Photo Start is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization developed to foster creativity and teach marketable skills to disadvantaged young people. Modern photography is similar to traditional photography. A photographer finds a subject, composes the shot, decides on exposure and captures an image. Digital photography requires a different skill set than its analog predecessor. Photographers must be literate in the digital darkroom, and the underlying concepts of computing to take, edit, produce, print, store and transmit photographs. Photo Start graduates will be capable of using digital cameras, manipulating light, and will be familiar with best practices regarding digital workflow, digital production, and digital asset management. Planning and patience, two prized assets of the prepared photographer, are also valued highly by businesses and hiring managers in a multitude of fields. These skills are highly translatable and extremely marektable, particularly in developing regions. Photo Start students will have a leg up on the competition through our mentorship program and partnerships where students are placed in one-to-one relationships with artists, entrepreneurs, educators and other interested parties from around the world. The Photo Start program is designed to be self-perpetuating as well. Graduates are encouraged to take training and become certified trainers in the Photo Start program. This way, we have a self-perpetuating cycle of education.. The Photo Start program is also designed to operate lean and mean. With very little overhead associated with our program, we are able to deliver our program to partners with speed, efficiency, and minimal investment (if any). While we provide a course curriculum and manpower, we count on generous donors and sponsors to help us out as well. We never have enough equipment to go around, we are always in need of mentors, and we are always helping our partner programs through tough times.