Stevenson University’s new photography club offers opportunities for those who may want to pursue a career in the field or who are just looking to improve their Instagram game.

The club, founded by Elena Volkova, assistant professor of graphic design (formerly art and visual communication design), was created to engage students with an interest in photography outside of the classroom.

Lacey DeJordy, president of the club, noted that the difference between the club and a photography class is that the club members “have the ability to decide what we want to learn and how we want to learn it. There’s no curriculum we have to meet.” Members can suggest activities to participate in or skills they want to learn.

As such, the club focuses on all areas of photography – from studio photography to mobile photography and more – depending on which subjects members wish to hone in on. The club’s programming is flexible and open to different activities and workshops.

During the fall semester, the photography club traveled to Washington, D.C. for “FotoWeek” as well as to the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills to experiment with nature photography.

Looking ahead, the club will hold a photography workshop for the fashion department on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. The workshop will guide students in the fashion program in showcasing and marketing their work through photography and social media.

Additionally, the club has tentative plans to host a Lightroom crash course next semester to further educate students in post-production photography. DeJordy hopes that the club can travel more next semester to photo exhibitions and museums in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

DeJordy emphasizes that the club is open to everyone, whether or not the student has any photography experience. Participants don’t even need to own a camera; iPhone and cell phone cameras are welcome, and camera equipment can be rented from the Cage in the School of Design (SOD).

“We hope to teach students not only how to properly use cameras and photo equipment but also how to develop themselves as artists and photographers. By mastering basic skills, there is a greater opportunity to expand creatively,” DeJordy said.

The photography club meets on the first and third Friday of every month at 2 p.m. in SOD 125 (OMN). For those interested in signing up for the club, contact Volkova, DeJordy or Taylor Guerin through campus email.