Photography Mentor | Adviser | Advocate

Interested? Fill out this form to get started or read on…
Questions? Email jonfeinstein [at] gmail.com

How I can help: 

• Big picture portfolio reviews to address editing and sequencing, what's working + what's not, what's missing, and the age-old question: "Is it ready?"

• Help writing and editing artist and project statements to clarify your ideas + vision and break free from artspeak no one wants to read.

• PR: guidance and best practices on pitching publications to cover your work. 

• Social media strategy.

• Research and advice for grants and open calls: which ones are right for you?

• Reading recommendations and assignments to help expand your work, career, and visual literacy.

• A “wintery mix” of feel-good coaching and honest + direct criticism.

How we’ll work together:

Option A:
One-off intro session: $75 for 45 minutes
Show and tell (over Zoom) about your work, goals, and aspirations and I’ll give you warm and honest feedback, high-level recommendations, and creative advice for moving forward.

Option B:
Ongoing Mentorship: Starts at $100/hr
We’ll agree on a set number of sessions or book as we go. We’ll work together over Zoom to set short and long-term goals, whether it’s finishing (or starting!) a project, editing, feeling more confident writing and speaking about your work, or figuring out how to get it out into the world.

Option C:
Zoom-less mentoring
Have a busy schedule or are you just more comfortable collaborating via email? Get in touch and I’ll send you a proposal based on your needs.

Option D:
Artist bio and project statement packages
I’ll help you write a clear, accessible artist statement that anyone can understand. Pricing starts at $100 for 100 words.

Customized and per-project options are also available for writing and editing assistance.
Financial-need-based discounts will be considered.

Ready to go?
GET STARTED HERE

Testimonials from happy artists:

"I approached Jon a few years back because I admired his writing— he wrote about artists' work with sensitivity, clarity, and eloquence. At the time I needed help producing a thoughtful text about a project that I was struggling to write about—I was a bit too close to the work. Jon's curiosity led the process, he got to know the work deeply and the writing reflected that as well as his ease with language and knowledge of the field. I trust Jon's intuition and guidance, and many years later I continue to use the tools he provided me." - Rafael Soldi“

Jon is a gem within the photography community. He approaches his work from the multiple vantage points of an artist, writer, and curator. His experiences on both the making and marketing sides of art and photography allow him to be an ideal mentor to artists working to develop their work and build a career. Through his work with the Humble Arts Foundation over the past nearly two decades, he has supported thousands of artists, enabling them to share their work widely and gain important opportunities as a result of this exposure. And, perhaps most importantly, he is kind, generous, and works with integrity in everything he does. I always enthusiastically jump on an opportunity to collaborate with Jon in any capacity.” - Jess T. Dugan

“Guiding me for about four years, Jon has offered an insightful, honest, critical eye, and extensive knowledge about the photo world. He has helped me find inspiration and new creative avenues to explore through our discussions, and other artists' work. Importantly, I've seen results, with my work getting into group exhibitions and publications, and winning awards. To boot, Jon is a super nice, thoughtful guy who's easy to work with.” - Sue Palmer Stone

“I've worked with Jon in various capacities over the years and in every instance, he has impressed me with his thoughtfulness, intuition, integrity, creativity, and professionalism. Most recently, he assisted me in writing a statement for a project that I was having trouble wrapping my mind around. He was able to finesse my loose, rambling thoughts and craft them together to form writing that felt like it was coming from me but stronger, clearer, and elevated. I'm grateful to know Jon as I always know that I can go to him for advice and get productive help in navigating the art world with honesty and empathy.” - Serrah Russell

"I make art, but I don't always know how to write about it. Jon has helped me with statements and applications and given me valuable perspective and advice about how my work fits into the larger conversation. " - Joe Rudko

Recent Press and Podcasts

Listen to me talk about photography (and myself) on Sasha Wolf’s podcast
Source Material exhibition review in Hyperallergic
Pained Vistas exhibition review in Feature Shoot
An insightful review of my recent exhibition

More About Me: 

In the early days of the “photosphere”, while building the marketing strategy for Shutterstock, I co-founded Humble Arts Foundation with Amani Olu. Our goal was to use the internet to make the art world more accessible to emerging photographers. It started as online group shows that placed unknowns on the same platform as well-known photographers like Alec Soth, and evolved into grant opportunities, widely covered brick-and-mortar exhibitions, highly trafficked interviews and stories on emerging photographers, and critically acclaimed publications with Yoffy Press and Kris Graves Projects.

Following my time at Shutterstock, I spent three years as the content director for The Luupe, a platform helping brands collaborate with women and non-binary photographers. Most recently, I worked as a senior copywriter for a battery technology company, where I learned how similar the challenges are for artists and scientists to write about their work clearly. 

I have been a portfolio reviewer for Photolucida, Review Santa Fe, Photoplus, The Filter Photo Festival, and PhotoNola, have curated exhibitions at Milk Studios, Photographic Center Northwest, Bluesky Gallery, Photoville, and Hasted Kraetler Gallery, and have contributed interviews and features to Aperture, Adobe, Hyperallergic, Photograph, VICE, and more. I also regularly teach Visual Literacy and Senior Seminar and have advised thesis students at Photographic Center Northwest. 

In 2019, I won Blue Sky Gallery’s curatorial award for our exhibition: An Inward Gaze. And in 2021, I received the Peter S. Reed Foundation photography grant for my personal series Breathers, which has been widely exhibited and featured in Aint-Bad, Lenscratch, Booooooom, and Paper-Journal.