Everything we do is free.
Every episode, every article, and all of the Resources tools are free to use. No paywall, no membership fee, no login. That is the whole point. For a hundred years you learned from a stack of American Cinematographer magazines, whoever on set was generous enough to explain a concept, or apprenticeships that seemingly do not exist anymore. We are trying to hold the door open for everyone.
Gear costs more than it used to. So does film school, and rent. Rates have not kept up, and the people coming into this field are the ones least able to pay for a way in. Free and honest information is the most direct thing we can do about that.
Sponsors cover part of the cost. The rest is people chipping in. If you are in a position to, here is where.
Free is the ethos.
Everything the Salon does: the podcast, the articles, the lens and lighting tools, the events. Your support keeps it that way, for you and for the person who cannot chip in yet.
Running all of this costs real money. Episodes get edited and transcribed, the tools sit on servers, the events need space and refreshments and entertainment. Sponsors cover part of it, and supporters cover the rest, starting at five dollars a month, less than the price of a coffee. The higher rungs do not buy more, they just cover more.
Once a year, in December, we write to everyone supporting to say thank you and to show what the year paid for. That is the whole of it.
For companies
If you are a brand, a rental house, or a manufacturer looking to support the Salon, sponsorship is the better fit and reaches further than a subscription would. Start here.