Graduation & Beyond by Richelle Swinkels

Graduation & Beyond

by Richelle Swinkels

     After realizing I haven't blogged in two months I realized so much has happened in those two months! Since my last blog I GRADUATED!!! Yes I graduated Spokane Falls Community College with my degree in photography. It's been a long bumpy road since I started this program fresh out of high school at 18 years old. Heart aches, death, drug addictions, prison time, unhealthy relationships, mental struggles and recovery, and I finally overcame it all and finally finished the program. I've come to learn so much about myself, and my goals in life and am slowly making them happen one step at a time. I've realized I want to help others with their identity and mental struggles, I want to help teens avoid the path I have taken. Through the use of art and photography I want to express what I've gone through and help others find themselves as well. However, that is a goal that you

can't do in a day. To begin getting exposure and work towards this I finally submitted my work to an event and will be featured in a gallery event called RAW: Allure in Seattle, Wa in 2 days! That makes me feel so amazing and so great, I can't wait to see what opportunity and feedback I get from this. Nothing comes easy though, so of course I have a ton of anxiety and my nerves are through the roof! I'm also awaiting hearing back of submissions to other gallery events I have submitted too. *Fingers Crossed* 

     On top of just working on my passion of conceptual art I got hired at a Portrait Studio and am actually making a living now doing photography. I work for Boutique Portrait Studio specializing in baby photography, and I can't lie I LOVE IT! I forgot how much I adore making mothers cry and emotional after creating beautiful images of their children. Still getting my art in people's homes and making heart-warming art. As much as I would love for it to be my own business, you have to start somewhere. I'm blessed with an amazing boss who is teaching me so much, and learning from someone who is already successful and helping their business grow is a great opportunity. This position is really showing me what it takes to run a business, and helping me gain experience in a professional setting and providing me with a wonderful mentor the entire way. 

     Things are going in such a positive direction, leaving me eager to see what the future holds! I'll be blogging throughout my experience at RAW! Wish me luck!