Design Student Brooklynn Jarvis Kelson Wins National Photography Award
Brooklynn Jarvis Kelson remembers the moment Elder Jeffrey R. Holland greeted her as he was leaving the Marriott Center after speaking at a BYU devotional. Kelson, a student photographer who was assigned to take photos of the event, was standing in the tunnel, camera in hand, when the Apostle smiled at her and asked her how she was doing.
“As the photographer I don’t approach General Authorities, but I had been wanting and praying for the chance to meet him,” she recalls. “It was really cool and there is no way I would have had that experience if I wasn’t there as a photographer.”
It’s one of many special moments Kelson has witnessed as a student employee for BYU Photo. Now a senior in BYU’s photography program, Kelson was recently named Student Photographer of the Year by the University Photographers of American Association at the annual UPAA symposium in South Bend, Indiana.
“I was really grateful to be recognized, it was a little overwhelming because as I walked up to accept the award, they gave me a standing ovation,” she said. “It felt really special to have others appreciate my work.”
Read the full Y News article by Tyler Stahle here.
Kelson has worked closely with BYU’s director of photography, Jaren Wilkey. Listen to a Y Magazine podcast that discusses BYU Photo’s tradition of mentorship here.
