Posts Tagged ‘photography’

Niche-ing New York City: Talents Out of School

Monday, June 30th, 2025
Heather Male

In an attempt to begin this guide with a success story, I met with one of the most talented, most successful people I know to tell her story: Heather Male. My aunt, friend, and role model, she has accomplished what many young creatives living in New York City long to – a balance between a great salary and a fulfilling creative outlet. After work at her corporate day job, she spends evenings writing at coffee shops, taking acting classes at the Kimball Studio, and collaborating with photographer Charles Johnstone on their photo books, one of which is currently on display in The Helmut Newton Foundation Museum for Photography’s Polaroids exhibition. 

What many of us broke liberal arts students long to understand is this: how did she get here? What steps did she take after graduating that can land us a successful career built on our talents? Unfortunately, as Heather has found, no two paths to success are the same, even within the same niche. Her first piece of advice is that we learn to live with that and become nimble and adaptable when it comes to change. Her second piece of advice, however, is that we set up a good foundation upon which to build; while we won’t ever be able to replicate the exact same opportunities – what she calls “happy accidents” – that landed her where she is today, the things we can plan for – like going to school and getting trained – will set for us a foundation that will yield the most opportunities. 

For her, that meant graduating from Fordham University with a double major in Film and Theatre and a minor in Communications followed by a two-year acting conservatory at Esper Studio. Dedicated to the Meisner Technique – based on emotionality and improvisation, producing especially instinctive, empathic, authentic actors – the Esper Studio has also trained well-known actors like Jeff Goldblum, Kristen Davis, Ian Somerhalder, and Kathy Bates, among others. Excellent actors, Heather notes, who are successful and getting paid. It was here, and in the consequent years at the Kimball Studio, where she built her community. She found herself surrounded by actors of different ages, at different stages of their lives, whom she could teach and from whom she could learn – she had a lineup of exceedingly intimate friends to go to for help and advice no matter the problem. 

Outside of acting class, Heather grew her network by bussing tables, running food, and cocktail waitressing, jobs that she found made her the best money while also providing her the opportunity to meet hundreds of new people every day and to develop relationships with her regulars. She never felt like she was sacrificing time that could be spent creating because the job was layered with possibility and benefit – you never know who you’ll be talking to that night, and in New York City, it is a near-guarantee that you’ll meet someone important. Whether you work in food service, retail, or as a barista at Starbucks, Heather just advises that you stay in the mix. College students should find a way to spend their breaks in the city, get out of the apartment, and establish your community – “To have the highest odds of a happy accident, you have to be here.” 

Believe me, Heather knows it’s not the easiest city to live in, especially compared to the glamorized New York City we all dream about. Whatever your talent, however, suffering will help you – it will add a new dimension to your character in a play, it will add a unique emotion to your painting, it will prepare you for any conflict that comes up in your PR job. We learn by experiencing, and the best way to experience is to get out there, to meet people, to begin building your foundation for success.


Treat yourself to authentic Italian pizza in the Financial District! Take 20% off with this coupon and your student ID.


By Lauren Male

Lauren Male is a senior at Pace University majoring in English and Communications, with a minor in Journalism. She is pursuing Pace’s M.S. Publishing program. When she’s not reading, Lauren can be found trying new coffee shops, thrift shopping, and spending all of her money on concert tickets.


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College Savings Experience by Studying Abroad

Saturday, September 13th, 2014

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Photo op with some monks my friends and I met on the Great Wall of China.

I like chicken soup. Wǒ xǐhuān jītāng.

It’s probably one of the only phrases I learned to say correctly in Mandarin while studying abroad in China and it still makes me laugh one year later.

No matter what college you go to, even if it’s only a few psychology courses online, everyone should go on a study abroad program at least once in their lifetime. Study abroad is a rite of passage and the college discounts you get is worth the experience. It’s the ability to say that during your young adult life you did something different and learned about a new place. It doesn’t matter what you do or where you go. What’s important is that you get out, see the world, and learn about a country that isn’t America.

One of the best benefits of studying abroad is that your early 20s is the best time to travel. Besides school, and maybe a part-time job, you don’t have that many obligations. Once you’re working the 9-5 grind you’ll find it’s extremely difficult to snag any vacation days right away. Studying abroad provides you with a way to get college credits without sitting in a classroom for an entire semester. Study abroad programs usually offer a variety of courses that range from common core classes to specific credits that can be used towards your major.

Studying abroad through your school is a great way to make friends that will be there after the trip. Most of the people that go on study abroad trips go to the same school. It’s very easy to form close friendships in a short amount of time on these trips. Walking across campus and seeing a familiar face is always a nice surprise in the middle of a hectic day.

 

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New friendships only grow stronger after hours of hiking the Yellow Mountain (Mt. Huangshan) in the southern Anhui province in eastern China.

People don’t just travel because of the boredom from living in the same place. People travel because they thirst to see something new. It’s one thing to see a picture of a famous landmark; it’s quite another to actually see that landmark with your own eyes. Ask anyone that’s ever traveled anywhere, or ask anyone with a smartphone camera; no photo or Instagram filter can truly ever beat the real thing. When you go home and change your profile picture on Facebook to a picture of yourself standing on the Great Wall of China—that’s something to brag about.

To learn about a culture that is foreign from your own is a truly important experience. There are so many different cultures in the world that it is impossible to count. To go through life ignorant of the world around you is a foolish mistake. Hear a different language slide past your lips. Eat a food that you can’t identify. Engross yourself in a way of living that you’ve never experienced.

A study abroad trip is more than just a trip. It’s a chance to take an adventure, fill a scrapbook with memories, and tell stories to your loved ones that will last a lifetime.

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Group picture of the 2013 Summer CUNY China trip in front of the Monk Xuanzang statue in Xi’an, China.

Sam Levitz is a graduate of Brooklyn College and went on the CUNY Study Abroad trip to China the summer of 2013. Follow her on Instagram: slevitz

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Think About The Big Picture | Victoria Rossi: A Photographer in Motion

Monday, July 16th, 2012

Growing up, I thought the only combo better than peanut butter and jelly was a pen and paper. I have always had an affinity for writing and using it as a tool and an art form. However, I didn’t see my writing as a talent until I started writing poetry, performing in open mics, and participating in talent shows. Once I discovered my immense passion for poetry, I knew I had to reach out and get others involved in their own talents. When I first started writing, I saw poetry as my salvation. It introduced me to new people, new experiences, and taught me that life exists beyond the L train. This post is about how you can use your talent to help others see that their life can change, as well as how to use your talent to help your community.

Looking for people with the same affinity for using their talents to help others, I found Victoria (also known as Vee) Rossi, a 20 year-old photographer/college student.

“I started doing photography after my aunt passed away my senior year of high school. She used to own a photo lab in Barrington, Rhode Island and was the relative who always had her hand attached the camera at any family function. She loved looking through pictures, collecting pictures, taking pictures, and I guess I picked that up from her after she passed away, sort of paying homage to her. I do photography because I love creating things and I especially love creating images and having the capability of manipulating emotions and making people feel one way or another or see something or realize what they haven’t seen. Some of my favorite things or people to photograph are the dancers in my mom’s dance studio in Cranston, Rhode Island. Not only are they brilliantly talented but they’re willing to push limits photographically and also in the areas of dance. It’s always nice to photograph them also because they’re so eager to create something beautiful. I help them and they help me. I also will go to the dance competitions and photograph them while they’re in their prime competing because that’s when you really see the intensity. I not only see photography as an emotional outlet, but also as a possibility to make a career. They always say that you should do something that you love and something that makes you happy, and I think that I may have found that for me.”

Here are some recent photos Victoria has taken of her mother’s students:

      

Victoria has also done shoots for her school, Simmons College, and some of their drama productions including The Vagina Monologues. From first position to on pointe, the dancers and their art are captured via Victoria’s own art.

 

Check out Victoria and her Facebook Page and Photography Blog

Now that you’ve seen how Victoria gives back to her community, here are some ways that you can help your community with your talents:

 

Host an Art Show:

If you are an artist, painter, sculptor, metalworker, etc., go to your local YMCA, community center, or even a friend’s back yard and host an art show. You can sell your art by donation or fixed prices, or you can even just have your art on show for viewing and charge a small admission fee. Then, the proceeds can go to your local YMCA, city program, etc.

Have an Open Mic:

Taking the same idea as the art show, you can find a space to have poets, singers, musicians, and even actors come and perform. You can sell drinks or charge a small admission fee and raise money that way.

Get some friends, and direct a small play in the neighborhood:

Gather your actor, musician, dancer friends, and host a play or opera, or even a concert!

Is a local business or store you frequent looking a little dusty?:

If you have a way with the paintbrushes or even organizing, offer your services in exchange for promotion of your talent!

All of these are inexpensive and help in many ways. They help you meet more talented people, polish skills as well as gain new ones, and most importantly, they help the community.

Now that you’ve read about how to get involved, go out and do it! Here’s a great coupon for art supplies! Click HERE for a printable version!

Joanne, Simmons College ’15. Read my personal blog!

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Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions  and follow our Tumblr and Pinterest. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book.

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