The Walter Center for Career Achievement in the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington has been awarded a grant from the IU Student Government, with additional support from two of the IU Foundation’s Affinity Giving programs, that has enabled the Center to install a self-service digital photo booth that all members of the IU community—students, faculty, staff, and even alumni—to obtain free, high-quality, professional portraits.

The state-of-the art “IU Professional Portrait Booth” is 20 square feet and includes a full-size monitor, studio-grade lighting, cameras, and in-booth editing tools so that students can instantly get a high-quality portrait emailed directly to their IU email accounts. The digital photo booth has an intuitive interface that offers step-by-step instructions, making it easy to use. The touchscreen guides users through a quick process of taking three portraits, with the option to retake one. Users will receive a link via email with instructions on how to create an account, access, and download your photos. 

Through the IU Foundation’s Affinity Giving programs, generous financial support for the digital photo booth was provided by the Women’s Philanthropy Leadership Council (WPLC), the Black Philanthropy Circle (BPC), along with a gift from College alumna Janet Smith ’67, a recipient of IU’s Bicentennial Medal in recognition of her distinguished service in support of the University. 

Located on the second floor of Ernie Pyle Hall on the Bloomington Campus, the self-service booth is available from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily—no appointment is necessary—so students can access it in a way that best suits their schedules. 

“Thanks to the generosity of the IU Student Government and the IU Affinity Giving programs, the Walter Center is able to immediately provide members of IU’s community high-quality digital headshots for use in employer networking, professional development, and other career planning activities,” said Joseph Lovejoy, Ph.D, Assistant Dean for Academic Engagement and Student Experience within the College and Executive Director of the Walter Center for Career Achievement. “In a highly competitive job market, we want to ensure our students, especially, have the tools they need to compete and stand out to employers. And importantly, we want to ensure that members of our community can do this conveniently, according to their own schedules.”

“This project resonated with the WPLC and BPC as the digital photo booth will create a more equitable opportunity to capture professional headshots by providing users a free, private, and efficient experience which is crucial to developing a polished digital presence,” said Rebecca Resetarits, Associate Vice President of Affinity Giving for the IU Foundation. “Without such an opportunity, professional headshots often remain out of reach for many students due to cost, schedule availability, wardrobe options, and reliable transportation. The digital photo booth removes many of these barriers for our IU community, and the project aligns with IU’s Strategic Plan 2030 by seeking to ensure the long-term success of all students.” 

In providing open access to high-quality professional headshots, the project will even the playing field for students who, for example, cannot afford high-quality professional photographs, have tight academic or working schedules, want the option to retake, edit or otherwise touch up their professional photos, or just feel uncomfortable having an in-person session with a photographer. 

Professional portraits are a prevalent need identified by students served by the Walter Center; during the 2022-23 academic year Walter Center leadership was in the midst of investigating the benefits and costs associated with the Portrait Booth when approached by the Director of Student Life in IU’s Student Government, about the need to create a wider campus offering for free, professional digital headshots. 

“Providing equal opportunities is important to me, so I was happy to work on the project,” said Amangul Hydyrova ‘24, recently Director of Student Life at IU Student Government and a triple major in the College. (Neuroscience, International Studies, and Economics.) “We believe that the availability of the IU Professional Portrait Booth will speed up career search, provide equal access to resources for IU’s student body, and save resources for the students and IU in the long run.” 

“For us in IU Student Government, the IU Professional Portrait Booth was a no brainer,” said Kyle Seibert ’23, recently President of IU Student Government, currently an MPA student in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a member of IU’s Board of Trustees. “Through this initiative, students now have access to a much-needed and often-forgotten service that will help aid in their career searches and development. I would also like to extend a thank you to the College for their partnership and support on this project!” 

Students who would like to have their professional portrait taken by a photographer can contact the Walter Center to make an appointment during weekdays. 

The Walter Center’s mission is to support students in achieving a lifetime of meaningful and fulfilling work as part of their education in the College. Among its services, the Walter Center offers career coaching, academic advising, career courses, and alumni networking connections to further students’ employment opportunities. The Center works to provide all students with equitable access to career and professional development opportunities, and is committed to preparing all students to thrive in and contribute to a diverse, complex, and interconnected world.
 

About the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington

The College of Arts and Sciences is the beating heart of Indiana University Bloomington and traces its roots to IU's founding in 1820. Part of a leading R1 (Research 1) university, the College has more than 70 academic departments and programs offering undergraduate and graduate degrees within and across the natural and mathematical sciences, the arts, the humanities, and the social sciences. The College is also home to the Media School, the Hamilton-Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design.

College faculty are groundbreaking researchers and dedicated teachers and mentors to students. With an array of options, opportunities, and experiences to choose from, students are able to prepare for fulfilling work as well as a meaningful life. More than 90 percent of our undergraduates report a successful career outcome six months after graduation. Learn more at college.indiana.edu.