Kate Hershey – Photography Internship

Over the past two years, I have had two extended internships. Last year I had my first internship at Webstaurant Store in their photography and editing department located in Lititz. This year I am doing my second internship at Garden Spot Village in the marketing department based in New Holland. Both internships have given me a better insight into the photography and marketing career world.

One of the main reasons I wanted to pursue the internship program was to observe and learn from individuals who do photography every day. A lot of the people I got to work with have been in the photography industry for many years. I had taken a photography course and learned about the basics, but nothing compares to the endless knowledge someone can gain by walking alongside a mentor. At Webstaurant and Garden Spot Village, I not only learned a lot about photography and advertising, but also skills like how to collaborate and problem solve. When I started the internship program, I had no idea how much of an impact both internships would have on my life.

I got my first camera for my 13^th birthday, and ever since then I haven’t been able to put a camera down. It is incredibly exciting that I will be able to go after my dream of being a photographer, and I feel like both my internships have played a big role in preparing me for going after it. I view photography as capturing a moment in time that will never occur the same way again. To me, that is so inspiring. I know that what I see through my camera lens will never, at any point in time, look the same. Then when I take a picture of that moment, it feels like I am preserving it for others to experience with me. That is why I am so passionate about photography, and I never want to stop.

My internships have taught me professionalism, perseverance, teamwork, and so much more. They showed me that hard work and having a positive attitude even when tasks get challenging go a long way. Getting to experience a two year-long photography internships has confirmed in my mind that I want to pursue a career in photography after high school. I will take everything I’ve learned over these past two years and apply it in the life and career that awaits me.