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Jodi Williams– Digital Photography Pathway

Sage Creek High School

The classroom is lined with computers, each with a large monitor capable of displaying the colors, detail, and textures of professional photographs. The walls are covered with absorbing pictures – the students’ own camerawork – festooned with many first-place blue ribbons from San Diego County Fair competitions.

The artists are at work in Jodi Williams’ Photography Lab. She teaches the two-year Digital Photography Pathway – consisting of Digital Photography 1 and 2 as well as AP Art Studies – at Sage Creek High School. Her students explore photography as an art form while engaging in the business of professional photography.

“The skills that my students are learning in class apply to any career,” says Ms. Williams, a professional photographer before her teaching career. “By the end of their second year they all earn their Photoshop certification and develop photography and design skills that are transferable to today's business landscape, including advertising, marketing and social media.”

Digital Photography 1 is articulated with Mira Costa College, allowing students to earn college credit for their coursework, enhancing their academic and career prospects. Additionally, the pathway is shaped in collaboration with an advisory board that provides input on equipment, curriculum development, and guest speakers who enrich the learning experience.

Ava, Elliott, and Camryn are students in the AP Art Studio class. Rather than sitting for an AP exam at the end of the year, these students must undertake a passion-based inquiry and submit an end-of-the-year portfolio of 15 images demonstrating their artistic explorations and growth. By successfully passing their Portfolio exam, they can also earn college credit.

Ava knows that skills such as properly presenting yourself, or communicating with a client, or working as a team member, are valuable in any field. She is interested in continuing to pursue photography in the future, as well as in studying art history or perhaps pursuing art education. “My goal in this class is to create the best photos I can,” she reports.

Elliott enjoys the creative process and sees photography as a release from his schedule of challenging academic courses. He likes tackling problems with the other photographers as a group to expand his skills. He understands that acquiring proficiency in techniques such as Photoshop will be useful in his future undertakings.

Camryn is interested in studying Animal Science, and hopes that her photo skills will help her illustrate evidence for her animal research. She enjoys the opportunity to bounce ideas off of her classmates. She appreciates the career focus of the class, learning about what opportunities are out there, building a résumé, and pursuing both personal project goals and business goals. Camryn is also in the BioMed program.

Participating in SkillsUSA has allowed students like Ava and Elliot to apply their photography skills in competitive environments, fostering not only technical expertise but also essential soft skills like leadership and teamwork. Through SkillsUSA, students engage in hands-on projects that emphasize collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving, all of which are vital in today’s job market. By taking part in regional competitions, they gain valuable experience in presenting their work, receiving constructive feedback, and learning how to thrive under pressure. This exposure cultivates confidence and a sense of community, empowering students to take ownership of their educational journey and future career paths.

Students in the Digital Photography Pathway graduate with a website portfolio that includes samples of their photographic work and a résumé. By that time they have had real-world experience working with clients, and practical skills in managing projects such as setting client expectations. For instance, they assisted Kids for Peace with photographs for a fundraiser. Also, they took headshots for students, including the CUSD Champions, working to create the best lighting and to capture each client’s unique style and personality.

Adding to her commitment to expand the program, Ms. Williams recently presented at the San Diego County Office of Education's Arts Empower Mega Conference on "Storytelling through the Photo Essay." In her session, she highlighted how this approach serves as a powerful tool for addressing the new Arts, Media, and Entertainment Framework, which establishes new standards for teaching media content creation as an interdisciplinary study.

“Everyone brings their personal perspective to photography,” said Ms. Williams. “My passion for the medium began in high school, and now I strive to inspire my students to explore their own creative paths while equipping them with the skills necessary for success in the professional world.”