University of Pennsylvania
Higher Education Photography in Philadelphia
This higher education photography project for the University of Pennsylvania highlights the Models of Excellence program. Each year, Margo photographs honorees in February, creating individual portraits that are featured during an awards celebration alongside documentary photography and video of staff at work.
Photography in Real Work Environments
My role focused on capturing environmental portraits of Penn’s award-winning staff members in their day-to-day workspaces. As a result, the images needed to feel authentic, professional, and grounded in real moments.
The photo and video team included myself, an associate photographer, and University of Pennsylvania personnel. Together, we created a relaxed and collaborative atmosphere so subjects felt comfortable, even while actively working.
Because we were working within active environments, efficiency was essential. In just a few minutes, we set up flexible lighting that allowed us to create strong, dynamic portraits. At the same time, the setup remained simple and unobtrusive.
Event Photography and Award Coverage
In addition to portrait work, the project included coverage of the employee recognition event. This allowed us to document the full arc of the program—from individual achievement to public celebration.
However, coordinating schedules for over 50—and sometimes up to 100—employees presented a logistical challenge. Therefore, careful planning and communication were critical throughout the process.
Pre-production included meetings with Penn Human Resources and coordination with a multi-photographer team. Production then took place over five days, followed by expedited post-production to meet internal deadlines.
Watch a behind the scenes video from our shoot:
Photography for Institutional Storytelling
Ultimately, this portrait and event photography project delivers both individual storytelling and broader institutional messaging. The final images highlight the people behind the university’s success while also capturing the energy of the celebration event.
In addition, the work supports internal recognition efforts and external communications, creating a cohesive visual narrative across multiple platforms.
