Two classroom scenes showing African American students and adults. In the left scene, a young male student in a white shirt is seated at a desk with a backpack on the floor, while a man in a dark sweater stands beside him, touching the student's chest. Behind them are educational posters about America and emotions on the wall. In the right scene, a young male student in a white shirt sits on a chair, holding a strap, with posters about fairness and empathy on the wall behind him. A man in a white shirt sits on a couch, and there is a TV displaying a courtroom scene, alongside books, a model airplane, and other items on a table.

Featured Project

Personal Project | Conditioned Calm | April 2026

On view at the Ogden Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Santino Castillo is a photographer based in Syracuse, New York. He captures people, moments, and stories through
intentional photography.

Purpose Statement

Fetty Wap sings to fans at his Nostalgia Tour in Syracuse, New York.

Skills List

Photoshop

Lightroom Classic

Illustrator

Adobe Express

InDesign

Davinci Resolve

Figma

Premiere Pro

DSLR Cameras

After Effects

Portrait Photography

Mirrorless Cameras

Studio Photography

Art Direction

Lighting Concepts

Favorite Works

A woman with brown skin looking directly at the camera, wrapped in a sheer maroon veil decorated with small pink beads and red flowers, against a matching red background.
Two young women in a waiting room, one in a blue suit taking notes, the other in a blue and white varsity jacket reading a book, sitting on separate chairs with a small table with books between them.
Young man in a graduation cap and gown sitting in an auditorium, holding a crown, with a framed photo of himself adjacent, and banners and sashes around him celebrating his graduation from Dillards University class of 2025.
Close-up of a person with decorated nails pressing buttons on a vintage rotary phone with a pastel pink and gold design, resting on a matching pink surface with fuzzy pink fabric in the background.
A woman with dreadlocks and a red bandana gently braids and styles the head of a young man with a bandage on his cheek, sitting on a dark sofa.
A woman with long hair tied back, wearing a sleeveless top, stands in front of a bright red background.

Testimonials

“He captured the essence and pride of my Black History Month celebration perfectly. The photos are powerful and truly reflect the spirit of the moment. The experience was uplifting and inspiring as I felt seen and celebrated.”
— Sonse'rae and Derrick
“The graduation shoot was effortless and fun. They made me feel confident in front of the camera, and the photos came out looking fresh and sharp. Exactly how I wanted to remember this milestone.”
— Nigil Giles
“My grad shoot was a vibe! He was professional, on time, and super communicative. The shoot felt creative and collaborative, and he made us feel comfortable the whole time. Turnaround was quick, and the photos were amazing. Highly recommend!”
— Jordynn LaFleur
“Our Valentine’s shoot was magical! He made us feel comfortable and natural, and the photos show our love and connection beautifully. It was the perfect way to celebrate our relationship.”
— Will and TeeTee