Chicago Photography Center NFP

The Chicago Photography Center has been EVICTED from its space on Lincoln Avenue. They
owe tens of thousands of dollars in back rent and real estate taxes they are responsible for.

I have long had a passion for photography, having taken classes and taught in college and having been a member of several photographic organizations over the years. Going to galleries and seeing photographic displays is important to me, but sharing my work and ideas with other photographers as well as having discussions about the medium and its history gives me special pleasure. This is exactly what I found at the Chicago Photography Center, peers with knowledge about the medium and its history who are willing to discuss work in critiques and further to discuss the principles and skills that are beneficial to that work. The Center offers facilities in which to create your own images, from darkrooms, to computers and printers, to lighting studios. It offers classes in which to further one’s understanding of photography. It has a gallery space to show the work of members and other artists. It is not a one-dimensional organization, but a place that allows photographers to pursue the knowledge required to grow from beginners to sophisticated professionals with an artist perception of the discipline. A center like this is essential to a thriving and sophisticated photographic community in a city such as Chicago.
Michael Berns

Chicago Photography Center is a wonder organization and I love attending their events. They are extremely professional and friendly to all who visit them and an asset to the community at large. Keep up the fine work CPC!

I joined Chicago Photography Center as a member almost 2 years ago and took a few classes. I found the community warm and supportive and the classes were fantastic. My work was part of an all student exhibition in July of 2012 which was a fantastic experience. Late 2012 I became a member of the board of directors to help CPC continue their services and to give back.

I am an amateur photographer with a new camera. Being a member at Chicago Photography Center enabled me to meet with an excellent trainer, so I am confident in using the camera. The prints I created have been used for a poster where I volunteer, which increased attendance at events. Plus the prints look gorgeous.

There are both tangible and intangible benefits to the CPC trainings. I have more confidence using my digital camera and the results help the causes I care about.

The Executive Director is super competent and her enthusiasm is contagious. The hard-working Board of Director, though small, is committed to expanding the impact of the Center. CPC is recognized as the best place to learn photography in Chicago, probably the Midwest.

Joan Flanagan

Great organization under very caring and competent management and staff.

The Chicago Photography Center (CPC) has absolutely changed my life. I would not be where I am today as a photographer with out them.

The CPC is there to help you on your photographic journey whether you're a casual photographer or are interested in making a career of it. The instructors are all knowledgeable, working photographers who are always supportive and helpful. The CPC offers classes for every level of student and shares opportunities to display your work and to photograph outside of class through partnerships with other organizations and clients (some of whom pay).

The CPC is primarily a place of learning, and I have learned a ton, but I think the biggest impact it's had on my life has been a social one. It often takes me a while to get comfortable in new surroundings but the people at the CPC made me feel welcome right away - the environment is completely nurturing and friendly, not cut-throat or competitive, and that's been absolutely perfect for me. Through classes and events I've been able to network with other photographers and make some amazing friends. My fellow classmates and I work together on projects and recommend each other to clients when we're not available or otherwise can't take on a gig.

I really can't recommend this place enough. Try it out for yourself - you won't be sorry.

The Chicago Photography Center is a wonderful venue contributing to keep photography as a viable art and a tool in journalism, such as photojournalism. The Center reaches and teaches the neighborhood.

The volunteers care but the board?

Found better classes for the money and nicer people elsewhere.

What a mess. Spend your $ elsewhere. Do not think the people at the top care about the students or even teachers. Large turnover in staff? Wonder why?

The Board of the cpc has defaulted on their obligation to the investors of the building they occupy. This group of people (the investors) came together for the sole prepose of providing a home for cpc. Because of their default, 27 people are about to louse their $350.000 investment. I believe in the past 5 years there is no person that started classes at cpc that have acquired the skills necessary to be able exhibit in a show. cpc says they are a school but they have not had a student show (of their own students) since I left as program director 6 years ago. Their gallery only exhibits the work established photographers. They use the gallery as a draw for their classes with the implication that after someone attends their classes they will learn enough to also be part of a show. Maybe, but because cpc does not have "student shows" it's not likely that they will be able to exhibit there. I started teaching photography in 1969 when I with others started the Jane Addams Center/ Hull House Photography Program (JAC/HH). cpc clams they are the same program that started at JAC/HH in 1969. They are not. The JAC/HH photography program only exhibited the work of their students.

I was seeking community outreach that fed my love of art. Volunteering for the Chicago Photography Center was the perfect way to do this. As volunteers we meet with adults who live in supported housing or shelters. As a group, we venture through different city scenes while sharing photography lessons and discussions. It creates a new avenue of expression for the students and such an rewarding dialogue for everybody. It's been such a positive experience and I'll definitely continue my involvement.

I signed up for a photography class and in the process got a life changing experience. The instructors are mind blowing to say the least and push me the way I need to be pushed. Every instructor is 5 star and in the industry as Columbia College professors or professionals photographers of Chicago's biggest media publications. CPC is perfect for if you just want to learn how to take good photos, but it also has the capacity to push someone to greatness. The students they are producing are high caliber and gifted. They are exhibiting and starting sucessful businesses. I have to say my favorite things is the atmospere. Instead of having a competitive atmosphere it is one where everyone encourages each other and it is not elitist. Everyone helps everyone else grow and the amount of friendships fostered out of this places makes it an uplifting experience to simply be part of.

CPC has fostered my personal and technical growth as a photographer. I have learned invaluable lessons in the practice of photography from gifted and esteemed instructors. There is a strong sense of community among staff, volunteers, students, and visitors. I have friends in other cities and states who are envious of my access to CPC as a resource. It is so rare to find a place that offers such a comprehensive set of programs for photography. I especially appreciate their outreach to youth in Chicago. We need more positive opportunities for creativity for our young people. CPC is a prime example of the impact that is possible through mentoring. There are few such organizations, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to benefit from their many programs.

The Chicago Photography Center is a great organization that has helped inspire me to take my photography to levels I never thought I could achieve. The instructors are passionate and knowledgeable, and are true professionals working in many of the fields of photography (product, photojournalism, editorial, etc). I'm very happy that I found out about this place, and can't wait to see what they do next!

Chicago Photography Center teaches excellent classes in a wide variety of photographic subjects and has a gallery that shows both local and international artists, for the enrichment of its students and the public. Many students choose to take the entire curriculum in the certificate program and the expertise of the instructors assists them in their chosen areas of photography, providing confidence to compete in the marketplace.

I am a certificate program student at the Chicago Photography Center, and through classes and events at the center, I have developed a much richer understanding of photography of all kinds, and made wonderful contacts and friends. The Chicago Photography Center is a profoundly generous community, and I'm happy to call it home.

The CPC has provided me with a friendly and inviting space with qualified and dedicated instructors who are genuinely interested in teaching and sharing their passion for photography. Inspiration and creativity are abound in an environment that is both professional and casual at the same time. With the support and expertise of peers and instructors, I find myself discovering, more and more, the artist voice within. Volunteering for the CPC has been a rich and fruitful experience, both in becoming a part of the mission and in the learning opportunity it has provided.

A wonderful resource for teaching photography, and being able to interact with other passionate photographers, both professional and amateur. I have taken many classes on different aspects of photography, and have used their facilities for post production. I especially like that they have darkroom facilities for black and white film developing. I really enjoy the hands-on process of film developing, I just wish there were more film photographers joining me!

I signed up for a introductory camera class at the CPC in January of 2011 without ever owning a real camera. In less than two years, I have already been able to have my photos exhibited in shows both here and in London, England. All of that made possible by the hard work and commitment of the wonderful instructors and staff at The Chicago Photography Center. I know is sounds cliche to say that an experience is life changing, but my life has been enriched beyond belief, thanks to the CPC. Not only can I say that the CPC made me the photographer that I am today, but I can also say that it has helped me grow as an individual and has opened the door to opportunities I never knew existed.

I took several classes at CPC and still coming back for more. Highly recommend!!

I attended Photo 1-3 from 2008-2009. Initially I felt attending these classes was a valuable experience. Very quickly things began to change for the worse. I had no idea why the Photo 1 instructer was asked to leave and no reason was given. What was explained was that the school was headed in a different direction and that it was time for change. What has seemed to change is the students no longer seem to be the number one priority. I was made to feel out of place and not good enough to show my work. I compared my experience with a friend that attended Photo 1 in 2010. He also expressed dissapointment in that the school is not interested in promoting students work or showcasing it, for that matter. This school is only interested in promoting the work of the staff. What sense does that make?! I have been shooting as a hobby over 11 years and have attended many different photography classes including workshops and college courses. All I can say is this place isn't worth the time or money.

I began at the CPC as a student in 2008. I was so impressed by the instructors and staff that I continued on as a volunteer for several years. Recently I was asked to join the board as an outside director, which I consider an honor and a privilege. In my personal experience, the CPC does wonderful work as a community center and school.

I've been particularly impressed by the diversity and commitment of the instructors at the CPC, and the wide range of activities and courses the Center sponsors. The Center offers a very wide range of classes, starting from introductory film and digital classes and running up through advanced courses in special techniques or subjects (such as street photography and tabletop photography). It also teaches digital post-processing techniques, both as part of the standard courses and as separate specialty classes. On top of that, the CPC also continually develops new courses to meet student demand. Recent additions include cellphone photography (something community members have clamored for) and courses for budding professionals who want to learn how to earn a living through photography. The faculty is made up of photographers with a wide variety of backgrounds, such as fine-arts, commercial, and street photographers. Many are professionals, while others are long-time enthusiasts sharing their love of the art.

The CPC is not just a school, though. It uses its courses and its gallery space to conduct community outreach. Recently, it has used gallery shows to give exposure to young Iraqi photographers, local tattoo artists, Chicago high school students, and a wide variety of professional photographers from Chicago and beyond. An upcoming show will showcase the work of a local photojournalist who documented the lives of Cambodian women, and also photography by some of those women (including a schoolteacher and a survivor of the sex industry). It also has a residency program used to support local young artists as they develop their portfolios. Another outreach program teaches film photography and darkroom development to local high school students. They learned more than just photography—they apprenticed in every role in the process, learning how to manage and run an efficient studio. They also created wonderful work that the CPC was very proud to exhibit.

One of the most impressive outreach programs focuses on local homeless and otherwise disadvantaged individuals. The program gives these people cameras so that they can document their daily lives. The CPC then exhibits their work at a special fundraiser. This serves several important functions. First, it gives the disadvantaged photographers an artistic voice—very few of these people would have had the opportunity to create this sort of art otherwise. Second, it gives them an audience for that voice. The exhibition connects the photographers with gallery visitors from the local community, as well as the CPC’s traditional students. This gives the viewers a new insight into the lives of their disadvantaged neighbors. Third, because many of the photographs focus on the institutions that provide day-to-day support for the artists (such as food banks and shelters), it gives those critical support centers much-needed exposure and publicity. The program integrates all these various levels of the community. It is a wonderful example of how the CPC has identified a unique role in supporting and connecting its community, and shows how a nonprofit community school is fundamentally different from for-profit photography schools.

Given the quality of the CPC’s instruction and community outreach, and its deep support from the community, I was very surprised by the negative reviews here. I was less surprised when I realized that they all appear to have been written by one or two individuals spinning off anonymous identities for. (At the time I am writing this, all but one of the negative reviews are from brand-new accounts that have never commented on any other nonprofit. That may change as the writer tries to create more credible fronts for his attacks on the CPC.) These reviews are all very similar to each other in tone and substance. They also strongly resemble bitter emails that an anonymous individual sent to CPC faculty and staff some time ago.

Nothing in these poisonous attacks is at all consistent with my experience as a student, volunteer, or board member. For example, based on my personal knowledge of the CPC’s finances, the critic’s comment (made in almost identical terms under several user names) that “stakeholders in the CPC have lost a total of almost $400,000” is absolutely false. It is not technically inaccurate, or slightly misleading, or a little bit wrong—it is an absolute lie. I suspect for various reasons that the anonymous critic has a personal grudge against specific leaders at the CPC, as you can see from his or her namedropping. Moreover, I believe that the critic may be the owner of a local for-profit photography school that competes with the CPC for students. If I am correct, then the critic’s primary motive appears to be to attack his or her competition by tarring the CPC’s reputation with anonymous attacks. For example, at least one of these comments blatantly asks readers to google competing for-profit photography classes in the Chicago area, and advertises their facilities.

I would be very disappointed if that were true, because I cannot fathom the mindset of a business owner who would attempt to increase their profits by anonymously slandering a competing non-profit. But I cannot discern any other reason for a sudden crop of viciously negative, factually false, and stylistically identical reviews appearing overnight in a coordinated attack on a non-profit community center and arts school.

In the end, anonymous comments on the internet are worth what you paid for them. I am proud to sign my own name to my endorsement of the CPC, and I encourage you to contact me with any questions. Furthermore, I encourage any reader interested in learning more about the CPC to visit its website (chicagophoto.org) or visit it in person at 3301 N. Lincoln Ave. Any visitor will quickly see why we are so proud of our students, staff, and faculty.

Sincerely,
Colin McRoberts

After meeting a number of people who volunteer/work at the CPC, I've been consistently impressed with their dedication to the center, its classes, and their other programs. Having gone shooting with a number of past students and faculty, most have had nothing but positive feedback regarding their experience with the center. That's been a big reason why I've donated to the CPC in the past, and will continue to do so in the future.
Some reviews seem to focus on the internal politics of the center's past, or address the lack of a "star" photographer associated with the center. To me, that isn’t important. I evaluated three things before donating; 1) Is the CPC advancing photographic art in Chicago through education, outreach programs, and other events, 2) Do their plans for the future include expanding those programs to meet the changing needs of the community, and 3) Are they providing a needed benefit/service to the local community.
To me, all three questions were answered with a resounding yes.

I once volunteered with this organization, and took a variety of classes. I even exhibited my work there. But it's changed in recent years and I no longer want to be a part of what they do. I don't know why Karen E. would refer to comments as “defamatory, libelous and untrue”-.- the person was speaking the truth about the organization's default. Maybe Karen wasn't there when the initial deal was made and prefers to concentrate only on "current affairs". I was there, I saw what happened. This organization has a checkered past, with obligations they are not meeting.
I understand that the current Board is not going to advertise these behind-the-scenes problems. But prospective students should know that the organization isn’t on the soundest of foundations.
Aside from all that, I have found other schools in Chicago for photography classes where the emphasis is placed much more on student work, not that of professionals. If you are looking for a place to begin (or continue) your own photographic journey, and are interested in showing your own work in a public gallery, CPC may not be right for you. My work has been exhibited at other photography galleries in Chicago. I have taken classes at other schools where the concentration is on teaching fundamental through advanced photographic skills and digital printing. They have sophisticated digital labs with excellent computers and printers. They employ very experienced and gifted teachers whose goal is to bring out the very best in their students’ work. These teachers aren’t involved because they want to exhibit their own work, they are involved because they want to encourage and inspire students. Do a search for "photography classes in Chicago", and read websites from other schools. CPC is by no means the only game in town.

The CPC stands at the forefront of bringing interesting, diverse exhibits into the neighborhood. I've had the delight of attending their gallery openings and fundraisers, and have found them to be a worthwhile cause. Although I don't take pictures, a number of my friends have taken classes at the CPC. Their feedback is that the courses are well-organized, and the instructors really know their stuff. A true asset to Chicago!

I have been a number of things to the Chicago Photography Center. I am an ongoing student and member of the Chicago Photography Center Community. I am a volunteer as well. Let me say that I was solicited by CPC to write a review in answer to some harsh criticisms of CPC that seem to have little to do with the programming but seem to be coming from disgruntled people who have an agenda and have not taken recent classes at CPC. I find some of the criticism amusing i.e. the board having food and wine at board meetings which occur around the dinner hour and can go on until 9 or 10 p.m. (I have made presentations at board meetings and have had to sit through them. I was very grateful that they offered a sandwich and individual board members did bring a bottle of wine to share but more often cokes, water and coffee were the proffered refreshment.)
I don’t know anything about the real estate issues but that seems to be a legal matter that should be worked out by two differing parties and what does that have to do with the quality of the classes??
Now for the quality of the classes – very high, I have taken classes at CPC since 2008. The instructors are highly skilled, the basic classes are well organized and at the appropriate level for the class. Written materials and handouts are clear and well organized.
I came to CPC after going through the Columbia College Photography program. I was looking for a place to use my photo skills and to keep them current. I started taking the advanced classes and can say I have had only positive experiences. The instructors are wonderful and well qualified. They are also willing to help outside of class if someone has a question or technical issue with a project. They have been wonderful and patient with me. I love, love, love the digital lab - computers loaded with Lightroom and Photoshop software and Epson large format printers. If you are a student you can use them for free. If you are a member you pay a small fee. There is also a working darkroom that can be rented or used for free if you are taking a film class. The equipment is kept in great working order and you can almost always get time on a printer etc.
I can only say great things about the gallery which has been constantly improved since I have been participating with CPC. When I first joined the organization the gallery presentations were a bit disorganized and the shows were not very high quality. Over the past two or three years CPC brought in a professional curator (who is now a board member) with very strong ties to the Chicago photography community and what a difference!! The student shows now are strong and have a very professional look and the gallery has showcased national and internationally ranked professional photographers and who not only show their work, but also teach workshops open to CPC students, members and the general public.
Photography is a skill and an art. Photographers need to have this communication and connection with other photographers working in the field. CPC has given Chicago photographers a great community to work within to get what they need – at all levels from amateur to professional photographer.
Finally let me say this. Thank you to the negative reviewers on this site. I really take CPC for granted as they have become a constant resource for me as a photographer trying to develop my fine art photography skills working in Chicago community. Writing this has really made me think about what I get from CPC. I am a member of CPC and I participate in shows and workshops, portfolio reviews and critiques with many different sources and programs to upgrade my photography skills. CPC is a great ongoing resource for me and all Chicago photographers. It is a community of photographers, a place to go and share your passion for photography, learn new skills and see and participate in gallery exhibitions.
I think if you have questions you should go on-line to www.chicagophoto.org and look at the resources offered. If you are interested in learning the basics of photography or you are interested in perfecting your skills CPC is the place to go. But do this look at all the photography schools, look at the curriculum, the classes offered, the facility and the instructors and the cost. Ask questions about the offerings and find out what works for you as an individual photographer. CPC is an inclusive community of photographers and they welcome all inquiries and feedback. I am very happy to be part of the community of photographers at CPC.

Chicago Photography Center provides a great neighborhood alternative to the bigger schools. For those who want to improve their photography skills, in a community environment, without paying a bunch, CPC is a perfect fit. The negative reviews sound like they're from the previous owners who ran it into the ground and now they're jealous that CPC is a valid school doing good things.

I took several photography classes both before and after their original director was fired. My "after" experience caused me to stop taking classes altogether for several years. The original community of volunteers was replaced by people who paid little attention to learning the basics and perfecting the process and more attention to ... well I don't know what, at the time they were more than a little disorganized.

I Worked with them when they first started out and it was great then. A real community of photographers sharing everything, this was in 2006 and 2007. Since then, they fired the director who started the center and turned it upside down. They no longer have a open door community feel or policy. It is geared more to wedding photography any little else. The original place was for all kinds of photographers or those new to photography. I stop volunteering my time for that kind of organization. Don't believe me, look at the plaque on the wall for my name as a voulenteer!

CPC has an awesome community outreach program. For 7 years, volunteer photographers have taken cameras and photography classes to adults who live in shelters. They're going to expand this program to include other underserved populations (maybe veterans, and/or kids at risk).

I have been around CPC for about 2 years. I had extensive photography experience before coming to CPC but I find the instructors to be so well informed that I can't help but learn new and interesting ways to achieve my photography goals. They have a broad range of classes all taught by photography pros. The facilities are great as well. They have a full dark room and lighting studio, as well as a digital printing lab. Not to mention the great bank vault in the basement!

This is a great School with exceptional instructors. I have been a professional photographer for many years and have learned new and useful techniques from the CPC.