Who We Are
Santa Fe Workshops
We are more than a place to learn, you are among those who share your passion for creativity. There is a community built within each workshop, a place that allows you to learn not only from our professionals but also your peers.
We offer world-renowned Professional Photographers and Pulitzer Prize Winning Writers both in the U.S. and abroad. Our reputation has been built upon a foundation of creativity and community for individuals of all levels.
Our commitment to providing supportive and inspirational workshops for all set us apart and has been instrumental in building and strengthening our reputation in the Photographic and Writing communities in Santa Fe and around the world.
A passion for photography
My love affair with photography began when I was a junior in college—in retrospect, one of the finest years of my life. I was studying in London and used this great city as a springboard to travel throughout the British Isles, continental Europe, and the Soviet Union. As I packed for my year abroad, I thought it would be good to take a camera along so I could make pictures of all the amazing places I would see. Little did I know that this simple decision to buy a camera would change the way I experienced the world and, on a larger scale, the way I lived my life.
During those first weeks in London, all my senses seemed heightened by my crude attempts to capture on film what I saw and felt. Speaker’s Corner, Portabello Road, Richmond Hill, and Kew Gardens became my picture-taking haunts. I enrolled in a photography class and learned how to develop film and make prints in the darkroom.
Very quickly I was hooked, as this new interest consumed both my waking hours and my dreams at night. I wandered the streets of London, Edinburgh, Penzance, Dublin, Florence, Leningrad, and Moscow with my camera and a new appreciation for the sights, smells, and and surprises of my surroundings.
“My passion for photography became deeply embedded in my body and soul, changing my life forever.”
I witness a similar zeal in the people who come to The Workshops. I sense their desire to capture the moments in life that captivate and inspire them. I feel their commitment to learning how to better use the tools of photography— the cameras, computers, software, printers, and yes, film. I marvel at the joy they experience while exploring their creativity. Photography deepens our connections to the world around us, to ourselves, and to one another. It adds meaning and delight to our lives.
My own love affair with image-making is now 40 years young, and I have never stopped appreciating how fortunate I am to be able to express what I see and feel through photography.
Photography is a gift we give ourselves. Join us in Santa Fe, Cuba, San Miguel, or for one of our On The Road workshops. You deserve it.
– Reid Callanan, Founder
Our Team
We are a small but mighty team. Most of us are fortunate enough to live in Santa Fe, but in this new world some of us live in other parts of the country. We share the common goal of offering the highest quality photography and writing workshop experiences on the planet, and we are proud of our lofty status. We invite you to join us for an online or on-location workshop that will change the way you see the world –- and just maybe your life. Tall words indeed, but we collectively stand behind them. Come join us and expand your horizons!
Employment Opportunities
Santa Fe Workshops is a premier provider of photography and writing education. Joining us is an opportunity to work in a creative environment and network with the most talented professionals in these two fields. Our core, year-round team is stable these days, but we will let you know in this section of our website if we are looking to add a core staff position.
If you are an aspiring photographer and want to advance your career, we are always looking to add to our team during the busy summer workshop season in Santa Fe. Working with SFW is both intense and rewarding. Over the years, our seasonal staff have formed life-long friendships and many now have successful careers. Keep an eye on this part of our website for details on our seasonal positions (likely in March).
Available Positions
Part-time Positions
Accounting Assistant
20-30 hours/week depending on applicants’ preference, skills and availability
Position Summary:
The accounting assistant supports the Director of Finance in the areas of accounting, bookkeeping, finance and human resources.
- Performs all bookkeeping operations accurately and timely, including daily deposits, accounts payable, general ledger entries, revenue recognition, cash management, other tasks as requested, and year-end closing processes.
- Reconcile bank, cash and credit card accounts monthly.
- Process payroll and prepare necessary payroll reports including tax payments; 401(k) payable; annual W2s.
- Prepare and file NM monthly GRT; monitor sales to other states for tax collection and payment.
- Maintain personnel files for all employees.
Job Requirements:
- Excellent computer skills including MS Office, Google drives/docs, Quickbooks
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in job related duties
- Bachelor’s degree
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
- Strong written and verbal skills
- High attention to detail
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance or related field
- 5+ years’ experience
Benefits:
- Paid vacation and sick time
- 10 paid holidays
Pay: Dependent on experience
Please submit a cover letter, references and resume to: business@santafworkshops.com Attn: Emily
Seasonal Positions
Seasonal positions are no longer available for 2024. Check back soon for future opportunities.
The Santa Fe Workshops, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, offer world-class creative courses in photography and writing. The majority of classes are hosted each summer on-site in Santa Fe, and are taught by a roster of internationally-renowned photographers, authors, and artists. The Workshops are currently seeking employees to assist with the 2025 Summer Season.
Accordion Content
Course Coordinator (In person, Santa Fe)
Seasonal Position, June 16-August 8, 2025
The Santa Fe Workshops, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, offers world-class creative courses in photography, printmaking, and the visual arts. The majority of classes are hosted each summer on-site in Santa Fe, and are taught by a roster of internationally-renowned photographers and artists. The Workshops are currently seeking employees to support the production of our educational programs during the 2025summer season.
The Course Coordinator contract position entails supporting instructors and students directly in the classroom. These individuals should have a strong background in photography and possess the ability to work well with groups of people in a demanding educational setting.
Course Coordinators must be technically savvy and able to support Workshops students with a range of creative, in-camera, and software-related questions. The ideal candidate will be well-organized, responsible, personable, resourceful, and able to work well in fast-paced environments. Classroom management skills and a love of education are essential for this position.
The Course Coordinator Experience:
The main focus and priority of a Course Coordinator (CC) is to meet the needs of the instructor and their students. Each CC is assigned one workshop per week. The agenda set by the instructor must be carefully analyzed and kept on track by the CC. Workshops operational policies and safety measures are to be role modeled and enforced. Time management, attention to detail, and group facilitation skills are key.
Course Coordinator General Guidelines and Responsibilities:
- Provide generalized classroom management, teaching assistance, and educational support throughout the workshop.
- Open classroom starting at 8 am Monday through Friday.
- Collect student images and homework, and prepare daily critiques by 9 am.
- Manage and troubleshoot classroom technical equipment, including projector, monitors, etc.
- Assist the instructor during demo photoshoots and support students during technical exercises.
- Oversee location management, including distribution of maps, permits, and release forms.
- Facilitate visits to off-site locations, including carpooling, safety, water, scheduling, etc.
- Work with models on-location, organize model rotations, and complete model timesheets.
- Organize, clean, and maintain the classroom on a daily basis, replacing and inspecting materials and gear as needed.
- Attend and support Monday night instructor presentations.
- Prepare the final Friday night show via Premier Pro.
- Capture behind-the-scenes stills and video that depicts the SFW educational experience.
- Assist Marketing Department in tasks related social media marketing and content generation.
- Inform participants of SFW logistics and policies. Enforce safety procedures as needed.
Desired Qualifications and Eligibility for the Course Coordinator:
Please note that CCs will be working directly with students to provide technical and creative guidance and must bring a strong photographic background to the table. Teaching experience is a plus.
- Hold or are currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in photography or equivalent. In lieu of college experience, an advanced portfolio and comparable work experience will be considered.
- Have experience assisting photographers and/or freelancing as a professional photographer.
- Possess a portfolio of work that represents your photographic style.
- Ability to work well with a diverse range of students of different technical proficiencies.
- Ability to stay calm under pressure and problem solve quickly.
- Have a good command of various camera systems.
- Be prepared to assist participants with technical issues regarding camera gear, digital capture, and workflow on both Mac and PC platforms.
- Adobe experience including mastery of Lightroom & proficiency in Photoshop preferred.
- Familiarity with grip gear and basic lighting set-ups a plus.
- Digital printmaking, mixed media, and/or bookmaking process experience a plus.
- Customer service experience is beneficial.
- Ability to lift 40 lbs.
- Current Red Cross CPR Certification Card must be obtained prior to beginning employment.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and have a vehicle for on-site location visits; mileage is reimbursed at the rate listed below.
Schedule/Availability:
Course Coordinators must be available for the totality of the 2025 Summer Season, which runs for 8 weeks from June 16-August 8, 2025 at the Santa Fe Workshops Sunmount Campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This includes one week of training (June 16-20), 6 weeks of classes (June 23-August 1), and one “Clean-Up Week” (August 4-August 8).
Course Coordinators work Monday through Friday. Evening hours are typical and expected. This position is performed for a daily stipend of $180.00, plus reimbursement of incurred mileage expenses that are Workshop-related. Lunches are provided Monday through Friday, as are group dinners hosted on Friday nights. Please note that meals are not included during training and clean up weeks. Occasional Sunday hours may be required, for which compensation will be made at a pro-rate of the $180.00 day rate.
Contractors will be responsible for submitting an invoice at the end of each week, including any reimbursable expenses. As a contractual services position, taxes are not withheld. Course Coordinators will receive a 1099 form and are responsible for any state or federal taxes owed.
In the event that a class is cancelled due to low enrollment, the Workshops offers three options for the CCs: 1) Time off without pay for the week; 2) Work on campus on a per day basis, to assist with administrative responsibilities or other assignments; 3) Participate in an available workshop tuition-free as a student (without daily stipend); however, CCs choosing this option must pay for lab fee, model/location fee, or other additional expenses.
Covid Policy:
For all in-person workshops in 2025, Santa Fe Workshops highly recommends that all participants, staff, and instructors attending be up to date with Covid vaccinations.
To Apply:
Please send a resume, a brief statement of 200-500 words of why you want to work for SFW, and a portfolio of 12 images of recent photographic work to Operations Manager Christine Alexander at christine@santafeworkshops.com. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until Friday, March 21st.
Media Coordinator (In person, Santa Fe)
Seasonal Position, June 16-August 8, 2025
The Santa Fe Workshops, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, offers world-class creative courses in photography, printmaking, and the visual arts. The majority of classes are hosted each summer on-site in Santa Fe, and are taught by a roster of internationally-renowned photographers and artists. The Workshops are currently seeking employees to support the production of our educational programs during the 2025 summer season.
The Media Coordinator (MC) is responsible for creating quality behind-the-scenes video and photographic content that depicts the educational experience of the Santa Fe Workshops. The ideal candidate brings experience and interest in video production, social media content creation, and customer service. You must be able to connect with a diverse range of instructors, students, and staff to document their experience and tell the story of the summer through your own creative lens.
The MC operates in the classroom and on-location to create high-quality BTS. This position works closely with the Marketing Department to generate weekly content for all social media platforms, including Instagram stories and reels. Using the footage and BTS they create, the MC directs, edits, and presents an end-of-week video that is enjoyed by SFW students in a final Friday night show.
This position also involves the technical facilitation of two weekly campus-wise events: Monday night artist talks and presentations from instructors, and Friday end-of-week celebrations. This includes the maintenance of A/V equipment and smooth technical delivery of audio, video, and image presentations.
The MC is self-directed and excellent at time management, able to meet deadlines, a fast learner, and a people person who brings creativity, humor, and an efficient video editing workflow to the summer team.
Below are the specific responsibilities of the position of Media Coordinator.
Content Creation/Marketing Responsibilities (60%):
- Weekly content generation, including BTS images and video, for social media platforms (primarily Instagram and Facebook), to be used and packaged by the Marketing Department.
- Assist Marketing Department to build an engaging and interactive presence on social media, including providing material for daily content, maintaining a regular presence on Instagram stories, live streaming, and tagging students, instructors, and models.
- Accompany photography classes on-location to capture behind-the-scenes footage. Ability to film and document in multiple formats, including HD 4K, verticals for reels, etc.
- Each week, create an “end-of-week” video that depicts the educational experience of the Santa Fe Workshops, for viewing at Friday night celebrations (5-8 minutes in length, HD 4K quality).
- Ability to balance engagement with participants with respectful and discreet documentation of their experience.
A/V Responsibilities (40%):
- Manage weekly Monday and Friday events, including the smooth delivery of multimedia presentations. This includes, but is not limited to: assembling and troubleshooting projectors, audio equipment, selecting playlists for intermission, cleaning the presentation hall, etc.
- Contact instructors to send in lecture materials for Monday night instructor presentations and coordinate practice runs beforehand.
- Support Course Coordinators to create weekly slideshows of student work in Premiere Pro, Canva, and other software platforms.
- Provide technical support for Workshops staff, instructors, and participants during the summer season, including troubleshooting technical issues that arise.
Requirements/Qualifications:
- Recent completion of or current enrollment in a film, photography, or media-based Bachelor’s program. In lieu of college experience, an advanced video portfolio and comparable work experience will be considered.
- Mastery of digital video production, editing workflow, and software.
- Ability to quickly capture and edit content on a weekly basis, and meet deadlines accordingly.
- Experience with social media content creation and basic content marketing principles.
- Working knowledge of Digital SLR and mirrorless cameras.
- Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro.
- Familiarity with additional creative editing software platforms or apps, such as Canva, a plus.
- Self-directed and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Strong technical troubleshooting skills. Fast-learner with the ability to quickly pick up new technical skills.
- Ability to receive constructive feedback and apply recommendations.
- Detail-oriented and organized with ability to manage multiple projects.
- Strong communication skills.
- Observe confidentiality guidelines with respect to faculty and participants.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and have a vehicle for on-site location visits; mileage is reimbursed at the rate listed below.
Schedule/Availability:
The Media Coordinator must be available for the totality of the 2025 Summer Season, which runs for 8 weeks from June 16-August 8, 2025 at the Santa Fe Workshops Sunmount Campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This includes one week of training (June 16-20), 6 weeks of classes (June 23-August 1), and one “Clean-Up Week” (August 4-August 8).
The MC works Monday through Friday. Evening hours are expected. This position is performed for a daily stipend of $180.00, plus reimbursement of incurred mileage expenses that are Workshop related. Lunches are provided Monday through Friday, as are group dinners hosted on Friday nights. Please note that meals are not included during training and clean up weeks.
The MC is responsible for submitting an invoice each week, including any reimbursable expenses. As a contractual services position, taxes are not withheld. Course Coordinators will receive a 1099 form and are responsible for any state or federal taxes owed.
Covid Policy:
For all in-person workshops in 2025, Santa Fe Workshops highly recommends that all participants, staff, and instructors attending be up to date with Covid vaccinations.
To Apply:
Please send resumé, a brief statement of 200-500 words of why you want to work for SFW, recent reel or video that showcases your editing ability, and photographic portfolio of 12 images to Operations Manager Christine Alexander at christine@santafeworkshops.com by Friday, March 21st, 2025. Examples of content generated or accounts managed for social media should be included if available.
Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
Work Study (In-person, Santa Fe)
Seasonal Position, June 16-August 8, 2025
The Santa Fe Workshops, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, offers world-class creative courses in photography, printmaking, and the visual arts. The majority of classes are hosted each summer on-site in Santa Fe, and are taught by a roster of internationally-renowned photographers and artists. The Workshops are currently seeking employees to support the production of our educational programs during the 2025 summer season.
The Work Study Experience:
The Work Study position offers the unique opportunity to participate as a student in Santa Fe Workshops classes, in exchange for providing several hours of production and administration assistance on a weekly basis. While the Work Study position requires a serious investment of time and perhaps a financial sacrifice, the photographic career benefits and networking opportunities are unparalleled.
Work Study can expect to spend a majority of their day in class, although work assignments in support of campus operation take priority over class assignments. Responsibilities of this entry-level position include providing support to instructors and teaching assistants, classroom maintenance and clean-up, and assisting with daily meals and beverage services. Work Study will also support the Marketing Department by creating weekly behind-the-scenes images and content for social media. Persons who complete a season as Work Study become strong candidates for Course Coordinators in subsequent seasons.
Desired Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be currently pursuing a career in photography, and should possess a strong portfolio or samples of work that represent your photographic style. Some retail or customer service experience is desirable.
Skills preferred for a person in this position include self-motivation and initiative and the ability to work well with fellow staff members and participants. The Work Study should also be technically savvy and able to support Workshops students with a range of creative, in-camera, and software-related questions.
Candidates must possess their own vehicle and driver’s license.
Work Study General Guidelines and Responsibilities:
- Every morning, place signs directing students and instructors where to park.
- Prepare coffee and other beverage service items for participants and instructors daily.
- Maintain inventory on all beverage products, food service items, and cleaning supplies.
- Refill five-gallon water jugs, made available for participants, as needed.
- Support the Marketing Department with content creation for social media, including Instagram stories and reels.
- Help photograph the Workshops’ experience and submit weekly behind-the-scenes images.
- Assist with cleaning duties around campus, including cleaning classrooms, taking out trash, etc.
- Ensure that picnic tables in the lunch area are washed down and properly arranged.
- Provide general support to Workshops students and answer questions as needed.
- Assist production and administrative teams with additional duties as needed.
Work Study Policy on Class Audit:
Work Study may participate in class discussion and image critiques. Work Study may go on location with their class, but will be responsible for their own location and model fees if applicable.
Schedule/Availability:
Work Study must be available for the totality of the 2025 Summer Season, which runs for 8 weeks from June 16-August 8, 2025 at the Santa Fe Workshops Sunmount Campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This includes one week of training (June 16-20), 6 weeks of classes (June 23-August 1), and one “Clean-Up Week” (August 4-August 8).
The Work Study’s schedule is Monday through Friday. Evening hours are expected. This position is performed in exchange for direct participation in SFW classes. During Training and Clean Up Weeks, the Work Study will be compensated with a $500.00 weekly stipend. Lunches are provided Monday through Friday, as are group dinners hosted on Friday nights. Please note that meals are not included during training and clean up weeks.
Work Study will be responsible for submitting an invoice at the end of Training Week and Clean Up Week. As a contractual services position, taxes are not withheld. Course Coordinators will receive a 1099 form and are responsible for any state or federal taxes owed.
Covid Policy:
For all in-person workshops in 2025, Santa Fe Workshops highly recommends that all participants, staff, and instructors attending be up to date with Covid vaccinations.
To Apply:
Please send resumé, a brief statement of 200-500 words of why you want to participate as a Work Study, and a photographic portfolio of 12 images to Operations Manager Christine Alexander at christine@santafeworkshops.com. Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis until Friday, March 21st.
There are currently no part-time positions available. Stay tuned for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Santa Fe Workshops (SFW) we refer to photo workshops being “in-season” or “off-season.” Our Spring seasons run early March to early April. In 2021 our Summer season will run early July to early mid-August. During workshop “seasons” there is a meal plan included in Tuition for all participants. Aside from these major differences, there are also instructor presentations, group dinners, and participant image presentations.
The “off season” is the rest of the year. Workshops are scheduled during many of these off weeks, but may be the only class on campus. Consequently, many amenities of the workshop “seasons” are not available; for example, usually only lunch is included and your class may be the only one going on.
Most workshops will start between 8 and 9am. In a photography workshop, usually the first thing you will do is review your images from the previous day. Mornings often include editing and critique sessions as well as discussion of daily assignments. Lunch is eaten on campus at the buffet or sack lunches are packed for groups that have already left for the field. Most classes leave in the afternoon for daily field sessions, sometimes as a group, other times individually.
Most digital lab classes spend the majority of the time in the digital lab. The lab usually opens at 8:30am and closes at 5pm. The digital lab is open for digital participants only on some evenings. Half-day field trips might be taken to make new images with digital cameras.
For the 2021 Summer season, you need to arrive into Santa Fe at anytime on Sunday. There will be a group breakfast Monday morning, followed by a brief orientation before your first class session. Your workshop is officially over after dinner and the participant image presentations on Friday night (usually by 9:30 pm).
Intensive workshops follow a different schedule, with many of them starting on Friday morning and ending at noon on Sunday.
This varies from workshop to workshop. In general, bring your photographic equipment: cameras, lenses, and if you have them, a tripod, filters, a hand-held light meter, and a flash. Laptops are required for all participants who are not taking workshops based in the digital lab. Additional information about camera formats and equipment for individual workshops is detailed in a letter from the instructor.
The Workshops’ Digital Lab has 13 workstations complete with 16GB Mac Pro computers, top-of-the-line monitors courtesy of NEC, and the latest software from Adobe. Epson provides us with Epson P600 and P800 printers and a wide selection of Epson papers we have available for printmaking workshops.
To enhance your learning experience in our multimedia workshops, we have H4n recorders, wireless Lavaliler Kits, GoPro Hero4s.
Some workshops require that you submit a sample of recent photography for final admission. For complete details, visit the Portfolios section in the Registration Information section.
Nearly all of our photography workshops have a maximum of 14 participants. Workshops held in the Digital Lab have a maximum enrollment of 13 participants. The minimum number of participants to run a workshop varies from workshop to workshop, depending on a variety of factors. In the event that a workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits are refunded in full or may be transferred to another workshop within 12 months. The Workshops makes final decisions about the running of a workshop no less than 30 days before the start date for all Santa Fe-based workshops.
Santa Fe is located at 7,000 feet above sea level in the Sangre de Cristo mountains; it can take your body a day of two to adapt to the high altitude. There are four seasons, with snow likely during the winter. Santa Fe is comfortably dry but can have rapid weather changes and it is not uncommon to have 30 degree temperature differences between night and day. Santa Fe averages 300 days of glorious sunshine, 14 inches of rain and 17.5 inches of snow each year. For up-to-date weather information and historical averages, visit weather.com or visitsantafe.com. “Typical weather” figures can be found on AccuWeather’s web site.
Participants are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements in Santa Fe. On-campus accommodations are not currently available. Please read the Accommodations segment on the Santa Fe section.
Santa Fe-based workshops take place on the IHM Retreat Center campus (50 Mount Carmel Road), located about 2 to 2.5 miles from the nearest commercial areas, so a car provides added freedom and flexibility. If you do not rent a car, Uber and Lyft are available in Santa Fe. You will need to car pool with other workshop participants when you go on field trips. We suggest that you call us to find out if a car is required for your workshop as sometimes you will need to be able to be independent of others.
Days are busy and intense. You may find some time in the early evening to see the city. We suggest coming in a few days early or staying a few days after your workshop if you would like to take in the sights of Santa Fe, including the great museums, restaurants, and galleries.
Keep in mind that you will be very busy with your workshop. Your family will likely not see a lot of you! Still, Santa Fe is a major tourist destination and there are many things to do in and around Santa Fe. Check out these websites for ideas: santafe.com, santafe.org, or newmexico.org.
Unfortunately, no. Many of our carefully-chosen locations are on private land and are not accessible to the public. Therefore we are not allowed to bring additional guests to these locations. Even in cases where we visit public areas to photograph, we often secure special permits to enter as a group, and additional guests are not covered by our permits or by our insurance. If you visit a publicly-accessible location with The Workshops and want to enjoy it with friends and family, we encourage you to do so after your workshop has concluded.
We know that unexpected things come up that might require you to cancel your workshop. If at all possible, let us know more than 30 days before the start of your workshop. Click HERE for full details about our Cancellation and Transfer Policies. We also strongly recommend that you consider purchasing travel insurance (see below).
We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance can protect you against unforeseen circumstances that might prevent your attendance. We suggest a plan that offers coverage for medical and dental emergencies, lost baggage, missed connections, and trip cancellation should you have a medical problem that prevents you from attending. The Santa Fe Workshops is not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies or reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation.
Each year is different but usually scholarship money is available. The scholarships are valid for photo workshops of four or more days in length, running in Santa Fe. For complete details, visit the Scholarship page.
The State of New Mexico requires all businesses to collect gross receipts tax on all goods and services. In order to not pay tax, you or your company must register for tax-exempt status with the State of New Mexico and pay the annual fee. The tax rate as of January 1, 2020 is 8.4375%.
Additionally, due to Economic Nexus Laws, Santa Fe Workshops may need to collect and pay state sales tax to many additional states.
