August 24th: First Day of Practicum (2 hours)
The first day of my practicum I met with Maria and got the gist of what Nature's Bridal was about. She let me know what I would be helping her with and the goal of the startup of her company. I basically just learned a lot the first day.
Reflection: After meeting with Maria, I was eager to start the projects she had presented me with. I obviously felt a little overwhelmed but she made me feel like it wouldn't be too much for me to handle.
August 27th: (4 hours)
Maria is a very busy person considering Nature's Bridal is not her only job but she gave me a lot of things to explore while I was working independently. I began researching other Bridal blogs and vlogs since I know she wanted to begin hers. She also wanted to get more into social medias so I began researching her old ones to see what we wanted to do more with those.
Reflection: Most of my classes were dealing with social media's so I found this job entertaining. I think this was right along the lines of what I wanted to do.
August 31st: (4 hours)
I spent some more time researching vlogs and what I could do to improve the social media sites.
Reflection: It was great that Maria gave me so much time and creativity for myself to give her ideas for her company.
September 3rd: (4 hours):
We met in Downtown Bridal for some time to discuss what we both had in mind for building the rest of the company. She also informed me that she wanted to begin a start up event, or the grand opening so we got more into detail about that.
Reflection: I thought the start up event was interesting to be working on since my advertising and promotions class was beginning to learn about planning events and promoting them.
September 8th: (4 hours)
I worked independently to overlook all the previous work that the interns and Maria had come up with. She sent me all the info for her accounts such as google, etsy, Facebook, square, pinterest, and her website on zoho.
Reflection: Working independently became a little difficult.
September 10th: (4 hours)
We met at Downtown Bridal and began thinking of topic ideas for the vlog. Maria is very passionate about giving back to the community so we wanted to start that up right away. We brainstormed some more ideas for the seminars and for the vlog that she could talk about.
Reflection: It was interesting to hear all the topics she was so knowledgable about already and how her experience could be helpful to the public!
September 14th: (4 hours)
Maria had previously worked with one of her close friends on the filming aspect of the vlog so we planned a time to meet with her to discuss what her friend had in mind as far as how often the vlog would be posted and how we should go about it. I researched more on vlog's to make sure the company's is effective.
Reflection: I was excited to meet one of her friends that has experience!
September 17th: (2 hours)
We met at Backstreet Grille in Salisbury to go over the plan of the vlog and when we should start filming. We discussed that the vlog should come out at least once a week and that it should be between 5-10 minutes long (depending on the topic). We picked a date for the filming (October 15th) and all agreed that this would take a lot of time so we made sure our schedules were clear!
Reflection: I loved that they both were passionate about the project and were excited to start filming.
September 21st: (2 hours)
I worked on organizing the list of topics and deciding the order of topics for the vlog.
Reflection: I couldn't wait to start filming!
September 24th: (2 hours)
We didn't spend as much time together because Maria was planning to go to Chicago for a seminar and we both knew filming would take a very long time. So she gave me some homework. We began brainstorming props for each vlog and told me to think of where the location would be (we decided on Downtown Bridal since it has all the necessities.) And came up with the list of topics:
VLOG Topics for Nature’s Bridal:
Reflection: I was excited to see what she would come back with from the seminar in Chicago.
September 28th: (4 hours)
Maria told me to start thinking of ideas for Pinterest boards and gave me permission to start working on that. I also had created her hoot suite account and did some research on how to use it. I set that up, connected to her other social networks and sent her the social medias that needed more attention. We also discussed that her twitter would be a huge help to getting Nature's Bridal out there.
Reflection: I finally felt like we were starting to get somewhere with the progress of Nature's Bridal.
October 1st: (2 hours)
We discussed that the first vlog/blog would be an about me. So I got started on the interview questions that I would want to ask Maria. She also asked me to start a tab on her website so that the vlog could go there as well. She learned in her seminar a bunch of useful information for safe sites to use for her company. We decided that Vimeo would be a great site since it doesn't let other advertisers take over.
Reflection: I liked learning about new sites and how to use them. I also liked that I had to come up with some interview questions because I've learned how to do interviews in my classes.
October 5th: (4 hours)
I learned more about hootsuite and created a marketing plan to promote her blog and vlog when we are ready to release it. I also learned a lot more about iMovie and how to edit the videos on interviews with Maria. I decided on the best way to film the About Me interview with Maria. We both agreed we should do a non-journalistic way and keep me in the video so it is more of a Q and A type interview. I also came up with the first week of shooting materials we would do and what we would need for them listed below:
First week of Vlog shooting:
1. Interview
a. Interview questions
2. How to properly lace your corset
a. Dress size 2
3. Why go to a bridal show?
a. Page of return address labels
4. What to expect when entering a bridal shop
a. Strapless bra, corset back/bra
b. Pair of high heels
c. Wedding planning book
d. Phone
5. What to expect when going to a fitting
a. Pair of high heels (your shoes)
b. Undergarments
c. Jewelry
Reflection: I was excited to get started on the interview portion since we had learned about videoing interviews in my classes. I knew more about editing them and was eager to help out!
October 8th: (4 hours)
I gave Maria the interview questions so that she could prepare for the on camera part. We also planned where everything would be recorded. These are the interview questions I came up with to give the viewers more background on Maria Demetriou:
Interview Questions for 1st blog:
1. How did you get started in the bridal industry?
2. Background info—where did you grow up? Education?
3. Growing up, were you into fashion design or sewing?
4. When did you know you wanted to get into redesign?
5. Who or what were your inspirations for starting nature’s bridal?
6. How would YOU describe nature’s bridal?
7. What would be your main goal you want to achieve with nature’s bridal?
8. What was one of your greatest accomplishments?
Reflection: I was getting impatient with starting to film the vlog, but we had to wait for her friend Megan who had all the technology to do so in a professional way.
October 12th: (4 hours)
We were recording this week so she wanted to make sure I had some undergarments and shoes to use for the preparation of the vlog. She also wanted me to come up with a definitive plan for getting followers on all of her sites. I came up with a few ways I knew would be effective for her company:
How to promote Nature’s Bridal:
• Constantly tweet with the same hashtag
• Start a twitter chat with a hashtag
• Each social media announces when a new blog is up/coming up
• Follow other people related to your topic
• Catchy post lines that make people want to read
• Share other peoples blogs so they are more inclined to share yours
• Make sure it is noticeable that the blog is to benefit them
• Use lots of photos
• Ask close friends to share your blogs
Reflection: I thought that coming up with ways to promote the non-profit was very challenging but it was something I found myself liking a lot. I'm in a advertising and promotions class so I thought this was right up the alley of what I was learning right now.
October 15th: (6 hours)
We started recording a few segments today. It was interesting to see how many angles we would need to get to make sure the videos weren't so boring to watch. I actually got to wear a wedding dress to be a demonstration for how to lace up a corset. I also did the on-camera interview with Maria. I was also in charge of moving the furniture so that the back drop was good for the camera. I had to use the video camera and find good lighting for the video too. Here is a one vlog post we did so far:
Reflection: I loved doing the actual videoing. It was nerve wracking at first, but once we got going it was so fun. Maria and Megan made me feel super comfortable. I learned that it does take a few takes for you to get the one shot you need. It was also super cool to try on a wedding dress! (I've never done that before so it made me excited for future experiences!!!)
The first day of my practicum I met with Maria and got the gist of what Nature's Bridal was about. She let me know what I would be helping her with and the goal of the startup of her company. I basically just learned a lot the first day.
Reflection: After meeting with Maria, I was eager to start the projects she had presented me with. I obviously felt a little overwhelmed but she made me feel like it wouldn't be too much for me to handle.
August 27th: (4 hours)
Maria is a very busy person considering Nature's Bridal is not her only job but she gave me a lot of things to explore while I was working independently. I began researching other Bridal blogs and vlogs since I know she wanted to begin hers. She also wanted to get more into social medias so I began researching her old ones to see what we wanted to do more with those.
Reflection: Most of my classes were dealing with social media's so I found this job entertaining. I think this was right along the lines of what I wanted to do.
August 31st: (4 hours)
I spent some more time researching vlogs and what I could do to improve the social media sites.
Reflection: It was great that Maria gave me so much time and creativity for myself to give her ideas for her company.
September 3rd: (4 hours):
We met in Downtown Bridal for some time to discuss what we both had in mind for building the rest of the company. She also informed me that she wanted to begin a start up event, or the grand opening so we got more into detail about that.
Reflection: I thought the start up event was interesting to be working on since my advertising and promotions class was beginning to learn about planning events and promoting them.
September 8th: (4 hours)
I worked independently to overlook all the previous work that the interns and Maria had come up with. She sent me all the info for her accounts such as google, etsy, Facebook, square, pinterest, and her website on zoho.
Reflection: Working independently became a little difficult.
September 10th: (4 hours)
We met at Downtown Bridal and began thinking of topic ideas for the vlog. Maria is very passionate about giving back to the community so we wanted to start that up right away. We brainstormed some more ideas for the seminars and for the vlog that she could talk about.
Reflection: It was interesting to hear all the topics she was so knowledgable about already and how her experience could be helpful to the public!
September 14th: (4 hours)
Maria had previously worked with one of her close friends on the filming aspect of the vlog so we planned a time to meet with her to discuss what her friend had in mind as far as how often the vlog would be posted and how we should go about it. I researched more on vlog's to make sure the company's is effective.
Reflection: I was excited to meet one of her friends that has experience!
September 17th: (2 hours)
We met at Backstreet Grille in Salisbury to go over the plan of the vlog and when we should start filming. We discussed that the vlog should come out at least once a week and that it should be between 5-10 minutes long (depending on the topic). We picked a date for the filming (October 15th) and all agreed that this would take a lot of time so we made sure our schedules were clear!
Reflection: I loved that they both were passionate about the project and were excited to start filming.
September 21st: (2 hours)
I worked on organizing the list of topics and deciding the order of topics for the vlog.
Reflection: I couldn't wait to start filming!
September 24th: (2 hours)
We didn't spend as much time together because Maria was planning to go to Chicago for a seminar and we both knew filming would take a very long time. So she gave me some homework. We began brainstorming props for each vlog and told me to think of where the location would be (we decided on Downtown Bridal since it has all the necessities.) And came up with the list of topics:
VLOG Topics for Nature’s Bridal:
- What to expect when going into a bridal shop
- What silhouette is right for you
- What to wear under your dress (foundations)
- How to properly lace your corset
- Picking your dress: Beauty is not always comfortable
- How fabrics affect the look and feel of your dress
- Traditions and their meanings
- Do I really want a veil?
- What about moms and maids?
- What to expect when going to a fitting
- All about shoes
- Destination styles
- All about accessories/jewelry
- All about bustles
- What to do with your dress after your wedding
Reflection: I was excited to see what she would come back with from the seminar in Chicago.
September 28th: (4 hours)
Maria told me to start thinking of ideas for Pinterest boards and gave me permission to start working on that. I also had created her hoot suite account and did some research on how to use it. I set that up, connected to her other social networks and sent her the social medias that needed more attention. We also discussed that her twitter would be a huge help to getting Nature's Bridal out there.
Reflection: I finally felt like we were starting to get somewhere with the progress of Nature's Bridal.
October 1st: (2 hours)
We discussed that the first vlog/blog would be an about me. So I got started on the interview questions that I would want to ask Maria. She also asked me to start a tab on her website so that the vlog could go there as well. She learned in her seminar a bunch of useful information for safe sites to use for her company. We decided that Vimeo would be a great site since it doesn't let other advertisers take over.
Reflection: I liked learning about new sites and how to use them. I also liked that I had to come up with some interview questions because I've learned how to do interviews in my classes.
October 5th: (4 hours)
I learned more about hootsuite and created a marketing plan to promote her blog and vlog when we are ready to release it. I also learned a lot more about iMovie and how to edit the videos on interviews with Maria. I decided on the best way to film the About Me interview with Maria. We both agreed we should do a non-journalistic way and keep me in the video so it is more of a Q and A type interview. I also came up with the first week of shooting materials we would do and what we would need for them listed below:
First week of Vlog shooting:
1. Interview
a. Interview questions
2. How to properly lace your corset
a. Dress size 2
3. Why go to a bridal show?
a. Page of return address labels
4. What to expect when entering a bridal shop
a. Strapless bra, corset back/bra
b. Pair of high heels
c. Wedding planning book
d. Phone
5. What to expect when going to a fitting
a. Pair of high heels (your shoes)
b. Undergarments
c. Jewelry
Reflection: I was excited to get started on the interview portion since we had learned about videoing interviews in my classes. I knew more about editing them and was eager to help out!
October 8th: (4 hours)
I gave Maria the interview questions so that she could prepare for the on camera part. We also planned where everything would be recorded. These are the interview questions I came up with to give the viewers more background on Maria Demetriou:
Interview Questions for 1st blog:
1. How did you get started in the bridal industry?
2. Background info—where did you grow up? Education?
3. Growing up, were you into fashion design or sewing?
4. When did you know you wanted to get into redesign?
5. Who or what were your inspirations for starting nature’s bridal?
6. How would YOU describe nature’s bridal?
7. What would be your main goal you want to achieve with nature’s bridal?
8. What was one of your greatest accomplishments?
Reflection: I was getting impatient with starting to film the vlog, but we had to wait for her friend Megan who had all the technology to do so in a professional way.
October 12th: (4 hours)
We were recording this week so she wanted to make sure I had some undergarments and shoes to use for the preparation of the vlog. She also wanted me to come up with a definitive plan for getting followers on all of her sites. I came up with a few ways I knew would be effective for her company:
How to promote Nature’s Bridal:
• Constantly tweet with the same hashtag
• Start a twitter chat with a hashtag
• Each social media announces when a new blog is up/coming up
• Follow other people related to your topic
• Catchy post lines that make people want to read
• Share other peoples blogs so they are more inclined to share yours
• Make sure it is noticeable that the blog is to benefit them
• Use lots of photos
• Ask close friends to share your blogs
Reflection: I thought that coming up with ways to promote the non-profit was very challenging but it was something I found myself liking a lot. I'm in a advertising and promotions class so I thought this was right up the alley of what I was learning right now.
October 15th: (6 hours)
We started recording a few segments today. It was interesting to see how many angles we would need to get to make sure the videos weren't so boring to watch. I actually got to wear a wedding dress to be a demonstration for how to lace up a corset. I also did the on-camera interview with Maria. I was also in charge of moving the furniture so that the back drop was good for the camera. I had to use the video camera and find good lighting for the video too. Here is a one vlog post we did so far:
Reflection: I loved doing the actual videoing. It was nerve wracking at first, but once we got going it was so fun. Maria and Megan made me feel super comfortable. I learned that it does take a few takes for you to get the one shot you need. It was also super cool to try on a wedding dress! (I've never done that before so it made me excited for future experiences!!!)
October 19th: (4 hours)
Maria asked me to research ways to optimize her blog so I spent a lot of time doing that. I also looked at the "How to Lace Up a Corset" video that we recorded and gave Maria and Megan any feedback on how I thought it turned out. She also told me to look at how I would write the video in blog form so I began to think about that.
Reflection: I found that optimizing your blog can be harder than it sounds. Yeah, there are a bunch of ways on the internet that tell you how but it's a lot more than just putting your blog out there. You really have to get it's own spotlight and find what makes your blog stand out in comparison to all the others so people pay attention to yours.
October 22nd: (4 hours)
Maria and I began thinking about a new storefront location for when she can actually get her designs and classroom into an actual Nature's Bridal store. We also found some examples for handbook policies and procedures for the future storefront location. She wanted me to make a handbook index/table of contents that would be appropriate for employees of her store.
Reflection: I finally got a chance to see where Maria was going with her non profit business. Her goal to make a storefront location seemed like a long ways away but was definitely inspiring.
October 26th: (2 hours)
I began working on the handbook table of contents for the policies manual. It took kind of a while to decide what I should include and not include for her specific needs. There are no benefits to working there so I made sure not to include those!
Reflection: I found this kind of difficult because I've never had to do something like this and I had a hard time deciding what I should include. A lot of the samples were completely different.
October 29th: (2 hours)
I reviewed what I had done for the table of contents and edited it again. I also started writing the blog form of the "How To Lace Up a Corset" video. I edited her website to add the video and the blog form of the video. Maria made sure that the video and blog were in two separate sections because some people prefer video over written directions and vice versa.
Reflection: I found writing the blog form of a How To video really fun. It was a way to get creative and to show how much Maria knew about dress fittings and gowns in general.
November 2nd: (4 hours)
She told me to think of creative ideas for the intro to her vlog, kind of like a little jingle to become her staple, so I thought of some ideas and research others that people have already created. I started thinking about her mission statement to put in the introduction part of the handbook.
Reflection: I felt a little creatively challenged when I tried to think of an intro to her vlog but it was fun researching some others. I also was eager to start filming the other videos for her vlog and didn't know if I would be there long enough to complete them all!
November 5th: (5 hours)
Maria, Megan, and I all met at Maria's newly bought house in Salisbury to go over the edits for the interview part of the vlog. Maria made us dinner and set up the desktop computer in her sunroom so we could edit every single video and decide on which ones we liked the best. I was the interviewer interviewing Maria on her and her business. Maria made me make all the calls on which we should use so I was in full control.
Reflection: It was fun meeting in a different location. Her new house was beautiful and her family is so nice so I felt comfortable and at home. I liked that she made me decide on which videos we would use because we had to take several takes before we got each one just right. I also had just worked with iMovie in my mobile journalism class so I was familiar with editing and how it should look.
November 9th: (2 hours)
Maria reviewed my blog form of the video and my table of contents and told me what to fix, so I worked on that a little bit.
Reflection: I thought that it was funny how everything I was learning in my classes directly related with what I was doing. It was good to have those skill sets so I could accomplish what I was given.
November 12th: (2 hours)
We went over the final drafts of the table of contents, as well as the blog and I posted that on her website. She also wanted me to created a Section B for her handbook, including how to act in the workplace, how to answer the phone, etc.
Reflection: I work at South Moon Under so I found the handbook assignment relating to that. We have a specific handbook and rules we go by at SMU so I knew how important it was to have one in any business. I also told her I would look at SMU's to see if I can come up with anything else she might want to include.
November 19th: (4 hours)
We discussed what my final projects would be for the semester, as it comes to an end. We made some goals to get another Vlog shoot in and make them into blogs for her website. We also planned two more meeting times to go to her workshop at her house and transfer her work to the new workshop in her new house.
Reflection: I realized how fast this semester was going and felt more and more grateful for the time Maria devoted to me learning more about her business and about marketing/writing in general. I thought that this practicum couldn't have been a better fit for me!
November 30th: (4 hours)
Maria couldn't find her camera so we decided we would drive to Ocean Pines and get all her Nature's Bridal material to transfer it to her new house/workspace.
Reflection: It was fun to get to know Maria a little bit more on the way to and from Ocean Pines (her name actually isn't Maria, it's Marie.) She had a ton of material and ribbon and veils, it was cool to see how many gowns she had worked on or had stored.
December 3rd: (5 hours)
For my final practicum day, I brought Maria her homemade chocolate chip cookies and handwritten thank you card. We started shooting the rest of the vlog topics and transferred more of her materials to her new house.
Reflection: It was a wonderful experience helping Maria out with her non-profit organization. I think that she is extremely talented and inspirational! I can't wait to see where Nature's Bridal goes in the future and I thank Maria for all her mentoring.
Total Hours: 94
Here is the YouTube video of my Interview with Maria for Nature's Bridal:
October 19th: (4 hours)
Maria asked me to research ways to optimize her blog so I spent a lot of time doing that. I also looked at the "How to Lace Up a Corset" video that we recorded and gave Maria and Megan any feedback on how I thought it turned out. She also told me to look at how I would write the video in blog form so I began to think about that.
Reflection: I found that optimizing your blog can be harder than it sounds. Yeah, there are a bunch of ways on the internet that tell you how but it's a lot more than just putting your blog out there. You really have to get it's own spotlight and find what makes your blog stand out in comparison to all the others so people pay attention to yours.
October 22nd: (4 hours)
Maria and I began thinking about a new storefront location for when she can actually get her designs and classroom into an actual Nature's Bridal store. We also found some examples for handbook policies and procedures for the future storefront location. She wanted me to make a handbook index/table of contents that would be appropriate for employees of her store.
Reflection: I finally got a chance to see where Maria was going with her non profit business. Her goal to make a storefront location seemed like a long ways away but was definitely inspiring.
October 26th: (2 hours)
I began working on the handbook table of contents for the policies manual. It took kind of a while to decide what I should include and not include for her specific needs. There are no benefits to working there so I made sure not to include those!
Reflection: I found this kind of difficult because I've never had to do something like this and I had a hard time deciding what I should include. A lot of the samples were completely different.
October 29th: (2 hours)
I reviewed what I had done for the table of contents and edited it again. I also started writing the blog form of the "How To Lace Up a Corset" video. I edited her website to add the video and the blog form of the video. Maria made sure that the video and blog were in two separate sections because some people prefer video over written directions and vice versa.
Reflection: I found writing the blog form of a How To video really fun. It was a way to get creative and to show how much Maria knew about dress fittings and gowns in general.
November 2nd: (4 hours)
She told me to think of creative ideas for the intro to her vlog, kind of like a little jingle to become her staple, so I thought of some ideas and research others that people have already created. I started thinking about her mission statement to put in the introduction part of the handbook.
Reflection: I felt a little creatively challenged when I tried to think of an intro to her vlog but it was fun researching some others. I also was eager to start filming the other videos for her vlog and didn't know if I would be there long enough to complete them all!
November 5th: (5 hours)
Maria, Megan, and I all met at Maria's newly bought house in Salisbury to go over the edits for the interview part of the vlog. Maria made us dinner and set up the desktop computer in her sunroom so we could edit every single video and decide on which ones we liked the best. I was the interviewer interviewing Maria on her and her business. Maria made me make all the calls on which we should use so I was in full control.
Reflection: It was fun meeting in a different location. Her new house was beautiful and her family is so nice so I felt comfortable and at home. I liked that she made me decide on which videos we would use because we had to take several takes before we got each one just right. I also had just worked with iMovie in my mobile journalism class so I was familiar with editing and how it should look.
November 9th: (2 hours)
Maria reviewed my blog form of the video and my table of contents and told me what to fix, so I worked on that a little bit.
Reflection: I thought that it was funny how everything I was learning in my classes directly related with what I was doing. It was good to have those skill sets so I could accomplish what I was given.
November 12th: (2 hours)
We went over the final drafts of the table of contents, as well as the blog and I posted that on her website. She also wanted me to created a Section B for her handbook, including how to act in the workplace, how to answer the phone, etc.
Reflection: I work at South Moon Under so I found the handbook assignment relating to that. We have a specific handbook and rules we go by at SMU so I knew how important it was to have one in any business. I also told her I would look at SMU's to see if I can come up with anything else she might want to include.
November 19th: (4 hours)
We discussed what my final projects would be for the semester, as it comes to an end. We made some goals to get another Vlog shoot in and make them into blogs for her website. We also planned two more meeting times to go to her workshop at her house and transfer her work to the new workshop in her new house.
Reflection: I realized how fast this semester was going and felt more and more grateful for the time Maria devoted to me learning more about her business and about marketing/writing in general. I thought that this practicum couldn't have been a better fit for me!
November 30th: (4 hours)
Maria couldn't find her camera so we decided we would drive to Ocean Pines and get all her Nature's Bridal material to transfer it to her new house/workspace.
Reflection: It was fun to get to know Maria a little bit more on the way to and from Ocean Pines (her name actually isn't Maria, it's Marie.) She had a ton of material and ribbon and veils, it was cool to see how many gowns she had worked on or had stored.
December 3rd: (5 hours)
For my final practicum day, I brought Maria her homemade chocolate chip cookies and handwritten thank you card. We started shooting the rest of the vlog topics and transferred more of her materials to her new house.
Reflection: It was a wonderful experience helping Maria out with her non-profit organization. I think that she is extremely talented and inspirational! I can't wait to see where Nature's Bridal goes in the future and I thank Maria for all her mentoring.
Total Hours: 94
Here is the YouTube video of my Interview with Maria for Nature's Bridal: