Through the Lens of Entrepreneurship
by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, Strategic Initiatives Advisor
When Lars Jendruschewitz ’27 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) was 13, his parents handed him a camera before a family vacation in Germany. What seemed like a simple gift became the start of a journey that would eventually bring him to Syracuse University, launch a successful photography business, and establish him as a sought-after student photographer.
After receiving his first camera as a birthday gift, Lars spent his teenage years photographing landscapes, coastlines and natural environments. In 2019, his family relocated to Florida just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. The move created an unexpected opportunity. Isolated from friends and adjusting to a new country, Lars spent hours outdoors with his camera, documenting beaches, wildlife, and sunrises.
The experience accelerated his growth as a photographer. He also began experimenting with studio work, learning the fundamentals of lighting and composition through photographs of everyday objects. As college application time approached, Lars faced a dilemma familiar to many creative students. He loved photography, but he was equally drawn to business and entrepreneurship. Many prestigious photography schools focus heavily on fine arts and experimental work. While he respected those paths, they didn't align with his goals. "I realized I didn't want to be an artist living for gallery exhibitions," he says. "I wanted to be a creative who understood business."
Syracuse University offered a nationally respected photography program paired with a top-tier business education. "It was the ideal balance of both worlds," he says, "and a place where I could develop creatively while learning the fundamentals of business."
Through Syracuse University's entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the LaunchPad at SU Libraries, Couri Hatchery at Whitman and the School of Information Studies’ RvD incubator, as well as startup workshops, mentors and fellow founders, Lars found a community that encouraged experimentation and growth. Through customer discovery interviews, business validation exercises, and countless conversations with entrepreneurs, he began learning how to turn his creative talent into a viable business.
At the same time, Lars was building his professional skill set. During his first week on campus, he joined The Daily Orange. What began as an opportunity to photograph campus events quickly evolved into a leadership role. He eventually became photo editor and managed the publication's photography operations. By the end of his first three semesters, he had photographed more than 250 events. The volume of work accelerated his development. "You learn a lot after photographing at that pace," he says.
That experience eventually led to paid professional opportunities across campus. Over the past year, Lars has photographed events for numerous academic and administrative units across Syracuse University, including Syracuse University Libraries, the School of Education, the College of Professional Studies, TEDx Syracuse University, Intelligence++ and several Whitman programs.
Today, Lars' business continues to grow, supported by the same ecosystem that helped launch it. He works out of the University's startup spaces, collaborates with fellow founders and regularly seeks guidance from professors and mentors who understand both entrepreneurship and the challenges of running a company. He has a highly regarded photography business that captures campus events and a well-established portfolio of product photography clients, with a focus on food and beverage brands.
A complete portfolio of global brands and products he has worked with is on his website, Photos by Lars: https://www.photosbylars.
Whether discussing professors or mentors who provide strategic advice, or fellow student founders who spend weekends working together and brainstorming over coffee, Lars repeatedly returns to the importance of community. He praises Syracuse’s innovative academic programs that allow students to build ventures while still earning their degrees, through independent study opportunities and experiential learning programs. Thanks to that unique approach, Lars has been able to grow his company in real time.