Numerous students engage in media-related activities beyond their academic commitments, either through Youngstown State University organizations or by venturing into entrepreneurship.
One such student is Mickenzie Mosti, a junior majoring in biology, who has established her own photography venture. Mosti embarked on her photography odyssey in July 2020 after a period of international travel and a stint shadowing a close friend who is a photographer. Reflecting on her journey, Mosti shared, “I shadowed with her for two years, and now this year, I’ve launched my own business.”
Mosti’s photography services encompass timeless and lifestyle photography priced at \(75 per hour, along with wedding photography services offered at \)175 per hour. She envisions adjusting her pricing structure as her client base expands.
In her approach to timeless and lifestyle photography, Mosti expressed her fondness for capturing intricate details in portraits of individuals and animals. She emphasized her goal of enabling people to reminisce about special moments vividly, stating, “I really like capturing the details and making sure that people can just remember the day the way that I saw it instead of just going through the day and not seeing the whole picture.”
On the other hand, Carter Cook, a sophomore majoring in multimedia communications, serves as the videographer for the Division of Student Affairs and Athletics Department at YSU. Cook’s introduction to videography traces back to his participation in a community television class during his freshman year at Austintown Fitch High School.
According to Cook, videography transcends mere recording; it embodies an art form where creators craft compelling visual narratives. Drawing a parallel with traditional artistry, Cook remarked, “There’s such an art behind what a creator can make of [videography]. There’s artists that can paint, and I think, especially with photography and videography, it’s how the creator makes the video.”
The YSU Communications Department facilitates students’ access to top-tier equipment for various media projects, including large video camcorders, DSLR cameras, lighting kits, tripods, and audio recording devices. This equipment is available for borrowing from the equipment checkout facility situated on the second floor of Bliss Hall, catering to both personal and academic requirements.
Although media students receive priority for equipment checkout, the service is open to all students. Dan McCormick, the studio manager and broadcast engineer, highlighted the studio’s role in enabling students to experiment with different gear before making purchasing decisions. He emphasized the value of content creation as a means for students to explore diverse industries, locations, and perspectives.
McCormick elaborated, “If I’m helping someone promote a handbag that they make from scratch, I’m going to learn about the entire process. If you’re a curious person, it’s very rewarding to find out about things that you normally wouldn’t have a first-person view of.”