The Art of Zine Making

A folded stack of paper, passed hand to hand, intimate and immediate, the zine begins as a simple object and becomes a powerful container for ideas. In this new online workshop, photographer, book artist, writer, and educator Jake Benzinger guides lens-based artists through the process of sequencing, designing, and conceptualizing fine-art zines.

Rooted in a rich history of alternative making and self-distribution, zines offer artists a direct way to circulate work outside traditional institutions. Today, alongside the photo book, they continue to evolve as contemporary artists expand the possibilities of format, structure, and voice.

Over four sessions, you develop your own zine from concept to digital draft. Jake shares examples from contemporary practitioners and leads conversations around structure, pacing, and intention, while facilitating thoughtful group review. Through sequencing exercises, you explore strategies for organizing images using narrative, rhythm, and visual intuition. You examine how meaning shifts through placement and juxtaposition, and how design choices reinforce or challenge your ideas.

You also gain hands-on experience designing your project in Adobe InDesign. Jake walks you through workflow considerations, file preparation, printing options, and accessible strategies for distribution. By clarifying the production process, the workshop makes independent publishing feel practical and within reach.

Each session blends lecture, discussion, exercises, and image review, creating a supportive environment to experiment, refine your ideas, and think critically about the fine-art zine within contemporary practice. By the end of the workshop, you leave with a completed zine, a stronger understanding of sequencing and design, and the tools to continue producing and sharing your work on your own terms.