Picture-Perfect Spot: New library photo studio opens for students, employees, patrons

A student smiles for the camera and another student takes her picture in the new photography studio in Mitchell Memorial Library's MaxxSouth Digital Media Center. — A student smiles for the camera as another takes her picture in the new photography studio in Mitchell Memorial Library's MaxxSouth Digital Media Center. (Photo submitted)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Say cheese!

Taking professional, high-quality photos is now easier than ever for Mississippi ��ӽ紫ý students as the ��ӽ紫ý Libraries opens its new photography studio in the MaxxSouth Digital Media Center.

Located in the heart of campus, inside Mitchell Memorial Library, the new photo studio is free to use and is open to ��ӽ紫ý students, faculty and staff, and community patrons.

According to ��ӽ紫ý Libraries Associate Dean for Community Relations and Strategic Initiatives Stephen Cunetto, the photo studio was created in partnership with the ��ӽ紫ý Office of Public Affairs to help meet the demand for professional headshots and photographs by the ��ӽ紫ý family. Cunetto said funding and expertise from OPA was vital to the creation of the space.

“The idea came to us from former OPA photographer (and current copyright and information policy specialist for ��ӽ紫ý Libraries) Megan Bean,” Cunetto said. “She saw a growing demand for this kind of service and believed the library’s central location made us the ideal spot.”

Cunetto and his staff worked with Bean, photographer Beth Wynn, and OPA Senior Associate Director Harriet Laird to secure funding, a location and create a set of helpful hints and guidelines. The photo studio is available during Digital Media Center hours.

“The university’s strategic plan has placed an emphasis on ‘serving the whole student’ and creating a space where students can quickly take professional self-portraits is a small value-added service to aid them in pursuing their goals,” Laird said. “Whether for a class project, resume or job-search website, students are more often in need of a service like this, and I’m glad we found a way to partner with ��ӽ紫ý Libraries to make this happen.”

��ӽ紫ý Libraries Technology and Innovation Director Thomas La Foe said the space offers three solid backdrops—black, white and green—to allow flexibility, high-quality lighting, a phone stand, instructions and helpful hints..

“We believe we have created a space where students can get quality photos with little assistance,” he said.

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