UC's new online photo store features images from major events such as April's commencement in Nippert Stadium. Photos/UC Creative Services

UC launches massive online photo store

Take a spin through the largest-ever online gallery of University of Cincinnati images.

By John Bach
513-556-5224

Aug. 15, 2017

The University of Cincinnati has launched an online photo store that now gives users access to nearly a million images of campus, events and people.

Photographers from Creative Services in UC’s Division of Governmental Relations and University Communications have gathered their best work dating back to 2003 into a single searchable repository called Photocatalog that’s similar to sites such as iStock.

Models walk runway at 2017 UC DAAP fashion show.

UC photograpers capture everything from research to the arts all across campus.

“I’m excited to share the great work of our photographers,” said Lisa Ventre, associate director of Creative Services. “UC’s community will be able to take full advantage of the breadth and depth of imagery created daily. This centralized resource allows us to share photos in an efficient, cost-saving manner.”

Casual browsers will find a collection of more than a thousand photos (including a sampling of free images), but clients who create an account will discover catalogs that contain more than 938,000 images. While most were taken on campus, plenty share UC’s interactions across the city and even around the globe as photographers have documented faculty, staff and student adventures worldwide.

Clients can save favorite images into a basket in the photo store or even create their own custom catalogs in the system to archive all the high-resolution images they’ve purchased. Categories such as architecture, research, student life and more contain an enormous variety. For example, users can quickly view more than 1,800 aerial images of campus in the system, then narrow down to very specific images using simple search functions.

University of Cincinnati high jumper clears the bar.

UC Athletics often hires UC photographers to capture Bearcats in competition.

Looking for a beautiful shot of a packed Nippert Stadium or Fifth Third Arena for your office wall? Tons are available. Need an ideal research photo for a website or brochure? They’ve got plenty. Want a beautiful image of Cincinnati’s skyline? You guessed it. They have plenty of those, too.

Creative Services acts as an in-house agency for the university, so in addition to offering graphic design services, the unit also has four full-time photographers (with a combined 80 years of experience) who spend their days telling UC’s story through compelling imagery and video.