Brooks Institute of Photography FALSE PROMISES FROM THIS SCHOOL. DON'T EVER GO THERE. THEY TEACH YOU NOTHING!!! Santa Barbara California

I was recently informed about this smearing article written about Brooks Institute as well myself and a colleague. I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the criticism and the writer, Carina.

I don't want this to only be a battle of who said what, but would like to acknowledge the sense of urgency Brooks conveys to the students about the importance of following up with models, make-up artists, collaborators...etc. One particular professor has threatened failure if there is no follow up.

Carina,
I am dismayed that you would not take accountability for the lack of communication during the time in question.
If you remember correctly you told me you were being stalked by someone and you changed your phone # regularly.
On your model release, you signed it Carina J (leaving out the full name to protect your anonymity). However in the Brooks book, the name is Carina K. Moreover, on your zed card, your name is Carina H. There was no way to track you. Neither your aol email address or your darling divas address stayed valid.

If you can recall, I emailed you I would settle all the prints after my class was over. I NEVER RECEIVED A SINGLE MESSAGE FROM YOU. I'm seriously bothered that you claim to have left numerous messages for me, via email or telephone. I was at Brooks for another year post our shoot. I didn't disappear into thin air.

Please think deep in your mind before you file such accusations.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Carrie Friedman

Carina, I just received an email from a friend about your complaint. I wish I had known sooner. I am very good about getting prints to models and if you did not receive any prints from me there had to have been a mix up somewhere. It has been a few years so I am having a hard time remembering who you are (we use a lot of models and I apologize but I do not remember them all) but I want to fix this.

Just so you are aware I never received any phone calls asking about your prints so I have a feeling that could have been part of the problem- an inability to reach eachother.

I understand why you are upset and I only hope that it is not too late to resolve this. I am happy to accomodate you with images and a personal apology for the inconvenience I may have caused you.

Please do not take the misunderstanding between us as a sign of a poor education from Brooks Institute of Photography. The school as well as myself firmly believe in delivering on promises made.

I have attempted to get in touch with you by contacting the school and calling the numbers listed on the zed card they have on file for you. Both numbers were disconnected. I am now trying to reach you through this posting with the hopes that I can fix this.