Seeing the world through a viewfinder since the age of 10, Gemma Speichinger, senior, developed a love of and passion for photography. 

Now, she shares her photoshoots and videography on her Instagram account, originally making the account private.

“Eventually, I decided that I wanted to make it public so that when I posted new photos, especially sports shoots, people would be updated with what I’d been working on,” Speichinger said. 

Speichinger has collected over 300 followers on her account, @gemmaspeich.photos, using her Sony A7 to photograph her favorite subjects: sports and people. 

Speichinger said that she loved being able to share her photos with others and to show off her passion, and she continues to take photos and share them online, becoming inspired by taking Photography I and II. 

“I want to intern in a creative field,” Speichinger said. “I plan to continue my love of photography into college and into my future career.” 

Abbey Gradle, photography teacher, tries to encourage creativity and expression for her students by teaching them how to use digital and film cameras, along with how to use their personal devices to capture shots. 

Gradle tries to teach more about composition rules and what qualities make a good photo, rather than how to use a fancy camera.

“I think at the beginning, giving them more structure helps them develop their own creative eye,” Gradle said.

This has pushed students to embrace what they were already comfortable using: their phones and social media.  

“It helps spark their interest outside of the classroom,” Gradle said. 

Growing up with parents who are passionate about photography, Emma Hayes, junior, learned about self-expression through photos.

“I’ve really liked photography ever since middle school,” Hayes said. “But I didn’t actually get into it until I got a camera last summer.” 

After being gifted a Canon G7 X, Hayes said she began finding any excuse to take photos. Once in high school, she was able to take Photography 1 and 2, as well as taking Yearbook Production this past year.

Taking yearbook has inspired Hayes to share her photography with others. She created an Instagram account, @emmahayes_photography, where she has acquired almost 100 followers and shares her shots of school events, nature and her favorite subject— her friends. 

“I like doing photoshoots with my friends,” Hayes said. “It’s always really fun.”

Unlike most of the other student photographers, Nick Lee, senior, didn’t take a photography or production class. 

“I started seeing a lot of digital photography going viral on social media,” Lee said. 

Since he didn’t have any education about photography or elements of composition, he poured over YouTube for tutorials for taking good pictures and using his Canon PowerShot SD500. 

Lee also has his own Instagram account, @picsbynicklee, where he has accumulated just under 200 followers.

“I like photography because it helps encapsulate moments with my friends, having fun and people just having a good time,” Lee said.