Benefits of Program
Lighting is a key element in photography. Throughout the year there are various student assignments that require proper lighting and clean backgrounds to complete. If we had studio lights for students to use, their portrait, still life, compositional, and commercial shots would come out better and more professional. It would also enhance their overall educational experience and the skills they gain.
Additionally, if we had access to five studio pop-up tents, the still life, compositional, and commercial shots would come out with a cleaner, more professional background. With the lights and the tents, students will learn how to really use lighting in photography to help create emphasis on the subject, something critical in professional photography.
These tools would be a huge improvement over what the students have access to currently. The lights I use now are lights on cords similar to what construction working use at a job site. They work but I only have three, they are not on stand but can be clipped to things to hold them into place. Other times students use their flashlights on their phones to project light. When it comes to studio setups and backgrounds the students use my matte boards, paper, and different fabric I have leaned up or taped to the wall or stools to hold them in place. Studio lighting and tents would make the photo shoots more professional and give students a more real-life experience to what they would have if they were working in the field in photography.