RIT student gives back through photography

Ferdinand Virtudes, a fourth-year management information systems major from Baltimore, initiated a project to offer low-cost photography services to underrepresented and low-income students. Inspired by his own experience of not being able to afford high school portraits in 2020, Virtudes provides this service to help others celebrate their achievements despite financial challenges.

Virtudes, an RIT Presidential Scholarship honoree and a Jack Kent Cooke College Scholar, is a student manager at the Wallace Library and an outreach representative with the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and has held executive roles at Delta Sigma Pi, a professional co-ed business fraternity, and TEDxRIT. He has also had internships at Fidelity, Leading Change–Africa, and 20 Degrees LLC.

How did your interest photography come about?

Photography started around 2019, back when I was in high school doing a class project. When I graduated in 2020 during COVID, it was rough spending money on something like pictures, especially when you live paycheck to paycheck. I didn't end up buying any of my graduation photos. I decided to pick up the camera just to see what it’s like to take your own graduation photo. After months of doing that, I got my friends and family involved as my first clients.

How has photography helped you grow as a person?

I’m a natural introvert, so this became a great way to break the ice and instantly connect with people. I want them to have a positive experience, so I go into customer service mode. A photo is just a part of the process; the whole photoshoot experience matters because that is what they’ll remember. Photography has taught me how to engage with people while also thinking about the framing, the composition, the lighting, all at the same time. It’s helped improve my personality and communication skills.

Where did you get the inspiration to help people?

I noticed very early on that my parents would go out of their way to help people and wouldn’t expect anything in return. It didn’t click with me until I had something that I knew people were looking for. With photography services costing hundreds of dollars, how can people fully enjoy their celebration when they’re stressed about the financial burden? My family taught me to prioritize enjoyment and understand the experiences that other people have because we’ve gone through that struggle ourselves.

You’ve worked at a variety of internships so far. What’s been the biggest takeaway for you?

Throughout my internships, I’ve learned how crucial adaptability and clear communication are to success. At Fidelity, I supported financial advisers by helping them address client inquiries and better understand how to develop personalized investment and retirement strategies. This required flexibility and strong communication to manage multiple priorities and make sure that we addressed their concerns. At 20 Degrees LLC, I helped organize data and improve efficiency for teams which taught me the value of collaboration and problem solving. These experiences have shown me how to adapt quickly and work well with others, skills I’ll carry forward into my future roles to contribute effectively and overcome challenges.

What made RIT and Saunders College of Business the right fit for you?

I started as a computer science student here at RIT, but I felt something was missing. When I took a Systems Analysis and Design course with Professor Bui, I realized how much I enjoyed combining business and technology, which led me to switch to management information systems. Since then, the courses I’ve taken have been exactly what I needed. Saunders has also been great because they offer a lot of networking opportunities, which have helped me grow both personally and professionally. As an introvert, the support I’ve received has been crucial in developing my networking and communication skills.