Experiential learning weekend in Cleveland provides VISCOM students with real-world opportunities and deadlines

Eleven students from the Scripps College of Communication’s Visual Communication program are still talking about what they learned after participating in a weekend of experiential learning in Cleveland last month with Andrew Burkle (BSVC ’09) and his team. Burkle is the lead creative and partner at Cleveland-based BurkleHagen Studio (opens in a new window), which is an upscale commercial photo studio specializing in food photography for local and national brands, restaurants, chefs, cookbooks and food-related subjects. Clients include Nestle, Burger King, Olive Garden, Doritos, Pepsi, and Coke.

“The weekend was all that an aspiring creative could have wished for and more,” said Junior Hadley Fain, a visual communication and graphic design double major from Wellston, Ohio.

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Every other year, Burkle works with VISCOM faculty to put together a weekend workshop at BurkleHagen for Ohio University students. During the workshop, current students interact with other alumni, work on photo assignments where they shoot, retouch and supply an invoice under a tight deadline, and put together a business plan while getting feedback from industry professionals.

“The students were divided into two teams and prepared mood boards before working with the studio team to select set surfaces and studio props to bring their creative ideas to fruition,” said VISCOM Visiting Professional Terrance Reimer, who teaches both photojournalism and commercial photography. “Students sourced their food items from local markets and used the studio's kitchen to prepare their items to be photographed. Friday night was spent networking and hearing fellow VISCOM alums talk about their careers and professional pathways after graduating.”

The whole day on Saturday was spent working on bringing their concepts to life on a tight timeline. It was a little like a competition cooking show except for photographers.

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“Our group pitched a concept for a ‘Sunday breakfast,’ which we executed with the help of studio staff,” said Fain. “I was one of the people that was manning the set and lighting. They showed us how to make fake light look like morning sunlight, and everybody that was there from the studio was walking around helping and answering all of our questions. They gave us suggestions on how something could be pushed to the next level. We had until 3 p.m. on Saturday to get all the shots, edit and retouch and then create a fake invoice for it. I’ve never had a day go faster than that day.”

Earlier this week, BurkleHagen offered Fain an internship for the summer.

Ohio University VISCOM students that attended the workshop included Fain, Zoe Cranfill, Sylvie Ballou, Madi Ridge, Alice Falkowski, Nina Asiamah, Brad Cunningham, Prince Amoa-mensa, Kweku Dias, Morgan Clark and Madeline Lynch. Reimer and fellow VISCOM professors Gary Kirksey and Sam Girton also attended.

“This would not have been possible without the dedication and organization of our wonderful commercial photo professors here at VISCOM,” said Fain. “I honestly think that after going to the Cleveland workshop, I want to lean into the photo world. There are two different paths I could go down with my double major. But, with what I’ve taken from that weekend, photography is where I’m stronger and where I would have more fun. I know now that I’d love to go into the world of commercial photography.”