School Photographers of America Launches Volume EDU Program at Daytona State College

School Photographers of America (SPOA) launched its first Volume EDU workshop on Feb. 18, 2026 at Daytona State College, marking the beginning of a new national initiative designed to introduce college photography students to careers in high-volume school and sports photography.

Volume EDU is a collaborative educational program developed in partnership with Sony to bridge the gap between academic photography programs and the professional opportunities available within the school photography industry. Many emerging photographers graduate without exposure to the scale, technology, workflow systems, and career pathways that define modern volume photography. Volume EDU aims to change that.

During the Daytona State workshop, students participated in live demonstrations of real-world volume workflows, explored professional camera systems, and engaged directly with industry leaders to better understand business operations, career development, and the evolving landscape of school and sports photography.

The program was made possible through the leadership and volunteer participation of SPOA Supplier Partner, Sony, as well as several respected SPOA Member studios, Dean Stewart Photography, Leonard’s Photography, and Strawbridge Studios.

“SPOA is committed not only to protecting the traditions of school photography, but to actively building its future,” said Stephanie Hayes, Executive Director of School Photographers of America. “Volume EDU is about opening students’ eyes to an industry that offers creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and meaningful community impact.”

The launch at Daytona State represents the first of many planned Volume EDU sessions nationwide. SPOA is actively coordinating additional workshops across the country and inviting member studios to participate by showcasing workflows, sharing operational insight, and helping students understand the real-world opportunities within high-volume photography.