Alumni

Michael Beringer (1974-1976)

I have very fond memories of my days as a photo major at OCC. The old community darkroom with all the various old Omega D enlargers and the large trays of chemicals. Instructors that I took classes with included John Sanford, Arthur Taussig, Ken Slosberg, John Upton, Tina Lent (photo history), Victor Landweber, and the late A. Michael Degtjarewsky. Mr. Degtjarewsky in my opinion was the best instructor I ever had from a commercial photography point of view. In the late fall of 1974 I remember going with 3 or 4 photo students to Hollywood to the studio of the late Edmund Teske for one of his photo-grab parties. I also remember going on a field trip to the old Larsen/Mitchel photolab and studio in Irvine. OCC provided me with a good foundation for what has become a life long passion with photography. After OCC I transferred to CSULB where I obtained my BA and later my MA in photography and film production. Today most everything in photography is digital, but I still manage to expose about 75 rolls of film a year. I have always loved working in the darkroom, and while I don't do it today as much as in the past I still enjoy watching the image emerge out of nothing under the red light. Thank you to all the great instructors at OCC.

Chauncey Bayes (1971-1974)

Although I attended OCC many years ago, my time in the photo department shaped much of my future. Rick Steadry had a profound impact on me and I continue to learn from him even today. I am adjunct faculty in the department now and I am having the time of my life. The OCC School of Photography continues educate and inspire.

Karen French (1982-1983)

Orange Coast College was a wonderful experience for me. It was there that I discovered my love of photography. Rick Steadry and John Upton were very influential to me. Rick taught me to be a perfectionist and John to appreciate the "art" of photography. After going through the photography program at OCC I assisted for commercial photographers for five years. This was a mix of fashion, product and illustration. While I was assisting commercial photographers I shot a few weddings and realized I really enjoyed that more than the commercial jobs. I then switched gears to weddings and have never turned back. I really enjoy this work and find it very creative. I'm also a collector of fine art photography, in part due to John Uptons influence I'm sure. My son now goes to OCC, so things have come full circle.

Blade Gillissen (1990-1993)

Blade has taught classes in basic photography, view camera, lighting, product, advanced darkroom techniques, the zone system, and alternative processes since 1998. He has a special interest in historical processes and has worked extensively with gum bichromate printing, platinum printing, and pinhole photography. He also works as a consultant, technical writer, and editor, most notably as a technical consultant for Photography, the textbook by Barbara London and John Upton. Blade is also an avid collector of photographic prints and rare photographic books. Before becoming an educator, he owned and operated a commercial photography business that specialized in product, lifestyle, and portrait photography.

Luis Gonzalez (1992)

I'd like to show here ;)

Heather Glasby (2005-2008)

Every single person that asks me for advice on pursuing a career in photography gets the same advice.. go through OCC’s photo program. I can honestly say going through OCC’s awesome program was the best and most helpful thing I ever did. I started there eager to learn everything I could and that’s what I did. I was awarded a scholarship, won "best in show" in the first student juried show and got the pleasure of working as a lab aid for 2 years. Every professor there is amazing and I learned so much from each of them. I’ve gone on to own a very successful, nation wide wedding photography business, still shooting my own stuff on the side when I have time. If I didn’t live in another state now, I would still be there in the dark room, I miss it and I’m so thankful I had the pleasure of finding OCC!

John Hesketh (1985-1989)

I started at the School of Photography at OCC in 1985 after I couldn’t get into an english class, since that color photography as fine art class with Sylvia Impert I haven’t left. I’ve been teaching at OCC since 1994, and I’m still an artist while working at the family photo lab in Anaheim.

Elizabeth Horan (1998-2000)

"The bend in the road is not the end of the road.... unless you fail to make the turn"

Josh Hoskins (1999-2002)

After graduating from SFAI in 2004, I now work full time as a Master Printer in the Bay Area. In my spare time I continue to do personal work.

Michelle James (2002-2004)

After going back to school at OCC pursuing a field I have loved for most of my life, I went on to become the in house Photographer at Quiksilver and Roxy for the past 4 and a half years. I recently left there to pursue another long time dream of living and working in New York City. Photography has been an amazing ride.

Terry Johnson (1991-1993)

Terry was a graguate of the photography program and currently has a photography business in Colorado in both commercial and portrait photography

Mike Kennedy (1996-2000)

I am a DBA / Data Miner for UPS.

Harriett Lewis Pallette (2011-2014)

After living life in the corporate world i 'retired' to follow my passion. OCC School of Photography became my path and has been the most amazing experience made possible by the very best teachers! Jonathan Fletcher, Agatha Ibranossian, Leslie McCall, Walter Urie, John Hesketh, Richard Kraft, Damian Tsutsumida, Torii Ott, Eve Luckring and Irini Rickerson! All ably led by Blade Gillissen. I never worked so hard with such gratification! Graduated with honors and am now working in fine art and shooting corporate portraits and events all over the world! Thank you The School of Photography, OCC!

Karlos Matthews (2001-2004)

Proud to be an OCC alumni....the staff, the classes, the experience are all wonderful.

Eric Alan Smith (1984-1986)

I learned so much from OCC. Film was a great thing! The digital realm is a whole different world...I miss that 8x10 camera and enlarger. Hi, Rick Steadry!

Cody Pickens (1999-2003)

Orange Coast School of Photography is amazing! OCC provides a state of the art facility and really good instructors that actually care about what they’re doing. I learned technical skills, conceptual understanding and the history of photography. I met great people and made some lasting friendships. All it took was one class in photography at OCC... after that, I knew I was going to be a photographer for the rest of my life.