From Lens to Page: Navigating Photobook Publishing with Caleb Cain Marcus and Melanie McWhorter

This five-day workshop is for advanced amateurs and experienced photographers who seek to publish a larger print run publication. The course will be part lecture/discussion and online participatory workshop primarily for those who want to work with a publisher or self-publish a title for a wider audience. Each student is highly encouraged to participate and provide feedback, commentary, and suggestions for fellow student’s projects.

Publishing a photobook is a multi-step process that is in constant flux as technologies, the role of publishers, and the definition of an exceptional photobook change.

The workshop will provide information on:

• -The contemporary photobook publishing culture
• -Comparing differences between self, indie and large publishers
• -Pitching your work including materials for approaching and working with publishers
• -Examining alternatives for the book format
• -Viewing some great examples of contemporary photobooks and limited editions
• -Creating on your photobook publishing team
• -Budgeting and exploring financial considerations for book publishing
• -Cleverly editing and sequencing images and words to tell your story in book form
• -Designing to increase the impact and success of a photobook

Students will be asked to present 30-50 images that they want to be in the book along with an introductory statement and bio. Students must be able to share these images over Zoom. We will revisit the images again by the end of the class to apply knowledge gained and receive more feedback from Caleb, Melanie, and your fellow classmates. Participants will have outside assignments related to their personal project or photobook publishing including applying suggestions about your work along with readings and videos on the topics explored in class.

By the end of the class, students should have a great understanding of the photobook process, a working knowledge the contemporary photobook publishing world, and be able make solid decisions about how to proceed with their own work.

Dates:

Monday, May 13 (co-teach, class intro)

Wednesday, May 15 (Caleb teach)

Monday, May 20 (co-teach – Melanie/Caleb assignment review)

Wednesday, May 22 (Melanie teach)

Wednesday, May 29 (co-teach, Caleb/Melanie assignment review, class final presentation)

Time: 6:30-8:30pm, ET /4:30 to 6:30pm, MT/ 3:30-5:30pm, PT

Price: Member Price – $695 / Non-Member Price – $750.00 (Non-Member price includes a one year membership to the Griffin Museum).

About the Instructors:

Melanie McWhorter
Melanie McWhorter is a Santa-Fe based consultant and bookseller. She managed the internationally recognized photo-eye Bookstore until 2016. Melanie then started her own online bookshop and consulting practice where, among other advice, she speaks with artists about bringing their photobook projects to fruition. She has gained a reputation as a knowledgeable photography professional and has been interviewed and written about photography in numerous print and online publications. https://melaniemcwhorter.com/

Caleb Cain Marcus
Caleb is based in Brooklyn. He is part of Luminosity Lab design studio and Workshop Arts publishing. His work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Getty Museum. https://luminositylab.com