Traci Westcott

Traci Westcott has worked as a professional photographer since graduating from RIT in December of 2018. Her first job after college was with the Dubois County Herald, located in Jasper, Indiana, where she pitched, produced, and edited 6 long-form stories to promote empathy and understanding within the community. After spending 9 months with Dubois County Herald, Westcott moved to Rochester, Minnesota, in October 2019 to work as a photojournalist and digital content producer for the Post Bulletin. 

While with the Post Bulletin, she generated over 500 documentary photos each month, including breaking news, event coverage, and portraiture. She produced striking images from high stress situations, like police brutality protests, presidential visits, and storytelling around the impacts of COVID-19, as well as images for daily community events, like county fairs. Westcott also received multiple recognitions in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s annual Better Newspaper contest, including Press Photographer’s Portfolio, Best Use of Video, and Best Photo Story. 

Now, she works at RIT Marketing and Communications as a university photographer. In this role, she serves the university by documenting daily life and community activities and development. Her photography is used by players throughout the university, particularly in publications like the RIT University Magazine, the RIT President’s Report, articles in RIT News & Events, and more.

As a student, Westcott participated in the Eddie Adams workshop in 2018. She also placed in the 73rd and 74th College Photographer of the Year awards, winning Bronze in the documentary category, silver in the portrait category, and silver in the documentary short category.

Overall, Westcott enjoys the intimacy photography can create between herself and the people and spaces she documents. She believes photography can open the door for new conversations, relationships and experiences.