The SHS photography class has used the social media platform TikTok to create a photo shoot project. Recently, the class has used TikTokers’s photo shoots as inspiration and a guide to create photos. 

Led by art teacher Kayla Shouse, the ten students in the class use both a TikTok photographer’s style combined with their own style to create a series of pictures imitating the photo shoot features in the chosen TikTok. According to Shouse, students are choosing a photographer from TikTok by themselves instead of being assigned a specific photographer. Shouse provided the students with a list of TikTokers that they could use for their project, as well as the option for them to choose another TikToker. 

Sophomore Grant Lizon used a video from the TikTok user Alex Stemplewski, @alix.stemp, to combine with his style.  

After each student picked their own TikTok photographer to replicate, they chose two TikTokers for the project during class time. If the first TikTok shoot was too advanced for their skills, according to Shouse, the students would have another photo shoot to fall back on. Students then would go to do their photo shoot in their own time outside of the classroom.

“I wanted to start this semester with a fun project for the kids,” Shouse said. “I wanted something really lighthearted and fun for the kids to do before we start getting into the more bigger and deeper projects.”

The end goal for the project is for the class to turn in three final pictures of their project.

Another sophomore, Lilly Boyd, used a work from TikToker Jordi Koalitic to influence her project. Boyd’s pictures involve water and reflections. Boyd used a puddle on concrete to create a reflection. While angling her cellphone, Boyd took a shot of a sitting dog behind a water-y mirror image. Each shot was captured on Boyd’s cellphone.

Scan the QR code to

see Boyd’s inspiration

According to Boyd, the class is avoiding using cameras owned by the school in case the virus were to become a problem. 

 The process of choosing a TikTok for the students to replicate led to some having several limitations. 

“Some of his pictures had frames or used the beach, and we’re in Indianapolis so there’s not a beach,” Boyd said.  

There were certain items that were needed for different photo shoots that not all students have access to at home. Limitations such as these made Boyd have to choose another TikTok that remained in their style by her chosen photographer. 

Other limitations have happened due to the Corona virus, since social distancing is still being enforced, certain TikToks cannot be done because of how many people are needed to recreate the style.

“The only limitations would be man power,” Shouse said. “If they chose a photo shoot that has a lot of people in it, safely trying to gather that amount of people.” 

According to Shouse, the students will display their final products in the hallway outside of her classroom.

“My end goal for this project is to make cool creative pictures that not only myself can enjoy, but other people,” Lizon said.