Career Fair Video

This is a link to the first video project we did in class. I decided to report on the UW-Whitewater Career Fair. Enjoy!

Were you able to take any prior skills to contribute to your success in Digital Journalism?

Were you able to take any prior skills to contribute to  your success in Digital Journalism?

When I started this class I did have a Flip Video and digital camera of my own; and had used them before. I also had taken a video production class that helped me a little bit on certain projects. I have been taking pictures my whole life and have had a freelance photography business since I was 18, so the camera stuff was right up my alley. The Flip Camera however was a different story. I had only used it to take funny videos of my friends and family and I so I did not know technique that was involved to create a news story. The found that you need to record audio separately because otherwise it will sound like crap! Which I'm sure some of you learned as well. The biggest issue I had was with the new software, I had used movie maker before but never Audacity. I had used different programs in my video production class so some of these things were foreign to me.

A big thing I learned from this class is that even though you think you know a lot about a topic, you can always learn more. As a photographer I am always learning new things and improving my craft. And I think this class was the same way. Even when I thought I got the audio recorder down, I learned more things to do with it. And when I thought I knew all there was to know about Movie Maker, I found out how to use different audio and video techniques. So I am very happy I had some skills prior to this class; but I am even happier to say that it made me realize I can always learn more.

"Why Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted"


In Malcolm Gladwell’s “Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted,” social medias such as Twitter and Facebook are discussed and how they impact society today in a way that it did not in the past.  On February 1, 1960  four African American college students from Greensboro, North Carolina were at a diner and were refused service, which started a giant sit-in. This sit-in spread like crazy without the influence and use of social media. In this day and age it seems almost impossible to host a party, event, or any type of protest without the use of Facebook and Twitter.  

As a Public Relations major I have gotten the idea of social media pounded into my brain! And from my personal opinion I think that social media is a current way of communication that we should embrace instead of trying to fight. Yes, we all do the posts  "Girl's night!" or "I just saw a guy wearing a turtle outfit, awesome day." But if we use social media to make people aware of social events, political standpoints, social issues, new products and services, and ways to improve ways of living, social media will be one of the strongest tools we will ever have!

From personal experience, my business that I started, HMS Photography, has become very successful because of getting my pictures posted on Facebook and Twitter, finding new clients, and being able to spread the word of my products and services! So cheers social media, I hope you're around for a very long time!

the number "3"

So a little update (I know you all missed me so much during the summer! *wink*)
To sum everything up would be the number "3". To keep everything in a logical order, I will start will number 1. First I worked at the golf course again this summer; feels good to be a dedicated 4 year veteran there! Nothing too crazy or different this summer than the last, other than the what seemed like million degree weather! Number 2, Sloppy Joe's. I worked as a waitress there for the majority of the summer until, being the wonderful big sister that I am, passed my duties on to my sister so she could get some extra cash before her freshman year at UW-Oshkosh. And now the big number 3, HMS Photography. My little business exploded this summer! I was booked with models, families, and A LOT of high school seniors. So I am proud to say that the number 3 was the number of my summer when it came to all my free time. But 3 words can for sure sum it up "Lovin' my life!"

R.I.P Chase

Hello world, sorry I’ve been absent on here lately. A friend of mine passed away this past weekend and it was a very hard time for my friends and I. I haven’t been to a funeral since I was little; and after this weekend I can say without any hesitation, it’s beyond words heartbreaking. After seeing his mother kiss his lifeless body in that casket along with his casket before being lowered into the cold ground; was beyond words. Seeing my loved ones morn in such sadness struck something in me; something that I know had been there all along but never was triggered in such a way. That life is such an unpredictable thing; and the only thing we can count on is our own use of the days we are given. Realizing that such an amazing person’s life was stripped so early in life was a complete mystery and devastation. But the while watching my friends shed rains of tears this weekend I realized that they are still here; we were all blessed with that extra day that Chase unfortunately was not. And we have each other here to always remember the good times and share crazy and humorous stories with him by our sides. And we must cherish each person in our lives while they are here, because you never know when it will be their time. Chase, I hope you were looking down on everyone that day of your wake. I have never seen so many people lined up to get into a building in my life. It was a constant train of people for hours at a time, which says something. You were such a great person and such a great friend, you will be missed but never forgotten.

HMS is giving back!

Well world, it has been awhile since I posted last (life of a busy college student!) But I am proud to say that some of my photography has been chosen to be printed in the Spring 2011 addition of The Muse!  So the main reason I’m telling you all this is because something I realized after lying in bed last night. This Muse award is not the biggest thing in the world; the majority of the people I know don’t even know what it is. But I still feel so proud of myself for getting recognized and appreciated. And when you feel appreciated, understood, and accomplished your eyes open up to an entirely new world of insight and opportunity. I decided that I want to share this feeling with others; especially college students who have suffered from server anxiety like myself. I am going to plan a fundraiser, that involves HMS Photography, to support those who have lost loved ones to suicide and young adults with depression and anxiety.
I haven’t had a great deal of time to think over exact details; but the thing that popped into my head first was how confident and beautiful I felt after I left a modeling shoot. Modeling really helped me see the outer beauty as well as my inner beauty that had been clouded by my anxiety. I will provide photo shoots to those who need this kind of pick-me-up. I still have to work out all the kinks and details but overall I want to give back to community and help those who have and are suffering from anxiety and depression. There is always  a way to see the light, why not start with a flash of the camera?

GE Medical and Z2 Marketing PR class!

I must say, my public relation’s class has been very lucky this year. We have had a large handful of speakers and events to attend; and last week we got to add 2 more speakers to that list! The first speaker was a 2006 UW-Whitewater graduate, Melissa Bohl. Melissa currently works at GE Medical and thoroughly explained her role at the company, along with Assure Point which is her group in the company. Her presentation was mainly on internal and external vehicles that GE uses to communicate with their customers and employees. For example, some internal vehicles are @service magazine, GE connect (similar to blogs), Yammar (resembles Facebook), Support Central (Internal Departments websites like intranets), Homepage article, Health Care Systems newsletter, and more. Some external communications include Next Level, which is an asset management website with blogging, videos, and online tools. GE also uses YouTube channel, and LinkedIn.
Our second speaker was Cory Zimmerman of Z2 Marketing. Cory’s presentation explained a lot of his life achievements and obstacles he has overcome. Cory explained that he was raised in poverty and was born deaf. However, through all the obstacles he kept his ambition and knew what he wanted and created his own amazing company. He stated that his company is the only company in the Midwest of its kind that is full service. Since they own everything that they need it is cheaper to do projects; which explains why the company doubled In the past year even with this struggling economy. Cory explained his company and his passions through a PowerPoint of eye-catching pictures and videos (especially the one with the men with their shirts off!) Cory also explained that his strong love for the Milwaukee Wave soccer team; which I had season tickets for growing up! He also mentioned that he worked for Hanson Dodge, which is a company I was looking into for an internship. Cory made a point that I really liked, he explained that no one knows the process of your work, they just see the final product; and there are always going to be challenges but you just have to make it through and finish the task.
I learned so much from both of these presentations. Both explained the importance of social media and getting your name out there. Cory said something that really stuck with me, he said that your first PR job is selling yourself and you are your own client. This goes along with Melissa’s strong point of completing your LinkedIn profile to get your name out there for companies to find you for jobs and internships. I think that even though both of the jobs seem to be in very different fields, they both embrace the ideas of strong communication with clients and employees, writing skills, strong work ethic, and a passion for your job.

365 days. Think I can do it?

Alright Blog World! Here's the latest:
I had an idea yesterday that I was going to put my photography skills to the test; along with my self discipline (365 days is no walk in the park!). I am going to take a picture every single day for 365 days; I post them  to my flickr account as well as my Facebook daily. You have been warned: These pictures may be random and out there; but that's how I am! And admit it...everyone likes looking at things that are out of the ordinary! Heck, think of how many pictures there are out there of Michael Jackson's nose! (But for real R.I.P though MJ, your music was amaz-za-zing). Anyway, this is the second day of my challenge and I must get going to snap a shot. Want to see my pictures? I know you do! So check them out to see what my unique little mind has come up with this time.

And remember, no matter how much you think you master something there is always new things to learn and help you grow. Never settle, always reach for mastering the next new thing! Tootles :)

Linked where? LinkedIn!

Katie Felten (@katiefelten) recently came to my Public Relations Tactics class to talk about this booming social media called LinkedIn. Katie currently holds a position as a promoter and strategist at MKELive.
Going into this presentation I had a LinkedIn but I really didn't know how to use it to its full potential. Katie explained the importance of Twitter, LinkedIn, and other ways of promotion to get your name out into the business world. For example, Katie told us to get familiar with the LinkedIn site, which seems logical, but I never did! I found things on the site I didn't even know where there, such as linking your blogs and other social media to you page. I also never completed my profile; I left so much vital information about myself, a picture and a tiny description is not enough people!  Katie also explained the importance of keywords. You should always use keywords in your headline so you brand yourself; for example, Public Relations, event planner, and social media expert. The first thing people see when they open your page is that headline; so you need to make sure it says what you're all about. Another big thing I also wasn't aware of, were the "rules" about LinkedIn. I am so used to adding people on Facebook without hesitation that I didn't know the difference between that and LinkedIn connections. Boy oh boy was I wrong! LinkedIn is all about groups and making business connections with people. Not just adding random people for no apparent reason or without some sort of real life connection, purpose, or acquaintance. You need to message people first or get "introduced" through other people in your LinkedIn network. This helped me a lot after the
Spreenkler event that was held at the Gravity Marketing building in downtown Milwaukee. During the event I was introduced Emily Lenard (who will be speaking tomorrow in UW-Whitewater at the PRSSA meeting), her coworker Andrew Wiech, and Brennan Stehling a small business owner from Small Sharp Tools. Now I am currently connected to all of them through LinkedIn and have had conversations about internships and future plans with them.
LinkedIn is a lot more powerful than I thought it was; thanks again Katie!

Link away my friends...link away! :)

Promotions baby!

So upon starting this little photography venture of mine I must say I was a wee bit skeptical at first. But now that my first big promotional event I have started is underway; I am pretty darn pumped to say the least. Okay, picture this: 3 contests, one in June, one in July, and one in August. A handful of insanely gorgeous women on a stage modeling sponsored clothing and bikinis; being judged by a well known rapper, an upcoming musical sensation from Milwaukee, and a fashionista and modeling pro from Milwaukee. Then prizes prizes prizes! Followed by an online vote for the top model who will be dubbed Miss Model in the Making 2011??? Oh and did I mention amazing food & drinks, musical performances, sand volleyball, and publicity? And of course HMS Photography will be snapping pictures of the girls and the entire event; along with providing prizes (and hosting). I guess the main thing I can take from this promotional endeavor is….I could sure get used to thisJ.

If you wanna sell pop tarts off a truck for a living, DO IT!

Okay world, I just attended another networking event. And I must say if I am going to do what some of these people do all the time, I better love my job. So here's what I decided: I'm going to put all my talents and passions in a pot. Ready, Set, GO! So the first ingredient is going to be photography (picture perfect woot woot!), then I'm going to add networking and promotions, mixed in with event planning, then top it off with a dash of writing. VOILA! The most amazing and satisfying job I could lay my hands on. And I think that everyone would do this. Hell, you only live once. Love what you do and do what you love because if you wake up every morning saying I HAVE to go to work; that's not how it should be. I want to spring out of my bed, ideas rolling and tummy rumbling for that perfect job I dished up for myself. So if you love pop tarts, and you like selling things, and you love driving around in an ice-cream truck looking vehicle; you sell them pop tarts! And you sell them with pride people! Seriously, create your own work recipe, because that’s what you're gonna be eatin’ every single day my dears.

BMA event

Can you say helpful? Eye-opening? Yummy!? Well I sure can; last night BMA held an event the Manpower Office in Milwaukee, WI. When I walked into the building I had butterflies going nuts in my tummy; this kind of event was very new to me. But pizza was the first part, (yummy!) which calmed my nerves a little bit! But after stuffing my face with a variety of kinds of pizza, I saw the social media presentation from Fullhouse. The speakers @Apiwarun, @haleylandsman, and @stratocasting. I learned so much valuable information about social media and how important it is when getting a job! I am proud to say first thing this morning I got on a number of social media sites and busted my little tooshy on getting my name out there! I am a now a proud member of LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and going to make a weebly. The speed interviewing portion of the night was scary at first, but was actually really enjoyable! I just acted myself and got amazing reviews from the people who I interviewed with. I am proud to say that my small business I started has given me the confidence and experience to communicate and carry myself. I walked out of this event with not only tips on how to further my chances at a further career, but the confidence in myself that by just being myself will and can get me very far! :) Thanks again BMA and Manpower, I plan on coming to more events in the future!

I challenge you!

I challenge you. Stop for a few minutes. Stop everything you’re doing and just sit; sit and clear your mind. And focus on feeling; not on thinking, just feeling. Do you feel happy? The extraordinary and ironically sad thing is; the poorest of the poor can be the wealthiest in happiness; and the ones swimming in pools of riches can be drowning in self sorrow.
            This is because happiness is not based on materialistic items, world records, or the amount of “friends we have”. Happiness is not a word defined in Webster’s dictionaries. It is a term that you yourself create, inside your inner layers of character, self respect, and appreciation; not within the tattered pages of Webster’s definition of a  nine-letter word slapped on a page beside thousands of other words. Happiness can be simply defined; but it is your choice if you want to peel apart those layers of purpose inside yourself to create and fulfill your own definition.
            And one will only reach this self definition if they take the time to realize the light within themselves. All it takes to light the candle burning within you is a spark; a spark between a new friend or loved one; a spark of imagination; or a flash of hope.
            Know that you are not like anyone else; others may cause the storm, but you’re a snowflake, mixed up in it all but beautiful and unique; no one is the same as you. You will end up on different parts of the world; melting and falling at different levels; but still finding the beauty in it all.  And even though from the outside you may look the same, the ones who take the time to get close to you and will notice your individual beauty and shine; and will appreciate your worthiness; and set you apart from the rest.
            With a cleared mind what do you see? It should not be loaded work schedules, late car payments, or a list boldly marked “TO DO”. It should have peace of mind; knowing that doing that simple hobby you always enjoyed will make a clocks face fade away; and all time will be lost within self indulgence. “To Do’s” become faint and the “Right Now” comes into focus.
            Clear your head; find the inner layers of yourself that are constantly clouded with the storms of angst and stressed frustrations. Because when you find light through those clouds that will be your spark; the hope and self worth to make yourself happy. Happiness is in everyone’s reach; find it; grasp it; and never let it go, before it’s too late.

The PR student

Hello world!
            I'm Heather Schwartz; I currently attend the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and I am in the middle of my third year. I have a major in Public Relations and not long ago added Photography minor.
            I am a very creative, social, and unique person; I love taking photographs, writing, planning promotions and events, and being open-minded to try new things. With all of things mixed together I found what I want to do with my life; something that combines helping people, being creative, and knowing how to communicate (especially through different medias) and voila, Public Relations and photography!
            I’ve taken many significant courses at UWW that have really helped me expand my career aspirations; such as: Creative Writing, Modern Media Writing, Introduction to Television Production, Public Relations Tactics I and II, and Publication Photography.
            I started a small "business" called HMS Photography 2 years ago; I do promotions, networking, and meet a vast amount of new and diverse people. It is great experience for the future and is teaching me so many important skills. I work with multiple businesses to help promote my photography and PR skills; with planning and creating networking and promotional events for both of our companies to benefit. I also plan charity events that I sponsor with my photography and businesses I’m affiliated with.
             I am also interning with a magazine called the House of Style where I do Public Relations and Photography for their growing company! I also am starting to work with an upcoming magazine located in Madison, WI.
            I have so much confidence in myself and my work; that I won't stop until I'm successful!


Want to check out my stuff? Visit http://www.hmsphotography.net/ :)

And my intern page! http://www.houseofstylekc.com/temp/magazine/indexd.htm