In today’s digital world, standing out visually is more important than ever. Competition is at an all-time high and consumers have endless options when it comes to which businesses they support, no matter what the field, but certainly marketing and advertising. As businesses and marketers strive to grab attention, the temptation to rely on stock photography can be overwhelming. After all, stock images are readily available, easy to access, and can make your content look polished and professional. With the recent uptick in Artificial Intelligence (AI), you can generate a photo in mere seconds straight from your phone or computer, but ease and convenience often come with risk. From a lack of authenticity to the potential for overused, clichéd imagery, stock photos can dilute your message and fail to portray the message of the story you are telling.
When our great friend and business connection Mike Nave contacted us with ideas to build a library of images for Ivy Tech Community College, we were thrilled to learn more! Along with his right-hand, Jessica Brown, Mike shared the vision for ways to differentiate themselves with their images as they market to prospective students online, in print and beyond. They wanted to create a portfolio that gives insight into what everyday life on campus looks like, by using real students and alumni, and showcasing various areas throughout respective campuses across the state of Indiana. We were beyond thrilled to be included in capturing the diverse community and welcoming atmosphere the Ivy Tech teams and students have cultivated and couldn’t wait to get started!
The project started in the fall of 2024 at the main campus in Indianapolis. We took full advantage of the nice weather we still had at the start and grabbed outdoor campus life shots. Once we wrapped in Indy, we traveled to Columbus, Bloomington, Anderson, Kokomo and Noblesville throughout the following months, ending (for now) in spring of this year. Meeting and collaborating with students and staff were such fun experiences and offered true perspective on what it’s like to work, learn, live and grow on Ivy Tech campuses.
Creating a large library of images for this client really pushed our team with creativity and ingenuity. Finding ways to make shots look natural, while still nicely lit, staged well, and stay cohesive from campus to campus was no small feat, but a challenge we happily accepted. We couldn’t be prouder of the efforts between all who had a hand in making this project come to life.
Thank you to Mike, Jessica and the whole Ivy Tech community for embracing our ideas and bringing their own. We had a fantastic time working together!
If you or someone you know is interested in higher education options, we encourage you to check out all Ivy Tech has to offer. With dozens of locations across the state of Indiana, as well as online availabilities, their programs, affordability and proven committment to excellent education cannot be beat!
