As a nationally recognized youth photography and mentoring program, First Exposures (FX) strives to make a long-term impact on the lives of high-need, underserved youth in the San Francisco Bay Area. FX fosters the academic and social development of underserved youth by providing an accessible venue for them to enhance their self-confidence, develop their creativity, and gain a passion for learning. Photography is the catalyst by which the students acquire vital life skills and it is the vehicle through which FX fosters self-expression and deepens the intellectual, academic, and developmental experiences of students.