After graduation from RIT, Kelly Jo Smart worked at the White House in a photo editing internship. She then worked in the marketing strategy office developing social media, their website, and videos. In 2017 she left to work as a photo editing consultant at the Obama Foundation.
She talked a lot about how she did not know what she wanted to do right after graduation. I think it's always really comforting to hear that from people who are actively succeeding in our field of work. It seemed like she really knew how to find her way one step at a time.
When asked what she looks for in freelancers, Kelly says to be an expert in your craft and hone in on our styles. She looks for people who have unique aesthetics. She also reiterated a lot about being professional. Showing that you can follow directions, understand the assignment, and meet deadlines. I remember that was the first thing she said too. I think that really shows just how important it is for an editor to have a photographer you can rely on. Her closing advice ended by talking about how small this industry is. As I meet new people in the field that information has been shared on so many occasions. If I take anything away from both this class and NYC it's to never burn bridges.
