In conjunction with the weekend workshop, Bringing Your Photography Project to Publication: Masterclass with Mary Virginia Swanson, this lecture is free and open to the public.
The journey to bring your completed project to the book form can take many paths. Join us for a richly illustrated “big picture” presentation, in which Mary Virginia Swanson will demystify the path to secure a publisher vs. choosing to self-publish a book of your photographs or other artwork. She will lend practical advice on determining which scenario would be the best path to publishing your work.
Swanson will outline the different types of publishers that are interested in photography and visual art books, and how to present your project to industry professionals. Similarly, the path to self-publishing will be examined, from building a team to aid with creative decisions to marketing and distribution of your book. Throughout her presentation, we will see an array of contemporary photography books and understand why these artists, who succeed in amplifying the content of their book through their wise publishing decisions, have created books that have made a difference in their careers.
Whether you dream of one day having a book of your artwork or your body of work is nearing completion and your sites are set on publication of the work, this lecture will be useful to you.
This lecture is required of all workshop participants, since Swanson will cover material that is essential for the rest of the workshop. The lecture is also open to the public, so please invite family and friends. It will be followed by a Q&A, so bring your questions.
Mary Virginia Swanson is an author, educator, and advisor who has spent her career helping lens-based artists find the strengths in their work, identify audiences, and present their work in a timely, professional manner.
Swanson is the co-author with Darius D. Himes of Publish Your Photography Book. First released in 2011 and now in its updated 3rd edition, (Radius Books, 2023, Korean language 2024 from Datz Press) this acclaimed resource has helped countless photographers bring their projects to publication. The dedicated website for the book offers extensive free & downloadable resources to help photographers on their publishing or self-publishing journey, including a 32-page workbook: www.publishyourphotographybook.com.
Swanson is an active member of the contemporary photobook community, having recently engaged with bookmaking and publishing communities in India, Korea, and Japan. She frequently serves as a portfolio reviewer and Juror for contemporary photography and photobook competitions and teaches workshops to help artists prepare for publication of their projects.