Make Photographs. Find Your Voice. Prepare for College.
Photography is more than learning to use a camera. It’s a way to explore the world, develop your perspective, and communicate what matters to you.
Contact Photo offers hands-on photography education for high school students, from learning the fundamentals to developing a portfolio for college applications.
Photography education for everyone. A pathway to what’s next.
Photography Education Should Be Accessible to Everyone.
Contact Photo is a nonprofit photography lab and educational space in Brooklyn dedicated to making photography more accessible.
Our youth programs give high school students the opportunity to learn photographic techniques, experiment with new ideas, and develop their creative voices in a supportive environment.
Through hands-on instruction, mentorship, and collaborative learning, students gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of photography as an art form.
Whether they’re picking up a camera for the first time or preparing a portfolio for college, students are encouraged to explore their interests, take creative risks, and discover what photography can make possible.
College Portfolio Program
PROGRAM 01 · Develop Your Work. Prepare for What’s Next.
For high school students interested in pursuing photography or the visual arts in college, the College Portfolio Program provides a structured environment to develop original work and prepare a portfolio.
Students move beyond individual assignments to explore subjects and ideas that matter to them. With guidance from instructors, they learn to edit their photographs, identify recurring themes, and develop a cohesive body of work.
Group critiques and individual feedback help students strengthen their visual storytelling, think critically about their photographs, and communicate their creative intentions.
What students will gain
Portfolio development: Create a cohesive body of original photographic work.
Technical skills: Strengthen camera operation, lighting, composition, and editing.
Critical thinking: Learn to evaluate photographs and articulate creative decisions.
College preparation: Develop a portfolio for applications to photography and visual arts programs.
Academic opportunities: Explore a pathway to college credit through Purchase College, subject to the finalized academic arrangement.
Program details
Who: High school students interested in photography and the visual arts.
Where: Contact Photo, 51 Porter Ave, Brooklyn.
Format: Semester-long program.
Instruction: Hands-on learning, independent projects, and group critiques.
Tuition: Subsidized through nonprofit support, with financial assistance available.
Experience: Prior photography experience recommended; final eligibility requirements to be determined.
Program schedule, tuition, application deadlines, and college-credit details will be announced when finalized.
Youth League
PROGRAM 02 · Learn Photography by Making Photographs.
The Contact Photo Youth League introduces high school students to photography through hands-on instruction, creative assignments, and collaborative learning.
Students develop foundational skills in camera operation, exposure, composition, and visual storytelling while exploring photography as a tool for personal expression.
Through practical exercises and guided projects, students learn to observe their surroundings, experiment with different approaches, and communicate their ideas through photographs.
No previous photography experience is necessary. Cameras and materials are provided.
What students will explore
Camera operation and exposure.
Composition, light, and color.
Digital photography and image editing.
Visual storytelling and photographic projects.
Group discussions and constructive feedback.
Program details
Who: NYC high school students.
Where: Contact Photo, 51 Porter Ave, Brooklyn.
Format: Semester-long weekend program.
Experience: No experience necessary.
Financial assistance: Need-based fee waivers available.
Expanding Access to Photography Education
We believe access to photography education shouldn’t depend on a family’s ability to pay.
As a nonprofit organization, Contact Photo works to make meaningful photographic experiences available to young people through community support, educational partnerships, and financial assistance.
Our youth programs are designed to give students access to instruction, equipment, and a creative environment where they can learn, experiment, and grow.
Financial assistance is available for eligible students, subject to program funding.
Interested in supporting youth photography education? Your support helps provide students with access to photographic equipment, educational resources, mentorship, and opportunities to develop their creative voices.
Learn Photography in a Working Photography Environment.
Contact Photo is a community photography lab in Brooklyn, built around the practice, appreciation, and accessibility of photography.
Students learn in an environment where photographs are made, developed, printed, discussed, and exhibited.
Rather than focusing exclusively on technical instruction, our programs encourage students to develop their own perspectives and understand photography as a creative and cultural practice.
Hands-on learning. Students learn by making photographs, experimenting with techniques, and working through creative challenges.
A community of photographers. Students share ideas, discuss their work, and learn from different perspectives.
Individual development. Instruction and critiques help students identify their strengths, explore their interests, and develop original projects.
A foundation for further study. Students interested in pursuing photography can build the skills and confidence needed to take their work to the next level.
Start Making Photographs.
Whether you’re discovering photography for the first time or preparing to pursue it in college, there’s a place for you at Contact Photo.
Explore our youth programs, develop your skills, and discover where photography can take you.
Questions about youth education? Contact Hello@ContactPhoto.org