Kaylee Ramil
Inside the Photography building, students get the opportunity to showcase their work.
The photography program at Solano College has been around for about 50 years. I entered the program about a year ago as a nervous student with no experience in a creative environment.
Growing up, I never had the opportunity to explore creative expression without feeling embarrassed or, honestly, scared. I was always labeled as the girl in the friend group who took pictures of everything, or the one who couldn’t put her phone down at a concert—called a “fangirl.” I was trying to hold onto moments I wanted to relive forever.
When I started the program, I asked myself, “Am I really ready to commit to following my dreams?”
Looking back now, the answer was yes—I just needed to see how a supportive creative community could make all the difference. Through that community, I’ve grown into someone more patient, open-minded, confident, grateful and eager. I’ve never felt more like myself.
At the start, I had little to no experience with a camera. I came in with an open mind but was still afraid to share my work. I feared criticism, judgment and vulnerability. But simply attending the class led to more progress than I ever imagined.
Professor Sarah Barsness taught me not only how to use a camera, but how to make creative choices I could be proud of. She taught me how to see the world through a camera—and now, I’ll never see it the same way again.
As I learned more, I began taking my camera to a live music venue in San Francisco called Brick and Mortar. At that first show, something clicked. I knew live music photography was something I wanted to do forever.
With that experience under my belt, I earned an internship in Berkeley at The UC Theatre, where I continued to develop my concert photography skills. One of the most meaningful opportunities came when I was able to photograph my favorite band, Quarters of Change, when they performed at The UC Theatre.
Looking back, enrolling in the photography program at Solano was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It gave me the skills to pursue my passion, the confidence to share my work, and the community to support my growth. What started as a leap of faith turned into a path toward purpose—and now, I can’t imagine doing anything else.