All class assignments and most current grades can be found on our Canvas Page. 

Photography Teacher

Back to School Night video can be found HERE. This is from last year, but 99% is the same from last year. I also encourage guardians to check out their student's Canvas page for all current and updated information. It might even be fun to click around!

A quick about me for the readers - Born and raised in the Inland Empire, teaching is my second career. My first career was in the photo industry as a studio photographer and small business owner. I got my start working for a large South Asian wedding company and soon branched out to photograph portraits and events of all kinds. I absolutely love photography, so much that after volunteering at my old high school, I decided a career change was in store. I earned my teaching credential in art and was specifically focused on finding a school where I could build up a photography program, and I found that at Vista. I am 100% excited to be here and so proud of all the growth in the pathway over the last few years.

Here's a quick summary for each course:

Photo 1 - Not only a VPA (Visual and Performing Arts) A-G College Ready course, but the beginning of our CTE Photography Pathway. It is challenging and tech heavy! We cover Elements of Art, Rules of Composition, and learn Photoshop which is impressive for 9-12th graders. If your student is struggling in the class, please don't hesitate to reach out. All assignments are up in the Canvas course on Monday and due on Friday or Sunday midnight (for the weekly homework Photo Challenges). As a foundational CTE course (Career Technical Education) we do strive to build up not only technical skills, but the soft skills and professionalism that employees are looking for. As such, there are high expectations for being on task, focused, and ready to work each day. 

Photo 2 - Articulated with MSJC, students have the opportunity to earn free college credit by passing both Photo 1 and Photo 2. In this course, students learn the DSLR Cameras and the infamous "exposure triangle." Students also create mock businesses to explore branding and marking 101 and leave the course with a fully functional online portfolio, website, and professional instagram account (though it is their choice if they wish to continue it or not!). Students also learn new software including Bridge, Lightroom, and advanced features of Photoshop, which they learned in Photo 1. Students also submit to online art competition and learn about photojournalism, product, sports, stock, and event photography. 

Photo 3 - Our capstone experience, these students receive on the job experience as the school's "Bronco Student Photographers." Photoshoots outside of class are required and a foundation to a rich work experience. As our top level course, students are invited to field trips to meet with industry experts, learn studio lighting in our back studio, and complete a semester-long Personal Project. All these experience lead up to an end of the year art show, which if you haven't been to before, is quite the experience. These students leave ready to work as photographers with high communication, editing, and photographic skills. Students who complete Photo 1, 2, and 3 are honored pathway completors and recieve a special graduation cord and recognition at the end of the year.