<p>I love photography and graphic design, and I spend a good deal of time on them during the school year and the summer. In my freshman year, I took Photography I & II, and I plan to follow up with III and IV in my sophomore and junior years. I'm also considering taking a few design courses though the Community College where I'll be taking other classes. I've done some random things for other people, (making a few of those Myspace-style banners for friends' bands' shows, stuff like that) and I'm constantly learning new techniques and reading books on pop art and graphic design, typography, stuff like that. At this point, I'm not really considering art school after HS, except maybe during summer sessions while attending another college, or a Brown/RISD type program. I'd like suggestions on some ways to incorporate photography/graphic design into a solid EC. I'm considering joining a photography club in my area, but I'm afraid that most of the members would be way out of my league. I'm not really interested in the "business" end of it right now, (selling my designs), but I'd like to know about any competitions/scholarships dealing with photography or graphic design. Also, does anyone have experience with preparing a photography portfolio as supplemental material for a non-art school? Thanks much in advance, and sorry for the crazy-long post. :)</p>
<p>I put graphic design as one of my ECs. Depending on how good you are, most of the competition type activities would generally have to be local. If you're already into graphic design, you should look into student web design contests. They usually have an academic focus, but a good design and code will get you a long way (because people are easily impressed by visual presentation). I would think the same applies for photography, it would really depend what is available in your area.</p>
<p>Another thing you could do is join any kind of student publication at your school. Photography would mainly be yearbook, although newspapers always need photographers and graphic designers. I joined on as a graphic artist and eventually became an editor. There are also many design and writing contests associated with publications and it's where I got my strongest awards and recommendations. Not to mention that if you enjoy design, it's actually quite enjoyable.</p>
<p>Thanks, FemmeFatale :)</p>
<p>"Digital film, photography and web design" was one of my son's ECs.<br>
He lumped these together on his activity list because they were related interests and used many of the same skills. He also took the photo courses offered in his high school. Some of the EC things he did under that heading, if I can remember correctly, were:</p>
<p>1)Photographer for the Yearbook and school paper
2)Free lance jobs for parents/coaches whose kids are on sports teams.
(He was paid to go to Little League and football games to take pictures of the kids from some of the teams in our community, and made posters for the families who wanted them.)
3) He spent a couple of weeks in Maine at a summer Photography workshop
4) He took a Digital Film summer course at UCLA
5) He built the website for his Boy Scout troop
6) He made a promotional film for his Scout troop
7) He had a paid job with a company that produced videos for companies and individuals (many hours a week- eventually we had to ask him to give it up, as it was taking too much time from his schoolwork)
8)Various other small freelance jobs too numerous to mention</p>
<p>His position on the Yearbook as photographer landed him the position of CoEditor-in Chief in his senior year. </p>
<p>He is still very involved with photography and continued in college. As a freshman this past year, he had a paid position as a Yearbook photographer at his LAC, and was asked to make a film for the college for orientation, which he was also paid to produce with another student. This summer he is working with a team to update one of his college's departments websites, also a paid position.</p>
<p>I hope you can use some of these ideas to incorporate into your own life. The nice thing about photography is that it complements other activities that may interest you, and it gets you out in the world (and away from your computer!) Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks, A.S.A.P, those are all great suggestions! I've actually done black & white photography and hand-painted portrait photography (using photo oils to highlight and color specific parts of a b&w print) for the birthday parties of some little twin girls I babysit. All of the guests had the opportunity to see a proof sheet and order prints from me after the party. It was a lot of fun :) It sounds something like the pictures your son did at Little League games. Also, this year, I took Senior Pictures for some friends that were published in the yearbook. Since these are typically done by paid professionals, I was wondering if it would be kosher to use that on my application. Something like, "freelance Senior Portrait photography - 2007".</p>
<p>Thanks Again!</p>
<p>Def. put it if its your passion. Thats what am doing, with my webdesign.</p>
<p>For me, i got certified in Flash 8 and the company that taught me actually recommended me to a few big media design companies, so I lucked out. Got alot of experience as well as my own clients becuase of that oppertunity.</p>