I was invited last night to be a presenter at the the Columbia Collective Awards " A Chronicle of Creating Change. It was an award show. Since I am a Columbia College Chicago alumni , and am working in the photography/film world; the students of the Events: Festivals & Concerts Production course invited me to be a presenter. I was so touched and honored that of course I couldn't say no to that. The event was planner and produced by the students and it was a lot of fun. My girlfriends Antoinette and Tiffany accompanied me. We walked the red carpet, had our pictures taken and sat in VIP with swag bags. It was a lot of fun. My part was so simple. I read from a small script they gave me and that was that. 
CC: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
PEOPLE!! I LOVE TO SHOOT PEOPLE! I am also really interested in anything dealing with gender, class and age. I love hearing stories from people and taking my observations and recreating them.
CC: When did you first become interested in photography?
I was taking a youth ministry class at my church. One of the youth leaders were showing these photographs to other kids in our group and I was like what are these pictures. There was nothing interesting about them, they were just snap shots but they were black and white, glossy 8×10’s but they were cool. When I asked her about them she told me that she was taking a photography class at our high school. I was like really? It fulfilled the art elective that was a requirement. So I enrolled in it the following semester. I like to think the whole thing was divinely ordered Lol.
Walmart by Stephanie Graham
CC: What was the first photograph that you remember making an impression on you?
I think it was my first major shoot where I worked with a small crew. I had makeup and hair, and an assistant, and a model. I shopped for the wardrobe and the 5 of us went out and made an image. It gave me goose bumps and as my model swayed and posed for me I was like wow! I am really doing this. When I got the pictures back I was sooo excited. It was a picture that could have been in a magazine. I still get excited when I stumble upon images from that shoot.
CC: In your general opinion, do you think art schools are a good idea or a waste of time?
Hmmmmmm the million dollar question. Its really hard for me to say because I went to art school and I turned out great!! LOL!!. I often wonder if I didn’t go to art school if my life would be different. God orders my steps so its really hard to say. I do think that education/training is good to perfect your craft. You don’t have to necessarily go to art school to get that training you could take classes and workshops and practice and still be successful. What I like most about class settings in art school is the constant critique and dialogue that keeps happening with your peers and instructors so you are always thinking about your craft. Art school also allows the college degree that is “so important” College is a must of its right for you, but no I don’t think that you need to study art in college, I would suggest someone to maybe study business first. Art is a business; talent will always be there. 
Tasha by Stephanie Graham
CC: Do you have any formal training in the art and science of
photography? Did you go to (art) school?
Well I learned photography in high school in Schaumburg and then I went to Columbia College Chicago where I continued my photography studies as a minor and took up cinematography as my major. It was a tough program, but I had a great time, met fabulous people and learned a lot about myself as an artist. I was mega happy when I graduated. OMG! I was so happy LOL.
CC: What first inspired your interest in photography? What continues to inspire you?
Photography was a subject in school that I really looked forward to. Not that I blew off any of my other studies but it was the only thing in high school that I took very very seriously. I was so surprised that I was creative which made me happy because I wasn’t all that great academic. I’m like YES! There is hope for me to have a great career in my life. I automatically knew it was what I wanted to do. I think what sparked my interest was that I was successfully completing art What continues to inspire me as a photographer is all the stories that I have in my mind that I want to share through my pictures and films
CC: What’s the most important quality a photographer needs to have?
Passion and personality. You have to be fun and likeable. Shoots can be all day sometimes and no one wants to work with you if you are a jerk. Passion because I need my subjects to believe in my project and what I am trying to do. You will get a much better picture that way I feel. They go hand and hand one doesn’t trump the other.
CC: What cameras and lenses do you use most often?
I’m still a film girl. I shoot medium format 6×7. I shoot with a Mamiya RZ 67 Pro II. My lenses really are all over the place depending on what I am shooting but I always make sure that I have my 110 and 65 mm lenses. They are my babies those two lenses.
CC: Name a photographer(s) whose work you respect and admire.
I really love the work of Nikki S. Lee, Carrie Mae Weems and Anthony Goicolea All these photographers photography create their own scenes and stories and use themselves as their own subjects. Their setups range between simple and elaborate; yet have a lot of meaning in them. I love them. You can see that it takes a lot of time to get the shots together, but they look effortless and you get what the artist is saying, well at least I do. LOL
CC: What’s coming up? Exhibits? Shows? Photo shoots?
CC: What magazine/brand or advertising agency would you most like to shoot for?
I would die to shoot just one layout for “Vibe”. To me, Vibe Magazine is the Vogue of Urban Photography. I would also love to shoot for “W Magazine: The Art Issue”.
CC: OH NO!! Photography is suddenly against the law and you must!!! Choose another career…. What would that career be?
If I couldn’t do photography; I would definitely be a life coach. I love inspiring people and helping others realize their dreams, and breaking down the steps to achieve each dream. I get a real joy out of that. I often joke with my friends telling them I am their life coach. LOL!! Who knows maybe I will look into doing it anyway.
CC: Thank you very much for taking the time to talk with Chocolatecity.cc/blog. [end]
OMG!!! NO !! Thank you.
You can see more of Stephanie’s work at her website - http://www.missgraham.com which showcases more of her photographys.
I love reality t.v.!! I Love New York, The Hills, Project Runway, what can I say its a guilty pleasure of mine, but today I have seen it all. Fox Reality had a show called "Theres Something about Miriam", its a show in the style of "The Bachelor" where men compete for the heart of a women, PLUS a Mediterranean cruise and some money. I was checking it out while I was prepping for a television show. Fast forward to the finale when Miriam must choose, since this was my first time seeing the show it really didnt matter who won, but she picked some guy Tom.
So, then what was it about Miriam? Miriam was a freaking dude!!!! All this time she has been going around with these men kissing on them, and they were falling for her. NOT COOL. She could be hurt over that, come on here is this Jerry Springer. Tom, the winner was chill and said he would still go on the cruise, but then changed his mind cause he was lied to. You cannot do this to people, who does that? Who makes this up as a television show, and actually give it the greenlight. I'm sure they had security on board in case someone wanted to POP OFF, but you know in America that would not have gone down.
Reality Television I am super disappointed. See Check this out, No Doubt though Miriam is a hottie!
| You Are An ENFP |
 The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart. You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do. You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused |
