Full Sail Stories

Full Sail University’s Camera Club recently held a workshop for students to learn how to take professional headshots. The workshop was led by Shawn Rinehart, Art Director for Staff & Cultural Development, who has years of experience taking headshots for Full Sail staff and faculty.

During the workshop, Shawn spoke to students about adjusting lighting and cameras to get the perfect shot, gave tips on using Adobe Lightroom editing software, and shared advice on relationally connecting with subjects so they feel at ease during a shoot. He had a mock photography studio set up with a mannequin posing in front of the camera and walked students through his process of prepping his equipment for a shoot, getting everything set up, and executing the shoot. Then students got the chance to get behind the camera themselves, take shots, and get feedback.

The Camera Club allows students at different stages in their academic journeys and from various degree programs, including Film, Digital Cinematography, and Game Business & Esports, to come together and talk all things photography. Club members can expand their network of fellow photographers, learn about new tech, and hone their photography skills with hands-on practice. The club operates in collaboration with Sony, who provided them with a plethora of cameras, lenses, and other equipment.

“The idea of the Camera Club is to get students’ hands on different cameras and lenses while learning and experiencing situations that help them develop as photographers,” said Justin Mack, club facilitator and Course Director for the Sports Marketing & Media and Sportscasting degree programs. “Shawn’s knowledge was well received by the students and staff that attended… [They got the chance] to learn how to shoot effective headshots with a big setup. At the same time, they learned how to shoot with no budget, yet still obtain a decent look.”