Photography & Visual Marketing in Florence

Florence is a city one associates with the medieval, with narrow cobblestone streets, worn archways, and neoclassical statues dotting bustling piazze. But beneath this façade, there flourishes a thriving, contemporary city, replete with all the style and glamor of modernity. The Social Hub in Florence is a modern, vibrant co-living and co-working space that caters to both students and young professionals, and, recently, paid host to a cohort of students from the University of Minnesota.

Alessandro Galatoli, a professional photographer specializing in high profile events and fashion, leads “Photography and Social Media” at the Accent Florence Study Center. This course introduces students to the principles of photography and storytelling and its use in social media, with an eye to growing their professional portfolio and visual marketing skills.

As UMN students toured The Social Hub alongside Professor Galatoli, they were encouraged to create their own content for The Hub’s social media and for their portfolio. The stylish and dynamic co-working space—complete with soft neon lighting, a diverse array of meeting spaces, and an open floor plan hosting a variety of break activities— provided these photography students an excellent subject for their camera lens.

During this visit, the UMN students not only honed their skills in visual marketing but also learned about The Hub’s company strategy and met with communications and marketing specialists. The Hub’s unique services and location in the center of a thriving yet ancient city served as an excellent lesson in the evolution of Florence’s private sector and the versatility of its marketing professionals.

Company visits such as these provide students with experiential learning, valuable networking opportunities, and preparation for their professional careers.

Accent has extensive experience designing experiential learning activities that complement and build on the learning objectives of faculty-directed courses. Please reach out to Accent’s Program Development team at development@accentglobal.com if you are interested in discussing these ideas for your current or future study abroad program.