Professional-level instruction
Students learn from working photographers using professional equipment in a working studio.
Programs
High School Residency Program
The NYC Salt Photography Residency Program is a year-long digital photography program for high school students that builds technical skill, creative voice, and professional confidence. It runs from September through June, and is perfect for those who are serious about photography and ready to grow creatively, technically, and personally.
From the first class to the final exhibition, students will learn by doing. They will shoot on location across the city, work with guest photographers, take on actual client projects, and stand in front of a public audience to talk about their work. By the end of the year, students will have a professional portfolio, a personal website, and hands-on experience that most photographers spend years developing. Students will work with professional-grade mirrorless camera systems and edit with industry-standard software, learning from our faculty: photographers who are actively working in New York City.
But Salt is more than a photography program. It’s a community. Many of our students stay with us through graduation and beyond, and we stay with them, connecting them to mentors, opportunities, and a network of NYC creative professionals long after the program ends.
We are looking for students who are hungry to learn, willing to be challenged, and ready to commit to their craft. If that’s you, we’d love to meet you.
Our Formula
Multi-year continuity
Our sequential model builds over 2-4 years, allowing for sustained growth in craft, identity, and confidence that shorter programs are not structured to provide.
College Preparation
Long-term mentoring and guidance to ensure 100% of our high school seniors graduate college-ready.
Artistic Growth
Public exhibitions, critique culture, and a close-knit artistic community help students develop a clear sense of themselves as artists whose voice and perspective have value.
Industry networks
NYC Salt’s 21-year professional network connects students to internships, commissions, mentors, and career opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom.
Alumni engagement
Former students now working as photographers, educators, and creative professionals return to teach and mentor, strengthening the program and deepening its reach over time.
College Prep
The first step in our college preparation process is career exposure. We believe that when students understand the range of careers available in the creative industry, they make more informed choices about their education. Field trips and guest speakers are built into every class, giving students direct access to professionals working across different roles in the visual arts. Formal college programming begins in a student’s junior year.
We approach our college preparation in several ways:
- Individualized College Guidance
- Portfolio development
- College trips
- Application Bootcamp
- Financial Aid Workshops
- Exposure to Scholarship Opportunities
- Essay Workshops
Individualized College Guidance
Our college advisor, Sherri Maxman of The College Maven, has over a decade of experience helping young people find their path to college. She begins working with all students in their junior year through a series of workshops and one-on-one meetings.
Students build college lists, write essays, go on college visits, and work through financial aid applications throughout their junior year. Each student also works with an assigned mentor on portfolio development for their college applications.
The week before senior year begins, we host a college application bootcamp at our studio. By the end of that week, students have completed their college essays and submitted all their applications, heading into the fall with everything done well ahead of our Thanksgiving deadline.
Portfolio Development for Art Schools
Portfolio development begins the moment a student enters the program. From their very first class, students are building the body of work that will represent them in the college application process.
All seniors are matched with a professional artist who mentors them through the portfolio portion of their applications. Structured focus on the application process begins the summer after junior year, once college lists are complete and students have identified the specific portfolio requirements for each school they are applying to.
Over the summer, students meet with their mentor twice a month to review work and stay on track, with the goal of having portfolios finished before senior year begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re a high school student curious about photography and the visual arts, and you desire to explore opportunities in higher education and careers in the creative industry in NYC, NYC Salt is for you. We’re looking for dedicated, hardworking students who show up, participate, and make the most of every opportunity the program offers. No prior photography experience required.
Absolutely not. Students come to NYC Salt with all kinds of backgrounds, and that’s totally fine. A portfolio is always welcome, but we don’t expect you to have one.
What we’re really looking for is dedication and a genuine passion for art. That’s what matters most.
You can find the link to our application here:
Before you start, make sure you have the following ready: a photo portfolio of 5 to 10 of your best images and your most recent school transcript.
The application includes written questions about your background, interests, and goals. Take your time with each answer, the more you share, the better we get to know you.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If yours is selected to move forward, you’ll be contacted to schedule a 30-minute interview. A parent or guardian must attend the interview with you.
Questions? Reach out to Xavier Achurra at xavier@nycsalt.org.
Our instructors are dedicated educators and practicing professional photographers living and working in New York City. With two instructors per class, we keep a low teacher-to-student ratio to ensure each student receives individualized attention and support throughout the year.
- Professional Equipment & Studio Access: Shoot with Nikon mirrorless camera systems, and work with professional studio lighting, modifiers, and accessories, all available through our studio and partner network throughout the school year.
- Industry-Standard Software Training: Learn to edit like a working professional. You’ll use Adobe Lightroom Classic to manage, edit, and color-correct your images; Photoshop for advanced retouching and compositing; and Evoto AI — a tool widely used in portrait and headshot photography — to boost speed and workflow efficiency in appropriate contexts.
- One-on-One Mentorship: Students are matched directly with a professional photographer who will help them become better photographers and develop a strong portfolio by the end of the year. Through regular one-on-one critique twice a month, you’ll refine your eye, strengthen your work, and have a real thought partner as you develop your voice as an artist.
- Portfolio Development: Everything you make at Salt adds up. By the end of the program, you’ll have a body of work ready for college applications, internships, and professional opportunities.
- Real Client Projects: Going beyond class assignments, you’ll collaborate with local businesses on real briefs, from concept through final delivery, and build a body of work that sets you apart.
- Field Trips & Photo Adventures: A big part of Salt is getting out and shooting in the city. Each year, classes are shaped around what’s happening in New York — exhibitions, events, neighborhoods, and the people in them. In the past, students have shot on location at places like Alvin Ailey, Central Park, Chinatown, Washington Square Park, and the High Line, and visited institutions like the Met, The Morgan Library, and galleries like Hauser & Wirth and David Zwirner. No two years look exactly the same.
- Two Public Exhibitions: Show your work to the world twice, at our Midterm Show in March and our End of Year Photography Exhibition in June. Both are held at a professional gallery space in New York City.
- Community & Industry Events: Run student-led portrait booths, engage the public with your photography, and attend exclusive events where you’ll meet photo editors, art directors, gallerists, and other creative professionals.
- After-School Lab Access: Our editing lab is open every day after school for independent work, project development, and extra practice time beyond class hours.
- Business & Professional Skills: Learn how to price your work, communicate with clients, navigate contracts, and build a brand that’s distinctly yours. Photography is both an art and a business.
- College & Career Readiness: Launch your professional presence: build a website, design your business card, and learn about careers in the creative industry. For juniors and seniors, we will guide you through the college application process, helping you identify the right schools, build your application portfolio, and develop your college essay.
Classes are in person at our photography studio in Manhattan at 127 West 26th St, NY, NY 10001.
NYC SALT is committed to making professional photography education accessible to all young creatives, regardless of financial background.
The full cost of the NYC SALT Residency Program is $10,000 for the school year.
During the application, you will have the option to apply for a need-based scholarship to help cover part or all of this cost. Scholarship amounts are determined on need and a sliding scale and will vary based on your household income and financial circumstances.
We want Salt to be accessible to every student who is a good fit for the program. If you’d like to be considered for a scholarship, you’ll have the option to share some information about your family’s financial situation during the application process. Not interested in financial assistance? Simply skip that section; no explanation is needed.
We strongly encourage any student who needs support to apply for a scholarship. Salt is committed to making the program accessible to every student who is a good fit. Our goal is that money never prevents a student from participating.
We believe in a lifelong relationship with our students. Our approach with each student is individualized because we are all different. High school students are in our residency program for an average of three years, depending on when they start.
Once students go to college or into a career, we mentor them, connect them to opportunities, and support them through a robust alumni program and a fellowship program designed to help them take their dreams further.
Our very first student, Devin Osorio, started with us in 6th grade. They went through our residency program, and we helped them get into the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), saw them graduate, and watched them go on to build a thriving career as a well-known visual artist and educator in the creative industry. We have known Devin for almost 20 years.
NYC Salt could be one of the most important decisions you make for your future. Most of our students are first-generation college students, and they go on to be accepted at some of the best visual arts and communication programs in the country. Our alumni are working in the creative industry, and many have built successful freelance careers as artists right here in NYC.
Beyond the skills and the portfolio, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a photography community that is genuinely invested in your growth. Working professionals give their time and talent to help you succeed, not because they have to, but because they believe in what you’re building. And through all of it, you’ll be part of a community that stays with you long after you graduate.
Nearly 100% of NYC Salt students receive acceptance at the colleges and universities of their choice.
The list continues to grow and includes:
Binghamton University, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Cornell University, DePaul University, Fordham University, FIT, Hampton University, Hunter College, Iona College, Lafayette University, Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, NYU Steinhardt, Parsons School of Design, Purchase College, Savannah College of Art and Design, Stony Brook University, SUNY New Paltz, Swarthmore College, Syracuse University, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The School of Visual Arts, University of Vermont, Wesleyan University, and more.
Yes. Over the past eight years, NYC Salt students have been awarded over $8 million in college scholarships and grants.
100% of our seniors have been accepted to college, with 20% attending Ivy League schools.
Got more questions?
Please contact Xavier Achurra. xavier@nycsalt.org
We thank you for your interest, and we look forward to receiving your application!
