Jess Harris (left) and Billy Weeks on the Photo Night stage in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall. Photo by Angela Foster.
With nearly 500 people in attendance, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Department of Communication hosted its ninth Photo Night on Wednesday, March 5, celebrating student storytelling and featuring speakers like UTC alum Jess Harris.
After graduating from UTC in 2019, Harris returned to her hometown in the Nashville area to run her own portrait photography business specializing in wedding, family and newborn photography.
In the last six years, Harris said she’s learned many things about photography, but she values the opportunities she found as a communication student at UTC. She was excited to see just how much the department has grown along the way.
“It was so much fun to meet all the students and to see how far the department, Rising Rock—a capstone course and online publication where students document Chattanooga—and (the photojournalism classes) have come since I was a student,” Harris said.
While Photo Night started as a smaller gathering for students to share their work with the community while meeting professionals in the field, the communication department now considers it their signature event.
Harris was joined by a lineup of seasoned professionals, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press photographer Mike Stewart, former Sports Illustrated photographer Patrick Murphy-Racey and freelance photojournalist Kathleen Greeson—each presenting their work.
The event also featured a gallery showcasing the work of Associate Lecturer Billy Weeks’ photojournalism students. Since founding and hosting Photo Night in 2015, Weeks and his students have built a loyal following, drawing supporters who return year after year—not just for the event, but for Weeks, the communication department and UTC as a whole.
“I left so inspired by everybody, by all the other photographers, by the pros and even the students,” Harris said.
Harris was part of the first Rising Rock class as a student at UTC. Now, it amazes her to see how Rising Rock continues to grow, all while sharing the stories of people in the Chattanooga area.
“My favorite part (of Photo Night) was probably watching the videos in between the presenters, seeing the Rising Rock stories. I just loved every single one,” Harris said. “Also, all the other speakers were amazing, and it was really an honor to share a stage with some incredible photographers that have been to lots of places and covered lots of cool stories.”
Harris was especially happy to be invited back as a presenter, knowing that Weeks selects speakers who will inspire and help students.
“I am so proud to come from this communication department,” Harris said. “It’s like the greatest honor to be asked to return and show off my stuff.”
After a night of storytelling and conversation, moderators Miller Richardson and Clara Paulson—both UTC communication students—closed out Photo Night by announcing the event’s return in 2026.
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Photo gallery by Angela Foster
Students and professionals participated in the annual Photo Night.
