Lauren Frank first became interested in photography because it was her mom’s hobby. 

But Frank was interested in going further. After completing her associate’s degree in Photography at College of DuPage, Frank has turned photography into a career.

“I spent six years after COD working as a wedding photographer, studio manager, editor and producer for DwJohnson Photography. I worked with a great team of creatives on both commercial and editorial projects,” she said. “I was interested in furthering my experience with creative directing and production in commercial work, which was what ultimately led me to transition to the Creative Producer role at Trunk Club, where I worked with the in-house creative team for two years.”

In 2017, Frank left Trunk Club to start her own business. She opened a production space, which led to co-founding a creative agency with a friend and fellow photographer who is also a COD alumni. The agency, ettakit, specializes in photo/video production and social media management and was recently acquired by C.A. Fortune.

While at College of DuPage, Frank received the Academic Excellence Scholarship, and she also did her research, comparing the College’s program to one in New York City.

“COD’s program seemed to be better overall – and it turned out that it was!” she said. “COD offered me an excellent education in addition to helping me acquire an internship and a study abroad experience in Florence, Italy. I felt like I received great one-on-one with both my professors and advisors, in order to personalize an experience that would prepare me for my career.” 

Frank advises prospective and current students to research the resources that College of DuPage offers.

“If you look for the right opportunities, you can cater your education to be your own and gain some really great experiences,” she said. “Study abroad, apply for internships, and establish relationships with the professors because they will be great connections to have in the future. Set goals, travel, learn from professionals, ask questions, volunteer, experiment, get organized, and make your education your own! The reward is in all the relationships you gain if you keep asking questions, keep yourself involved, and invest in others. I look forward to speaking to the Photography program students year after year.”

Learn more about the Photography program at College of DuPage