Bringing Your Photography Project to Publication:
Masterclass with Mary Virginia Swanson

September 25-27, 2026
Public Lecture: September 25
Workshop: September 26-27 (Limited to 14 participants; registration closes when filled)

Non-Members: $800
Aurora Members, Students**, and Educators: $700 (email for code)

* Registration is first come/first served
* Payment of workshop fee guarantees enrollment
* Must be 18 to enroll
* Participants are responsible for all travel and lodging
* Catered lunch both workshop days at Aurora
* Workshop participants must attend the Public Lecture 

** Scholarship available see below

International: Email info@auroraphoto.org for invoice and payment instructions

Please join Aurora PhotoCenter for a very special masterclass with renowned author and advisor, Mary Virginia Swanson, as she provides an overview of the landscape for publishing photobooks today. Throughout this weekend workshop, she will explain options for artists, review participants' projects, and guide them to publishing scenarios that may be a good fit for their work.

NOTE: While some workshop content, including Friday night’s public lecture, may be applicable to those wishing to publish an exhibition catalog, the majority of this workshop will focus on publishing artist’s projects.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

You will receive a more detailed schedule after registering (see full breakdown for each day, below). This workshop schedule is subject to change at any time.

September 25, 2026, 6pm
Public Lecture: To Be Published, or Self-Publish? An Overview of Options for Artists Today
Location: Herron School of Art Basile Center

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.

September 26, 2026, 10am-5:30pm
Workshop Day One
Location: Aurora PhotoCenter, 1125 East Brookside Avenue, Suite C9
Lunch catered at Aurora 12:30-1:30pm

At the start of Day One of the workshop, Swanson will expand on options for bringing your photographic projects to the book form that were presented in Friday night’s required lecture. She will provide deeper details on publishers and paths to research that are best for you and your work. Photobook publishing grants and book dummy award competitions will be discussed, along with important factors to consider when choosing to self-publish your book. Swanson will conclude the lecture component of Day One with a discussion on the art and commerce of publishing your book. Swanson will provide fundraising and sponsorship options to consider ahead of making production decisions, and review terms likely to be in a formal publishing contract. She will share the pros/cons of marketing your book at its release and beyond, stressing the importance of a strong web and social media presence, as well as the value of public presentations and print exhibitions to extend the life of your book.

We will then turn to physical books gathered in our classroom. Swanson will share examples of innovative books from her personal library of books that were traditionally published, produced by small presses, and self-published. Together we will discuss this wide range of books, which will include zines, newsprint, hand-made artists’ books and self-published books produced in collaboration with production studios. Swanson will highlight examples that demonstrate wise sequencing and employ production materials and binding structures that amplify the project content.

September 27, 2026, 10am-5:30pm
Workshop Day Two
Location: Aurora PhotoCenter, 1125 East Brookside Avenue, Suite C9
Lunch catered at Aurora 12:30-1:30pm

On Day Two each participant will share their projects with the class and engage in a focused dialogue with Swanson, offering individualized suggestions on realistic next steps towards completing your projects and the potential of future publication. Ample time will be allocated for participant’s questions and to revisit the library of photobook examples assembled for reference as case studies. This summary discussion will aid you in making key decisions when bringing your work to publication. Participants will leave the weekend events with a strong sense of the audience likely to respond positively to their work, an increased understanding of the elements that contribute to making a book that amplifies their project, and an informed overview on the process of publishing and self-publishing.

Eligibility & What To Bring

All artists who wish to publish a book of their work can benefit from this workshop, whether their project is underway, nearing completion, or completed. We welcome projects that you have just begun and are excited about, or consider finished.

Participants should bring either work prints (no larger than 8 x 10) and/or a pdf for digital projection of at least 20 images that they plan to include in their publication. Prints are preferred. If bringing prints, please consider that we will be handling them during the workshop, so work prints are best.

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.

WORKSHOP SCHOLARSHIP

We offer one tuition-free scholarship for a young photographer, 18-30, which will be selected by Mary Virginia Swanson and Aurora Founding Director Mary Goodwin.

Applications close: July 1, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: By July 31, 2026

To apply, please email the following to Mary Goodwin at info@auroraphoto.org with the subject line Aurora Scholarship 2026:

* 10 jpgs (2000 pixels on the longest side; 72 dpi) of work that you’re passionate about and wish to publish

* A short statement of no more than 150 words about why you’d like to take this workshop

* A short bio, including your age, where you’re from, your university (if applicable), and your relationship to photography (no more than 100 words)

* Two references: Names and emails of two people familiar with your photography, including photography educators, newspaper or magazine editors, curators, book publishers, and fellow photographers