During down-time, between fall and spring photography projects, I substitute-teach at a local private boarding school. Gaining insight into the way high school students access information and how they relate to it is invaluable for me when I work with my higher education clients.

Over the course of a day I’ll have a dozen or more conversations, about their college search. It’s most instructive listening to them talk among themselves about the schools that interest them. The school is hosting a college fair next month. Early reports say that 150 colleges and universities will be present. Now that’s time to do research! Watching and listening to high school students interact with admissions officers and fellow students gives me a ringside seat. I’m interested in what visual cues get their attention and how that relates to their interest in a particular school.

Keep an eye out on my Instagram feed (@paulomaraphoto). Perhaps you’ll get some ideas.