Hello Everyone!

Brian and I met April 22, 2011 to discuss our next plan of action with the project's promotion. Designs and the implementation of the media blitz will begin in July, 2011. The cyber wizard will begin designing the poster and pr cards which will be distributed in September as listed in the April 29, 2011 update.

For now, we are running around campus trying to get our papers, projects, assignments, and exams out of the way. IT IS HELL WEEK at Salem State University!

For those "featured women" of MWS that are scheduled for a shoot in summer, 2011 you MUST bring a draft of your story that will accompany your portrait in the book, to the shoot. This is mandatory and there are NO exceptions. You may however, email your draft to the Project Manager (William) at foxhagen@hotmail.com prior to your shoot. I will confirm with William.

For women who are interviewed this summer, a draft of their story must be brought to the interview. Stories will play a significant role in the selection of the remaining featured women.

Due to many of the "featured women" urging me to become a "Mystic Woman", I have decided to join the rest of the women and include myself in the book. We don't have a mystic photographer! Hee hee! I will be working on my story with William and we will use that as an example for you all. As more stories are completed we will be sending them out as tools to assist the others with their stories.

OK everyone, I will be back with more news in a couple of weeks! Enjoy this weather everyone! :}

Good day everyone!

The cyber wizard and I met last week and discussed our media blitz campaign strategy for the promotion of the project. Instead of changing the color and appearance of the blog, printing posters and cardstock for immediate distribution we decided to wait. Our strategy is to do the aforementioned in September, 2011 when hundreds of thousands of people desend upon Salem for the October festivities. I am sure that a number of the shoppes will allow us to place the pr materials in their stores during this time. We most certainly will be distributing in Boston, and New York City as well. Why are we doing all this so early in the game? As the Project Manager, William, told me in the beginning planning stage of MWS, it is critical that we reach the masses and develop support BEFORE the agent/publishing house becomes involved. The more that is done the better! The entire book will be done and I will have an original printed for their review. This gives the project an immediate advantage, in that they can SEE what we are producing versus just telling them (a great disadvantage). This is the primary difference between literary and photography publishing. So, your information that accompanys you in the Mystic Women section of the blog should be done by then, for sure.

Also, I have to tell you that William is already beginning to see that we are fast approaching a "bottle-neck" situation due to the procrastination/delay of women getting their drafts (stories) to him. We are coordinating the story submission and shoots together now. If you have not been shot don't worry...if you have, you must get your drafts to him asap. Upcoming shoots (8-10) over the summer...if you are scheduled you need to be thinking about your story NOW. If you need guidance/help please contact William at foxhagen@hotmail.com

Let's avoid a terrible situation by staying on schedule which will lead to a much less "stressed" environment. I want this project to be excellent, professional, inspiring, successful, and FUN with the least amount of stress possible.

Thanks ladies and enjoy your Patriots Day Holiday! :}


PS - Please encourage everyone you know to become a FOLLOWER OF THE BLOG, I cannot emphasize enough how very important this is.

THE PRIESTESS OF PERFUMES - AKUURA

 Akuura of Aroma Sanctum 

Akuura and I had been discussing her shoot for several months and the final outcome was to represent her business as a natural perfumer and scent designer (she is one of 3-4 nationally) as well as herself as a Mystic Woman. I knew I wanted to incorporate some of her unique bottles into the set design and that's exactly what we did. The bottles photographed beautifully as did Akuura...dream fulfilled. Let me explain that last sentence...after interviewing and getting to know the selected ladies, usually their shoot theme/goal will come to me in the form of dreams. After the dream comes is when I start doing research trying to locate a photograph taken by the early masters of photography, for inspiration. I found a shot taken by George Hurrell at MGM studios in the 50's and the starlet was wearing this glorious cape...very dramatic. That was it! Akuura ordered a fab cape made of forrest green and deep purple. We got shots of both.

Actual shooting lasted only a couple of hours, when to our Cyber Wizard's astonishment, I declared,"it's a wrap." Of course, when Brian is there to assist shoots are cut in half time wise. He not only is documenting my lighting set-ups (for future teaching/recollection) he also assisted in direction of the shoot...gracias amigo! Since the school has new computers in the lab, my former computer will be set up in the studio so I can be tethered...camera/computer. This will be absolutely fabulous and will assist us tremendously!

Akuura's photos will be in the Mystic gallery shortly, I will certainly announce it when ready. To read more about our Akuura please go to the News/Updates button of the blog.

Become a follower of this blog and you will be kept up to date instantly with the ever changing progress of the project!

:}

Many thanks Brian! For the women's page and their updated format which includes links to their sites! And thank you so much for assisting on Sunday...AND for being my escort to a very pleasant dinner after the shoot.

The Priestess of Perfumes - Akurra

Akurra's shoot was fast, easy, and quite enjoyable! Akurra is an extraordinary beauty who has a definite subdued and quiet manner about her. But don't let that fool you, behind that quiet manner is a warrioress, one of Viking descent! Freyja (as is mine) is her Goddess and Ak is quite knowledgeable in all things Viking, as well as perfumes, and astrology to boot. The second half of her shoot I enlisted the help of Freyja (and the cyber wizard) with my "majick" music and my "majick" lens. They showed up, did a Great job, and left as quickly as they appeared. The result? You'll be the judge when her shots are uploaded to the "Mystic" gallery in a couple of weeks.

I think all of you will enjoy the behind the scenes shots! Brian and I did some goofing around prior to shoot, but, hey, that's what makes it fun! The photos will be posted to the blog tomorrow.

Spread the word everyone...BE COOL, BECOME A "Mystic Women of Salem" FOLLOWER ! :}