Issy Oligher: Through the Lens of Mitty’s Yearbook Photographer

Honestly, being head photographer and photo editor for the yearbook has been one of the best blessings I could’ve asked for. Having the ability to capture moments and memories with the click of a button is an exhilarating feeling. The countless smiles, screams, plays, and laughs I have seen through the lens of my camera has affected my life so much. I’ve met so many new people through photography, and I’ve gotten to talk to and meet more people while capturing photos. 

With new things always comes some type of challenge, and my biggest one is probably the amount of storage being used up on my computer. It is definitely tedious work going through hundreds of photos and looking for that right one that captures the moment perfectly, but once you stumble across that photo, it’s like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

I think one of my favorite memories from this year was taking yearbook photos for Monarch Madness XXXI. Everyone knows that it’s the greatest night to be a monarch, and to have the honor to take photos and capture such a memorable night was amazing. At the end of the night as we all gathered in a circle to sing our Alma Mater, I not only got to capture the smiles on everyone’s faces from the inside of the core circle, but I also took a video that I will cherish for a long time. 

One of the biggest impacts being a photographer for school has had on me is that it made me realize how passionate I am about photography, which has since pushed me to start launching my own business. I am currently in the process of getting my website published in order to kick off my freelance photography business! Although I may not have many photos of myself from this school year, I wouldn’t give up taking photos at Mitty events for anything.