About Me

Assignment Overview
Photography is often about more than simply taking a good picture. It can communicate identity, experiences, interests, values, relationships, memories, and future goals.

For this assignment, you will create a short personal profile that introduces who you are at this point in your life. Your responses should be thoughtful, specific, and honest. You will also begin thinking about how aspects of your identity could be communicated visually through photography.

You do not need to share anything that you consider too personal.


1. Who Are You?
Introduce yourself beyond just your name.
Consider:

• What are a few words that describe you?
• What is important to you right now?
• Who or what has had the biggest influence on the person you are becoming?
• What is something that helps define who you are?

2. Family, Home & Background
Describe the people, places, traditions, or experiences that have helped shape you.
You may discuss:

• Family members or people who are important to you
• Where you live or where you grew up
• Cultural or family traditions
• Languages, food, music, celebrations, or customs
• A place that feels like home to you

You only need to share what you are comfortable sharing.

3. Interests & Passions
What do you genuinely enjoy doing outside of regular school work?
Consider:

• Sports
• Music
• Art
• Gaming
• Cars
• Fashion
• Travel
• Fitness
• Technology
• Nature
• Reading
• Photography
• Spending time with friends or family
• Clubs, teams, jobs, or other activities

Choose 2–3 interests and explain why they matter to you.

4. Your STM Experience
You are nearing the end of your high school experience. Reflect on your time at STM.
Answer the following:

• What is one important thing you have gained from attending STM?
• What is one experience, event, class, teacher, friendship, or memory you think you will remember?
• In what way have you changed since Grade 9?
• What will you miss most about high school?
• What are you most looking forward to after graduation?

5. Your Photography Story
Think about your relationship with photography.
Answer the following:

• Why did you choose Grade 12 Photography?
• What do you currently enjoy photographing?
• What type of photography interests you most?
• What do you feel you are already good at?
• What is one area of photography you would like to improve?
• Is there a photographer, photography style, social-media creator, film, magazine, or visual style that inspires you?

6. What Do You Want From This Course?
By the end of the semester, what would make you feel that this course was worthwhile?
Choose at least three goals.
Examples:

• Become more confident using a DSLR or mirrorless camera
• Improve composition
• Learn better lighting techniques
• Become stronger in Photoshop
• Learn portrait photography
• Improve sports or action photography
• Learn how to control depth of field
• Create more professional-looking images
• Develop my own photographic style
• Build a portfolio
• Learn how to photograph people naturally
• Become better at editing without over-editing

Explain why your goals are important to you.

7. How Do You Learn Best?
Photography involves demonstration, experimentation, problem-solving, creativity, and independent work.
Describe how you learn best.
For example:

• Seeing examples
• Watching demonstrations
• Trying something myself
• Step-by-step instructions
• Working independently
• Working with a partner
• Getting feedback as I work
• Experimenting until I figure something out

What can your teacher do that will help you be successful in this course?

8. Looking Ahead
Think about your life beyond STM.

• What are your plans after high school?
• Are you considering college, university, an apprenticeship, work, travel, or something else?
• What career or careers currently interest you?
• Where would you like to see yourself five years from now?
• What is one personal goal you would like to accomplish?

It is completely fine if you are still figuring this out.

9. Something People May Not Know About You
Tell me one interesting thing about yourself that most people at school may not know.
It could be:

• A hidden talent
• An unusual hobby
• Something you collect
• A unique experience
• Somewhere interesting you have travelled
• Something you are especially proud of
• A skill you have
• A funny or unexpected fact about you

Photography Component – Tell Your Story Visually Now turn part of your written profile into photographs.
Use 5 original photographs that represent different parts of who you are.
Your images should represent:

1. A person, place, or object that is important to you
2. One of your interests or passions
3. Something that represents your personality
4. Something connected to your past or an important memory
5. Something that represents your future
   
   

Important - Try to communicate the idea through the photograph rather than simply taking a picture of the obvious subject.
Think about:

• Composition
• Lighting
• Camera angle
• Point of view
• Colour
• Background
• Depth of field
• Mood
• Detail
• Symbolism

Photo ReflectionUnder each photograph, include:

Title: Give your photograph a title.
Connection: In 2–3 sentences, explain what the photograph represents and why you chose it.
Photography Choice: Briefly explain one photographic decision you made, such as your lighting, composition, angle, focus, framing, or editing.

Final ReflectionAfter completing your photographs, answer:
Which of your five photographs tells the strongest story about who you are, and why?
Write approximately 100–150 words.

What I Am Looking For This assignment is not about having the most exciting life or the most expensive camera.
I am looking for:

• Thoughtful responses
• Personal connections
• Original photographs
• Strong effort
• Creative choices
• Purposeful composition
• Evidence that you are beginning to think like a photographer