Masterclass with Mary Virginia Swanson: On Bringing Your Photography Project to Publication - Fall 2025

Please join PCNW 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.

During her opening evening lecture (Fri) and continuing into Day One (Sat) of the workshop, Swanson will provide insights into types of publishers and paths to research that are best for you and your work. Photobook Dummy Awards and First Book Awards will be discussed, along with important factors to consider when choosing to self-publish your book. Swanson will display examples of innovative books developed through collaboration with production studios. Together the group will review a wide range of books, emphasizing which examples demonstrate wise sequencing and employ production materials and binding structures that amplify the project content. Swanson will conclude Day One with a discussion on the art and commerce of publishing your book, providing fundraising and sponsorship options to consider ahead of making production decisions, and review terms likely to be in a formal publishing contract.

On Day Two (Sun) 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 potential 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 — which will include zines, newsprint, hand-made artists’ books — each a unique example of either self-publishing or traditionally published titles. This summary discussion will aid you in making key decisions when bringing your work to publication.

Eligibility: Participants should have a body of work that is nearing completion (or completed) that they are considering bringing to publication in print form.

ABOUT MARY VIRGINIA SWANSON
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’s broad experience includes exhibiting, collecting, licensing, marketing, and publishing photographs as well as guiding artists to present their work in the book form. She is an active member of the contemporary photobook community, having engaged with bookmaking and publishing communities in Delhi, India; Seoul, Korea, and Tokyo & Kyoto, Japan in the past year. Previous positions include managing the workshop program for The Friends of Photography and heading Special Projects at Magnum Photos NYC. She later founded Swanstock, a unique agency established to manage licensing rights for fine art photographers.

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) this acclaimed resource has helped countless photographers bring their projects to publication with great satisfaction. 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

Today Swanson frequently serves as a judge on contemporary photography and photo book competitions, portfolio reviewer for industry festivals. She develops and presents learning opportunities through online courses and lectures, in-person group workshops as well as private mentoring. She earned the Honored Educator award from the Society for Photographic Education and the FOCUS Award for Lifetime Achievement in Photography from the Griffin Museum among other industry accolades.

Swanson resides in Tucson, Arizona USA.

Images © Steven G. Smith and Molly Peters