A Career Behind the Lens

When Kaitlyn Criss walked into her first Tulsa Tech photography class as a high school junior, she didn’t see a future career taking shape. She saw an opportunity to learn something new.

“I thought, ‘This is really cool. I can have this technical skill, even if I don’t use it,’” Criss said. “I never thought I was going to pursue photography.”

Today, that “just for fun” decision has turned into a full-time, fast-paced career that takes her from NHL-level hockey rinks to one of the busiest airports in the world. And it all started at Tulsa Tech.

A graduate of Owasso High School, Criss enrolled at Tulsa Tech during her junior and senior years. Like many students, she initially believed photography was more passion than profession. 

Those fundamentals went far beyond camera settings. Weekly critiques gave students the opportunity to present their work, defend creative choices and grow comfortable speaking in front of others. “It was super nerve-wracking,” she admitted. “I was scared every single time I presented my photos. But when I went to college, we had to do the same thing, and I was prepared.”

Criss credits Tulsa Tech instructors with pushing students to improve while creating a collaborative environment. “Being with 25 other people who were interested in photography really helped my self-esteem,” she said. “We all pushed each other. We were learning together.”

After graduating, Criss continued her education at the University of Central Oklahoma, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in photography and later adding a marketing minor. While in college, she began working in photo services, where she discovered sports photography, specifically hockey.

“I had been to one Tulsa Oilers game,” she said. “College introduced me to hockey, and I ran with it. Now it’s the only sport I really enjoy.”

Her career quickly accelerated. She worked with multiple hockey organizations, freelanced for professional teams, and accepted internships that required hours of weekend travel. That persistence paid off. Criss now serves as the team photographer for the Colorado Eagles, a professional AHL hockey team, in a role she calls her “dream job.”

“I love my job so much,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like work.”

During the week, she balances that role with another full-time position as a digital content specialist at Denver International Airport, where she photographs everything from aircraft and terminals to passengers and therapy dogs.