By Camille Lassalette

Why I chose this company  I have known elisa for many years but I have never really had an understanding about what she does and how her company works

Research  I looked in to her company by going to the website and reading a little bit more about it. I also talked to a couple friends from California and asked what they got out of the class. They all said they enjoyed it and learned lots about photography.

Networking  I called Elisa and I proposed my idea about the interview and was more than happy to participate in my project

Questions  What do you like best (and least) about your career?  How did you get started in this career? What would I need to study to succeed in this field?  What changes or trends are happening in the industry?  How might I combine my interest in public relations with this profession?  What do you now know about this career that you wish someone had told you at the outset?  Do you have anytraining recommendations for me?  Do you have any literature about your company beyond what’s available at your web site?  What have I not asked that I should have?  Who else can you think of that I should talk with?

School  Elisa received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara and continued her education at Art Center Pasadena and The Brooks Institute of Photography.

Experiences  She traveled all over the world as a photojournalist and worked as a photo editor for ABC-Clio/Exegy. She spent many years as a commercial photographer for clients such as Quiksilver, Roxy, Tea & Scones and House. Before founding Outside the Lens, Elisa was the lead educator at the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego.

About the company  Since 2001, Outside the Lens has delivered projects to over 13,000 children in weekly classes, after-school programs, summer sessions, workshops and teacher trainings. Students tell their unique personal stories through photography, video, and other digital media while under the help of writers, journalists, filmmakers, photographers, artists and teachers.

 OTL has worked with the San Diego County, Department of Education since 2001 and has sustained itself for 10 years. In November of 2009, became a charity. the charity targets under-served and at-risk youth grades K-12 throughout San Diego County and uses photography and video, in which students are given cameras and videos to document the issues that concern them. The images are used for discussion and to communicate a story to a larger audience. All projects involve a culminate component with an exhibition where students present their photographs, videos, and reflections to family, friends and the community

Results  This is a career I am interested in and the schooling that is encouraged is photography classes and all different experiences that are offered.  Sometimes the charity and non profit industry are hard to start up.