Taking the Next Step: Developing Your Personal & Professional Photography Practice
with Mary Virginia Swanson
July 13 – 17, 2026
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Tuition $2095.00
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Location and Speaker Fee $80.00
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Standard Deposit $400.00
Course Description
Photography is a passion you have devoted a fair amount of time and intention to, and now you are ready to take the important next step to expand your creative practice. You are prepared to move forward and join a broader photographic community. You are interested in knowing how your photographs are seen by others outside of your family and friends, and seeking a bit of recognition and acknowledgement for your hard work. You would like to share your work with a larger audience, maybe get published, have an exhibition in a gallery…who knows, even sell some prints!
If this is you, or parts of where you are right now—Mary Virginia Swanson is the answer to your quest! In a 5-day workshop in Santa Fe, Mary Virginia (AKA Swanee) shares real-world, practical, and timely insights with photographers who are interested in developing a photography practice and building a broader audience for their work.
Mary Virginia begins the workshop by offering an overview of markets for fine photographs today. With that core knowledge in mind, we then focus on applying wise creative and business practices, utilizing strong research skills to identify and target audience(s) and strategize an achievable and effective presence in person, in print, and online.
As photographers, you are introduced to the value of participating in “portfolio review” opportunities (in-person and online). Swanee shares examples of essential promotional tools to utilize, from website options to social media presence to affordable marketing pieces, including print-on-demand booklets to introduce your work to others. Richly-illustrated lectures, critiques of your work, guidance with project development, and support with writing effective statements about your photographs are sprinkled throughout the week. “Mock” industry portfolio reviews and field trips to visit Santa Fe’s rich creative community round out this engaging experience.
You depart Santa Fe with renewed confidence, a customized plan of action, a network of new friends, and endless possibilities.
Additional Information
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Open to photographers who are interested in advancing their career and building their audience base.
What You Should Know:
Participants are to bring samples of their current project for review as well as editing/sequencing exercises (no exhibition quality prints required to be presented during this class).
Activity Level:
To get the most from your workshop experience, participants should be in good physical (mobility, stamina) and mental health. Come prepared for the high elevation of Santa Fe, long days, and seasonal weather including high temperatures. When out and about, you must be able to carry any photographic and personal gear at all times. You are responsible for being open and honest about your physical fitness, and we reserve the right to remove you from the workshop if we find your fitness to be less than that which you have described.
Policies:
View Payment, Refund, Withdrawal, and Transfer Policies for domestic workshops.
Accommodations:
Participants are responsible for making their own housing arrangements in Santa Fe. On-campus accommodations are not currently available.
Meals:
about
Mary Virginia Swanson is an advisor, educator, and author who helps emerging and established photographers find the strengths in their work, identify appreciative audiences, and present their work in an informed, professional manner. Driven by her passion to help artists find their audience and her keen interest in identifying new markets, Mary Virginia is a respected teacher and mentor who has guided countless photographers through the changes in the photography and imaging industries.
Mary Virginia co-authored with Darius Himes the acclaimed Publish Your Photography Book, now in its third edition (Spring 2023, Radius Books).
An active and celebrated contributor to the photographic community, Mary Virginia’s educational seminars and public presentations are highly anticipated due to the range of information and depth of personal insights she shares with her audiences.
Website: mvswanson.com
Instagram: @maryvirginiaswanson and @publishyourphotographybook
