I was raised in San Francisco and have been making images for more then thirty years. I am a self-taught photographer having discovered the lure of the camera as a teenager growing up in a family of ten children raised by my single parent father. I attended San Francisco State University. While there I discovered classes outside the Photography Department. One such class was in the Humanities Department entitled “The Impact of Photography on Third World Communities.” As a Black woman, the mere title of this class gave me pause to think. I found other classes such as photojournalism and photography as therapy. These classes set the foundation for how I approach photography today.

Twelve years ago I discovered the Sixth Street Photography Workshop. This is a San Francisco based organization that offers free photography classes to low-income and homeless adults. I became a member and through the workshop was able to share my skills and indulge my passion. Today I volunteer for the workshop. I teach the beginning class, assist advanced students, prepare every aspect of putting up a gallery show, and participate in our community based “Portrait Days.”

S. Renée Jones