About us
Photo Saloon is a DIY photography community project founded by Cat Coppenrath that has been budding and growing since January 2026. We center women, nonbinary, trans, and gender expansive artists in our gatherings and offerings.
At the heart of Photo Saloon is our monthly Show & Tell, an in person gathering for photographs and the people who make them. Photographers are invited to share work ranging from ideas in motion to completed projects.
Our gatherings are rooted in genuine interest in the work and in one another. Feedback is opt in, curious, and rooted in care. Take what lands. Leave what doesn’t.
Beyond Show & Tell, Photo Saloon is growing into a community for all kinds of photographic exchange - workshops, skill shares, artist talks, studio visits, book conversations, exhibitions, collaborative projects, and more.
We care about making pictures, but we also care about building a life around making pictures. Finding our people, developing our own ways of seeing, taking creative risks, sharing resources, and creating opportunities for one another outside of traditional art world structures.
Photo Saloon exists to nurture creative momentum, deepen photographic taste, and remind us that making work doesn’t have to be a solo path.
Values and Ethos
Community + Collective
We believe in the power of the collective. We thrive when we show up for each other, uplifting one another with care and respect.
Inclusivity
Photo Saloon aims to create a space for women and gender diverse people to express themselves authentically. Folks’ lived experience enrich the greater whole.
Anything Goes
Show up. Bring your work in whatever phase it is in. Works in progress welcome.
Empowerment Through Feedback
Constructive feedback can be a gift. Feedback is intended to focus on growth, rather than judgment or competition.
Creativity as Resistance
Our art can challenge norms, explore new narratives, + reclaim space. We honor the unique perspectives that emerge from our community.
Continuous Growth
We commit to learning about our craft, about each other, + about ourselves.
Safety and Respect
Take care of yourself, take care of your community. We aim to hold a space that is physically and emotionally safe. We acknowledge that harm is a reality in all community spaces, and we aim to approach harm with care and a collective commitment to repair.
Photo Saloon based in Oakland, CA and is founded by Cat Coppenrath