YPA Mentoring Program
talented young photographers in collaboration with
professional photographers from
locations around the world explore
one powerful subject to create images that express what binds the world together.
In Spring 2010, YPA was thrilled to announce the launch of an international mentoring initiative, which pairs talented college students and recent graduates with leading photographers from throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Developed with the support of a grant from ASMP Foundation, the YPA mentoring program challenges each student to explore a specific theme over the course of eight weeks, and produce a series of images and an accompanying short essay. The subject can be explored from a variety of vantage points: portraiture, photojournalism, landscape or architectural photography. Each student is encouraged to find his or her own unique perspective and interpretation. Teams will be challenged to push the boundaries of how photography can shed light on a subject in new and innovative ways.
The mentoring program gives students the opportunity to work with successful photographers to fine-tune their craft, create images for their portfolios, develop business and marketing skills and explore markets for their work. At the same time, the program will demonstrate the power of photography to build community, national and international awareness and support for an important environmental or social issue.
Working within a tight set of guidelines, each mentor will offer support and guidance to two to four protégés. The resulting work will be featured online and in one or more public exhibitions. In addition, YPA will promote the project extensively through the press and other publications as it also seeks to expand the program’s public presence and geographic reach.
2010 Theme
The theme for the 2010 YPA Mentoring Program is “Answering Adversity.” Each team will explore this theme from a different location, each offering different perspectives, insights, and creative expressions.
“The world is facing economic hardship not seen since the Great Depression,” explained Deborah Free, YPA Co-founder. “Unemployment, home foreclosures, and the loss of savings and retirement funds are leaving communities, businesses, families and individuals with tough choices. This initiative will send teams of photographers and their mentors into the field to photograph stories of innovation, determination and courage during hard times – much like the WPA and FSA photographers did during the 1930s.”
2010 Teams
To read the creative briefs outlining each mentee’s approach to the Answering Adversity theme, click on the 
icon by any team. These will be updated as we receive additional briefs. You can also follow progress on our Facebook page.
| Toronto/Ottawa, Canada, led by Yuri Dojc |
|
|---|---|
| Jen Hladkowicz | Graduate - Algonquin College |
| Mickey Nielsen | Graduate - Ryerson |
| Jennifer Allison | Graduate - Algonquin College |
| Christos Spentzos | Graduate - Algonquin College |
| Dallas, Texas, USA, led by Stewart Cohen | |
| Ashley Conde | Graduate - Brooks Institute |
| Donald J. Simnoik | The Art Institute of Dallas |
| Los Angeles, California, USA, led by Edie Tobias |
|
| Elizabeth Sarah Barr | Art Center College of Design |
| Jeff Dojillo | Graduate - Academy of Art |
| Yasmin Alishav | Art Center College of Design |
| New York City, New York, USA, led by Stephen Mallon |
|
| Karina Voitioulevich | College of Staten Island |
| Stacy Swiderski | SVA |
| Geoff Scott | Graduate - SVA |
| Khrystyna Chekhlata | Pratt Institute |
| Columbus, Ohio, USA, led by George Anderson |
|
| Emily Pummill | Ohio State University |
| Chris Mumma | Columbus College of Art and Design |
| Kate Ramsey | Ohio University |
| William Figg | Graduate - Brooks Institute |
| Luke Snailham | Ohio State University |
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, led by Richard Kelly |
|
| Samantha Pribish | Graduate - Alfred University |
| Kelly Lanzendorfer | Point Park University |
| Allaire Bartel | Art Institute of Pittsburgh |
| Rochester, New York, USA, led by Don Cochran | |
| Michael Conti | RIT |
| Jared Rube | RIT |
| Ted Syslo | RIT |
| San Francisco, California, led by Trinette Reed |
|
| Bonnie Rae Mills | Academy of Arts |
| Stefan Jora | Graduate |
| Nicole Franco | Graduate - Academy of Art |
| Renee Peck | Graduate - Academy of Art University |
| Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, led by Nevada Wier |
|
| Stuart Palley | Southern Methodist University |
| Sabra Roybal | Graduate-Brooks Institute |
| Seattle, Washington, USA, led by Dan Lamont | |
| Rachel Klein | Seattle University |
| Brad Curran | Seattle Central Community College |
| Christopher Daniel | Seattle Central Community College |
| Lindsey Wasson | Seattle University |
| Clara Ganey | Graduate - Seattle University |
| London, UK, led by Vicki Couchman and Justin Sutcliffe |
|
| Sarah Howe | Graduate |
| Olmo Reverter Fernandez | Graduate |
| Magnus Arrevad | Graduate |
| Tilly Harris | Graduate |
Young Photographers Alliance is an educational foundation dedicated to the support of young talent. Our mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of image-makers by offering the real-world knowledge, insight, experience and contacts they need to build sustainable careers as photography professionals.
To learn more about this exciting initiative please contact us.