PUBLISH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK
Understanding the Path to Bringing Your Photographic Project to Publication

Mary Virginia Swanson with Darius D. Himes joined by Special Guests
Tiffany Jones, David Chickey, Alan Rapp, Philip Zimmermann, Colleen Mullins, Bob Aufuldish, Joshua Chuang, Jason Burstein & Christina Labey, Sonja Thomsen, Jon Evans, Alejandro Cartagena & Denise Wolff


DATES: Saturdays, April 29 - July 1 (no class May 27)
From 11 am to 3 pm (US Eastern Daylight Time)

All sessions will be recorded and available to participants according to their registration level through Sunday, October 1, 2023.

 

THE COMPLETE COURSE RECORDINGS


Live Sessions for this Educational Series have concluded, if you would like to access The Complete Course Recordings, please click here

 


“Publish Your Photography Book” provides a guide to the critical decision points in producing a book of your photographs, clarifying the similarities and differences between being published and choosing to self-publish your book and the critical factors artists should consider in making decisions about the materiality, marketing, and placement of a book.

Mary Virginia Swanson, with long-time co-author Darius D. Himes will inform and inspire participants by sharing their knowledge and experiences in bringing long-term projects to the book form. Our distinguished faculty members will be joined in our virtual classroom by thirteen Special Guests who are eminent members of the photobook community including editors, designers, book producers and publishers, curators and published / self-published artists and will provide crucial insight into each stage of the publishing journey.

Structured sessions focusing on being published, self-publishing, making and marketing photo books will provide broad awareness of the process of bringing your project to the book form.

Defining the appropriate audience for your book, seeking funding and sponsorship, and gaining clarity on the role in-house production teams and/or independent collaborators play in the making of a book will be discussed throughout this series. Participants will gain insights into book structures and production materials to aid in choosing the optimum combination of paper, printing, text and binding to most impactfully merge form and content.

The course concludes with sharing steps necessary to successfully launch your book, introducing it to those who share an interest in the subject of your work as well as placing it in the growing community of collectors and collections of photobooks today.

Co-authors of Publish Your Photography Book Darius D. Himes & Mary Virginia Swanson at Radius Books, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Three separate editions of A Parallel Road by Amani Willett, published by OVERLAPSE: first, second, and the Artist Edition (box)

Page spread, The Heavens (2018) by Barbara Bosworth, published by Radius Books Includes three facsimile editions of related artist's books.

Self-published titles by Philip Zimmermann printed in offshore offset, digital print-on-demand, custom HP Indigo, Inkjet, color lazertone, and newsprint.

Self-published first book the Rolls and Tubes Collective: A History Of Photography. Standard Edition (100 copies). Designed by Bob Aufuldish.

Santu Mofokeng: Stories by project editor/curator Joshua Chuang, Published by Steidl (2019). 21 separately bound stories in an archival box, limited edition of 1000.

Books produced and/or designed and published by Jason Burstein & Christina Labey at Conveyor Studio

You Will Find It Where It Is: a reader by visual artist Sonja Thomsen; produced and designed by Conveyor Studio, hand-bound by the author. 1st Edition published by Poor Farm Press, ed. of 300

A selection from a series of hand-made maquettes by photographer / self-publisher Alejandro Cartagena acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Photograph courtesy MFAH.

Carpoolers #4 by Alejandro Cartagena, published by Los Sumergidos (2021)

Girl Pictures by Justine Kurland, edited by Denise Wolff, published by Aperture (2020)

Publish Your Photography Book will offer three successive learning opportunities for participants to gain broad, practical knowledge and understanding on publishing photobooks.

The three components include Four Core Lectures and Five Applied Study Seminars. Those who enroll in both the Core Lectures and Applied Study Seminars will be eligible to register for Small Group Photobook Reviews commencing Fall of 2023.

CORE LECTURES

with Mary Virginia Swanson
Darius D. Himes will join on April 29 & June 17

4 online sessions

Saturdays April 29, May 13, June 3, June 17 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (US Eastern Daylight Time)

Topics covered include: the role of a photobook in your career, to be published from both creative and business perspectives, preparing submissions, understanding the terms of a publishing contract, understanding the pros and cons of self-publishing, gaining knowledge about the materiality of photobooks, considering limited editions, determining production partners, building a strategic marketing plan, implementing launch plans and exhibitions, to extending the life of your photobook.

All components of this course will be conducted via Zoom including time reserved for Q&A.

Each of these Lectures will be recorded, and participants will have access to view them beginning 48 hours after each session. Recordings and additional materials will be available through Sunday, October 1, 2023.

Core Lecture participants will have access to “Publishing Stories” with Darius D. Himes & Guest Artists

Core lectures can be taken independent of the Applied Study Seminar and Small Group Photobook Reviews.

Course registrants can increase the level of enrollment at any time before access to the recordings concludes to gain access to the full course recordings, and become eligible to register for Small Group Photobook Reviews.

APPLIED STUDY SEMINARS

with Mary Virginia Swanson & Darius D.
Himes joined by Special Guests

5 online sessions

Saturdays May 6, May 20, June 10, June 24, July 1 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (US Eastern Daylight Time)

Participants have the option to enroll in five corresponding Applied Study Seminars to extend their learning from Mary Virginia Swanson & Darius D. Himes and their Special Guests as they guide you to apply knowledge learned in the Core Lecture Series to the development of your photobook. Each week's speakers are experts on the topics discussed in the previous week's Core Lecture.

Applied Study Seminars will be conducted via Zoom including time reserved for Q&A.

Each of these Applied Study Seminars will be recorded, and participants will have access to view them beginning 48 hours after each session. Recordings and additional materials will be available through Sunday, October 1, 2023.

Participants of the Core Lectures and Applied Study Seminars will have access to “Publishing Stories” with Darius D. Himes & Guest Artists.

Participants must be registered for Core Lectures to be eligible to Participate in the Applied Study Seminars and optional Small Group Photobook Reviews.

SMALL GROUP PHOTOBOOK REVIEWS

Mary Virginia Swanson with Darius D. Himes
or other Industry Colleagues (TBD)

Dates and number of sessions to be determined according to demand.

Registration opens Thursday, June 1, 2023, participants will be accepted on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.

Small Group Photobook Reviews will begin in Fall 2023.

Mary Virginia Swanson will lead 20-minute individualized reviews alongside a co-reviewer from a slate of industry colleagues including Darius D. Himes among others. All participants will have the opportunity to observe the reviews of their fellow group members. Maximum 12 participants per session.

These sessions represent intensive opportunities to receive insight and advice from Mary Virginia Swanson, Darius D. Himes and other Industry Colleagues on such topics as content development, editing/sequencing, production materials to consider, funding strategies, marketing, exhibitions, and related topics of rele vance to your book project.

Those who have attended both the Core Lectures and Applied Study Seminars may register to join a special Small Group Photobook Review.

Small Group Photobook Reviews will be conducted online via Zoom. Participants will receive a video recording of their 20-minute session for private replay.

Must be registered for the Core Lectures and Applied Study Seminars to register for the Small Group Photobook Reviews.

 

Left & right: stacks of recent published & unpublished books; center: an unprinted book to visualize true scale/volume of a planned book

SCHEDULE*

TOPIC 1: TO BE PUBLISHED

Core Lecture 1

Date: Saturday, April 29

Mary Virginia Swanson & Darius D. Himes

Darius D. Himes' introduction will set the stage for this nine-week educational journey that we are embarking on together, providing a window into today's photobook community. He will shed light on contemporary publishing trends, the increasing opportunities for self-publishing, the innovative ways photographs are showcased in the book form today, and the growing number of private, public, academic and curatorial collectors of contemporary and classic photobooks that are flocking to the international photobook scene.

Mary Virginia Swanson will present a lecture on Being Published from both the creative and the business perspective. Topics include considerations for content, defining audience, researching potential publishers, preparing submissions, understanding contract terms and moving forward with your publisher's team, and awareness of what tasks you may be responsible for funding and completing.

Applied Study Seminar 1

Date: Saturday, May 6

Mary Virginia Swanson & Darius D. Himes joined by Special Guests

A broad discussion with three separate photobook publishers will introduce the steps that must be undertaken to bring your project to publication with their particular press. They will each share their perspectives on pitching your project, the project development process and being an effective partner to your publisher.

Special Guests include representatives of small, one-person press, a mid-sized, not-for-profit photography and art book publisher, and a global art and culture press.

 

Special Guests:

 
 

TIFFANY JONES (See bio here)

Founder and Publisher, Overlapse (Est. 2015).

 
 

DAVID CHICKEY (See bio here)

Co-Founder, Creative Director and Designer, Radius Books (est. 2007).

 
 

ALAN RAPP (See bio here)

Editorial Director, Monacelli Press (est. 1994), since 2020 an imprint of Phaidon (est. 1893).

TOPIC 2: TO SELF-PUBLISH

Core Lecture 2

Date: Saturday, May 13

Mary Virginia Swanson

The possibilities and realities of self-publishing: what you should know about everything from building your team of collaborators to help with editing/sequence of text and images, design, and choosing the most suitable paper-printing-binding for your content. Production details and planning for marketing efforts and anticipating expenses, including seeking grants and sponsorship.

Applied Study Seminar 2

Date: Saturday, May 20

Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius D. Himes joined by Special Guests.

Discussions include clarification of your work and its audience, advice on how to best navigate options towards presenting your project in the book form, addressing materiality of books, identifying and confirming collaborators and creating your production schedule.

 

Special Guests:

 

PHILIP ZIMMERMANN (See bio here)

Book artist/Publisher, Spaceheater Editions.

Philip Zimmermann will introduce us to a range of printing processes available today by sharing production decisions he made when producing his own self-published books. He will discuss the following seven printing processes sharing his titles with us: Offset (printed in 3 different countries), Inkjet, Digital Print-on-Demand, HP Indigo (custom), Color Lasertoner, and Newsprint (High-Speed Inkjet). Titles range from hand printed and hand-bound books in edition of 30 to books designed for output via POD (MagCloud, open editions) to 4-color offset board book with a run of 1000 copies.

 

COLLEEN MULLINS (See bio here)

Book artist, photographer and co-founder of the San Francisco-based Rolls and Tubes Collective

Colleen Mullins will share her experiences surrounding publication of their first book, A History of Photography (2021). Mullins will address critical questions to ask yourself, prospective designers and printers before you begin the publication process as well creating a precise budget for your project, working with production collaborators, and recap wise lessons learned that the Collective members will each take forward into future publication projects.

 

BOB AUFULDISH (See bio here)

Partner, Aufuldish & Warinner

Colleen Mullins will be joined by the graphic designer Bob Aufuldish who was selected by the Collective to design the standard edition of A History of Photography.  Separately and together they will discuss the role of a designer on a self-published project, how to determine if a designer is a good match for you and your project and how to work together towards a successful book.

No class on Saturday, May 27 due to the holiday weekend in the US

TOPIC 3: MAKING YOUR BOOK

Core Lecture 3

Date: Saturday, June 3

Mary Virginia Swanson

With your publishing team or self-publishing collaborators and contributors in place, the process of editing content and designing your book begins. Selecting and testing materials is critical, as well as gaining insights and expertise on key production decisions. Assessing whether you have established a strong enough market for your work to warrant producing limited editions or other special versions of your title for collectors and collections should be addressed. During this same time, a focus on the launch of your title is also wise. Be mindful of press deadlines and other marketing opportunities.

Applied Study Seminar 3

Date: Saturday, June 10

Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius D. Himes joined by Special Guests.

Discussions include clarification of your work and its audience, advice on how to best navigate options towards presenting your project in the book form, addressing materiality of books, identifying and confirming collaborators and creating your production schedule.

 

Special Guests:

 

JOSHUA CHUANG (See bio here)

Independent Curator, Editor and Bookmaker

Joshua Chuang will share his sage experience guiding artists through production decisions when developing traditional monographic and archive driven projects for Steidl, Aperture and other publishers, some of which have accompanying exhibitions. Among the artists with whom he has recently developed projects are Robert Adams, Judith Joy Ross, Santu Mofokeng, and Taryn Simon, among others.

 

JASON BURSTEIN (See bio here) and CHRISTINA LABEY (See bio here)

Co-Founders & Directors, Conveyor Studio (est. 2010)

Conveyor Studio brings together the talents of designer Christina Labey and printer Jason Burstein to work closely with photographers to extend creative possibilities when bringing their projects to the printed page. They will shed light on the process of collaborating with a production house on your self-publishing project, from editorial and creative decisions through production experience.

TOPIC 4: MARKETING AND SELLING YOUR BOOK

Core Lecture 4

Date: Saturday, June 17

Mary Virginia Swanson

As you prepare for the launch of your book, Mary Virginia Swanson will present a lecture on the elements of a strategic marketing plan that will help you consider all the tangible benefits for this book project. Focusing on the subject of your work will guide your research on additional audiences and avenues for your book, including lecture and exhibition venues, and securing collections for your limited editions and other collectible elements.

Darius D. Himes will join us for the concluding Q&A and closing remarks.

Applied Study Seminar 4

Date: Saturday, June 24

Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius D. Himes joined by Special Guests.

Discussions will address promoting your book, from researching potential public and online engagements and mastering an in-house newsletter along with an impactful social media presence.  We will also discuss methodologies on researching public, academic and curatorial institutions for potentially acquiring your artist-produced maquettes and/or limited editions of your final book works. 

 

Special Guests:

 

SONJA THOMSEN (See bio here)

Visual Artist and Bookmaker

Sonja Thomsen’s diverse print, installation, and book arts practice is rich with engagement with her audience. Thomsen brings her work to the public at large through online and public lectures, interviews, features in print and online publications as well as utilizing her quarterly newsletter to speak directly to those who subscribe. Thomsen will be sharing practical advice gained as she promoted her recent book work You Will Find It Where It is: A Reader as well as her successful path to placing her book in academic special collections and curatorial libraries, including the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University, the Walker Art Center Library and the Joan Flasch Artist’s Book Collection, Flaxman Library at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago among many others.

 

JON EVANS (See bio here)

Chief of Libraries and Archivist for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Jon Evans will introduce participants to the practice of library acquisitions of limited edition and unique photographic artists’ books, including artist-made maquettes (‘book dummies’). He will share the purpose of museum in-house libraries and archives for the benefit of the curatorial departments, considerations when forming strategic acquisition policies to enhance overall collection holdings, as well as sharing the importance of providing access to researchers and the general public.

 

ALEJANDRO CARTAGENA (See bio here)

Photographer, editor, bookmaker and publisher

Evans will be joined by photographer/bookmaker Alejandro Cartagena who produces maquettes as part of his creative practice. Cartagena will share his experience placing his individual books and collections of signed, First Editions in private, public and curatorial collections, and together they will discuss the MFAH’s Hirsch Library’s recent acquisition of his maquette production to date, offering participants rare public dialogue between collector and artist.

FINAL STUDY SEMINAR

Date: Saturday, July 1

With Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius D. Himes joined by Special Guest Denise Wolff.

A conversation on the production of your first book with Denise Wolff, Senior Editor, Book Program, Aperture.

 

Special Guests:

DENISE WOLFF

Senior Editor, Book Program, Aperture.

 

Denise Wolff will reflect on Aperture’s 70+ year history of publishing extraordinary photobooks, and share her thoughts on photobook publishing today. She will lend her advice on best practices when beginning your path to publication and reflect on challenges common to first-time photobook makers. Participants will be able to ask questions of Ms. Wolff in the early portion of our final Q & A session.

Following a break, the closing Q&A session will continue with Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius D. Himes; they will also discuss the Small Group Photobook Review component of this course that will commence in the fall. The Applied Study Seminars conclude with this presentation.

 

* This schedule is subject to change at any time. If a guest presenter must cancel unexpectedly, we will confirm participation of another industry expert with a similar level of expertise to join us. Mary Virginia Swanson and Darius D. Himes have the right to update, alter, and/or include topics that may benet participants based on recent research or relevant industry changes.

This new online course has been developed in anticipation of the 3rd Edition of Publish Your Photography Book (Radius Books, Spring 2023). Readers will have the opportunity to learn from the co-authors alongside a roster of talented publishers, artists, bookmakers, editors, designers, production managers and curators who openly share their experiences and provide advice about each task along the path to publication and placement.

All course participants will receive a discount code to apply when purchasing the book from www.radiusbooks.org

 

Commercially published and self-published books from the past 10 years

Publishing Stories

Darius D. Himes sits down for a series of one-on-one conversations with contemporary photographers and editors about their experiences gained through publishing their projects, and their best advice to those about to start the journey of bringing their work to the book form.

These pre-recorded conversations will be released via the Course Homepage throughout the duration of the Educational Series and available through October 1, 2023.

 

While we don’t have a specific deadline to sign up for this Educational Series, we strongly recommend signing up by April 21, to allow time to receive additional information from us to help aid you in preparation for these online sessions.

Please read our Terms, Conditions and Cancellation Policies here. If you have any questions about this Educational Series, please reach out to: selma@laluzworkshops.com

We are offering five full Scholarships for this class. To learn more details, please click here.