Las Fotos Project

What Las Fotos Project does

Las Fotos Project is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates free photography mentoring programs for teenage girls and gender-expansive youth from communities of color. Founded in 2010 and operating as a project of Community Partners (EIN 95-4302067), the organization is headquartered at 2210 E Cesar Chavez Ave. in Boyle Heights. Its core programming is delivered through three program pillars, Esta Soy Yo (self-exploration through photography), Digital Promotoras (documentary and advocacy work), and CEO / Creative Entrepreneurship Opportunities (career preparation) supported by Foto 101 workshops, photography education classes, creative career pathway programming, artist residencies, public exhibitions, and community engagement initiatives including Community Wellness Days. The organization's technology stack is lightweight: program delivery relies on in-person mentoring, donated cameras and supplies, volunteer hours (9,045 documented), and basic e-commerce tools (Squarespace, Network for Good) rather than proprietary platforms.

The organization has trained 2,000+ young artists and accumulated an estimated 150,000 student-created photographs over fifteen years, with 50%+ of current staff drawn from program alumni. Commercial and earned-income channels include LFP Studio (hire-us commercial photography and equipment rental by students/alumni) and The fotO Shop (online store selling apparel at $25-$35 and archival Giclée prints at $50-$85). Core participant-facing programs remain free, and the bulk of operating support derives from individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships. Major corporate and institutional partners include Angel City FC, NYX Professional Makeup, JD Sports, Trixxi Clothing, LA Times, Canva, Occidental College, OutFront/JC Decaux, OXY ARTS, Youth to the People, Polo's Pantry, Truly LA, and the Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation, with a documented $100,000 grant from the Latino Community Foundation in 2023.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the team size is listed in the 1-10 range, consistent with a small community-rooted nonprofit. Growth is signaled less through top-line revenue visibility than through expanding corporate sponsor diversity, new verticals (sports photography), new exhibition venues (Truly LA, OutFront/JC Decaux), and academic integration (Occidental College). Geographic operations remain concentrated in Los Angeles, with no disclosed expansion outside the region.

Name

Las Fotos Project

Legal name

Las Fotos Project

Website

https://lasfotosproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Las Fotos Project is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that delivers free photography mentoring programs to teenage girls and gender-expansive youth from communities of color, operating from Boyle Heights since 2010 through education, exhibitions, residencies, and commercial studio services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Arts Education (Photography Mentoring)

NAICS

Photographic Services (54192), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Photography & Videography Arts Programs (EDAMAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ), Photography & Videography Workshops (THAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Youth photography education
• Community arts mentoring
• Nonprofit creative programs
• Photography career pathways
• Youth exhibitions and residencies

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Las Fotos Project is a nonprofit organization that relies primarily on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors to fund its free programs for youth participants.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates a shop selling photography prints, apparel, and accessories featuring student artwork. Prices range from $25-$85 for items like t-shirts, caps, bags, and archival prints.
3. Studio Rental and Equipment Rental: LFP Studio offers photography services and equipment rental (EQ Rental) to external clients, generating revenue while providing real-world experience for program alumni.
4. Hire Us / Commercial Photography Services: The organization's student and alumni photographers are available for commercial assignments, providing professional photography services to external clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Las Fotos Project delivers free photography mentoring programs for teenage girls and gender-expansive youth (approximately ages 13-19) from communities of color in Los Angeles, operating from a Boyle Heights gallery and studio. Core programming includes Esta Soy Yo (identity and self-portraiture), Digital Promotoras (documentary and advocacy photojournalism), and CEO / Creative Entrepreneurship Opportunities (creative industry career preparation), supplemented by Foto 101 workshops, Makerspace sessions, Artist Residencies, and twice-yearly public exhibitions. The organization also generates earned income through LFP Studio commercial photography services and The fotO Shop, which sells archival prints and merchandise featuring student artwork.

Product overview

Las Fotos Project is a nonprofit photography mentoring organization offering a multi-tiered program portfolio centered around photography education and youth empowerment. The core programs include Esta Soy Yo (foundational self-exploration through photography), Digital Promotoras (documentary and advocacy photography), and CEO (Creative Entrepreneurship Opportunities for career preparation). Additional offerings include Photography Education, Creative Career Pathways, Community Engagement activities, Public Exhibitions (culmination shows and solo exhibitions), and Artist Residencies. The organization also operates LFP Studio for commercial photography services and The fotO Shop for merchandise and archival prints. Foto 101 workshops provide beginner-friendly introductions to photography, while Makerspace workshops combine photography with other creative practices. Programs are free for participants and aim to elevate voices of teenage girls and gender-expansive youth from communities of color.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Esta Soy Yo Foundational photography program for teenage girls and gender-expansive youth, focused on exploration of self and identity through self-portraiture and personal documentation of the road to self-discovery.
• Digital Promotoras Documentary photography and photojournalism program in which students use imagery to expose hidden truths about their communities and advocate for positive change.
• CEO (Creative Entrepreneurship Opportunities) Program providing skills and techniques for careers in photography and creative industries, covering client management, photoshoot logistics, professional portfolio development, and hands-on client assignments (e.g., product shoots for partner brands).
• Foto 101 Workshops Beginner-friendly workshops introducing essential camera functions, settings, visual elements, and basic organization practices for aspiring photographers.
• Makerspace Workshops Creative workshops and study breaks combining photography with other artistic practices such as yoga, temporary tattoos, and sun printing.
• Public Exhibitions Culmination exhibitions held twice yearly featuring collective projects from Photo Education programs, plus Solo Exhibitions and Artist-in-Residency programs.
• Artist Residencies Programs supporting current students and alumni to advance their art and careers through annual Student Residencies and Solo Exhibitions awarded twice annually.
• LFP Studio (Hire Us) Professional photography services by Las Fotos Project allowing organizations and businesses to hire youth and alumni photographers for commercial work, including events, product shoots, and editorial assignments.
• The fotO Shop Online shop selling merchandise including apparel (t-shirts $30-$35, caps $25, bags $30), accessories, and archival-quality photography prints (8x10 from $50, 12x18 and 20x30 from $85) created by program alumni, with proceeds supporting youth artists and programs.
• Photography Education General photography education programs teaching technical skills, visual composition, and photographic techniques to teenage girls and gender-expansive youth.
• Creative Career Pathways Program designed to help youth develop careers in the creative industries, connecting them with professional opportunities and industry knowledge.
• Community Engagement Community wellness and engagement activities, including Community Wellness Days that foster connections between youth, families, and community members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ young artists trained in photography education
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Community PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLas Fotos Project is operated as a project of Community Partners, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides fiscal sponsorship and administrative support. EIN 95-4302067.
• Trixxi ClothingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient partnership providing hands-on commercial photography experience for CEO program students. Students complete product shoots for the clothing brand.
• LA TimesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents have opportunity to work with LA Times photographers and contribute to newspaper coverage, including the 'Plant People' article feature.
• CanvaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiverse Creator Campaign collaboration where students created content for Canva's creator marketing initiatives.
• Occidental CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with the Digital Promotoras program, providing resources and scholarly framework for community documentation projects.
• OutFront/JC DecauxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor advertising partner providing display space for student photography in community spaces, enabling dialogue and reflection.
• OXY ARTSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts education partnership, with Frankie Fleming serving as juror for exhibition residency and connections to Highland Park youth programming.
• Polo's PantryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood partnership collaboration for Community Wellness Day events.
• Truly LAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal venue partner that hosts solo artist exhibitions in Downtown Los Angeles, expanding exhibition reach beyond the Boyle Heights gallery.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Inner-City Arts: Los Angeles-based nonprofit arts education program for underserved youth. Operates a similar free, in-studio arts learning model anchored in a downtown-adjacent facility and is one of the closest direct comparables to Las Fotos Project's nonprofit youth arts-education mission.
• Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA): LA-based nonprofit providing free arts, academic, and athletic programs to underserved youth. Shares both the LA geography and the model of combining free multi-disciplinary programming with corporate and institutional funder support.
• Aperture Foundation: Nonprofit photography foundation that runs youth and community education programs alongside publications, exhibitions, and print sales. Overlaps directly with Las Fotos Project's photography education, gallery, and archival-print activities.
• Free Arts NYC: New York nonprofit delivering free arts mentoring programs to youth from underserved communities. A close functional comparable on the mentoring-plus-arts-education model targeting similar demographics in a different metro.
• Marwen: Chicago nonprofit offering free, year-long arts education programs to underserved youth. Comparable in mission, free-tuition model, and corporate/foundation funding mix, with a track record of alumni-led staffing.
• The Wooden Floor: Santa Ana / Los Angeles nonprofit providing free dance and movement education to underserved youth. Comparable as a LA-area free arts-education nonprofit serving low-income youth of color and relying on multi-sector corporate/foundation funding.
• National Geographic Photo Camp: Long-running National Geographic Society program delivering free photography workshops to youth around the world. Direct comparator on the free photography-education-for-underrepresented-youth mission and curriculum.

Emerging players

• 826LA: Los Angeles nonprofit providing free writing and publishing tutoring and programs to underserved youth. Same LA geography and same free-arts-education nonprofit model, though focused on writing rather than photography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lasfotosproject
• Xx.com/status
• Facebookfacebook.com/lasfotosproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/las-fotos-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Las Fotos Project