The step between talent and career is often a big one that many young creatives struggle to navigate Justin Lin, the program director for the photo education platform BKC, says he made a number of errors starting out that helped define his work, but many young photographers don’t have the resources to make those mistakes. “You get thrown in the dark, go screw up a bunch and figure out who you are,” Lin explains. “But, many of us don’t have that safety net—they can only screw up a number of times.”That’s where a new NYC mentorship program, The Bridge, comes into play.

Created by photography education platform BKC and photo association ASMP New York (American Society of Media Photographers), The Bridge aims to provide that safety net by asking hard questions and creating cross-industry mentorships. The free, pandemic-era program is currently in its first year and focuses on closing the gap between creativity and career for young adults.

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Designed for young adults between ages 18 and 26, The Bridge isn’t trying to be another class on learning manual mode and lighting. Unlike a traditional class, The Bridge’s classes rely on group discussions rather than lectures, featuring a number of different industry leaders.

The first eight weeks are focused on discussion-based classes. That’s followed by four weeks of mentorship and another four weeks of independent and group projects. 

Each class is focused on a question: What is success? How do you develop a career path? How do you compete in a rapidly shifting marketplace? By tackling those questions both as a group and with industry mentors, the program promotes creative and critical thinking, the organizers say.

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“We’ve corralled the experts across the industry—editors, creators, stylists, etc.—to give their own points of view,” Lin says. “By doing so, we’re allowing students to power their own thinking… We’re here for them to develop their own ideas and pathways to continue their progress and demystify the creative process that can look obtuse from the outside.” 

The program works with a number of different experts from varying fields to gain insight across multiple sides of the creative industry. The students take classes for 5 weeks over the summer and then spend a month with one of 6 mentors. Industry professionals participate in the classrooms by teaching, dropping in, sharing their space in person, or through pre- recorded videos.

Students also gain access to several studios and darkrooms. The program has received support from members of a number of different companies and organizations, including Sony, The Freelancers Union, ASMP Foundation, Agency Access and Pixsy. 

“Saying, ‘Here are the answers,’ doesn’t work, to be frank, in this industry,” say Liam Alexander, ASMP NY President. “Community is important because there is no set it and forget it… [For example,] the way that people want their weddings to look this year isn’t what they want their weddings to look like next year. It’s a totally different business. Everything is constantly and ever changing. The most important thing that anyone can learn is how to navigate a constantly changing environment, and the way to do that is community inquiry.” 

The 12 students in the first year of The Bridge are now finishing their group and independent work, which includes creating a final student exhibition. 

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Planning for The Bridge’s second year is already underway. Potential students can join the email list to be notified when applications open for next summer, while others can donate to the free program. Students must live in one of New York City’s five boroughs to attend in-person classes (COVID-19 guidelines permitting). Applications will require a portfolio and essay.