For many photographers, seeing their work in book form is the ultimate goal. But how do you move from a collection of images to a publication that is thoughtfully edited, sequenced, designed, titled, and capable of expressing years of sustained inquiry?

Making photographs is often easier than understanding what they mean when viewed together. This course explores the photobook as a critical tool for editing, interpretation, and meaning-making. Through discussions, critiques, and hands-on exercises, students will develop strategies for evaluating bodies of work, refining point of view, exploring text-image relationships, and designing a coherent visual narrative. Beginning with work prints on the wall, floor, or table, students will work toward creating an InDesign prototype that could eventually be self-published or presented to publishers.

Because documentary photography encompasses a wide range of approaches—from traditional reportage to personal, subjective, and conceptual practices—students will engage with an expansive selection of photobooks to better understand the field and contextualize their own work. Whether you identify as a documentary photographer or simply want to explore the book as a vehicle for organizing and clarifying your ideas, this course is open to all students interested in developing a deeper understanding of their work through the photobook form.