Meet Greg Cohen & Alyson Aliano | Photography Camp co-owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Greg Cohen and Alyson Aliano, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Greg, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor in our success is the adherence to our mission: Atwater Photo Camp’s mission is to empower kids through photography, liberate their creative vision and inspire them to view the world through their own unique lens. Everything we do is in support of this endeavor. APC is led by Greg Cohen and Alyson Aliano who care deeply about each and every camper’s experience as a whole: their development as image makers and their growth as people. And of course the fun they have as campers. We aim to make this an adventure that they take with them and never forget.

In the words of one of our campers…

Everybody sees things differently from everyone else. Greg showed us something and said, “You’re going to see this differently at the end of the week.” And he was right! This camp changed my life.
– Wilson, age 8

And in the words of a camper parent…

Great camp. Great teachers. [Atwater Photo Camp] fosters creativity, cultivates independence and builds confidence. The kids traveled all around LA, going to the LA River, DTLA, MOCA, the Broad, the Getty and Dodger Stadium. This camp not only taught my child about art, but it helped them grow as a person. If you want a camp that will ignite your child’s creativity and sense of adventure, then this is it. We loved it.
— Jonathan

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets Atwater Photo Camp apart is that while we teach the tools and skills of photography, we are primarily focused on how we see. That’s by far the most important part of our camp and being a photographer. Photo Camp is not an instructional about how to make a pretty picture; instead it’s about exploring who we are and how we relate to the world around us. We cover technical information, which can be fun, but it’s a means to an end: it’s also about connection. In other words, you’ll learn how to create a dynamic image, but you’ll also walk away with new friends and a better understanding of yourself.

Naturally there have been challenges, but we have overcome them by remaining centered on our mission. One of the main lessons we’ve learned is to approach everything from a point of service. How can we create the best possible experience for our campers and parents? With photography, we prefer making photos, instead of taking them. It’s a mindset of creating or giving rather than getting. It’s the same with running the business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We spend at more than half our time away from the studio and out exploring the world. That involves visiting places that inspire us and then using that inspiration to make our own work. Some of our adventures take us to… Atwater Village, of course! The Getty Center, Hauser and Wirth Gallery, The Arts District, Forest Lawn Museum, Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier, The Broad, MOCA, The Geffen, Art Share LA, Little Tokyo, The Science Center, Hollywood Cemetery, Barndsdall, The Hammer, Griffith Park, Chinatown, ICLA, LACMA, Disney Auditorium, Grand Central Market, The old Zoo, the Bradbury building, and way to many galleries to count.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Atwater Photo Camp is co-owned by Alyson Aliano and myself. The list of people to shoutout is long. Certainly family is at the top of the list for both of us. The families we grew up with as well as the ones we’ve built have helped us immeasurably. They believe in us and champion all we do.

In a more distant way, I can think of two organizations which have informed the way we operate and what we strive for. Outward Bound is a program that builds independence through challenge and discovery. The Experiment for International Living was designed to cultivate empathy by introducing different cultures to others around the world. Empathy and independence are core values of Atwater Photo Camp.

I experienced each of these programs before I was 16, and each of them have have left an indelible impression on me, becoming part of who I am. At APC, we aim to create an experience/adventure that leaves an enduring positive impact on our campers, which they can continue learning from forever.

Website: atwaterphotophotocamp.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/atwaterphoto

Facebook: www.facebook.com/APWseeforyourself

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/atwater-photo-workshops-los-angeles-ca-los-angeles-2

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@atwaterphotoworkshops1588