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A Photography Internship

By Evelyn Mead

By SUNY Oneonta

December 10^th, 2025

MY EXPERIENCE

During the Fall 2025 semester, I had the privilege of working as a Student Photography Intern with the Office of Communication and Marketing at SUNY Oneonta. Not only did this experience grant me more technical knowledge as a photographer and teach me about event and candid photography, but also about different departments and people on campus I never would have gotten to meet on my own.

Jean Parish Scholarship Gallery

One of the first events I photographed was the reception for the Jean Parish scholarship gallery exhibition. This gallery space was a challenge to shoot in due to the varying light levels and yellow hue of the lights. This taught me a lot about shooting in difficult locations.

Fall Club Expo

Club Expo was a fun event to shoot! It was exciting getting to meet so many people from such different clubs! Some standouts were Mask and Hammer, OK! Crew and the brand new RITMO Latin Dance Club.

Parade of Nations

The Parade of Nations was my first larger outdoor event. In addition to the parade, the event also featured live music from Alex Torres & his Latin Orchestra, dancing with RITMO Latin Dance Club for their Oneonta debut, and delicious food.

Women’s Soccer vs. Vassar

My first sporting event! This was the event I was the most nervous about since I had never photographed sports before. Luckily, there were other photographers there who gave me some fantastic advice! After that, I picked it up quickly and got some of my favorite photos from the semester.

Men's Soccer vs. RPI

The men's soccer team crushed RPI in this game and it was an amazing experience getting to capture the boys celebrating as they scored goal after goal!

Carving Out a Life

This gallery exhibition featured the work of Mary Michael Shelly, a self-taught artist based in Ithaca, NY, who has been making acrylic-painted relief wood carvings since the mid-1970s. Her carvings span from farm-based scenes inspired by her childhood to nostalgic depictions of diners and gentle carvings of sailboats drifting on ocean waves.

The Firebugs

This play, presented by the Oneonta Theatre department and the Mask and Hammer Theater Club, explores themes of trust and naivety, as well as more abstract and theoretical concepts, such as being sent to hell and encountering the Devil.

Fall Family Weekend Carnival

This carnival is one of the biggest events during Family Weekend. There are games, food, activities put on by various departments and clubs, and a chance to meet our amazing mascot, Red!

Women's Volleyball vs. Cortland

My final sporting event of the semester and my only indoor one. This game presented new challenges due to the closer proximity of the bleachers and the quicker response time I needed in order to keep up. All in all an amazing experience!

Costume Class

I got to stop into one of my favorite places on campus, the costume shop, to take some updated class photos for Professor Bethany Marx's Costume class. Students were learning how to construct a basic bodice with darts as well as how to use industrial sewing machines and steamers.

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) Class

This student-led workout class is open to all SUNY Oneonta students! This 60-minute class combines short bursts of movement with rest periods to build strength, endurance and confidence, and instructor Katie Dauenheimer offers modifications for all fitness levels, so you can go at your own pace.

Commuter Hub Opening

This semester, we saw the opening of the campus' first commuter hub! This lounge has games, snacks, and a calm refreshing atmosphere that students can use for resting, studying and more! The staff opened the space with an affirmation jar-making event to encourage community and positive thinking.

Halloween in the Halls

Every year the campus hosts Halloween in the Halls for local families and kids. Kids can enjoy a carnival with games and activities before following one of the student tour guides to a dorm hall for trick-or-treating!

Plant and Sip

This was one of many events that happened during Oneonta's First Gen Week, a whole week dedicated to celebrating first generation college students. The plant and sip was host by Tri Alpha, the first gen honor society. As a fist gen student myself, I was delighted to cover this event and meet other first gen students and staff!

Scapino

Another amazing performance by the Oneonta Theatre department and the Mask and Hammer Theater Club. This play, set in Italy, follows the main character Scapino as he helps two young men find love while he plays tricks on their fathers. This play will make you laugh while the animated performers capture your heart.

Screenprinting

This class is an introduction to silk-screen printing on paper. Emphasis is on the technical aspects of the medium, the design process involved specifically in this medium, and the process of individual concept development.

Terps on Broadway

This semester, the Terps show was Broadway themed, with dances to songs from Annie, Wicked and many more. The show featured dances from Xclusive Dance Crew, RITMO Latin Dance Club and OK! Crew. Earlier this semester, the campus experienced the loss of Emily Finn, who was a cherished member of this dance group. They honored Emily in multiple dances by wearing pink and purple ribbons.

MURPH

This solo gallery show by Owen Sullivan is the first to display solely animation content. Owen's animated story MURPH follows an anthropomorphic dog who fights villains in various settings. Displayed works included a wild west-style animation and a modern one titled Catzilla!

On Campus Candid Marketing

When there wasn't an event to cover, I took candid photos of students on campus. These photos feature students walking to and from classes, studying, waiting for the bus, and chatting outside one of our on-campus cafes!