Working with National Geographic is an end-all, be-all goal for many photographers. Nick Terry ’26 made it happen while he was still in high school.
It was Terry’s mother who came across the opportunity: a photography clinic for young students in Yellowstone National Park led by National Geographic’s Drew Rush. She encouraged her son to go for it.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to get in, because I had no idea what I was doing with photography. I didn’t have any portfolio work to submit,” said Terry, who ultimately secured his spot with a few images he’d taken during Scouts outings.
“Going to Yellowstone, a part of the country I’d never been to before, and learning photography, it couldn’t get much better than that. It showed me that photography could be more than just a hobby—it could be a career, it could give you a viable future,” he added.
Terry’s mother, Eleanor, clearly recognized her son’s natural knack for capturing moments. Not only did she put the National Geographic opportunity on his radar, but she also enlisted him herself as a videographer during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She was associate vicar at the Old North Church in Boston, and during quarantine, we would film church services and post them on YouTube for people to watch at home,” Terry said. “That was my first time using video in a professional setting, and I think it went really well. The Easter service got a couple of thousand views. Definitely a decent turnout.”
Eleanor’s unwavering belief in her son is shared by the entire family, including Terry’s two younger sisters, who are always eager to serve as test subjects when he’s tinkering with exposures or other camera adjustments. “They’ve always believed in my potential, even if I didn’t,” he said.
Terry knew he wanted to keep honing his craft in a higher education setting. Most of the schools he considered, however, only offered photography as a minor. Endicott stood out with its Bachelor of Science in Photography program, which allowed him to focus on both the business and artistic sides of things. Endicott also impressed with its well-equipped photo studio, boasting myriad lights, tripods, cameras, and lenses for Gulls to experiment with.
As a new student, Terry was thankful to get the same sort of support from Endicott’s faculty that he normally got at home, including Michael Miller, photography professor and chair of Endicott’s visual communications department.
“He was there during my first-ever visit to Endicott, during Admitted Students Day,” Terry said. “From the get-go, Miller drew me into photography and showed me the potential of an Endicott education. He’s been there every time I’ve needed help with something, and he’s given me a couple of great opportunities that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”
Among those opportunities is the Endicott Experiential Edge, the college’s pioneering internship program.
Through the program, Terry has secured work opportunities on and off campus, with his most recent internship at the Lightshed Photography Studio in Salem, Mass., a husband-and-wife-run business specializing in real estate images and portraiture. Terry described the internship as challenging, varied, and fulfilling, and is thrilled that he will be working for Lightshed full-time after graduation.
“During the internship, they had me doing a bit of everything: bookkeeping, project management, and of course, photography. I prefer the real estate side because of the wide variety of houses and locations we visit,” he said. “Part of how people make decisions on buying a house is the photography, so if that first initial image hooks someone right away, that’s what I hope to achieve.”
Lightshed is undeniably a unicorn job, in that it serendipitously marries Terry’s longtime passions for photography and travel. Terry was born in Incheon, South Korea, and, counting three study-abroad tours during his time at Endicott, he has been to the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Denmark, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.
“I actually have a list because I’m starting to forget all the places,” he said. Next up is an Endicott-sponsored trip to Japan, with stops in Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Tokyo.
“A passion for travel, that’s one of my favorite traits I’ve inherited from my family. Traveling and making the effort to discover as much as you can about other cultures and experiences is something I’ve learned from them,” Terry said, adding that the notion of traveling the world for work is very appealing. “It’s definitely something I want to explore later. When I have a little more money saved up and have more of a solid grasp on photography, I want to be the guide jumping into the Arctic Ocean at 5 a.m. or exploring the African Sahara or, realistically, anywhere.”
Beyond its outstanding internship program and extensive study abroad opportunities, Endicott's other experiences, such as its supportive faculty and tight-knit community, also helped shape him.
Terry admits he was a socially timid student when he arrived at Endicott, someone who didn’t like venturing out alone. During his four years as a Gull, he has gained the confidence to do anything and go anywhere. With supportive friends and professors by his side, he has broken out of his shell and is ready to take on whatever comes next.
“It’s night and day, who I am now compared to who I was as a photographer my freshman year. I had no idea what any of the buttons did, what f-stop to use, what ISO to use. Endicott has prepared me really well for the real world in the field of photography,” Terry said. “I’m really proud to be able to say that, one million percent yes, I’m not the same person I was when I started at Endicott because that shows improvement and growth. I’m super grateful.”