The Interview: Becca Schwartz

Having recently celebrated her one-year anniversary at UNLV, Becca Schwartz is fresh off the bustle of photographing UNLV’s 2023 spring commencement and getting ready for a 36-hour cross-country trek to the East Coast. Always ready for an adventure, Schwartz is one of the newest talents to join UNLV's central marketing team as a multimedia content specialist.

Schwartz, originally from Maryland, graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in photography and film. She has an especially cinematic viewpoint when it comes to work (check out one her latest projects, a UNLV take on the popular Wes Anderson TikTok trend).

Friendly. Funny. Outgoing. Schwartz is adept at photography, videography, and editing, which means she’s not only producing exceptional photography for UNLV’s website (or, for example, the very photo illustration/self-portrait seen in this article) — she’s creating some pretty “sick” multimedia content for UNLV’s social media platforms.

What is your role at UNLV?

I’m a multimedia specialist in the Division of Integrated Marketing & Branding for UNLV, which basically means I create visuals for UNLV and the colleges/departments within.

We have a photographer and video designer on the team, and my role came out of needing something in between and a bit of both, with more time to create conceptual imagery. I do photography, video, graphics, or anything else I can come up with to visually represent the story.

What are some of the main responsibilities of this role?

I’d say most of my job is envisioning, organizing and executing shoots. Whether it’s a portrait, conceptual imagery, classroom discussions, event coverage, commencement, anything I’m either requested to shoot or have pitched myself. And then I edit, tag, and share them, which is questionably my favorite part.

I also create “The Interview” imagery every week, so I shot and edited the photo you see above. Except the illustrations/icons, those are all thanks to Rae Alfonso (the graphic designer in Academic Affairs marketing).

What brought you to Las Vegas and to UNLV?

Since photography isn’t tied to a specific area and never really held me to one place, I was able to move to where I was drawn to. After living in greenery for my whole life, the desert sounded like a beautiful change. I also disliked editing the greens of leaves, and much preferred working with reds and yellows in Photoshop, so the desert sounded like a fun edit.

I received a BFA in photography and film from VCU and began working basically any job that afforded me a camera. I worked in photo processing, social media, graphics, a lot of freelancing, and I was a photographer on a cruise ship. I was also submitting my work to galleries, and won a few grants. Right before this job, I was managing a selfie museum on the Strip.

I never knew exactly what I wanted to do, but I followed photography around and when I heard about this job I honestly couldn’t believe it even existed — it sounded ideal.

What is the best thing about your job?

So many things. I have incredibly funny and supportive co-workers, an open-minded work environment with space to pitch unique ideas, a gorgeous campus with constantly changing vegetation — shout out to the UNLV Grounds team; their Instagram is my favorite — and the equipment I have access to is the best I’ve ever used. With all that combined, I think the best part is the freedom to create with the best tools possible in such an open environment.

What are some of the challenges of this role?

Scheduling is probably the biggest challenge. Also, the weather.

If you could have a photoshoot with anyone alive today in the world — who would it be?

Lil Nas X would be awesome, he’s had some great photoshoots in the past, and I love the way he plays with performance and consumerism on his Instagram. Also his outfits are incredible. Yeah, definitely Lil Nas X.

What has been your favorite shoot so far since starting at UNLV?

I loved the mini UNLV letters setup. I’ve always been interested in miniatures, so it was great being able to throw all my passion into that shoot. There’s also something so therapeutic about being alone in a studio shooting objects for hours on end.

miniature setup of palm trees and letters that read UNLV

Do you have someone in your field — or a quote — that you currently find very inspirational?

There’s this photographer Tonje Thilesen who I’ve followed for a while. Their lighting is ridiculous, and the posing and composition in their portraits are so clever. It seems like they can shoot anything and make it feel like it belongs in their world. I love a cohesive aesthetic.

Are there any cool spots on campus you’ve discovered that other people might not know about?

I love the spots around the old EPA buildings. Great gardens and bright white buildings that reflect sunlight. Other than for shoots, the top floor of Hospitality Hall has a piano and it’s so nice to work there when it’s being played.

What do you like to do for fun in Vegas?

I like to take road trips, hike (in the few months it’s not too hot), camp… Inside the city, I actually really like casually gambling at dive bars. Also vintage shopping.

How do you handle Vegas’ summer heat?

Once I just accepted that I would be a dripping uncomfortable mess, it got significantly easier. Staying inside helps, and at least it’s not humid, that REALLY helps.

What’s something about you that would surprise people to know?

I speak French pretty fluently. I use that word loosely, but I went to a French immersion elementary school, and have been holding the conversations I’ve had this past year on my travels. It’s so much easier when you learn as a kid, and when I feel like I’m losing it, it only takes a short while to get it back.

What’s a show you’re binge-watching right now?

I’m working my way through Atlanta right now. It’s hard to binge because it’s so heavily layered in dark metaphors and symbolism, and is just deep in general, but it’s one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

If someone offered you a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave tomorrow — where would you go?

The Arctic. I’d love to see nothing but ice and water, so simple but intense — like a perfect flip of the desert. Polar bears would be an added bonus.