Hometown: Rochester Hills, Michigan
Major and class standing: English, Senior
Instagram: @sloanebarlowphoto
Where you interned: United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL)
What was your internship title and role/responsibilities?
This summer I had the amazing opportunity to work as a Photography Intern at Jimmy John’s Field in Utica, MI. My responsibility as part of the media team was to provide coverage of the baseball games, with the mindset of supporting the positive, family atmosphere Jimmy John’s Field strives to maintain. I would shoot for at least 7 innings, then edit and upload on-site so the media team could post immediately after the game ended. My photos would then be posted on Facebook, and Instagram, and used for print content and press releases.
How did you obtain your internship? What resources did you utilize to secure your internship?
After a lengthy internship search spring semester of 2024, I discovered the USPBL photography internship through a connection in my hometown at the Rochester Soccer Club, Youth Soccer League. I then received an interview with the media intern supervisor. In preparation for the interview, I did some research and discovered the supervisor was a fellow Spartan! I had a great interview with her through this Spartan connection, especially after she saw my photography work capturing MSU athletics.
What did your daily routine include?
The games would usually be every night, from Thursday to Sunday. I was to arrive an hour early to get photos of the lineups and pre-game festivities. I would then shoot for at least 7 innings, making sure I was changing my location often to get a large amount of diverse content. Then I would go up to the press box to edit and upload my photos, which would take around 20 minutes, before driving back home.
Your favorite experience from the internship?
My favorite experience from this internship was the amount of freedom, trust, and credit I was given by my supervisor and the media team. I was allowed anywhere in the ballpark to get the shots I wanted, including the dugouts and the suites. I am also incredibly grateful for the knowledge and friendship I gained with other photography interns, many of whom are also fellow Spartans.
What was your least favorite part of the internship?
My least favorite part of the internship was that there wasn’t much variety to the job, it was the same thing every game. But after a few weeks, I learned to appreciate the consistency, using it to challenge myself to get different shots using the same content.
What skills did you learn and/or build upon during your internship?
During my internship, I learned how to collaborate with other artists, I strengthened my knowledge of photography, and I built trust in myself as an artist to dive head-first into capturing something I’m not familiar with.
What did you learn about the industry or your career path as a result of the internship? What are your future plans?
This internship gave me insight into the world of sports photography. I learned what types of shots are valued, and the importance of patient and attention in capturing the shot you desire. My plans are to apply my new sports photography skills to my continuing job with the Red Cedar Log, MSU’s official yearbook. Looking forward, I’m excited to continue sports photography as an option for me to pursue in tandem with my journalistic and creative writing.
What advice do you have for other students seeking out internship opportunities?
If you are seeking internship opportunities, start searching a semester early, apply to a handful, and don’t worry too much about whether it’s paid or unpaid. Many internships open to you at this age will be unpaid. If it’s truly what you love to do, then the experience will be worth more than anything.
