sneaker brand, Asics’, has made a huge technological change within their newest sneaker launch. Their new sneaker has been created alongside a blockchain network provider called Solana. This sneaker will

only be available for purchase with crypto currency, so buying it in store with cash is not an option. For a mainstream brand, this is extremely revolutionary as this is one of the first movements that is pushing Web3 interface. With each purchase, each customer will be gifted with a special NFT. 

Lush x Stranger Things 

Lush, a reputable skincare company which is a familiar brand to us, has launched a brand new line likely to excite Stranger Things fans. They have unveiled two new bath bombs called the ‘D8’ and the ‘Rift’. One resembles the dice used in Dungeons and Dragons, a key part of the show engraved with the number eleven to represent the main character, Eleven. The other dice the ‘Rift’ represents the inside out and the rip that was formed between the dimensions. This collection comes in a duo set and features two specialty cards related to the show. 

It is interesting to see how brands collaborate with one another in order to market their products, and get consumers interested! These partnerships catch people’s eye because of the bizarre combos. 

Sources: https://fashionunited.com/news/fashion

How to Craft the Perfect Sunday Reset

By: Rachael Doyle

After a fun and eventful weekend, you may find yourself waking up on Sunday morning feeling terrible- not to mention the hit of overwhelming anxiety that comes when anticipating the upcoming week. Trust me, for me this is a weekly occurrence. You probably wake up and sit in your bed weighing your options… 

On one hand you could stay in bed all day watching TV and eating snacks with a bottle of Advil by your side, trying your best to ignore the Sunday Scaries creeping up on you all day. In theory, this is not a terrible idea. 

On the other hand, you could suck it up and head to the library (or whatever study location works for you) and stressfully grind out all of the assignments you avoided all weekend that are now all suddenly due at 11:59. This is also, in theory, not a terrible idea (but it’s just not ideal). 

In reality, the perfect Sunday routine combines both rest and relaxation with productivity. You need to acknowledge the recovery that your mind and body need from a long week completed, while also preparing yourself for the week ahead. This is usually where the problem arises. How do you balance taking care of yourself while getting what you need to do… done? Where do you even start?

To be transparent, there is no perfect answer. However, I’ve given a little insight into my Sunday reset routine to show you what works best for me. I hope to give you a little inspiration on ways you can try to improve your wellbeing before your week begins, when you may need it the most.

Take Care of Yourself

After waking up and scrolling on TikTok for 20 minutes, I usually (eventually) get up and kick off my Sunday reset by taking care of myself. I’ll hop in the shower, do my morning skincare routine, and put on a nice comfy outfit. Taking the time to care for myself just helps me refresh my mind and body and set me up for a hopeful productive day! 

Reset Your Room

Once I’m ready, the first thing I do is clean my room. The saying that a cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind is so accurate, and often I find myself feeling so much more overwhelmed with work when I’m surrounded by laundry and loose papers. Even small tasks like rearranging my desk and wiping countertops makes such a huge difference, especially since the dorm rooms are so small. Once my room is clean and organized, I feel so much better and ready to tackle the rest of my day.

Run Those Errands!

Not only is Sunday usually the busiest day for homework and assignments, but it is also when most people are due to go grocery shopping and complete those other small necessary tasks that come to mind. Personally, I love running errands, so once my room is clean, I will sit down at my (now freshly cleaned) desk and make a list of everything that I know I’ll need for the upcoming week. Whether it’s groceries, household items, or even just little things I’ve been wanting. It all gets written down. Then, I am off to Target! Going on a Target run is honestly the highlight of any day, and I genuinely look forward to this end of the weekend/beginning of the week trip! Finding joy in little things like a Target run makes Sunday reset that much more enjoyable. Not only is it fun to browse around, but it is such a productive part of my week. I also always make sure to stop at Starbucks on my way out for the perfect Sunday reset coffee!

Start the Grind

Once my errands are done and I’m back on campus it’s usually the early afternoon and the perfect time to start my work! I’ll almost always head to Isenberg and start the grind. Isenberg is especially nice to work from on Sundays, as it’s nice and quiet with light shining down from the panels in the Hub creating the perfect ambiance. I'll pull out my planner and write out my weekly schedule, noting any assignments I need to work on for that week. Using a planner is especially helpful to see everything I have coming up but also helps me prioritize and plan the week ahead. Then, I’ll get started! 

Make sure to fill your Sunday reset routine with activities that allow you to set your mind and body up for success. Maybe for you that could be going for a walk, getting in a nice workout, or making sure you have time to read. Whatever sets you up for success- do it! As someone who used to really struggle with procrastination, using a Sunday reset routine before starting my work has been such a huge help in clearing my mind and putting me in a productive headspace to get work done. It helps me compartmentalize the seemingly endless list of things I need to get done. It puts me at ease to know I am heading into a new week with my best foot forward!