I got to know Sinjun over the past year at SVA. We met during transfer student orientation on the first day! Now we are finishing up finals for our last week before summer. Here's what I learned from her during our interview and photo shoot

Storm: "When did you decide you wanted to go to School of Visual Arts NYC?"

Sinjun: "I was really frustrated with my previous school, it wasn't the best environment for exploring fashion photography. It was only conceptual fine art and we were just not on the same page. But my parents wouldn't let me look at New York schools because they thought it would be too expensive. They would say, "Since you're supporting yourself 100% there's no way you can swing New York, don't even attempt." Then I was visiting a friend in NYC last summer. And I thought, I'm here without my parents, I'm just gonna go look at these schools real quick and not tell anyone. So I get inside of SVA and I was like, "Dayum. Compared to my last school this has got to be about $50K, there's no way I can afford this." But then I looked it up, and it ended up being $8K cheaper than my last school! So I thought, if I can get a scholarship again, I'm definitely transferring. So, I busted my ass and applied for a scholarship and it ended up working out! Once I figured out all of the financial stuff I was able to approach my parents and tell them, 'I AM DOING THIS!'"

Storm: "How is the photo department at SVA?"

Sinjun: "So sick! They just from day one had everything that I needed. One thing is that it was hard to adjust at first, there are all these rules. At my last school, you kind of just played around, the building was open for 24 hours and you could bring in anyone you wanted and do whatever you wanted, except you couldn't actually rent any equipment as a sophomore. But here, even freshmen can check stuff out for free. Once I figured out the way things go around here everything was super convenient."

Storm: "Do you feel like you've expanded your style in your first year here? How has it changed?"

Sinjun: "Yes. Definitely. It's changed because I can actually use what I want to use. I couldn't explore studio photography at all at my last school. My teacher was literally like, "This is a strobe, this is an umbrella, go for it!" And that was it?! He said, "Yeah just take these home and play with them." We also only had a grey backdrop, and a black and white fabric backdrop. That's it! And if you wanted to take them out it was about $5/foot, it was ridiculous. So yeah, I never used that studio. At SVA, we have a ton of seamless of all different colors and it's included in tuition, so I've really been taking advantage. My style is probably going to change again though, because even though I've loved the formal training, my latest work has been a little too clean and commercial for me. I think I'm going to start changing up how I'm lighting things, which will move things in my original inspired direction but using all of the technical skills I've learned here."

Storm: "How would you describe your aesthetic?"

Sinjun: "Colorful!" (giggles all around) "I've also been exploring the fine line of really beautiful and also kinda creepy. That's not in all of my work but half of the work I've been doing this year has been like that. I'm interested in something being beautiful but really off-putting at the same time, I just love that pairing."

Storm: "What's a project from photo class that you liked?"

Sinjun: "All of our prompts have been pretty simple, like, 'make a jean ad.' Very basic so that we have a lot of opportunity to do what we want. I've really enjoyed my fashion class this year, it's helped me figure out what I want, and figuring out the basics of working in a time crunch."

Storm: "What's a project that turned out really well for you?"

Sinjun: "I really liked a lot of stuff I shot in Puerto Rico. They have weird lights anyway, they have a lot of greens and weird shades of yellow. So I never really had to set up any secondary lighting. I could just explore and find it. Also, the plant life there is so cool. I had so much fun playing with shadows. I'm going back for sure."

Storm: "Do you think you're going to be traveling more after this photography trip?"

Sinjun: "Yeah, definitely. Also, my parents live in England so once I graduate I'm pretty sure I'm going to head over there and utilize where they live as a home base for traveling around Europe."

Storm: "Sounds dreamy. It's crazy being a transfer student, once you're so happy here you already have to think about life after graduation!"

Sinjun: "Yeah, I luckily know what I'm doing for my thesis but I'm going to hold off talking about that for now. What I will say is that it's the only thing I've envisioned as a series within an actual gallery space."

Storm: "Any concepts you can let the readers in on?"

Sinjun: "All I'll say is that my work isn't really conceptual besides just wanting to represent women well. For example, I don't like to use models. My friends are super beautiful, and people I meet randomly are, too. Other than that, I wouldn't say my work is conceptual. I just like to make really pretty things."

Storm: "Whats another medium you like but don't have time for?"

Sinjun: "I really do everything. I paint, draw, sew, knit...I just like to make things. That's another thing that I'm going to get back into my studio practice. All my living situations have been really cramped and weird lately. At my last school, I used my living room for everything. I sewed all my outfits for my shoots, did a lot of paper maché... Anyway I'm moving to a loft soon so hopefully I will have enough space to really do what I need to. I don't like to just take photos, I like my hand to be in every part of it. Photography isn't limiting in that way which is great. But overall raw drawing is something I haven't had time for in a while."

Storm: "What would you draw?"

Sinjun: "I draw really realistically, studies of people and animals. But recently I've been writing a lot instead of drawing. A lot of my writing has been transferred into scripts for my video work. Oh! Film & Video class here, I forgot to mention is one of my favorites! I'm stoked for my final project, I spent so much time on it."

Storm: "What's the video? I loved your last one with all the pink lighting."

Sinjun: "It's a poem I wrote that I am using as a narrative. Just about the transition from high school to adulthood. It hit me pretty hard this year, I've been through a lot of hardships with moving before this. I've been tested emotionally and mentally, but none of it was as hard as this year. I fully realized I am an adult now. So the narrative is just about what that means and how my lifestyle has changed, certain things that I've forgotten make me happy that I need to incorporate back into my lifestyle. So it's a reflection but also about how to move forward. I took a bunch of videos that I shot in high school, then I shot a bunch of stuff these last couple of months with my friends and then I did a studio scene that is a representation of me, so they all intertwine...It'll make so much more sense when you see it! I'm aiming to finish it by Tuesday." (giggles/cries)

Storm: "You are always doing so much, I can't wait to see it!"

Sinjun: "Yeah this month is driving me a little crazy, I just accepted a job as a co-producer and stylist for a music video! During finals week."

Storm: "Oh my god, what?"

Sinjun: "Yup, it's fine, everything is going to be fine. But yeah, I don't even know if I'm allowed to say anything but its a crew from Kansas city that has been flying me out for jobs recently but now they're coming here so it's going to be awesome! Only thing is I'm going to have to set up everything for them and then immediately dip. Heading back to Puerto Rico."

To learn more about Sinjun Strom and her artwork, visit her websites:

http://www.sinjun-strom.com/

IG: @sstromphoto

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SinjunStromPhotography

And my personal favorite:

These Hands Of Mine