Growing up in the bustling lanes of Mumbai’s slums, adolescents face challenges that shape their spirit, resilience, and creativity. Many of them carry stories untold, and through photography education, they finally find a way to share their voice. With the Salaam Bombay Media Academy in collaboration with Shari Academy of Professional Photography, this vision takes shape into something powerful. The program does more than teach photography. It creates a stage where these young talents gain expression, develop career opportunities, and build a strong sense of self-belief. To learn more about Salaam Bombay’s mission, you can visit the Salaam Bombay Foundation.
At the start, students begin with basic training that builds confidence in using the camera. Step by step, they learn how light transforms an image, how composition tells a story, and how technical knowledge supports creativity. As the sessions progress, they experiment freely, and they notice their imagination grow. Because every step is guided with encouragement, they feel motivated to try more and take bold creative risks. Under the mentorship of Hridgandha Mistry and the Dean and faculty team, the experience transforms into a journey of discovery.
After advancing through the photography Education, these adolescents no longer doubt their talent. They walk into the field with confidence, eager to capture life through a lens that reflects their own perspective. They start creating images of professional quality, images that impress not only their peers but also industry professionals. With every photograph, they celebrate the power of storytelling and humanity. By the end of the program, each trainee carries the skill, discipline, and vision needed to pursue opportunities in media and photography. More importantly, they carry the belief that their work can inspire others. And with that belief, they step forward—ready to take on the world, one picture at a time.