John Aigner (1997-2000)

I really cherish my OCC Photo days. To this day they remain in my life as a strong network and circle of friends, which include some of my wonderful teachers. In 2000 I was a really damn proud, faculty-award-receiving, president’s list, honor roll graduate. I stayed on as an OCC lab aid and Citizen’s Advisory Committee member and kept grooming my photo skills. I went on to become an assistant, printer, studio manager, archive keeper and exhibition producer for photographers in Los Angeles. Nowadays I divide my time between L.A. and Berlin, Germany. I shoot fashion and famous people for magazines and commercial clients and still do a lot of personal work (mostly nudes).
Thank you OCC. It’s been a blast!

Rony Alwin (2003-2006)

Mary Amor (2003-2005)

Carin Backoff (1997-2000)

I currently live in New York City where I freelance in high fashion casting, as well as fashion photography. I’ve been living in New York for four years now, and can’t imagine living anywhere else. I so very much enjoyed my time at occ where I met so many incredible people, and learned so much. Some of whom, are still my closest friends today. JR miss you and love you more than you know. And Blade, you are the best! I owe ya one!

Amanda Bevington (2003-2005)

Check out the MOD BLOG: amandabevington.wordpress.com/

Shelly Castellano (1993)

I miss the darkroom days at OCC !!! (I never thought I would say that, but its true). All of this computer stuff can be distracting! I graduated with Blade and some other really creative photographers in the early 90’s to move on to CSULB for photojournalism. I am currently still working freelance and contracted as a pro sports and special event photographer. My images over the years have been published in Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, SI.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com, The Sporting News, People Magazine, Golf World, The Hockey News and more. Stop by and say hello online anytime. A fairly recent stock photo archive can be seen at http://www.castockpix.com

Alice Dison (2002-2003)

Finished the year program, photojournalism/documentary, at International Center of Photography in New York, NY. 2006-2007

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.

William Hare (1987-1989)

After Coast, I graduated from Art Center, and am now shooting architecture out of Orange. Fall of 2007 I started teaching a photo class at OCC.

Joshn 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.

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!

Blade Gillissen (1990-1993)

I am currently a full-time faculty member and Chair of the School of Photography at Orange Coast College. I still do some commercial photography and consulting work.

Mike Jackson (1967)

Brittany Keene (2000-2002)

Graduating from Art Center in Aug. Shooting for ABT, Jupiter Image, running my own business and loving life!!!

Mike Kennedy (1996-2000)

I am a DBA / Data Miner for UPS.

Mark Kirchner (1979-1982)

After OCC I attended the San Francisco Art Institute (bfa 1985). Studies with Linda Connor, Larry Sultan, Reagan Louie and the late John Collier Jr. While at the art institute I studied visual anthropology with John Collier Jr. I embraced Collier’s methodology as a tool for insight and communication. That rigorous training has shaped both my work and life.

In 1999 I retrained as a hand bookbinder and started Silver Works Studio. The studio specializes in fine portfolios for clients worldwide.

Today I balance my time between teaching photography at Soka University of America, my studio practice and working on the Manzanar Pilgrimage Photography Project.

I am grateful to my OCC teachers. They include Rick Steadry, John Upton, John Sanford, Linda Troller, Susan Rankaitis, Lauri Martin and the late Michael Degtjarewsky. Thank you.

Dave Lauridsen (1997-1998)

Moved on to ArtCenter in Pasadena, been shooting since graduating in 2001.

Miles Mahan (2002-2006)

Changing gears after owning a specialty and general automotive shop and 'mid life crisis' I found OCC School of Photography to get passionate about life again... the likes of Walter Urie, Rick Steadry, Athur Taussig ,Chuck Sheahood, John Hesketh ,et al..... all passionate... all real deal humans and amazing artisans ... i've been blessed by their tutelage and friendship and oh... i work assisting throughout OC, LA and San Diego counties and shoot Architecture, Lifestyle, Weddings, Events, even Product.....and am even passionate again about the vehicle restorations and service i do getting through these economic times to all my friends and alumni from OCC .. hugs

Renere Lopez (2002-2007)

I’m just putting everything I learned from my classes into my work!

Amadine Nabarra-Piomelli

A fantastic group of talented and nurturing faculty members. I learned more than the basics in photography. I learned to follow my own voice and it says a lot about the teaching at OCC. Every experience was tough but valuable. I stayed on and on taking all the extra classes I could take as a way to stay connected and to grow until you had to kick me out:-) I am now a photographer and book artist and independent curator selling my work to private collectors and public institutions in the USA and Europe. I wouldn’t have made it without you all at OCC. It has been an incredible journey.

Torii Ott (1996-2000)

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.

Sarah Riley (2001-2004)

Courtney Sabbagh (2004-2007)

Jennifer Rocholl (1997-2000)

Melinda Sargent (2007)

I finished my physics and math course work at OCC in 1987. I graduated from UC Irvine in 1989 with a degree in physics. I worked for Dr. Roland for about 3 years in atmospheric chemistry and then worked in environmental and computers. I like photography much better. :)

Cindy Schafer (1995-1999)

Born in Canada. Raised on a farm. Mum had a subscription to Life magazine and a Pentax. Dad had a 35mm Konica. Got a BA in German and Environmental Studies on the west coast. Supported an intense travel habit by working at a heli-ski resort, a kids camp in the swiss alps and guiding bicycle trips in the Rockies, Napa Valley, Europe & on remote Canadian islands. Photo School in California. More travel. And now, Cindy pursues her art shooting documentary stories about social change, the environment, people & cultures around the world. The great social reform photographers Walker Evans, Dorthea Lange, Lewis Hine and W. Eugene Smith inspire Cindy. She also loves the contemporary work of Robert Frank, Martin Paar, Lauren Greenfield, Jeff Wall, Steve McCurry, & Annu Matthew.

Deidre Schoo (2004-2006)

Having spent several years contemplating the technique and art of photography at Orange Coast College - Deidre studied at the International Center of Photography in New York. She currently lives in Brooklyn and travels frequently to Southern California. Her work has been recognized by various organizations and publications, including Photo District News and ASMP. She follows the commandment of James Joyce, and in her work "the mind is arrested and raised above desire and loathing."

Noah Spindler (2004-2009)

Through Orange Coast College School of Photography I received a strong technical foundation in photography, tempered with a criticality in the context of photography as an art practice. Since graduating from OCC Photo, I’ve been studying art at UCLA. I was accepted on a primarily photographically based portfolio, which was developed entirely during my studies at OCC, under Eve Luckring, Richard Kraft, Rick Steadry. I view my time spent at Orange Coast College School of Photography as being a central first step or starting point in a perceivably endless study of the arts. Pr

Dan Stensland (1997-2000)

What?! Was it that long ago??? I can’t remember, but if these really are the years that Torii, Damian and Danny were there then I guess I was too...

Damian Tsutsumida (1997-2000)

I currently shoot architectural photography in Southern California. In addition, I teach part time at the School of Photography, as well as help Torii and Blade keep the peace in the department!

Bob Walden (1977-1979)

I was in my late twenties when I enrolled in the Orange Coast College Photography program. My instructors included Arthur Taussig, Rick Steadry, John Upton, Alan Sekula. Because I was eager to complete the program quickly, I was given special permission to double up and take Commercial Photography and Color Photography at the same time - a real challenge. Very few who started the program finished - it required lots of time on campus and in the lab, but it was well worth it! I returned to NYC and for a while did the photo assistant route which was not to my liking, and I got into the computer programming field for a while. Then, at age 38, with the arrival of our first child and purchase of a home, I took a risky plunge and decided to quit computers and started a niche photography business - legal photography. Taking photographs as documentary evidence for lawyers, mostly civil cases - personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, etc. Nearing the end of the road now, been doing it for 20 years. The work has been interesting, exciting, challenging and rewarding. My heartfelt thanks to my instructors and to OCC for equipping me to take "the road less traveled."

Christopher Wormald (2005-2009)

Mihoko Yamagata (1970-1973)

The education I received at OCC Photo Department prepared me to go on to Art Center College of Design. I transferred to California State University, Fullerton to study under Darryl Curran due to a change in my interests from commercial work to fine art, and received my MA in 1978.

In 1980 my photographic works were selected for Nagase Photo Salon’s inaugural exhibition in Tokyo.

Starting in 1982 I worked as a coordinator of exhibitions introducing contemporary American photographers’ works to a photo gallery in Tokyo. It was an exciting time to work with a visionary gallery director when the concept of original photographic prints was beginning to be recognized in Japan. I have also worked as a photographic researcher and translator for a museum in Japan.

My main focus since graduation has been to produce photographic works. Photographing while traveling is a great joy. Since 2006 I have been back at OCC studying digital photography.

OCC provided me a great foundation as well as friends and contacts. I express my gratitude to the teachers who were most helpful and patient during a time when my English skills were limited.

NEA Visual Artist Fellowship 1982
Selected Exhibitions & Collections: Nagase Photo Salon (Tokyo), BC Space (CA), Center for Creative Photography (AZ), The Photographers’ Gallery (London), University of Southern California (CA), Hampshire College (MA)

Danny Zapalac (1997-2000)

Destiny allowed photography to become a part of my path. Through it, I have found my future wife, invested in real estate and opened my eyes to the exquisiteness of this earth. Isn’t photography breathtaking?