Surrounded by bright lights, bustling assistants, and the steady click of camera shutters, photography major Jaedyn Shock ’27 came to a realization: this was the kind of work she could see herself doing for years to come.
“I was almost home in a way. I was like, ‘Oh, these are my people. These are the people that I can count on for whatever information that I need,’” said Shock. “It was a very good learning environment. It was really cool to watch people work and to realize how many roles go into making a magazine—it’s crazy.”
The photoshoot? A front cover shoot for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Magazine, with the model being none other than actress Alfre Woodard herself.
“Honestly, I was so overwhelmed. I didn’t think I belonged there. It just felt like a fever dream and very unreal,” said Shock.
Her path to the AARP set began months earlier at Endicott, when renowned photographer Jim Wright visited campus to speak with one of her classes and showcase his work in a gallery at the Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts.
A veteran in the field, Wright has photographed hundreds of magazine covers for publications such as Rolling Stone, GQ, People, and Town & Country, capturing some of the world’s most recognizable figures, from Dolly Parton to Jon Bon Jovi.
Shock saw an opportunity and decided to take a chance.
“I went to the gallery opening, and he was there talking to people and mingling. I walked up to him and I just straight up asked if he was taking interns,” she recounted. “He said, ‘Yep, I do take interns; just email me, and we can set up a time to meet and talk about if it could work or not.’ And thankfully, it did.”
That meeting turned into an offer for a summer internship specializing in commercial and advertising photography. Wright put Shock to work processing and organizing his archives while gaining hands-on experience as a second assistant on shoots for clients including David’s Bridal and an emerging sports apparel company.
But before that, Shock was already getting a taste of life on set. Wright, who is based out of Pennsylvania, would be photographing Alfre Woodard for the AARP cover in New York City and invited her to come along.
“It was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up, so I ended up going,” she said.
From sunup to sundown, Shock watched the production unfold while assisting Wright and getting a firsthand look at everything that goes into a professional shoot.
She learned how lighting was positioned, watched the styling team work with Woodard, connected with photographers and crew members, and helped with equipment breakdown once the shoot wrapped.
“I learned to keep an open mind with things. Everybody has their own style,” she said. “You have to understand other people’s way of doing things in order to find your own style and your own way of doing things.”
A few months later, Shock finally saw the photos come to life. Linnea Casino, Academic Coordinator for the School of Visual and Performing Arts, approached her with a copy of the magazine.
“She showed me the magazine, and my mouth was open. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is crazy!’” she said. “That was a really full-circle moment, an “I made it” moment. It’s hanging on my wall at home.”
This semester, she’s taking that exploration one step further through her senior internship with a product photographer. Her time in New York opened her eyes to the many directions a career in photography can take, inspiring her to continue learning new techniques, exploring different styles, and gaining experience across the field.
Looking back, Shock knows none of it would have happened had she not taken a chance. When Wright first spoke to her class, she remembers whispering to a friend that interning with him would be an incredible opportunity, but one she never thought would actually happen.
“My advice would be just to put yourself out there and ask. There’s no harm, no foul. If they say no, they say no, and you move on,” she said. “But you are going to make so many connections. If you want to work with somebody on the higher end scale, there’s no harm in asking.”
And Shock’s time working with Wright isn’t over yet. The two have already discussed opportunities to continue working together, with Shock potentially stepping in as a second assistant on shoots near her.
“It’s so surreal that it’s already been four years and I’ve completed internships with these amazing people and these amazing companies,” she said. “Now I’m taking what I'm learning, and I’m going to apply it to my adult life outside of college. It’s very scary, but I’m excited for the future.”