At the University of San Francisco, the mission is clear: to educate minds and hearts to shape a more just and humane world. It’s a vision rooted in Jesuit values—thoughtful, community-driven, globally engaged. So when the university wanted to tell the story of Gordon Getty’s long-standing philanthropic support, they knew it needed to be about more than a donation. It needed to show the impact: on students, on music, on the city.
That’s where my photography comes in.
I was brought on to photograph a story that bridged legacy and forward momentum. Gordon Getty—composer, philanthropist, and longtime supporter of USF—has helped fuel the university’s arts programs and expand access for students who might not otherwise be able to study in a place like this. The goal was to capture that generosity not just in words, but in images that felt real and grounded and full of life.
As we photographed at his home in San Francisco, Getty played a bit of his one-act opera, Usher House and I looked for moments that spoke to the university’s values: whole-person development, connection, a sense of purpose bigger than any one person or performance.
What emerged was a collection of imagery that University of San Francisco could use to tell the story of how one person’s belief in the arts can open doors for many.
Gordon Getty, playing a bit of his opera, Usher House, in his San Francisco home
The final images were used in print and digital campaigns, and in donor communications that aimed to honor the past while clearly pointing to a bright future.
For institutions like USF, where mission and identity run deep, photography can help clarify and elevate the important stories of what makes educational opportunities possible. Visuals add texture to ideas, and emotion to impact.