Picture-Perfect Spot: New library photo studio opens for students, employees, patrons
Contact: Pattye Archer
STARKVILLE, Miss.āSay cheese!
Taking professional, high-quality photos is now easier than ever for Mississippi State students as the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Libraries opens its new photography studio in the MaxxSouth Digital Media Center.
Located in the heart of campus, inside Mitchell Memorial Library, the new photo studio is free to use and is open to Ļć½¶Ö±²„students, faculty and staff, and community patrons.
According to Ļć½¶Ö±²„Libraries Associate Dean for Community Relations and Strategic Initiatives Stephen Cunetto, the photo studio was created in partnership with the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Office of Public Affairs to help meet the demand for professional headshots and photographs by the Ļć½¶Ö±²„family. Cunetto said funding and expertise from OPA was vital to the creation of the space.
āThe idea came to us from former OPA photographer (and current copyright and information policy specialist for Ļć½¶Ö±²„Libraries) Megan Bean,ā Cunetto said. āShe saw a growing demand for this kind of service and believed the libraryās central location made us the ideal spot.ā
Cunetto and his staff worked with Bean, photographer Beth Wynn, and OPA Senior Associate Director Harriet Laird to secure funding, a location and create a set of helpful hints and guidelines. The photo studio is available during Digital Media Center hours.
āThe universityās strategic plan has placed an emphasis on āserving the whole studentā and creating a space where students can quickly take professional self-portraits is a small value-added service to aid them in pursuing their goals,ā Laird said. āWhether for a class project, resume or job-search website, students are more often in need of a service like this, and Iām glad we found a way to partner with Ļć½¶Ö±²„Libraries to make this happen.ā
Ļć½¶Ö±²„Libraries Technology and Innovation Director Thomas La Foe said the space offers three solid backdropsāblack, white and greenāto allow flexibility, high-quality lighting, a phone stand, instructions and helpful hints..
āWe believe we have created a space where students can get quality photos with little assistance,ā he said.
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