Virtual visit 

When Calder Wilson ’11 graduated from Skidmore he was passionate about photography and aware that the photography business is tough. “I read somewhere that only about 7% of photography majors are actually working in their field,” he says.

Wilson is one of those lucky few.

A business major and arts administration minor, he landed a job traveling the globe from college to college as a photographer for YouVisit, a virtual-tour platform for prospective students and their families. He’s photographed schools in his native Florida, traveled to New York, Ohio, and California, and even spent his holiday in Lima, Peru. 

Wilson returned to Skidmore in September to photograph campus for a tour that includes panoramic views, video and audio, a walking tour... including mobile and Facebook apps.   

Here’s what he had to say about his back-to-campus experience:

Q: How did you feel about shooting your alma mater? 

A: I was very excited to come back to Skidmore, this time not as a student but as a hired professional. It felt like everything had come full circle, producing a marketing tool with my photography after attending Skidmore for business and art. Saratoga Springs in September is gorgeous, and the campus with the addition of the Hillside Apartments was looking better than ever.

Q: What is your favorite area of campus?

A: The North Woods—always was and probably always will be! I think it’s such an important part of campus because it offers students sanctuary away from their dorms and the city. It’s quiet and serene, yet it’s only a few minutes ‘ walk from where students live. I spent a lot of time in those woods experimenting with my photography over the years. You can get so much done when you have no distractions, which is almost impossible for college students stuck in their dorms at other schools. But as a photographer, I have to say the Zankel Music Center is my favorite building. Zankel is a very impressive structure inside and out, and I think it’s another great resource for students to have on campus.

Q: What did you enjoy most about shooting the campus tour? 

A: I was there a few weeks after classes began, so the freshmen were easy to spot. They were running from class to class probably thinking when their next paper was due, while I was walking around Case Green taking photos without a single academic worry. Seeing them buzz around campus and experience college life for the first time definitely brought on a flood of nostalgia…but I’d rather be taking photos for a living than writing a paper, any day!

Posted On: 1/16/13