My name is Mary and I currently live in Blacksburg, Virginia. I proudly serve my community as a Full-Time Visual Communications Manager at Virginia Tech in the Division of Student Affairs. 

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I have come such a long way since I first started my creative journey. I am very proud of my innate spontaneity, creativity, and charisma! Each new project I take on is a new opportunity to make some new connections and to capture impactful moments that people can cherish forever. 

 

As for my creative style, I like to let my creativity and my warm personality shine through in my work. I have an artistic eye when it comes to multimedia and you'll notice, as you look through my galleries, that my editing style is simple, yet compelling. I let my effective shot composition, synchronized cuts, and audio details tell the story. 

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I learned all this great stuff from my favorite place on earth - Virginia Tech! I have two esteemed degrees from Virginia Tech. In May 2018, I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Multimedia Journalism. Then, in May 2020, I earned my Master of Arts in Education degree in Instructional Design and Technology. 

 

When I am not working on shooting/editing photos and videos, I love to sing and listen to music (particularly oldies). I love to hike, play with my dog, strength train, and cook/eat good food.

I have the coolest Baby Boomer parents - John and Helen Desmond. I am the youngest of eight siblings - six brothers and one sister! We grew up on a cute little goat and sheep farm in Middlebrook, Virginia. I am very tied to the land I grew up on and I am eternally grateful for my humble upbringing in the foothills of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.