MEET THE TEAM

Instructional Team

SHIRLEY NANNINI - Executive Director and Instructor

After thirty-three years as a teacher, coach, and administrator at Evanston Township High School, Shirley retired from public education and became a student at Richard Stromberg’s Chicago Photography Classes, pursuing her lifetime passion of photography. In 2012, Shirley began collaborating on a long-term project to photograph wind and is part of the duo that established Wind Flow Photography. Since 2012 she has exhibited throughout the United States in group, solo, gallery and museum shows. Longing to return to her teaching roots Shirley founded FreshLens Chicago in 2017 and became an instructor and the Executive Director.
 

DENISE ORLIN - Assistant Director and Instructor

Denise is a photography instructor at Richard Stromberg’s Chicago Photography Classes where she teaches Photo 1 and 2. She has spent the last 15 years as a freelance photographer, covering everything from corporate events, interiors, weddings, to children and family portraiture. Denise is currently focusing her energies on fine art photography. She has been committed to FreshLens Chicago since its inception and loves working with the students involved.

DANNY HOWARD - Lead Lab Supervisor and Instructor

Danny lived in Norwich, in the United Kingdom, before moving to Chicago in 2008. Danny is a drummer and a photographer. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2016 with the New Budapest Orpheum Society, plays in his own band Contrabanda, is the musical director for the Hanneford Circus, and teaches percussion in the Chicago Area. Danny currently teaches photography at Richard Stromberg’s Chicago Photography Classes where he is also the Lab Coordinator. Danny’s love for exploration and photography has taken him all over the world and he can often be seen photographing abandoned buildings.

SHARLENE CHAPMAN - Lead Instructor

Sharlene is a photography instructor at RSCPC where she teaches Photo 2. She has a love for people and capturing their beauty in this big world. She loves trying to capture that special moment so that the memory is never forgotten. Teaching is her passion. She loves inspiring others to learn and grow in their skill. “Teaching the youth is powerful, because we have the ability to not just educate their minds but also their hearts.” She is truly grateful to be a part of the FreshLens team.

ANNETTE NIEVES - Instructor

Annette is a Chicago based photographer who dedicates herself to storytelling through the medium of photography. While fashion, specialized weddings and real estate photography are her speciality, she is also deeply passionate about travel photography with a humanitarian nexus. She has donated her time and photography skills to such NGOs as Free the Girls and The Giving Lens. When Annette is not behind the camera, she is an active member of the Chicago police department with 30 years of service. Her current assignment was an opportunity based on her knowledge of the inner workings to the department and her skill set as a photographer. She leads a team of skilled graphic artists, photographers and videographers that create all the visual content for internal and external communications and social media for the Chicago Police Department. Annette has exhibited her work extensively.

DUJUAN E. SMITH - Instructor

DuJuan loves visual storytelling through photography! As a lifestyle & portrait photographer, he strives to capture the essence of a person’s being; the radiance of their aura. Like famed photographer Gordon Parks, DuJuan views his camera as a weapon of choice to bring light into a sometimes dark world. Outside of photography, he works as an administrator and adjunct instructor in higher education. DuJuan considers teaching and mentoring others as a calling and loves working with the youth. He joined the Chicago Photography Classes community in May 2021 and has loved every moment! In his spare time, he shoots through his photography endeavor - Dr. Du Photography.

RYAN BARAYUGA - Event Instructor

Ryan is a freelance photographer and film maker working with clients in the fitness and wellness industry. Ryan was born and raised on the island of Oahu and graduated from Oregon State University. He started his professional photography career when he moved to Chicago, IL in 2014. Along side his freelance work, Ryan teaches the event & storytelling curriculum for FreshLens Chicago. In his free time, Ryan enjoys anything active including freediving, climbing, and snowboarding.

CHRISTIANA BASSO - Event Instructor

Christiana is a Chicago-based photographer working with businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals. While working in advertising, Christiana started photographing events and working with fitness professionals on the side. In 2018, she attended classes at Chicago Photography Classes and made the move to start her photography business full-time as well as started supporting FreshLens Chicago’s marketing efforts. She is currently teaching the event & storytelling curriculum for FreshLens Chicago and loves working with the students. “It’s amazing and impressive to see how quickly the students grow in confidence, their ability to tell stories and express their creativity in the FreshLens program.”

PETER TOVAR - eBay Manager and Instructor

Peter is a Chicago-based photographer who started his own journey as a student of FreshLens in the basic class. From then he would intern for the program many times as he took extra courses including the advanced and event classes respectively. While attending Columbia College, Peter would learn from the greats about photography and videography. Soon later, Peter became an instructor for FreshLens during his final years of college. 

LISA STEFANIAK - Operations Manager

Lisa is a Chicago-based photographer, curator, and mixed media artist. She graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a BA in Studio Arts with a concentration in Photography. Lisa was the former Gallery Manager and Co-Curator for Studio Oh! (2015-2022) and Gallery Manager for Hofheimer Gallery (2018-2022). Lisa has shown in several galleries in the city of Chicago including 33 Contemporary Gallery (Zhou B. Art Center), Beverly Arts Center, and South Suburban College. In 2008, she received an Honorable Mention Award and was published in the Best of College Photography Annual 2008 through Photographer’s Forum. In 2011, Lisa was also featured and interviewed on the Artist Spotlight segment of South Suburban College’s public access broadcast through Comcast Network. Currently, Lisa is the Operations Manager for FreshLens Chicago, a not-for-profit tuition-free photography program for low income Chicago high school students.

Board of Directors

SUSAN AURINKO - Photographer, Writer, Curator
Susan Aurinko, a photographer, writer, and curator, has shown her work and led workshops in France, Italy, India, Canada, and the US. Two books of her photography are available. Aurinko has served on the Boards and Advisory Boards of many visual and performing arts organizations including the International Photography Awards, CASE Art Fund, Chicago Photography Center, Ballet Chicago, and others. Aurinko Chaired the Exhibition Committee for The Union League Club of Chicago for 12 years where she curated the rotating exhibitions and has also curated exhibitions for both the Japanese and Danish governments.

MICHAEL CHU

ALEX GARCIA - Editorial/Commercial Photographer and Director (Three Story Media)
Alex Garcia is a Chicago-based photographer, director and photojournalist. About 8 years ago, he left a staff position at the Chicago Tribune to pursue a dream of starting his own production company called Three Story Media. He, along with his wife Laura, engage in authentic and emotional storytelling in their work. Alex was awarded the Titanium Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and a Pulitzer Prize while at the Chicago Tribune. He has also been a judge of the prestigious Pictures of the Year Contest and has taught at the most renowned art and journalism schools in the country.

CYBELE GHOSSEIN - MD at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Cybele is a professor and Vice Chair of Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She graduated from Tufts University with a degree in child development and received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania. She has been involved with many non-profit medical organizations supporting both patient care as well as career development of women in medicine. (2019)

VANESSA LUNA - FreshLens Chicago Instructor

JOHN MARCHESCHI - Managing Director at a “Big Four” Accounting Firm
John has had a 33-year career as a public accountant currently serving as a Managing Director at a large public accounting firm and prior partner at Arthur Andersen. John has also served as an elected elementary school board member.  He is an avid amateur photographer. John earned his BS in Finance from the University of Illinois and is a Certified Public Accountant.

BAILEY MOORE - FreshLens Chicago President
Bailey Moore is the Founder & Managing Director of Wintrust Ventures, a division of Wintrust Financial Corporation. She is responsible for investment strategy, fund operations, and portfolio company relations. Previously, Bailey held various roles in commercial lending, credit and bankruptcy consulting. Bailey holds a BS in Business Management and Finance from Purdue University. In 2015, she was voted as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ 20 top professionals in their 20’s. She is also a Kauffman Fellow.

SHIRLEY NANNINI - FreshLens Chicago Executive Director

DENISE ORLIN - FreshLens Chicago Assistant Director

NICK SINNOTT - Owner of Richard Stromberg Chicago Photography Classes
Nick Sinnott has been the Owner and Director at Richard Stromberg’s Chicago Photography Classes since 2015 and generously houses FreshLens Chicago. He has taught all levels of photography and has designed curriculum for numerous photography classes. Nick has been a valued counselor and advisor to FreshLens. Prior to Chicago Photography Classes Nick owned ServiScape LLC where he built and maintained golf courses and commercial and residential landscaping and maintenance where he had 300 seasonal employees. (2018)

JUNKO YOKOTA - Professor Emeritus of Reading and Language at National Louis University
Junko Yokota is Professor Emeritus at National Louis University and Director of the Center for Teaching through Children’s Books, and began her career as a public school teacher and librarian. Born and raised in Japan, she is actively engaged in the international children’s book world, often speaking, researching, and doing jury work. Her research in visual narrative and visual literacy pairs well with her interest in photography.

Advisory Team

JANE FULTON ALT - Fine Art Photographer

CAROL BOSS - Marketing Services Manager (Hahnemühle USA)

LAURA HUSAR GARCIA - Fine Art Photographer/Creative Director (Three Story Media)

ANDY GOODWIN - Commercial Photographer

STEPHEN HAMILTON - Photographer/Director of Stephen Hamilton Productions

ALYCE HENSON - Commercial Photographer

BETH HUERTA - Photographers' Agent, CG&A, Professor, Drexel University

BROOKE HUMMER - Commercial and Fine Art Photographer, Board Chair Chicago APA (American Photographic Artists)

BRENT LEWIS - Photo Editor (New York Times)

JONATHAN LOWENSTEIN - NOOR Foundation

BEN MANLOVE - Sony

CECIL MCDONALD JR. - Fine Art Photographer

ANGIE MCMONIGAL - Fine Art Photographer/Commercial Photographer

CARLOS JAVIER ORTIZ - Director/Cinematographer/Photographer

JASON POTTERTON - Photo Editor (ESPN)

MARTINE SÉVERIN - Lifestyle and Advertising Photographer

MARCUS SMITH - Commercial Photographer/Director

ROBIN SUBAR - Portrait and Corporate Photographer / Past President ASMP Chicago Midwest

VAUGHN WALLACE - Editorial Photo Editor (National Geographic)

RAQUEL ZALVIDAR - Visual Journalist (Chicago Tribune)

MICHAEL ZAJAKOWSKI - Director of Photography (Chicago Magazine)