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PhotoWork Junior Fellowship
Applications Now Closed
© Molly D’Arcy | 2024 Junior Fellow

The PhotoWork Junior Fellowship serves early-career photographers in developing a body of work and refining their visual voice and creative process through the guided mentorship of a select group of established photographers working within the post-documentary tradition.

About Fellowship

The PhotoWork Junior Fellowship celebrates individual artists and their craft while raising awareness and appreciation of the post-documentary genre and cultivating a supportive audience for the work of our Fellows and Mentors.

Six Junior Fellows will be selected by a jury of industry experts including; Amanda Boe, Photo Editor at the New York Times; Jenia Fridlyand, Photographer & Photo Educator; Noa Lin, Associate Editor at Aperture; Shana Lopes, Assistant Curator of Photography at SFMOMA; and Lesley A. Martin, Executive Director at Printed Matter.

Each Fellow will be carefully paired with an established photography Mentor who we believe will best fit the work and needs of each Fellow. Potential Fellowship Mentors include, but are not limited to, Dannielle Bowman, Kelli Connell, Lois Conner, Carolyn Drake, Doug DuBois, Rahim Fortune, Ron Jude, Raymond Meeks, Wendy Red Star, and Bryan Schutmaat.

Fellows will attend once-a-month online critique sessions to develop a photographic project of their choice through discussions around artistic vision, individual artistic practice, and written and oral explanations of their work. 

  • Monthly one-on-one mentoring with a dedicated Mentor from January – June, 2025.
  • $1,000 USD stipend to aid in the production of work.
  • $2,000 USD value of in-kind photographic services with picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom.
  • Professional practices session with Sasha Wolf.
  • One-hour, individual, post-production mentoring session with experts from picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom.
  • Online profile on the PhotoWork Foundation website.
  • Dedicated PhotoWork Podcast episode with Sasha Wolf in conversation with Fellows in the Fall of 2025.

*Ten shortlisted applicants will receive a portfolio review with an industry expert chosen by the PhotoWork Foundation. Shortlisted applicants’ application fees will be waived for the following Junior Fellowship application period.

Eligibility

  • Participation in this program is specifically intended to support early-career photographic artists working in the post-documentary tradition, regardless of formal training or completed arts education;
  • Applicants must have a project or focused goal to work on during the Fellowship period;
  • Applicants must be a US citizen or resident;
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old;
  • Must be able to commit to a minimum of 12 hours of online mentoring/workshop time, as well as dedicated time to developing a project over a six-month time period.

Ineligibility

  • Applicant is currently enrolled in an arts-related graduate or undergraduate degree program;
  • Applicant has an arts-related graduate degree;
  • Applicant has current gallery representation or has had multiple gallery exhibitions;
  • Applicant has more than 5 years professional experience as a photographer;
  • Applicant is not a US resident; or
  • Project work is computer / AI generated.

We welcome applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, demographics, and perspectives in post-documentary photography regardless of their access to traditional arts education. Ideal candidates should demonstrate dedication and maturity in their craft, a willingness to receive mentorship, and an openness to exploring new approaches while seeking a refined visual voice.

See Past Junior Fellows

*PhotoWork Foundation is committed to diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

Junior Fellowship Applicants will be asked to provide the following:

  • An artist bio introducing yourself and sharing relevant information you would like us to know about you as a person, artist, and member of your community. (2000 characters)
  • An artist statement describing your artistic practice and the type of work you are currently making. (2000 characters)
  • A statement of intent telling us how a mentorship will benefit you at this point in your artistic career, why you believe you are a good candidate for the Junior Fellowship, how you intend to use your time during the six-month term, and what project or idea you intend to develop during the Fellowship. (9000 characters)
  • A history of any relevant experiences you may have had leading up to this current point in your artistic career, i.e. workshops, mentorships, grants, awards, publications, exhibitions. (1200 characters)
  • A description of your artistic process of creation as it relates to the images you are submitting with this application. (1200 characters)
  • References – names and contact information for two character references. References may be anyone who can speak to your personal character and do not necessarily need to be professional or related to the arts. Family members are not allowable.
  • 15-25 Images with image titles in the file name. Applicants are encouraged to submit images from the project they hope to develop during the Junior Fellowship, or a series of images that demonstrates your ability to edit a cohesive series of images. (2000 pixels on the long edge, at 72 dpi, no more than 5 MB per image.)

A nonrefundable processing fee of $35 USD is required with each application. Applicants pay the processing fee by debit or credit card through a secure site on the online application portal. Applicants who have difficulty in paying the application fee due to financial constraints are encouraged to contact us before applying.

Applications are currently closed for the 2025 PhotoWork Junior Fellowship. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the program and stay tuned for next year’s application period which will open in the Fall of 2025.

“It is by far the most transformative, challenging, and enriching artistic experience I’ve ever had. I grew more as a photographer over the past six months than I did over four years of undergraduate photography classes.”

Molly D’Arcy | 2024 Junior Fellow

Dates & Deadlines

Applications Open

SEP. 15

2024

Applications Close

OCT. 15

2024

Fellows Announced

DEC.

2024

Applications Closed

If you have any questions or concerns
please contact us and we’d be happy to assist you.

©Brandon Holland | 2024 Junior Fellow

©Will Suiter | 2024 Junior Fellow

What is post-documentary photography?

A discipline of photography that emerges from the photographer’s personal engagement with the real world, with an emphasis on a subjective, lyrical approach to picture making and storytelling.

The post-documentary approach favors individual artistic style and maintains its connection to documentary photography, but is generally opposed to the literal and restrictive styles associated with conventional documentary, journalistic, and editorial photography.

Will all Fellows have the same Mentor?

No, Fellows will each be carefully paired with their own personal Mentor.

What do you mean by “arts-related undergraduate or graduate degree”?

Any degree-based visual arts program such as painting, sculpture, drawing, photography etc. or one where making photographs is central to the degree program.

We are looking for artists who do not have an existing, ongoing gallery commitment. Participation in group shows or a “showcase” at a local, university gallery, community center, or other such venue may not disqualify you, but being listed as a gallery artist on a gallery website or having had two or more shows at an established gallery in the last five years will. 

I graduated with an undergraduate degree in photography or the arts, does this disqualify me?

No, applicants who are NOT currently enrolled in a degree-based program are eligible to apply.

I have a new project I would like to begin, can I submit old work in my application?

Yes. While we recommend submitting work you are currently in the process of creating and plan to develop during the Fellowship, you may apply with a previous project or work that you believe represents your ability and focus at this moment in your career.

How do you define “professional photography experience”?

If you are making a career out of making pictures such as for a newspaper, magazine or fine art practice.

Do you accept computer generated or AI imagery?

No, we do not accept work that is computer generated or created with AI.

Many of my images are made in a studio, can I still apply for this Fellowship?

Work made entirely in a studio setting, although not preferable, will be considered.

If I’m selected, will the PhotoWork Foundation have the right to use or sell the images created or exhibited online? 

No. Aside from the display and contextualization of the work online for exhibition purposes or promotion of the Fellowship, the PhotoWork Foundation will not retain any rights or other legal claim to the work you create at any stage in the process. 

Can I get an extension on my application? 

No, the posted deadline is the final day and time to submit your application. Please note that all times are in the Eastern Time Zone. We recommend submitting your application in advance of the final deadline to avoid any technical issues or otherwise that may prevent you from submitting your application at the last minute.