Day of Photo

Cameras and camera equipment being raised in the air by students
 

Day of Photo

Picture Yourself at RIT

RIT's renowned Photo School hosts a Day of Photo event every fall! Save the date for our 2023 event — Friday, Nov. 10.

A student looks through the viewfinder of a camera.

Throughout the free event, prospective students spend time with us exploring our undergraduate photo offerings: Advertising Photography, Fine Art Photography, Photographic Sciences, Photojournalism and Visual Media. 

The typical agenda includes:

Free Registration

A Rich History

Past in-person Day of Photo events have included portrait and high-speed photography demos, a student panel, facilities tours, equipment showcases and portfolio reviews. Hover over images for photo credit.

Students photograph a Day of Photo participant in North Light Studio.
Faculty Clay Patrick McBride shows a high school students his portfolio.
A photo of a student popping a balloon.
A high-speed photography demo.
Bob Rose leads a thermal portrait demo.
A studio gets their photo taken in a photo studio.
A student gives a microscopy demo.
Photographers take a high-speed photo.
A group of people look at photography equipment.
A theater audience takes in insights from a student panel.
Faculty Jenn Poggi gives a student a portfolio review.
A group of students pose for a photo with camera around their necks.
A student gets their photo taken in a studio.
Students and staff show families the camera equipment available in The Cage.
Students photograph a Day of Photo participant in North Light Studio.
Students participate in a panel discussion.
Faculty Clay Patrick McBride shows off portraits that were taken in a studio.
Faculty James Porto talks with a student.
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Photo Prize Contest

A student poses with a boxed camera kit she won.

In conjunction with Day of Photo, the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences runs an annual RIT Photo Prize Instagram competition to discover, support and highlight the next generation of image makers! 

Photo by Sophie Proe '24: Winner of the 2022 Photo Prize competition, Marisa N.

Entry and Eligibility

Entry into the contest is simple: Tag your 10 best Instagram posts with #RITphotoprize2023. That’s it! Our faculty judges will follow the tagged submissions and winners will be announced during the Day of Photo event. Attendance is not required to be a winner.

Participants must currently be enrolled in seventh through 12th grades or community college, and be in a photography class. Final awarding of prizes will require proof of student status. The submission deadline is TBD.

Prizes

Award winners will be determined by our team of faculty judges. Prizes for 2022 are to be announced. Previous winners have received subscriptions to Adobe Creative Cloud, cameras, photography equipment and more.

Above photo: Photographic Sciences Program Director Dan Hughes with 2019 Image of Distinction winner Liz Henson

Renovation

The School of Photographic Arts and Sciences recently completed a $3.5 million renovation that bolstered what were already state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. The work was made possible by a substantial gift from Chance Wright '18 (Advertising Photography) and his mother, Pamela Mars Wright.

New spaces and facilities upgrades include: 

  • New professional sound room for recording interviews and audio editing.
  • New motion media room outfitted with high-performance computers for video editing.
  • New 4D media room equipped for the creation of stop-motion video.
  • An ultra-modern student lounge — with new furniture and an adjacent study center for meetings, working and relaxing.
  • Upgrades to the school's darkrooms, accompanied by a new classroom area for teaching and critique
  • Upgraded computer lab, complete with enhanced screens, computers and scanning and printing capabilities. 
  • Expanded footprint to accommodate additional equipment for the school's Photo Cage, an equipment rental space that offers the latest gear and accessories for checkout.
Students gather around a table and talk about photo books.
A student sorts through photography equipment in the RIT Photo Cage.
Chance Wright, RIT President David Munson, Pamela Mars Wright and Dean Todd Jokl cut the ribbon to usher in the new photo facilities.
A student looks at a photo print on a light table.
A student checks out equipment at the Photo Cage.
A view of Airport Lounge in RIT's Photo School.
Cameras and lenses on a surface.
Students look at photo books.
Students gather around a table and talk about photo books.
A class of students work on computers in a lab.
Students in a computer lab.
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Contact

A student poses for a portrait in a studio.

Questions about the event can be sent to:

spastour@rit.edu