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  • 2026-2027 NYC Salt Residency Program Application

    Application Deadline: Friday, May 15th, 2026

    Admissions: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applying early improves your chances of being considered.


    About the 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 your first class to your final exhibition, you'll learn by doing. You'll shoot on location across the city, work with guest photographers, take on actual client projects, and stand in front of a public audience and talk about your work. By the end of the year, you'll have a professional portfolio, a personal website, and hands-on experience that most photographers spend years developing. You’ll use 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.


    What We Offer

    • Professional Equipment & Studio Access: Shoot with Nikon Z5 mirrorless cameras and 28-70mm f/2.8 lenses, 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 on Mondays, 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.


    Program Location: NYC Salt Studio

    127 West 26th Street, Suite #1201 (between 6th & 7th Avenues), Manhattan

    Please make sure this location is an easy and realistic commute for you. (Transportation is not provided.)


    Cost and Scholarships

    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. cholarship 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.


    Schedule and Commitment

    The first-year classes meet once a week on Wednesdays or Thursdays from 4:00–7:00 p.m. during the school year (September–June). Please select your preferred day in the application.

    Mentor meetings are held in person at the studio on the first and third Mondays of each month.

    College-prep activities are also scheduled every Monday throughout the fall semester.

    Special weekend workshops are scheduled for the following weekends:

    (These workshops are mandatory)

    • Frost Valley YMCA camp Team building weekend: Oct. 2nd - 4th, 2026
    • AIPAD Photo Fair Portrait Workshop: April 24-25th, 2027

    Attendance is mandatory. Students may not miss more than three classes per year. If you play sports or participate in extracurriculars, you must prioritize NYC Salt while enrolled.

    Please be aware that you cannot save this form. Please be aware that you cannot save this form. Before filling out the form, retrieve your transcript and your current portfolio to submit. You should also scroll through the whole application to see what you will be asked to think and write about. We recommend that you give yourself several hours to work carefully and thoughtfully on answering the questions. Take your time with each question and answer in as much detail as you can. The more fully you describe your thoughts and experiences, the better we'll get to know you.


    Application details

    Please fill out the entire application form and upload the following:

    • Photo portfolio (5 - 10 of your best images) - Don't worry if you don't have much yet. We're not evaluating your portfolio for acceptance; we just want to see how you see the world.
    • A most recent transcript - A ‘C’ average or above is required to apply. If your GPA falls below that, you're still welcome to apply, but you must include a brief written explanation with your transcript. These applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

    Only complete applications will be considered.

    If your application is selected to move forward, you'll be contacted to schedule a 30-minute interview. A parent or guardian must attend this interview for you to be eligible for the program. This is our chance to get to know you better and ensure your family fully understands the commitment the program requires. Please note that completing an application and interview does not guarantee admission.

    The interview is for us to get to know you better and to explain the program to your parent or guardian so they understand the required commitment. The application and interview do not guarantee admission into the program.

    • Application deadline: Friday, May 15th, 2026. 
    • Interview sessions: scheduled interviews on a rolling basis through June 30th.
    • Classes Start: Week of September 22nd, 2026.

    For more information, please contact Xavier Achurra at xavier@nycsalt.org

    We appreciate your interest and look forward to receiving your application!

    Good luck!

    • Student Information 
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    • Social Media 

    • Part of our curriculum integrates social media to publish your photography work. We would like to see how you are currently using your platforms to express yourself through photography. Please fill in handles or links to the accounts listed below that you feel comfortable sharing with us (TikTok and Facebook are not necessary to note):

    • Student Questionnaire 

    • We want to get to know you a bit better. Please spend some time answering the following questions thoughtfully.

    • Supporting Documents:  

    • (Optional) To help us understand how you see the world, please upload 5–10 photos (minimum of 5) from your current portfolio, or if you don't have one, some of your favorite photos you've taken recently.

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    • You're almost done! Last few questions... 
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    • Financial Information 

    • Scholarship Application 

    • 2026-2027 NYC Salt Residency Program

      Scholarship Application

       
      Cost, Scholarships, and Family Contribution 

      The true cost of supporting each student in the NYC Salt Residency Program is $10,000 for the school year. This covers teaching time and staff support, professional studio space, cameras and editing equipment, computers and software, college and career advising, and field trips and guest speakers.

      We are committed to making sure that money is never the reason a student can't participate. We use a sliding-scale model in which each family contributes what they can, and scholarships cover the rest. For families who are able to pay the full program cost, doing so makes a real difference. NYC Salt subsidizes every student's participation through fundraising, and contributions from families who have the means help sustain that effort, making it possible for students who cannot afford the program to participate alongside them. We are grateful to every family that is able to contribute and deeply values diversity in our student body.


      How we think about what families can contribute:

      There is no single "right" answer. When we review scholarship applications, we look at the full picture — not just income, but household size, number of dependents, and any unusual circumstances your family is navigating. New York City is an expensive place to live, and we know that an income that might feel comfortable elsewhere can feel stretched thin here.

      The examples below are starting points, not rules. They assume a household of 3–4 people. If your household is larger, if you are a single parent, or if you are supporting relatives outside your immediate household, your suggested contribution may be lower. Please tell us about your situation in the open-ended questions, and we will take it fully into account.

      We also recognize that income alone doesn't tell the whole story. High rent, medical bills, childcare, student debt, or a recent job loss can all affect what a family can realistically manage. These ranges are meant to help you get a sense of what other families contribute at similar income levels. They are not formulas, and we often adjust them based on what you share.


      What families at different income levels might contribute:

      • Household income under $65,000/year.
        We generally offer a full scholarship with no contribution required. 

      • Household income $65,000–$90,000/year.
        Suggested contribution between $250-$750

      • Household income $90,000–$130,000/year.
        Suggested contribution between $750-$1750
         
      • Household income $130,000–$170,000/year.
        Suggested contribution between $2,000-$4,000 

      • Household income $170,000–$220,000/year.
        Suggested contribution between $4,000-$8,000
         
      • Household income above $220,000/year.
        Suggested contribution: full program cost of $10,000.
        If you are in a position to do so, your contribution directly funds a scholarship for a student who could not otherwise participate. If there are circumstances that make the full amount difficult to pay, please share them with us. 


      A note on how we use this information:

      We read every application carefully and make scholarship decisions with the full picture in mind: income, household size, number of dependents, and anything else you share with us. If the ranges above don't feel right for your family's situation, please use the open-ended questions to explain. Your candor helps us make the fairest possible decisions for all of our students.

       

    • About your household: Please answer the following questions as fully as you can. 

    • About your financial situation: 

    • Your contribution: 

    • If you are awarded a scholarship, we will share the final scholarship amount and any remaining balance with you and your family before the program begins.

      The remaining balance must be paid before the first day of class, and it is non-refundable.

      Each spot in the program is held for the full year — because the curriculum builds on itself week by week, we're not able to bring in a new student mid-year to fill a vacancy.

      When you accept a spot, we are fully committed to you, and we ask for that same commitment in return.

    • About your goals:  
    • Commitment 

    • NYC Salt requires students to attend every class. Attendance is mandatory.

      Absences must be documented or otherwise explained.

      Three or more unexcused absences per semester may result in dismissal from the program.

      The Mentorship Program takes place every other Monday from 4–7 PM.

      These dates are in addition to regular class days and are non-negotiable for participation in the program.

    • The program runs from September, 2026 - early June, 2027 (exact dates TBD)

      PLEASE SELECT ALL OPTIONS THAT WORK FOR YOU IN THE QUESTION BELOW 


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