The University Daily Kansan
Monday, June 17, 2013
BUSINESS
Page 9
Graduate owns wedding photography company
MARK ARCE marce@kansan.com
Although some recent college graduates are struggling to find work, 2012 University graduate Jerry Wang is not among them.
Wang started his own small business, Jerry Wang Photography. His degrees in accounting and marketing helped launch his
Wang entered the wedding photography market because of the wide variety of clients.
business. He said he's now at a point in his business career where he is financially stable.
Wang
"I want to show up and be challenged," he said, "and because it's a different situation and different
people, that's what was attractive to me about weddings, because yes the ceremony and the traditions are the same, but every wedding is different."
While every wedding is unique, Wang's
photos, and delivering their final product. "When I first started, it was pretty rough," Wang said. "I could have worked a part-time job and probably gotten paid more for it, but I loved what I was doing."
Wedding season in Kansas is usually between mid-May to October, with May and June being the most popular. Wang usually photographs 15 to 20 weddings a year.
Wang said the wedding photogaphy market is competitive because of the many other businesses that offer the same service.
approach to each one is the same. If a client hires him, he quickly sets off into "a full-service experience," which entails constant communication with his clients throughout his process of taking and editing
However, he turns adversity into opportunities to perfect his skills.
When Wang isn't working, he's in a state of constant self-improvement. He critiques his work after each wedding, attends conferences, workshops and networks with others in the industry.
"Yes, the ceremony is the same, but every wedding is different."
One of Wang's biggest goals is to set up a studio in Lawrence. He
hopes it will show potential clients what is available for them and to show what his business can offer.
JERRY WANG photographer "Part of what I wanted to do is provide a complete
experience with the wedding photography," he said, "and that's beginning to end."
— Edited by Megan Hinman
ASHLEIGH TIDWELL
atidwell@kansan.com
Graduation: It's supposed to be a grand step out into the real world. However, the job market has many grads moving back into their parents' home instead of into their own place.
Moving home becomes trend for recent grads
Recent graduate Hannah Rutzick is spending time at home to save money. Rutzick, a human biology major from Plymouth, Minn., moved back into her childhood bedroom and began training as a CNA while awaiting acceptance into medical school.
"Grad school is very expensive, so living at home for now is allowing me to save up money to help pay for those costs later on," Rutzick said. "It's nice because I don't have to pay rent like I did in college."
The Economic Policy Institute reports that the unemployment rate for recent graduates is 8.8 percent. Consequently, those students are going back home until they can secure a full-time job.
ADULTHOOD
This trend has led the generation to be nicknamed the boomerang
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ERIN BREEM/KANSAN
tunty to live off of mom and dad.
It's an opportunity to make yourself more marketable for a career in your field.
Pew Research center reported that 45 percent of young adults ages 18 to 24 move back in with their parents after graduation.
"If you want to go back home, that's cool," Gradington said. "But you can't stay there, so you have to have a plan."
She said it is an opportunity to become financially stable, but recent grads should also use the time and extra money to prepare for life on their own.
Leticia Gradington, program director of Student Money Management Services, said that moving back home is an excellent option for graduates who haven't yet found a job.
generation. In 2012 the
However, moving home is not for everyone.
Tyler Hogstrom, a communications major from Chicago who also graduated in May, considered the benefits of moving home before ultimately deciding against it.
"I thought it might be a good way to be able to pay back a large chunk of my student loans within one year," Hogstrom said. "But I didn't think I could move back in with people who were going to try to make rules for me."
Gradington said that moving back home shouldn't be seen as an oppo-
Edited by Allison Kohn
The Department of Theatre cordially invites all KU students to our Theatre Rally
Sunday, August 25th at 4 p.m. The Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall Learn about the University Theatre and how you can be involved in the 2013-14 Season!
Auditions
Auditions Open call auditions begin Monday, August 26th at 7p.m. Open to all students of every major! Sign up online at sites.google.com/site/ukantheatre/ or call 785-864-3381 for more information.
The University of Kansa
Shows coming Fall 2013
Dracula by Bram Stoker, adapted
by Dennis Christilles
And I and Silence by Naomi Wallace
Adding Machine: A Musical by
Joshua Schmidt & Jason Loewith
The Maderati by Richard Greenberg