RIT photography students explore career opportunities in New York City through an immersive new study-away semester program

Rochester, New York – For nine ambitious photography students, this spring semester wasn’t just another stretch of classes and projects—it was a chance to live and learn in the heart of America’s creative capital. Through a brand-new study-away opportunity called RIT in NYC, these students got more than a taste of New York City life—they dove headfirst into it, gaining valuable real-world experience in one of the most competitive and vibrant creative industries in the world.

For Wendy Chen, a fourth-year student majoring in photographic and imaging arts with a focus in visual media, the allure of New York’s energy was impossible to ignore. But she also knew that dreams alone wouldn’t guarantee a smooth landing in such a fast-paced environment. Thanks to this new program, she was able to immerse herself in the creative field while still supported by her university network.

“Being in New York City was very eye-opening for me. In class we learn about things like what a production might look like and the different types of roles that come into play. Here, I’m able to apply what I’ve learned and get that real-world production experience that can’t really be replicated in the classroom,” said Chen, from Montville, Ct.

Chen spent her semester working side-by-side with Christine Blackburne, a 2005 RIT alum and seasoned director/photographer who specializes in beauty, luxury, and lifestyle content. Blackburne’s clients include major names like Maybelline, Tampax, Nioxin, and La Roche-Posay, offering Chen exposure to high-level commercial photography production. From organizing sets to handling the many moving parts of a photo shoot, Chen got to see first-hand what life behind the lens looks like in one of the most bustling cities in the world.

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The program is the brainchild of Laurie O’Brien, associate professor and director of RIT’s visual media undergraduate program. Designed to complement and enhance what students are already learning back in Rochester, RIT in NYC provides a launchpad for students considering the leap into full-time creative careers after graduation.

“Many students cannot afford to move to NYC after graduation to look for a job. But when New York companies are hiring, they often want you to already be in the city. In many cases, they also want to see NYC experience on someone’s resume,” said O’Brien. “This program provides the scaffolding for students to get that experience before they graduate.”

That “scaffolding” includes more than just internships. While in New York, the students took in-person courses tailored to their needs and participated in a variety of professional development activities. Weekly site visits to some of the city’s most iconic creative hubs—Netflix, The New Yorker, Getty Images, VOX Creative, and Hearst Magazines, just to name a few—gave students intimate looks at the day-to-day lives of industry professionals. These visits weren’t just casual tours—they included panel discussions, portfolio reviews, and valuable Q&A sessions that opened doors and widened horizons.

This immersive model wouldn’t have been possible without the extensive network of RIT alumni living and working in New York City, many of whom went above and beyond to help the students settle in and find meaningful internships. In fact, every student in the inaugural cohort landed internships through this alumni connection, with placements ranging from The Metropolitan Museum of Art to creative agencies like YARDNYC and Elite World Group.

“The biggest impact I have seen on students in the program is an increase in their confidence,” said O’Brien. “I know that students are leaving this experience with a strong idea of how the creative industry works, and they’ve learned how to manifest their dreams.”

For Fanny Venegas, another fourth-year student in the program, her internship with Society Management, a fashion-focused modeling agency, gave her a clearer vision of where she wants to go next. Hailing from Elba, N.Y., Venegas contributed to high-end photoshoots, interviewed models, edited visual content, and even helped with visa-related documentation by building professional portfolios for international models.

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“Working in NYC has always been a dream of mine, but I had no plan for how to make it happen. Having guidance from Professor O’Brien and some friendly alumni has been a blessing,” said Venegas. “It’s amazing how much people are willing to give back. We never met these alumni before this, we just have one thing in common: that we both went to RIT. People tell you about RIT connections all the time, but it’s really inspiring to see it firsthand.”

For her, the semester became what she calls the “perfect transition to the real world”—a rare middle ground where she could build professional experience while still having the support and flexibility of being a student. With plans already in motion to move to New York full-time after graduation, Venegas now has the connections and the confidence to take that next step.

The success of the first semester has laid a solid foundation for the future of RIT in NYC. The program is currently open to all undergraduate photography majors and select minors, with plans to grow and evolve based on student demand and industry partnerships. Interested students can visit the program’s official website or reach out directly to Professor O’Brien for more details.

As the creative industry becomes increasingly competitive and geographically concentrated, opportunities like this one are more than just resume boosters—they’re lifelines. They offer students a rare chance to not only see what their dream jobs look like, but to live them. Even in a city as big and intimidating as New York, programs like RIT in NYC prove that with the right support, the leap into professional life doesn’t have to be so daunting.

The Tigers are no longer just observing from afar—they’re showing up, stepping in, and making their mark on the Big Apple. And if the experience of this first cohort is any indication, they’re only just getting started.