Do you want to be involved in photography but you're studying something else?
(either you’re not prepared/ready/willing to drop everything…and/or you’re almost done with your studies)
When I was younger, i dreamed about dropping everything to move to New York City, and become a photographer as soon as I graduated high school at age 17.
Something changed in me when that time came. I decided that I wanted a backup plan in case my creative pursuits didn’t work out. When it was time to apply to college, I was decent at photography but I wasn’t good. I wasn’t producing work at any working proficiency.
I enrolled in Rutgers University. First I was an undecided major, then I was Information Technology, then I wound up in my current major, Computer Science. I graduate in early 2016.
So one of my greatest struggles has always been: finding meaning and purpose during my time at school. I loved photography but I wasn’t ever going to drop out, so I asked myself: how can I make the most of my status as a student to advance my photography?
My first answer was: Jobs/Extracurriculars;
I applied for my first job as a freshman. I worked as the full-time associate photography editor at the Daily Targum for a year. At the Daily Targum, I was working with photojournalism which wasn’t my style, but in general, it challenged my eye for picking out which pictures were great pictures and which photographers were great photographers. Also, I got to travel to take pictures, like when I got my first all-expense-paid photography assignment in California. Being able to travel and experience new places, will always be a fantastic thing for an artist.
Since I co-lead photo meetings and hired staff photographers, every weekend I was meeting with people at my university who were interested in photography or I was speaking in photography clubs. I met a lot of like-minded friends, volunteer assistants for my shoots, and part-time shooters looking for critique/mentorship. I met so many people.
*a photo of my targum reunion, featuring (but not limited to) my photographer Nelson Morales, previous associate photo editor / EIC Rico Cabredo, current EIC Alex Meier, photographer Shawn Smith, and the sports editor I went to California with, Josh Bakan.
Then after my term ended as the Associate Photo Editor at the Daily Targum, I picked up a new position as the photography director of Trim Magazine, Rutgers’ fashion/culture magazine. I found a lot of purpose here. I liked fashion, portraiture, and magazine-style photography much more than I did photojournalism.
First I brought on, trained and mentored a staff of excellent fashion / portraiture / still-life editorial photographers in my department, then I helped revamp the website and when it came time to produce editorial content, I brought an expanded network of resources that I accumulated from my career as a photographer, including models, designers, and musicians that we were able to incorporate. Primarily, this position gave me skills in producing photo shoots, and working on deadline.
*first cover of Trim Magazine under my photo direction, shot by Aaron Laserna, a new friend that I made during my time at Trim. Model is Rain @ Major, who I met at a party during fashion week (but worked with her agent a bunch as well)
My second answer is: Internships!
When you’re a student, you have access to applying for internships during your summers / winters that are often closed to non-students. A lot of internships in the photography world…you don’t even have to be a photography major! That’s fantastic!
I was able to use my college credit to do an internship during the summer of my freshman year. I interviewed at Interview like a boss. I put a lot of weight on the fact I’ve worked as a photo editor at my university. Plus I knew all of the fashion photographers that shot for them (Gregory Harris, Sebastian Kim, Steven Klein, etc) and made sure to emphasize how much I loved their work for Interview magazine (referenced specific Interview shoots from them that stuck out in my head too).
*the September 2013 issue of Interview, cover by Mert and Marcus…which I helped with!
It was a great experience. I met a lot of friends there and have tried to keep in touch with all of my supervisors, after my internship ended. I still talk to two of my co-interns, Natalie, who started POND magazine which I did a feature for, and Wenjun, who I share a studio space with and is now a super accomplished photographer with clients like iD (and even Interview itself).
Simultaneously, I had another internship at Jack Studios that summer. I was there learning about photo equipment and studio managing, and i learned a ton.
Seriously, if you’re a student, go out and intern!
My third (and last) answer is: Student Discounts.
Pro-grade lighting equipment from Broncolor and Profoto is thousands of dollars less expensive (~40%ish) through their EDU programs that you’re eligible for if you’re a student! Plus, they have price increases on every piece of equipment, every year…so if you want legit lighting equipment someday, save up and make the investment! The BEST time for this, is when you’re a student.
So yeah, the best things in my life have happened while I was in college. I’m not knocking the DIY, no fallback plan, move-to-nyc right away to try and make it thing, or the “go to art school” thing, but I’m saying that’s not the ONLY way to do things. You can do your creative work, and study something practical to fall back on, if that is what works for you and makes you comfortable.
But if you’re in school for something practical, like me or Ann He (who’s involved as an editor in Stanfords’ Pulse Magazine), don’t let it get to you. You’re making a responsible decision (probably) and higher-level knowledge of any kind, makes you a well-rounded human.
My advice is: make the most of your time at school, go to class and go hard with your passion during your nights, weekends, summers, and winters. Then try going full-time when you graduate. If at first you don’t succeed, fall back into a job that you’re able to get with your degree. After all, lots of artists already support themselves with other jobs, in the beginning of their careers.
Anyway I look forward to my next post! I’m at the computer lab and heading to a Software Methodology lecture…then i’ll be home with a full plate of retouching and pre-production on my February projects.
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