Our Story
Where Ocean Dreams Meet Real-World Impact
Salt + Noelle is a fine art and storytelling studio founded by artist and strategist Alexis Noelle Galasso in Santa Monica, California, and now based dockside in Channel Islands Harbor.
The mission of Salt + Noelle™ is to document the critical intersections where people and wildlife meet, creating authentic visual records that connect a global audience to coastal communities and ecosystems. Our work is governed by our Admire from Afar™ ethos, an original ethical framework developed by our founder that requires every image to be captured with integrity and without disturbance. Our goal is simple: turn passive observation into active stewardship and community connection.
The Heart of the Story
The Heart of the Story
I document the places where people and wildlife meet. I’m Alexis Noelle Galasso, an artist and conservation strategist. My journey to the ocean wasn’t straightforward. Growing up in a Pennsylvania steel town, I dreamed of becoming a marine biologist, but my parents were practical: even if I earned the degree, the ocean might always feel out of reach.
So I adapted. My early career was rooted in live music in Pittsburgh, where I supported local venues with marketing, promotions, and on-the-ground operations like ticketing and VIP services. That hands-on work taught me the value of real-world connection and grassroots engagement foundational lessons that I soon applied to the world of creative technology and community education.
In that role, I taught photography, videography, and coding, and led creative programs like Apple Camp and Today at Apple. It was during this chapter that I first met Michael. While we weren't yet together at the time, we reconnected years later: he is now my partner in life and my trusted field assistant, supporting many of Salt + Noelle’s adventures and projects.
Ready for a new chapter, I relocated solo to Santa Monica to join Apple Music. There, I deepened my skills in marketing and digital strategy: creating social content, tracking audience sentiment, and supporting record labels and emerging artists through programs like Apple Music: Up Next. This move marked the start of my life in California, opened the door to new opportunities, and was the first time I could live near the ocean.
Following Apple Music, I joined Universal Music Group on the commerce marketing team. I managed digital release operations and supported comprehensive marketing campaigns across the UMG catalog and distributed labels. Translating creative vision into platform-ready executions, I worked on hundreds of priority releases, including legendary acts like The Beatles and breakthrough artists like Sleep Token. I collaborated closely with streaming platforms to drive high-impact editorial placement and reach, focusing on making the process seamless so teams could focus on the creative moment rather than the technical details.
Around this time, I encountered the wild sea otter population in Morro Bay and rented my first telephoto lens. Photographing a mother and pup sparked a realization: I could use my background in strategy, research, and storytelling to protect these animals.
I approach this work as a strategist rather than a scientist. My background in analytical strategy and audience research allows me to bridge the gap between complex data and the public: translating technical insights into human connection. I support this with rigorous self-study, from college coursework and research studies to hundreds of hours of field observation. I am doing the work to ensure every story is told accurately and responsibly.
That foundation of precision and advocacy is what built Salt + Noelle. Today, the studio operates at the intersection of high-impact media and strategic consulting for a global audience of over 100,000 readers.
Through our creative studio, I produce original field notes and photo essays that explore the delicate boundary between human activity and the natural world. This storytelling is the engine for our coastal shop, which is currently moving to museum-grade production to better fund our ongoing conservation missions.
Simultaneously, through the consultancy arm, I leverage a decade of operational expertise to support mission-aligned partners across the outdoor, travel, and research sectors. We build narrative toolkits, manage media licensing, and design communications that translate environmental complexity into human connection.
This practice is a blend of art and advocacy. The work has earned global recognition: including selection for the Enduring Ground online exhibition with the Griffin Museum of Photography. The goal is to turn these stories into the stewardship this coast needs.
What We Offer: Our Three Pillars
Our Ethics
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity and public responsibility. Every choice we make, both in the field and behind the scenes, reflects our commitment to protecting nature and honoring the communities we document.
Admire from Afar
We use professional telephoto lenses, teleconverters, and careful cropping to capture detailed images while always keeping a considerate distance from wildlife. By combining this approach with strict adherence to all wildlife viewing guidelines, we ensure animals remain undisturbed and unaware of our presence.
Zero Interference
We never bait, call, or manipulate wildlife. Every image is created through patience, concealment, and observation from a respectful distance. We carefully time our work to align with natural behaviors and seasonal patterns, ensuring animals behave naturally and remain unaffected by our presence.
Conscious Sharing
We recognize that in the age of social media, secrecy is not a viable strategy for protecting wildlife locations. Therefore, we believe the most responsible action is to proactively guide the public. Our policy is to share locations responsibly by directing visitors to established, proper viewing areas.
Conservation First
We prioritize the well-being of native species and the protection of their habitats in all that we do. By following leave no trace principles and carefully planning our activities, we help safeguard these places and their living communities for generations to come.
Genuine Storytelling
We believe in sharing honest narratives. Our photo essays capture real moments as they happened outdoors, preserving the true colors, textures, and atmosphere of each scene. We do not create images or videos with AI; every visual is a genuine record of the natural world.
Mindfully Present
We are first responders, not just observers. We actively report injured or stranded wildlife to the proper networks rather than just documenting the distress. We encourage our community to do the same, turning passive viewing into active stewardship.