Resume

 

 

 

  TARA  SPIES 

Starry Eyes Photography & Design
E-mail: tara@starryeyesphotography.com

 

 

 

EDUCATION

• Master of Science in Information Studies (ALA accredited), School of Information, University of Texas at 

      Austin. GPA: 3.73/4.0. August 2003 to December 2005.

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, with a focus on Photography and Art History, College of Fine Arts and Communication, Texas State University-San Marcos. GPA: 3.76/4.0. May 1999 to May 2002.
• Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film, with a focus on Audio Production, College of Communication, University of Texas at Austin. August 1988 to December 1992.
  
  

EXPERIENCE

• Web exhibit designer for the photography exhibit Little Heroes: Photographs of Children from thePermanent Collection (http://www.library.txstate.edu/swwc/wg/heroes/index.html) at the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography, Department of Special Collections, Alkek Library, Texas State University-San Marcos. Created and designed Web site inspired by the exhibit’s photographs and promotional materials. Web site provides worldwide visibility and access to the exhibit. Supervisor, Carla Ellard. March 23 through April 21, 2007

 

• Web exhibit designer for the photography exhibit Ojos para volar/Eyes to Fly With (http://www.library.txstate.edu/swwc/wg/exhibits/Iturbide/) at the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography, Department of Special Collections, Alkek Library, Texas State University-San Marcos. Created and designed Web site inspired by the exhibit’s photographs and promotional materials. Web site won the Texas Association of Museums silver Wilder Award for Non-Print Media. Supervisor, Carla Ellard. October 1 through November 6, 2006.
  
  

• Web site editor for Dorothy Sloan-Books, Auction Catalogue Nineteen-Western Americana  (http://www.dsloan.com/Auctions/A19/abstracts.html). Created auction list Web page linked to separate auction item Web pages and made changes to other pages. Edited and added images to auction item Web pages.  Proofread Microsoft Word version of auction catalog.  All correspondence and production via email, telephone, and Web server. Supervisor, Dorothy Sloan. Austin, Texas. September 2006.

 

• Photographer for Concepts Unlimited-Marketing and Advertising. Responsible for hiring and supervising ten models. Responsible for providing costumes, makeup, and props. Responsible for providing all technical equipment, including lights, cameras, and other photographic equipment. Responsible for scheduling models to show up for photo shoots. Arranged models in shot with creative director and president/owner of company. Hired and supervised assistant to help on complex shoots. Total of ten photo shoots by December 15 deadline. Photographs used for University Federal Credit Union’s 2005 ad campaign. Austin, Texas. President/Owner of company, Steve Jones. November 2005 through December 15, 2005.
  
  

• Web exhibit designer for the photography exhibit Testigos de la historia/Witnesses to History (http://www.library.txstate.edu/swwc/wg/exhibits/witnesses/titlepage.htm) at the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography, Department of Special Collections, Texas State University-San Marcos. Awarded the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Southwest District IV, Grand Award in the category of World Wide Web Site. Web site created as a requirement for graduation from the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin. Supervisors, Carla Ellard and Oliver Chen. August 1 through October 8, 2005.

 

• Photographer for Southern Exposure.  Photograph student organizations’ parties and social functions on contract labor.  Owner, Chase Fountain.  San Marcos, Texas. Summer 2001 and currently.
  
  

• Slide library photographer, Visual Resources Center, Department of Art and Design at Texas State University.  Made copy slides of artwork, scanned images into Photoshop and accessioned new slides to maintain library.  San Marcos, Texas.  Fall 2000 to spring 2001.

 

• Teaching Assistant for Professor Alan Pizer at Texas State University.  Prepared slides, typed slide lists into computer and assisted with slides during lectures and exams. San Marcos, Texas.  Spring 1999 to summer 2000.

• Assisted photographer Mark Urbach on school sports photography shoots. Loaded cameras, stored and marked film.  Did individual shots as well as group shots.  Austin, Texas.  Fall 1997 to fall 1998.

 

• Assisted photographer Christopher Zaleski on outdoor fashion shoot.  Loaded cameras, stored and marked film.  Austin, Texas.  Summer 1998.
  
  

• Studio and lab experience at Austin Photolab.  Made copy slides of artwork and photos using strobe lights, made copy negatives, internegatives, and duplicate slides.  Used a Chromega for slide dupes. Printed color and black and white photographs using Omega and Minolta enlargers.  Also helped with marketing ideas and customer service.  Computer editing, copying, and public relations experience.  Austin, Texas.  March 1996 to May 1998.

 

• Film Specialist intern, The New Orleans Film Commission, Mayor's Office, New Orleans, Louisiana.  Dealt with prospective production companies by providing them with location information and worked on city promotion projects.  Wrote and edited public relations letters to groups and individuals for the city of New Orleans. Sent faxes and made copies.  Maintained archives for city photo library.  Summer 1992.
  

• Photographer, Texas Beat magazine.  Took live band shots and portraits.  Austin, Texas.  1990-1991.
   
•  SPECIAL PROJECTS
• Freelance photography jobs for artists, retail shops, and actors.   Austin, Texas.  Spring 1996 to currently. 
• Solo exhibition at Antigua, 1508 S. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas.  July 4 through September 2, 2002.
• Senior show, Southwest Texas State University, Art Gallery, April 15-19, 2002.
• Photograph juried into the Edmonds Arts Festival in Washington.  June 16-18, 2000.
• Production Assistant, Location Manager Brant Scott, CBS mini-series The Fire Next Time, Escorted and organized extras.  New Orleans, Louisiana.  Summer 1992.
• Tutor, Introduction to Audio and Video, the University of Texas at Austin, Radio-Television-Film Department.  Produced two instructional videos to be used in future classes.  Fall 1991.
•  

SPECIAL SKILLS

• Software: Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Microsoft Office Suite, iMovie, FileMaker Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, QuarkXpress
• Web coding languages: HTML, CSS
• Macintosh and PC operating systems, scanners, and both inkjet and laser printers
• Black and white and color darkroom experience
• Digital cameras, digital video cameras, 35mm, medium, and large format film cameras
  

AWARDS AND ASSOCIATIONS

• Dean's list, fall 1991, fall 1999.
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2002 at Southwest Texas State University.
• Member of the Golden Key National Honor Society. Spring 2000 and currently.
• Member of the American Museum of Photography. 2000 and currently.
•  Member of Art Libraries Society of North America, Texas-Mexico Chapter. 2003 to currently.