Image Alumni ’16 Education BS in Entrepreneurial Studies Current Career Freelance Photographer for Kyle Lieberman Photography Location New York City, New York Why did you choose the bachelor of science program? I had a friend introduce me to the program and it seemed like a very interesting learning environment, I wanted a balance between art and business. The sustainability side of the program was an added bonus. What was your experience living in the Twin Cities? Any hidden treasures? I enjoyed my four years in Minneapolis. Nicollet is filled with some of my favorite food still to this day and the Mexican food is out of this world on Lake Street—I miss that the most. Briefly describe at least one of your internships. My favorite internship by far was in the photo department at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I interned for two semesters I enjoyed it so much. I got to work with some of the most beautiful and famous art and be a part of gallery openings. I learned more there then anywhere else. Favorite project you worked on for a client? We worked on so many client projects over the years at MCAD. The one I remember most vividly was the Edremit Wetlands project. I learned so much about a place I've never even heard of before and worked with a great local leader of the project and felt like we made a small difference in the environment. What inspires you/your work? Incorporating fashion/editorial into my action sports work and vice versa. I think mixing all sorts of mediums and styles plays a big part in what I love to do. How do you network yourself and your art? Being kind to everyone I meet, whether they are in a position to hire me or not. Creating a network of great people leads to new adventures. I take personal trips and work on big crews and meet lots of new people all of the time. Describe what you do for work and how your experience with it has been. I have been a freelance photographer for ten years now. In 2012 I photographed my first Red Bull job and to this day still shoot for them almost every month. As soon as I graduated from MCAD in 2016 I moved to New York City and have been working as a full-time photographer and DP for the past five years. In the past year I have been working in video more than stills and believe the future will continue to lean towards motion with the expanding digital platforms and usage. This year I shot the Indy 500 for Red Bull and provided edits to NBC of the Red Bull Airforce racing into the start of the Indy 500 in wingsuits, one of my favorite projects so far. Alongside action sports I also work in the fashion and beauty world of NYC. I recently DP'd a Vanity Fair editorial and shot campaigns for Georgio Armani and Three Cosmetics. How did you get your job? Being a relatable and kind person to everybody I meet, to the best of my abilities. Having the best work will only get you so far, all of my work has come from meeting new people and leaving a good impression, people want to work with others they enjoy being around and spending time with. I don't attribute my workload to being the best at what I do. I believe I am hired as much as I am because I have a great network of friends who enjoy creating work together. Did MCAD prepare you for life after graduation? In what way? Technically, I think I learned more in my internships and on my own outside of the classroom. Conceptually and creatively, MCAD definitely pushed me because that's not my first instinct in creating my work. I'm very technical and hands on and action sports didn't vibe as well in my photo classes as everyone else's conceptual work, so I had to adapt and learn to use both sides and that has really helped me down the road. Especially living in NYC, this is a very conceptual and creative space. Name your biggest takeaway from the program? Working in the Media Center and being the Darkroom Supervisor I had the most access to equipment and self-learning time. I used the studio and the high-end stills cameras more than anyone else that I know of during my years at MCAD. I took full advantage of what was there and that has absolutely helped me create a solid base to work from moving to NYC after graduation. Best thing you ever found on the free shelf? Whoofta, I wish my recall memory was better, too many concussions. There were so many crazy things on the free shelf, I was one of the very few people who used the gym right next to it back in the day so I was always browsing it—lots of funky clothes for sure. Current obsession? My puppy Linus. Where do you see yourself in five years? This was my final report at MCAD in my BS class. I remember spending days writing a five-page paper on this and a week after I turned it in the entire thing was trash because my whole life changed, in a good way of course. So now I don't make plans longer than a month out, because nothing ever goes to plan :) kylelieberman.nyc