About Me
I became sure of pursuing a path in photojournalism during the summer following my freshman year at RIT, when I discovered the Non-Profit Organization Innovate Kenya (IK). After proposing a photojournalism intern position to document their work, IK accepted the proposal and I spent the summer in Nairobi documenting Kenyan teenagers as they worked to create solutions to issues in their community. The connection I formed with the subjects of the story while immersing myself in their culture is what continuously draws me to this field.
When I returned home from Kenya I worked as an intern at the L.L.Bean shooting studio. Spring Semester of 2015 I studied at Florence University of the Arts in Florence, Italy. The summer of 2015 I interned at the Bangor Daily News. Throughout my junior academic year, I worked as a video intern at the Rochester City Ballet.
I spent the summer of 2016 living on Isle au Haut; one of Maine’s remote outer islands, documenting the isolated lifestyle for my senior capstone project. I lived in a small shack that doubled as a tool shed of one of the 30 year round island residents. With no running water or electricity, I survived off of luna bars and PB&Js, my bike, and the pond nearby for a shower. My living conditions enabled me to spend every moment of my summer involved with this project, so I loved every second of it.
Currently I am the President of RIT’s NPPA Chapter, while working as a staff photographer and writer for RIT’s student run newspaper; Reporter.
.
Email: dah5548@g.rit.edu
Instagram: dominiquehessert
Blog: dominiquehessert.tumblr.com