Urban Photography Workshops for Teens
A participatory approach to visual storytelling
Rooted in the belief that the city itself can be a powerful classroom, this program invited teens to explore Los Angeles as both subject and teacher. Over five years, inspired by the idea of the flâneur—one who moves through the city with curiosity and attention—I developed a non-traditional learning model blending hands-on practice with creative inquiry.
Using the streets and the metro as our pathways, students immersed themselves in the cultural and social fabric of Los Angeles—observing, documenting, and engaging with the world around them. Each journey became an exercise in seeing deeply and telling stories through images.
Museum visits and critical discussions deepened the learning experience, encouraging students to see more closely and question artistic choices. From photographs, they examined why a photographer framed a moment in a certain way; from paintings, they studied the deliberate use of light. Documentary, street, and fine art photography became pathways for creative expression and meaningful engagement with community life.
The workshops balanced instruction, agency, and play, encouraging experimentation, reflection, and the development of an authentic artistic voice. Documentary, street, and fine art photography became entry points into broader conversations about culture, identity, and community.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
-quote source
Shaped by years of practice and evolving with each new group, the program fostered technical skill, creative confidence, and a heightened awareness of the world’s visual language.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.” -quote source
Ultimately, the project aims to build a flexible pedagogy; one that can be adapted to any city, with any age group, and encourages participants to look closely, engage deeply, and use photography as a tool for connection and expression