This Women's History Month, let’s celebrate some of the incredible women photographers right here at Youth in Focus! These visionary artists and teachers not only photograph moments important to them, but they also mentor and encourage students to photograph their own vision. These teacher's work continues to inspire, challenge, and empower, reminding us that the lens through which we view the world is powerful and often shaped by those who dare to look deeper. We're honored that they're in community with us and continue to uplift the voices and stories of women and students in Seattle! 📸✨

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bryn mooney (she/her)
Teaching Artist 2011 - 2015, 2023 - Present

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bryn is a passionate arts educator who has been working in community for 15+ years. She has taught/mentored internationally and locally with orgs like Coyote Central, Powerful Voices, and Kirkland Arts Center, but her journey began at Youth in Focus as a classroom mentor ages ago. She couldn’t be more excited to be back!

bryn see’s photography as a profound tool for community building. Through images we share stories, communicating in another language, one that can be more accessible than words. Her goal is to help foster the space to explore vulnerability and creativity while providing new tools for youth to amplify their own voice.

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Isabel Dietz-Hartmann(she/her)
Teaching Artist 2018 - Present‍

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What inspired you to get into photography?‍

My first first photography class when I was a freshman in high school. I remember the magic of the darkroom and feeling like I could make something original through this medium. Photography also felt like a natural channel in which I could express my inner landscape to others in a way that felt authentic to me. I also had a really supportive teacher who saw my potential and nurtured my interest!

Why is photography important to you?‍

I love photography for the fact that it is an easy medium to start and a difficult one to master. Taking a good photo goes deeper than just knowing how to set the correct aperture, shutter speed and ISO and requires you to develop a deep awareness of yourself and your environment. I also like photography for how it can be used as a tool for self exploration in a less direct way than other art mediums. You have to take a lot of pictures to notice nuanced patterns in your work only after you have committed time and effort. I like how this process exists more on the unconscious level as well. It has been a helpful approach for bringing unconscious things in me to the conscious level.

Is there a moment or project that shaped you as an artist?‍

I remember picking up a book of Diane Arbus' when I was early into photography in high school and feeling deeply moved by her photos. What stood out to me was that she was able to connect with so many people different from herself in a meaningful way and that photography provided her the lifestyle/medium to do so. This represented (and still does!) the life I want, as connecting with others different than me has been an incredibly important part of my spiritual development as a person and artist.

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Meg Stacker (she/her)
Teaching Artist 2021 - Present‍

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What inspired you to get into photography?‍

My family inspired me, I come from a creative family of authors, artists and activists. Starting in 3rd grade, photos have been how I documented the world around me.
“I’m inspired to continue my family legacy of writers, activists and performers, through my photography to tell stories, evoke emotion, share moments and portray truth.”
-Meg Stacker King

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Why is photography important to you?‍

Photos speak in a way that words can’t. My work is fueled by storytelling, passion and emotion. I’m incredibly inspired by our younger generation, which is why I gravitate towards photographing them. This is a wild and challenging world that we live in and their ability to adapt, articulate their experience, continue to learn, educate peers on voting, organize and lead protests, the list goes on, this next generation is pure power!

I love that you can always go back to photos for an account of what happened, a feeling, a memory, a lesson… Photographs freeze a time and share an experience, a moment for years to come, from family photos to fashion images to war correspondents in WWII, like Lee Miller.

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Is there a moment or project that shaped you as an artist?‍

Two major projects for me that were milestones in my creative journey were:

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1. The launch of Piga Picha Project in Kenya, a photography education program that I created and facilitated with youth at an orphanage and a non profit on two separate trips to Kenya.

2. Shooting my remote series WE THE MAMAS and WE THE KIDS. Both of these were created during the pandemic. This was my pivot when everything that we all knew was turned upside down, it was my way to continue to connect with others, share stories, perspectives and reinforce that we were not alone.

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Thank you to bryn, Isabel, and Meg for continuing to enrich our community and provide guidance, patience, and their skills to any and all students who walk through our doors!