In this blog, Thadseja discusses her experience as a photographer at Innovation Hub and the essential skills learnt throughout the term. She also discusses the power of staying open-minded and how far it can take a person.
Written by Thadseja Perinpanesan, iHub Photographer, HBSc Double Major in Psychology (with Co-op) and Neuroscience at University of Toronto Scarborough
During the 2025 summer term, I had the pleasure of being the Innovation Hub’s photographer, taking photos and connecting with others through my passion. This opportunity taught me many valuable photography skills, giving me the chance to better my craft by learning new and more effective techniques. Not only did I learn more photography tricks, but I also built on other skills I never thought photography could teach me.
Confidence Beyond the Lens
Since my time at the iHub, I have gained many skills, but the most important skill I learned was how to confidently express my ideas. At the start of the term, I would refrain from sharing my opinions with the team, out of fear of judgment. However, after getting to know my team a bit better and learning about how iHub strives to be a judgement-free zone, I realized that I should share my ideas because they are just as valuable as my team members’ ideas. Seeing others share their answers with the team, even if they were wrong, pushed me to do the same as there is no shame in trying. Now, I look forward to sharing my ideas with the team!
Developing Patience
Another essential skill I developed at the iHub was patience. During my first project at the iHub, I had to take pictures of the summer team, and many people prior to their shoots brought up concerns of being nervous. As these nerves carried onto the shoot day, I learned to be patient with the person I was photographing. Being patient with each team member gave them a chance to build up their confidence and look their best in the photo. Though this did take time, I knew it was worth it as the pictures turned out beautiful with each team member’s personality shining through. From working on this project, I also learned to be patient with myself and my creative process. Sometimes I tend to speed through photoshoots so the person I am photographing doesn’t feel uncomfortable. But I realized that I also need time to come up with creative ways to convey the final product. In this case, I needed to be patient with my creativity so I could capture a team’s dynamic through their photos.
Keeping an Open Mind
This work-study position really showed me the true power of keeping an open mind towards the opportunities that came my way. As a Psychology and Neuroscience undergraduate, photography does not directly relate to my field, and many people would assume the two fields cannot overlap in any way. Before taking on this role, I believed that I should only work in positions that directly relate to Psychology and Neuroscience research. But when I kept an open mind about this opportunity and pushed past the negative thoughts, I realized that I could always learn something new from this experience. Just as I hoped, photography showed me that there is so much more involved than just taking photos and editing them. Being a photographer means cherishing the process, communicating effectively, planning and researching methods and thinking in a creative manner, so stories are told right. If I had declined the opportunity, I would have missed out on all these skills I developed— all of which can be applied to my undergraduate studies! The Innovation Hub really showed me the power of open-mindedness, and this is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life!
My Reflection
I wholeheartedly enjoyed my time here at the Innovation Hub as the team’s photographer! This opportunity took my love for photography into a more professional setting, and I enjoyed every bit of this experience. To anyone who is considering a position that may not relate directly to their field, have an open mind because you can learn underlying skills that may just come in handy in the future! I would like to thank my team leaders and student coworkers for supporting me every step of the way and the iHub for taking me in for this term!
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