Back to School!!! I have to admit… this assignment was a LOT of fun! I recently had the opportunity to spend some time back in school — well, sort of — photographing marketing images for the Charleston County School District (CCSD), and I had a blast!
Over the course of the assignment, I visited five CCSD schools in North Charleston and West Ashley: Deer Park Elementary School, Pinehurst Elementary School, Northwoods Middle School, W.B. Goodwin Elementary School, and Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School. At each school, the principal took me on a whirlwind tour of classrooms, activities, and all the wonderful things happening throughout their buildings. And WOW… there was a LOT happening!
I photographed students learning, reading, working together, creating, exploring and, of course, having a little fun along the way. I also had the chance to meet and photograph some of the outstanding teachers who make these schools such special places. Seeing the enthusiasm of the students and the dedication of their teachers was incredibly inspiring. Honestly, it made me feel like a kid again!!!
The photographs from these sessions will be used by the Charleston County School District to market and promote each of the schools, giving prospective families a glimpse into what makes each campus unique. Rather than simply photographing empty classrooms and buildings, I wanted to capture the energy and personality of each school — the students, teachers and everyday moments that really tell the story. And there is certainly no shortage of stories to tell at CCSD!
Charleston County School District is the second-largest school district in South Carolina, serving approximately 50,000 students across roughly 90 schools and specialized programs. The district stretches across about 1,300 square miles and includes a remarkable mix of urban, suburban and rural schools. CCSD also offers an incredibly diverse range of educational opportunities, including neighborhood schools, magnet programs, International Baccalaureate, Montessori and charter schools. The district’s current website also reports that CCSD students receive nearly 50,000 meals and snacks every day, while school nurses make approximately 40,000 visits each month. That’s a LOT of students, teachers, meals and activity!
With a school system that large, you can probably guess that five schools only scratches the surface! I’m told we’ll be tackling some more schools next month, and I’m already looking forward to it. There are so many wonderful teachers, students and programs to photograph, and I love the challenge of finding those authentic little moments that make each school unique.
For this assignment, I kept my camera setup nice and light so I could move quickly from classroom to classroom. I carried two Nikon Z9 bodies, one with a Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II and the other with a Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8. That combination gave me plenty of flexibility without weighing me down, allowing me to quickly switch between wider environmental images and tighter portraits and candid moments.
After more than 25 years as a professional photographer, I’ve photographed just about every kind of event and assignment you can imagine. But one of the things I love most about photography is that every new assignment gives me a chance to experience something different. And spending a day in a school full of enthusiastic kids and dedicated teachers? YES PLEASE!!! Sign me up!
