Hey friends,
I wanted to share a little bit about how special it is to have a photography festival here in San Diego. Recently, I had a table at the portfolio walk during the Medium Photo Festival 2026, and I kept noticing the same thing over and over again. People would walk in a little shy. You could feel it—shoulders slightly up, holding their work carefully, trying to read the room. And then, within a few minutes, something would shift. Someone would ask about someone’s images and a conversation would unfold.
That’s what this festival does so well.
It creates a space where beginners, students, emerging photographers, teachers, curators, and longtime artists can all come together around the same thing: a love of photography and storytelling.
And it matters that it happens here in our wonderful city.
Why the Medium Photo Festival Matters in San Diego.
San Diego has its own visual language. We’re a border city. We’re in constant relationship with Tijuana, which has an incredible art scene of its own. There are artists on both sides of the border contributing to something that feels bigger than any one place. San Diego is also home to locals and so many transplants like me. We are a city so full on travel and connections.
I love that the festival reflects that. It feels local in the best way—connected, specific, alive. So many of the photographers in the Medium Collective spend countless hours organizing, booking speakers, installing the show, and finding wonderful partners to help make it as interactive and inspiring as possible.
I’ve ran an internship program since 2008 and I'm always looking for more resources for photographers and this is a great one. It also feels accessible.
What Makes Medium Photo Festival Accessible
Some events were free. Others were around $20. There were scholarships and pay-what-you-can options. And that opens up the art world to such a wider group of ages. There were so many high school photographers just at the start of their journey and seasoned pros too of course.
Art communities don’t grow just because we say they’re important, they grow because people can actually get in the room.
I hope you come next year. I hope you bring and image to hang on the wall or maybe even get a table to show some of your work.
One of my favorite moments was bringing my friend’s daughter, Regan.
She a student UCLA, and they since offer photography classes. She came to the festival curious, but unsure of where she fit. Within minutes, I was able to introduce her to teachers, artists, festival heads.
I watched her realize—almost in real time—that she could be part of this. Her whole face changed. It was like watching possibility click on. That moment alone told me everything I needed to know about why this festival matters.
It reminded me of my own journey. I remember when Suda mentioned to the class that we could apply for an art school scholarship. I was still technically a business major. I knew I needed to take care of myself and I figured business sounded reasonable. My mom was surprised given my love or creativity and academics. She questioned me on it. In my mind, if I had to have a job I thought “business” should cover it. I guess in the end both my mom and I were right since I have run a creative business for most of my life. My mom always had a deep belief that creativity would find me no matter where I went. I didn’t know that you could have a creative business. This was before instagram, it was another time folks. I’m grateful that Suda opened my eyes and I’m so grateful that the Medium festival lights that fire for so many people.
I also kept thinking about how connected everything is.
How Photography Festivals Build Community
My friend Patricia is the one who first told me about the Medium Collective and encouraged me to apply and I’m so happy I did.
She volunteered at the very first festival and has stayed involved because she believes in what it brings to the community.
At one point, she said something that stayed with me:
“It’s important to me to see it continue, because it brings so many people together from the community. When it’s accessible, you see it—young people show up, they get curious, they start asking questions. That enthusiasm is what Medium Photo does.” Patricia Grabski
And you can feel that when you’re there. My former teacher, Suda House, came out just to support people. She wasn’t teaching, she wasn’t presenting—she was just there, cheering everyone on. That kind of continuity is rare, and it’s powerful.
It means the community isn’t just something that appears for a weekend—it’s something that’s built over time. I talked to another friend Jill Marie Holslin and she said “What I hope happens for artists after the festival is a deepening and expansion of each participant’s connections to a conmunity of artists. We artists benefit so much from institutions and the other artists who thrive with that support —art schools, good teachers, festivals, speakers, portfolio reviews—all build connections. And in turn, the institutions we create enable more connections. For instance, I joined Richard’s Photo Crit because I met him last year at Medium. And it has enriched my life and deepened my practice. The festival is part of a rich ecosystem. “
And then there’s the audience—the part that’s easy to overlook, but just as important. I saw friends and family show up to support the artists they love. People who might not think of themselves as “art world” showed up because someone they care about made something.
And I saw photography lovers come in for the festival—and then stay. They wandered deeper into the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, moving from one gallery to the next, taking it all in. What started as “come see this show” became something bigger—a full experience of the museum.
That kind of crossover is so great. It brings new people into these spaces, and it gives them a reason to return. What stayed with me most from the weekend wasn’t any single photograph.
It was the feeling of people finding each other.
Students meeting teachers.
Artists meeting collaborators.
Friends showing up for each other.
New audiences stepping into museums and staying longer than they expected.
A photography festival doesn’t just put work on the walls.
It gives people a way in.
A way to connect.
A way to imagine what might come next.
And that’s a pretty incredible thing to have in your own backyard.
So put in on your calendar for next year and plan on falling more in love with photography.
If you’re curious to know more I recently wrote about my own full-circle moment showing at MCASD
What is the Medium Photo Festival?
The Medium Photo Festival is a San Diego-based photography festival that brings together emerging and established photographers, curators, and the public. Next festival Spring 2027
Where is it held?
In 2026, it was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla. I’ll keep you updated on location for 2027.
Why is it important?
It creates access, community, and opportunities for photographers at all levels.
