Shauna was an intern for Corporate Partners Photography at the Utah Jazz during Winter 2024.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
I attended every home NBA game of the Utah Jazz where I shot the game, players, our partner activations, and dozens of photo requests from the Corporate Partners team. During this seven month internship, I shot over 45 NBA games, 12+ partner events, and over 45,000 photos. These photos have been used on the Utah Jazz social media, our partners' social medias, in season recaps, internally by the Jazz, and blown up and hung in the Delta Center and Primary Children's hospital.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
My confidence grew a lot. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and grew my social skills having to interact with hundreds of people I had initially deemed intimidating and unattainable. I also grew my photography skills and portfolio tremendously.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
This solidied a future for me in professional sports, possibly in photography or corporate partnerships since I gained experience in each. It also helped me to get into Columbia University's Sports Management Master's Program.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
The way that I landed this internship was divine; it was a domino effect of things that I was doing in my major to find and then be offered this internship. I also felt throughout this internship a proven surety that I want to work in professional sports for my career. Even by the last games, it was a surreal feeling to walk on the court on game nights. This internship also played a large role in my acceptance into Columbia University for my master's degree which I will begin in the fall. Everything about this internship felt like it was destined to be one of the steps meant for my life.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Absolutely! It was hundreds of hours of HARD work, and it can feel daunting at times. However, I learned so many, got so many hours of experience, and grew as a professional and as a person through this internship.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
I cannot say enough good things about it!