Senior Spotlight:
Ruby Brown

“My inspiration was people doing their everyday things,” said Ruby Brown, senior at Menasha High School.

Then she ran with her love of photography.  

Brown started photography by watching her friend’s basketball team play and the thought of capturing the moment inspired her.  

She started photographing her friends' sports teams, which soon developed to being on the field during Menasha football games, then being able to travel with the team, and grew from there.

Brown finds photography as a great outlet to express her creativity and a way to spend her time.  Photography helped her build connections with other people, and this gives a sense of community while at school, from taking pictures and also making videos for the football team and basketball teams.  Members of the team have complimented her on how much they enjoy the pictures and video.  

One of her biggest supporters are people she has taken pictures for on the football team. She made a video for the football team for their banquet.  “Hearing people clap at the end and react to the video while it was playing was awesome,” Brown said. 

Students can also see her work on social media.  Brown’s parents also cheer on her work. Her mom is proud of her for pursuing her hobbies.

Brown also found other benefits in photography. The passion is also a profitable way to make money and give her college preparation. Brown would love to continue photography even when she heads to college.  Her first ever paid photography job was during the summer. She started to take pictures for seniors.

Struggles when it comes to hobbies can happen. Brown worries about pictures and videos not turning out. She points out that with “taking a photo you only have one opportunity to make sure you get good pictures.”

To overcome these struggles, she practices constantly.  Brown said she sometimes goes out with her camera and just practices shooting nature or sets up an object and practices it over and over.  “I want to make sure I know what settings to use,” she said.

As most photographers, Brown has a certain medium that motivates her as a photographer. Candid photos, which Brown pointed out, captures those intimate moments is her favorite. “People love to receive those, because they didn't know it was taken and captures the beauty of raw interaction,” she said. 

Brown hopes to start a photography club here at MHS in the next few months.  She hopes to share her advice with others.  In the meantime, she shares some thoughts to inspire others.  

“Don't give up, there's going to be a time where it's gonna feel like there's a lot, especially when you're trying to make it into a business, or career, but keep doing what you love,” Brown said.   

“I got to a point where I was taking pictures of stuff that wasn't my favorite to shoot, and then I went back to doing football or sports, and that was my absolute favorite. So play around with it and find something you like to do and stick with it.”