A Students Point of View: Advertising Photo at RIT
I thought my next blog post should be about my major, the BFA photo in advertising photography. What is advertising photography? As you might have guessed, some of the courses teach how students how to make photographs that you see in magazines, in posters, or on social media. It’s a type of commercial photography that reaches out to people and helps them want to buy things. Photography plays such an important role in marketing because it tells stories and talks to specific audiences. RIT provides many resources and connections to help students on their way in this collegiate chapter of their lives. Before heading out to the real world, we take classes in advertising photography principles, light and control, still life, portraits, and mastering the Adobe software suite.
It seemed useful to share three current students’ perspectives on the major.
Maria Christian is a senior. She is a transfer student and came to RIT to grow more skills in her photography. Maria enjoys the multidimensional aspects of advertising and production. This ranges from shooting, retouching, selling, and giving that “full circle” effect. This gives her full control on her creative ideas and bringing them to life. Maria believes RIT can help her achieve her dream of shooting in New York City and growing and growing to become the best.
Dannie Marsella is a junior and is also a transfer student. She was inspired seeing other RIT students’ photography online and decided to pursue advertising photography herself. She thought advertising photography was unique because of the methods an artist can use to convey narratives to specific audiences. Dannie suggest if you pursue this program, take your time shooting and pushing yourself harder. This will deepen your knowledge instead of packing it up and just doing “good enough” work. This mindset helped her get an internship at Kodak!
Ben Berkes is a sophomore and suggests trying “everything” especially something that seems “scary” or “foreign”. Get out of your comfort zone because you never know when you will learn something that you might use later. Being out of his comfort zone helped him when he practices lighting outside of class. Ben wanted to know more about lighting so he gave himself self directed assignments by using various pieces of equipment from the cage. Ben appreciates the craft that goes into lighting, the depth that is taught in his classes. All this hard work and knowledge, he hopes to making a living in shooting commercial or editorial work!
I thought I too, would offer some observations about my major. I am a sophomore and came to RIT to study advertising photography. I like that it is a close-knit community. I feel comfortable in this environment and it allows me to express my ideas in my photos. It gives me numerous challenges in developing new skills and become a better photographer. With the help of amazing professors – that come from different backgrounds – I am pushed every day to improve. I believe RIT is helping me prepare to work for an amazing fashion magazine or help me consider opening my own business! One piece of advice I would give is keep dreaming big or go home. RIT is the beginning of my making my own dreams come true.
Advertising Photography is more than taking pictures of pretty or cool things. It’s really about the experience that leads us to get there. RIT allows different people from all different places to grow creativity and expand the things you can do using it. What I have learned from my friends is they saw RIT as their chance to pursue their goals as photographers and do new things. With all the connections and resources in our community, it can help you find your voice!
About Emily SuDock
Emily SuDock is a second-year advertising photography student who is also cross-registered in the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. I have been hard of hearing most of my life. I was born in China adopted by my loving family. They are a big part of life. I have a Nikon 600 with a 35 mm lens which I love taking portraits with.