Matt Moyer and Amy Toensing are National Geographic photographers and passionate educators… who also happen to be spouses. Over four hours, they share captivating stories from their long and varied careers, candidly discussing the nuances of their photographic strategies, both technical and interpersonal.
They begin by recounting how they were drawn to photography, charting their parallel lives that began at small newspapers and eventually led to The New York Times. As they open-up about their personal processes and how they acquired their skills, they detail ways to approach long-term, in-depth projects and give advice for those just starting out.
In addition to illuminating aspects of craft (composition, light, mood, and color), the couple offers practical insights into the art of photographing people, from accessing subjects to developing rapport. They also share their own stories of rejection, doubt, and perseverance—even delving into the dark depths of imposter syndrome, artistic questioning, and rejection.
Each two-hour session ends with a Q&A, and throughout our time together, Amy and Matt emphasize journalistic ethics and the importance of honoring their subjects. Discover how these two accomplished photographers ended up working with National Geographic and found light, love, and family along the way.
Open to anyone interested in this special program.
The webinar will meet 5:00 – 7:00 pm (Mountain Time) on Tuesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 16 (two online group sessions).
Zoom Video Conferencing software (available for no charge from Zoom.com) will be used to facilitate the sessions. Further details will be emailed to registrants.
Santa Fe Workshops always aims to produce a high-quality experience for our online attendees. That said, variables including regional and local internet provider speeds, traffic on Zoom's servers, and your own computing hardware can contribute to a less than ideal streaming event. While we do our best to minimize the impact of these variables, they are outside the control of Santa Fe Workshops.
View Withdrawal and Transfer Policies for online programs.
For the convenience of participants, recordings of each class session are posted privately for one month after the end of each session. Santa Fe Workshops takes the recordings down after one month to protect the intellectual property of our instructors.
Amy Toensing is a photojournalist and filmmaker known for her intimate stories about ordinary people. She has photographed cultures worldwide for National Geographic, and one of her images was chosen among the magazine’s all-time 50 best photos. Amy’s award-winning work has been exhibited internationally and published in Smithsonian, The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time Magazine, and National Geographic Traveler. Amy is National Geographic Explorer and grantee, as well as a FUJIFILM Creator; her work is currently included in National Geographic’s group exhibit Women of Vision. She teaches photography to children and young adults in underserved communities all over the world.
Website: amytoensing.com
Instagram: @amytoensing
Matt Moyer is a photojournalist and filmmaker who focuses on social and cultural issues. He has photographed multiple feature stories for National Geographic magazine and is currently a National Geographic Explorer. Matt covered the Iraq War for The New York Times and has worked on assignment for The Washington Post, The Independent, The Guardian, and National Geographic Traveler. His short documentaries have been featured by the National Geographic Society, Vision Workshops, and PBS NewsHour online. A dedicated educator, he spends time every year teaching photography to young adults and children in underserved communities through the National Geographic Photo Camps.
Website: mattmoyer.com
Instagram: @mattmoyerphoto
