Banner Photo Travelling Together by Anke Weber
If you’ve ever picked up your camera and wondered, “Am I on the right track?” — you’re not alone. Photography can sometimes feel like a solitary path, especially when you’re learning through trial and error, or relying only on online tutorials and social media feedback. That’s where mentorship can help.
A photography mentorship program isn’t about having someone tell you exactly what to do. It’s about having a guide who can help you see more clearly, grow more confidently, and create more intentionally. Here’s why being part of one can make such a difference.
How Mentees Benefit from Mentorship
Personalized guidance that meets you where you are – we all learn differently and your mentor will take time to understand your style, your goals and where to focus your time together.
Honest feedback you can actually use — mentors give feedback that’s both encouraging and constructive. They’ll highlight what’s working, but also gently push you to notice the small things that could take your images from good to great.
New ways and perspectives on ways of approaching your photography — sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective to unlock creativity. Mentors could suggest prompts, projects or techniques that pull you out of your usual routines.
A boost in confidence — there’s something powerful about showing your work to someone you respect and hearing how to move along your journey.
Behind the scenes insights – many mentors bring years of real world experience and this is an opportunity to tap into that – a shortcut to wisdom!
Connections that last – mentorship often turns into more than a short program. Many find ongoing creative relationships -whether it’s continued guidance, collaborations, or simply having someone who understands the ups and downs of the journey.
How Mentors Benefit from Mentorship
Mentorship isn’t just beneficial for the mentee but it’s also deeply rewarding for the mentor. Guiding someone else through their creative journey often sparks new inspiration and reflection. Teaching forces you to articulate your process in fresh ways, which can sharpen your own craft. Watching a mentee grow and discover their voice is energizing, and many mentors describe it as a reminder of why they fell in love with photography in the first place. In this way, mentorship becomes a two-way exchange of creativity and growth.
The VCC Mentorship Program
Photography is about more than technical skills, it’s about vision, growth, and connection. A mentorship program gives you all three. Whether you step into it as a mentee eager to learn, or as a mentor excited to give back, the exchange of knowledge and inspiration can be transformative on both sides of the lens.
In the Victoria Camera Club (VCC), our mentors agree to provide up to four hours sharing their skills and experience and each pair will decide how this works between them. This is a really great opportunity and I hope you will consider being a mentor, mentee or both.
Find out more!
For additional information, including the applications to sign up, please visit the Mentorship Program within the Members Only section of our website. My email is listed on that page, so please reach out to me if you have any questions or would like to discuss becoming a mentor or mentee.
Teri Spaven
VCC Mentorship