Create Powerful Photo Essays & Personal Projects

The most powerful way to establish your voice and distinguish yourself as a photographer is to conceptualize and shoot a photo essay. Photo essays are compelling, dynamic, vivid mission statements of your work — every photographer should have a working knowledge of this narrative art form. Join David Wells to learn how to create a captivating photo essay from start to finish.

This course shatters the myth that photo essays are only for photojournalists; you’ll learn how all photographers can use photo essays to tell the story of any subject, in any style. You’ll learn how to present your unique point of view and communicate a coherent aesthetic through a compelling photographic essay. You’ll build strategies for tackling the complex task of assembling, editing and presenting a large photo project that speaks to its viewers. You’ll also learn about the techniques that are essential for keeping yourself inspired and organized while maintaining an effective workflow.

By the end of this course, you’ll have the skills it takes to stand out in a crowded marketplace and create a compelling project that showcases your skills, communicates your style, and helps others understand your personality, passion, and talents.

Lessons

Class Introduction
Pivotal Essays
Redefining the Client and Other Pivotal Projects
Career Path Part 1
Career Path Part 2
Defining Your Skillset
Seeding the Project
Mirrors and Windows
Creativity Quotes and Ideas
The Evolution of Foreclosed Dreams Part 1
The Evolution of Foreclosed Dreams Part 2
How to Write a Project Proposal
Color vs Black and White Formats
Linear vs Portfolio and Choke Points
Student Proposals
Analyzing Photographs
Experiment to Define Format
Editing Exercise
Grants and Funding Part 1
Grants and Funding Part 2
Mechanics of Developing Your Project Part 1
Mechanics of Developing Your Project Part 2
Elevator Pitch
Executing Your Project
Gear
Shooting Approach
Shooting Q&A
Instant Editing and Time Use
Editing Exercise with Students
Workflow Part 1
Workflow Part 2
Organization and Model Releases
Reinvention as a Career Path
Online Resources and Closing Thoughts
Final Q&A and Feedback

Reviews

First off, I was a photo assistant for a few years to a photographer who did numerous multi-day workshops. This was my first time as a student sitting in on a webinar that actually kept me interested. Sometimes I'm turned off by the pace of the teacher, his or her voice, or the manner in which they disseminate the information. But this was truly fantastic. David showed lots of his work in a way that was NOT egotistical in any sense (something that does happen quite often). I was utterly impressed by the quality of his work, the wealth of knowledge he has on the world, culture and politics, and how he shoots "on the go". All of those qualities are essential parts to creating a great photo essay/story. I came into this seminar needing inspiration and in the end I have more ideas than I know what to do with. David's work is truly magnificent; his photo stories pertain to people and their struggles, which really could be something any one of us could go through at any point, but he shows it in a way that is beautiful - either beautifully desperate or beautifully destructive - instead of in an exploitative way. On a side note, he also offered up a lot of great information having to do with funding, exposure, workflow, time efficiency, income streams, releases... you won't find this a lot with other photographers. You will find the "go find the info yourself" attitude. This has been my problem as of late with photography - we don't work together as artists, we work against each other competing for what, I'm not sure. David's seminar seemed to embrace photography as the art form it is, and shared with us the tools that we as artists need to really understand and utilize in order to get our story out there. A story it seems he really wants to see/hear. Just an amazing "Thank You"!!!!
Just completed the course. Fantastic, practical information on everything from grant writing, finding foundations, proposal development, even how to shake hands overseas. I am not sure where else I would have found this information for photographers. So appreciate it. One friend asked if this would be worth watching for anyone outside the US and the answer is a definitive yes. Very happy I purchased, and already starting to implement.
I haven't yet completed the course, but wow! This is one of the most applicable photography workshops I have seen or attended. David gets into specific detail on how to not only construct an essay, but how to use it to set yourself apart from everyone else, and how to use it to get third party validation. The course approach applies to all types of photography and all types of clients. I wanted to attend this workshop in person, but wasn't able to. Now I'm almost glad I didn't attend, because now I have it on Creative Live and can reference the material anytime I want. Kerry