SIDEDOOR is an intimate, year long mentorship program for photographers who want to return to and refine their unique creative voice.

• Individual Mentorship

• Individual Critique

• Group Critique

• Intimate Group Learning

• Accountability Partner

12 months. 2024 (begins in January)

12 individual meetings with Yan.

Meetings are broken down as follows:

• one planning/conceptualizing meeting

• 6 meetings for mentorship/creative counsel/continued guided planning which take place every other month

• 4 meetings for focused critique and feedback on the work you are creating

• one closing meeting to finalize completion of project

12 group meetings with fellow SIDEDOOR participants.

Meetings are broken down as follows:

• 6 group discussion meetings, as lead by Yan. 

• 6 group critique meeting, as guided by Yan (a metric for critique will be provided)

Each SIDEDOOR participant will be paired with a fellow artist based on complimentary skill sets and focus. Partnerships will be required to check in monthly on their own time.

SIDEDOOR is an intimate program with limited seats available.

Preference will be given to artists who:

• demonstrate both time and willingness not only to the program, but to the completion of a body of work by the end of the program. 

• are both technically competent and at least somewhat experienced  in the medium they use

• reflect a unique perspective 

• Interested in connecting their work to a larger creative exploration, theme or meaning

• can contribute thoughtfully to group discussions and critique

Will SIDEDOOR teach me how to run a better photo business, attract target clients etc?

Nope. I have other courses that do that Instead, SIDEDOOR  liberates you to focus purely on the art and passion of what you do. Because not enough spaces like that exist.

The thing is, when you are centering what you love at the heart of what you make, all else in your life tends to dramatically improve without you even trying. Including your business

When will I hear back after I submit my application?

Applicants will be contacted with an update on the status of their application by Sept 30th at the latest.

How do I know if SIDEDOOR is a fit for me?

• You strive to create from an intuitive, electric place

• You take your art pretty damn seriously, but are dedicated to laughing and finding lightness among the sometimes heaviness of making/sharing it.

• You’ve been sitting on various projects for months or years, but need someone who really gets art and how to motivate artists to help follow through

• You’re finally ready to commit as much time to what you LOVE making as you do to everything else

• You’re tired of the noise and the norm and feel called to crush some photographic boxes you’ve outgrown

• You need someone you trust to consistently test your ideas on and get radically insightful, personal feedback from

• You just want a regular space to creatively talk it out.

Why is there an application?

Over the years, and through many methods of teaching other artists,  the most popular request I have gotten from other photographers is for extended mentorship. And I have consistently said no. Why? Because I’m a single parent with limited time and it requires a lot of hours for me to really focus on helping you stay aligned with your own spark. In order to do so, I have to keep the number of spaces in this program SMALL. 

Additionally, its incredibly important to me that at this level of investment, you know what you’re in for and you are aligned with the essence of what is offered. This is for your benefit, my benefit, and the benefit of your fellow mentees.  Requiring an application allows me to do everything in my power to make it so.

What if I get in and I hate it?

This would be very sad and I would be very shocked. I have tried to send up every possible freak flag flare to alert you if this is not a good fit for what you are looking for in order to avoid just that. However, due to the nature of the program, and me managing my books,  your investment is sadly, non-refundable

You keep saying spaces are limited, but exactly HOW limited?

I am accepting a maximum of 12, but preferably six mentorships.

SIDEDOOR is an investment in yourself and a commitment to the value of your art.

You’re gonna get a whole year of one on one mentoring, PLUS individual and group critique, PLUS a space to learn and talk it out with your fellow mentees.

The ride alone will be a JOY, and at the end you will have best art friends forever, plus the sweet satisfaction of finally completing a body of work you believe in.

All that, for just $5500. That is, if you pay all at once. I don’t really think I need to sell this that hard, but why the heck not, I’m good at selling.

Can’t just drop 5 Gs at the creative alter? I’ve been there, so no prob bob. You can split up the amounts into a total of 3 payments: 1) A deposit of $2000, 2) $2250 due January 1, 2024, 3) Final payment of $2250 due May 1, 2024. Only bummer is this drives the cost up to $6500. But considering everything you’re gettting? still. so. worth. it.

Fee for one scholarship applicant will be waived

Plase read this bio in which we all pretend I’m not talking about myself in third person, and be very, very impressed:

Yan Palmer is a world renowned film photographer, educator and public speaker. With the heart and eyes of a poet, and spirit of mystic, she has spent the majority of her career traveling far and wide---not only making art for her clients, but teaching other artists to do the same.

Yan has set herself apart in the world of education with her unique philosophy that teaching artists to become more like her is useless. Instead she has focused on helping artists tap into their greatest power---becoming more themselves.

As a single mother of three children, Yan has boot strapped her business from the ground up. What's more, she did so with rigorous artistic integrity, and a passionate dedication to making work and products aligned with the meaning she wants to add to the world; that you, your work, and the art of your life are infinitely valuable. Yan lives with her three children in Provo, Utah.