I volunteered at the New England Aquarium (NEAq) for 4 years while I was in school. During that time, I was asked to photograph member events and volunteers. Member events photos were displayed on NEAq’s website and volunteer photos were used during presentations at the annual volunteer appreciation event.

Aquariums are naturally dark environments- the type of environment where photographers typically use a flash.

However, for the safety and comfort of the animals, guests, and volunteers, I NEVER use flash when photographing in an aquarium.

This produces images that are naturally darker than we’re used to seeing, but hey, it’s the authentic aquarium experience. It’s dark in there!

As a not-for-profit institution, the New England Aquarium relies on volunteers to provide the best experience for the animals and the visitors. To show their appreciation, the aquarium holds an annual volunteer appreciation night, where photographs of aquarium volunteers are featured before, during, and after the awards ceremony. I was chosen to photograph the volunteers, behind the scenes and interacting with aquarium visitors, for this event.

Member Events are a big deal at the New England Aquarium. From annual events, such as: Fish, Fun & Fright &That’s A-Moray, to seasonal specials like September Sundays and Fin and Tonic, Aquarium member events are exclusive perks where members get to visit the Aquarium outside of normal hours, and participate in interactive programming run by staff and volunteers.