TEACHING& MENTORSHIP
Sal is a veteran workshop leader and educator and has led workshops and conducted portfolio reviews across the country and internationally, with Maine Media, Santa Fe Workshops, LACP in Los Angeles and Nord Photography in Norway.
To contact Sal about mentorship use the forms below. For speaking engagements, portfolio reviews and jurying, please contact her here.
"Sal, an incredibly patient and generous instructor (with a great sense of fun), is that rare type of artist who can articulate her version and inspire others to do the same using our own voices and our own imaginations, memories and stories. Sal is super organized and keeps to time; every student in the class gets a real opportunity to share and discuss the work. The assignments are fun but also challenging. And they open up space for individual creativity.. A Selwyn, student
2026 WORKSHOPS
Maine Workshops
The Photographers Florilegeum
June 15 - June 19 Maine Media Campus.
In this class we will bring the tradition of the florilegium into a contemporary photographic practice. Participants will learn about the history of florilegia and spend the day at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, as well partake in some local walks, gathering inspiration and images among its landscapes and seasonal blooms. Back in the studio, we will work on printing, sequencing, and editing our photographs, and then crafting them into a beautifully bound handmade book—our own photographic florilegium! Register
Island Perspectives
July 27 - July 31, Maine Media Campus and on location
Join me for an immersive five-day nature, landscape, and fine art photography workshop, set against the breathtaking backdrop of a few of these stunning islands. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to hone your photographic skills while capturing the natural beauty and rich character of coastal Maine. Register
Creative Retreat - Deer Isle ME
October 21 - October 25 2025
Nestled on the quiet shores of Deer Isle, Maine, this four-day retreat invites you to slow down and see with fresh eyes. Our days will be spent exploring the island’s harbors, woodlands, and tidal coves—capturing the textures, light, and quiet beauty that define this place, before dining .. Register
Online Workshops
Introduction to Text and Image
Tuesdays Jan 20 - Feb 24, 10 - 12pm EST
If you are a photographer looking to dip your toes into the world of writing, and experiment with different ways of combining text and image to tell a story, then this is the class for you. Register
Exploring Photostyles i (online)
Jan 21, 2026 – Feb 25, 2026, Wednesdays, 10 am-12 pm ET
This course is designed for amateur photographers looking to take your skills to the next level and dive into specific genres of photography, broadening your visual interests and adding a new intensity to your work. Register
Finding the Narrative - A Mentor Class
Thursdays 10AM to 12PM (EST).
Feb 26, April 2, April 30, May 28, June 25, August 13, Sept 10.
This mentorship is designed for photographers who are developing a book project and wish to deepen their understanding of how language can shape, disrupt, or expand the photographic narrative. Each participant will bring a work-in-progress body of photographs to refine over the duration of the program. Through monthly group critiques, guided assignments, and presentations, we will explore the essential elements of bookmaking: sequencing, pacing, structure, and the conceptual and material considerations that define the book as an artistic object. Register
Exploring Photostyles ii (online)
Tuesdays May 5 - June 9 10am - 12pm est
This class is ideal for photographers with some familiarity of specific photographic genres who wish to take a deeper dive and begin to build a cohesive series in one of the styles introduced in Exploring Photographic Styles i. Registe
Destination Workshops
Creative Retreat - Tuscany
Oct 11 - OCT 18 2026
This workshop provides a unique opportunity to join with other photographers in a supportive, creative retreat amidst the rolling hills of Tuscany. This is an opportunity to develop your voice in a place rich with cultural history and devastatingly beautiful landscapes. Register
Paris Photobook Retreat
Nov 15, 2026 – Nov 21, 2026
Join writer and photographer Sal Taylor Kydd and Maine Media’s Interim Book Arts Faculty Chair Anneli Skaar for an immersive, 7-day photo book creative retreat in the heart of Paris, including a visit to Paris Photo! Across the week, you’ll enjoy a curated tour of Paris designed specifically for photographers and book artists looking to take their book project to completion. Register
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORSHIP
Getting out and making the work is the first essential part of being an artist, but it can be hard to find the time and the motivation to commit to a daily practice and stay on task. With this in mind I am offering a mentorship program, through weekly phone calls and sharing work online, I can help you reignite your creative spark and develop a new series, or work on editing an existing body of work.
The other step in this journey lies around getting your work exposure and managing your online presence. Before I became an artist I worked for many years in web development and product marketing, and I am now helping other artists manage their online presence so it speaks to their artistic vision and aesthetic.
How I can help:
getting creative - connecting to your personal vision
professional and career coaching - what’s next? feeling stuck.
portfolio development - putting together a body of work
professional development - artist and project statements, working with galleries
portfolio review preparation - goals, the portfolio, supporting materials
photobook design and development - from concept to publishing
the artist website - creating a professional online platform
