Tae Hislop

Creative Photography, 2000

Tae Hislop took her education very seriously from the moment she stepped foot into Humber. With aspirations of becoming a photographer, she knew a post-secondary education could help jump-start her career as well as educate her on the skills she needed in order to be successful in the industry.

Being a very intensive program, all Creative Photography applicants must go through a rigorous interview process prior to being accepted. Tae remembers her interview vividly, recalling the professor having doubts of her earnestness. With a lot of effort to break through his tough exterior, Tae managed to convince him that she was committed to pursuing her education and to starting a career in the field; she was accepted into the program, and thus began her career as a photographer.

Although the program was very demanding, Tae really enjoyed the work that she was doing. She found her professors to be very proficient, providing the students with a well-rounded learning experience. One of her professors in particular – Cathy Bidini – stood out from the rest, offering guidance and advice to Tae when she needed it most.

“She was very personable and easy to talk to. You could tell that she really cared about the students. She even introduced me to many photography professionals when I was searching for a placement. She was one of many influencers that made my education a great experience.”

Reminiscing about her time in school, she recalls the many hours spent learning in the dark-room. Despite the drastic changes to the photography industry, Tae still associates a lot of her current work with the skills she learned there, stating that “Although I don’t use dark-rooms anymore, the experience I received from working in there can be transferred to the work I do now.”

After she graduated, Tae transitioned between many jobs assisting professional photographers, all while slowly phasing into her own business. Working with some of the best photographers in Toronto, Tae was able to continue her education outside of Humber, building her experience and providing her with a deeper appreciation for the industry. Today, Tae runs a successful photography business – Tae Photography – focusing on advertising photography and working with many companies across the GTA.

“The connections Humber provided me with have helped me throughout my career. Through networking I have had the opportunity to work with many other industry professionals, and have developed many relationships with great photographers whom I am able to call on if help is ever needed.”

Tae gained a lot of practical experience at Humber and values her ability to leave with all of the essential equipment that she needed in order to be successful.

“Humber gave me a solid base of education and helped me to hone in on my skills as a beginner in the photography world. I learned a lot at Humber, but what I didn’t realize is that photography is a continual learning process. You can never learn everything, but I was able to grasp the essentials and learn the core foundations – that’s what it’s all about.”