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SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Talent, enthusiasm and education are key ingredients to success, and Stephanie Roose is taking full advantage of those assets to cash in on her interest in photography.
A student at Lake Superior State University, Roose is using her talent as a photographer to help pay college expenses. As a recent participant in the Sault Summer Arts Festival, Roose not only sold some of her work, but also won one of the two honorable mention awards given to exhibitors.
"My interest in photography began as a hobby, and at the age of 16 I realized I could turn my hobby into a career," said Roose.
After graduating from Brimley High School in 2001, Roose left the area to experience life on her own. She landed a job that required her to use marketing skills.
"I wanted to learn more about marketing, so I decided to enroll in college," said Roose. "I chose LSSU because it has that friendly, hometown atmosphere," she added.
The LSSU junior has been busy on campus. She gains practical marketing experience working as a student manager with the LSSU Foundation, where she and her crew helped to raise $20,000 in scholarships during the 2004-2005 academic year.
By combining a business degree in marketing with her talent as a photographer, Roose hopes to open her own photography business.
"I would like to be a full-time photographer. That is what I enjoy the most," said Roose. "I would like to use my education in marketing to expand photography into a full-time job and possibly open my own business in the near future," she added.
The tool of her trade is a digital Fuji S7000 camera. Roose concentrates on nature scenes and her portfolio includes, but is not limited to, shots of the Mackinac Bridge, the International Bridge, sunsets and forest scenes. Her work is on display at Sault Realism in downtown Sault Ste. Marie for the next two months, and in January at the Kenneth J. Shouldice Library on the LSSU campus. Roose also hopes to show her photos at Rose's Art Gallery on Queen Street in Sault, Ont., and Alberta House in Sault, Mich.
On a recent trip to San Francisco, Roose attended a photography exhibit that highlighted more than 100 photographers.
"I got a lot of ideas and a job offer in marketing at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art," said Roose. The job offer tempted her, but she chose to stay home and finish her degree. The working world and another chance to experience life on her own - this time as a career photographer - will come soon enough.
Eide is an intern in the Lake Superior State University PR office.
