Choosing to attend any of Ms. Swanson’s Online Webinars or multi-session courses allows registrants to attend ‘live’ and ask questions in real time, or to watch the recordings at your convenience during the replay period. Time is allocated at the start of each online session for participants to share where they are based and open their microphones for conversation ahead of class. Other than one-time Webinars, Mary Virginia prepares an optional shared survey for participants to share their contact information, current project theme and subjects, interest in joining a study group, what upcoming industry gatherings they plan to attend, and more. This has proven to build long-term community among participants when studying in the online environment.
Online Classes
MVS during her recent Maine Media online course “4 Fundamentals for Photographers: essential knowledge as you begin to present your work”
This fall, I am offering in-person classes in three cities: Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Denver.
If you’ve not heard me speak in an online setting before, each of those host organizations is hosting an online information session on my classes, open to all, that would give you a glimpse into that experience! Please visit my in-person classes page to view the upcoming online information sessions and register for these offerings.
Available Now!
The “Complete Course Recordings” for the recent online Symposium:
THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHIC BOOKMAKING:
Inspiration, Creation, & Acquisition
Susan kae Grant and Mary Virginia Swanson discussing publications to share in the Symposium.
Photograph © Richard Klein
“The Art of Photographic Bookmaking” was originally presented as a 4-week Symposium, live on Zoom in the Spring of 2025. Led by Susan kae Grant with Mary Virginia Swanson and a stellar roster of Special Guests, “The Complete Course Recordings” provide the opportunity to experience the Symposium’s range of important topics and gain broad, practical knowledge and understanding of the essential considerations related to the photographic book.
Susan kae Grant and Mary Virginia Swanson explore the many options available to artists when considering the book form, including small press, fine art press, self-published, and handmade artists’ books.
Topics include:
- The structure of the visual book
- Integrative book designs
- Methodologies for incorporating images and texts
- Photobook mock-ups (maquettes) and alternative book forms
- Options for fabrication and collaborative studio production
- Best practices for creating powerful marketing materials for promoting books to collectors and collections
Special Guests include:
- Book Artists Maureen Cummins, Cig Harvey, Ann Fessler, and María Verónica San Martin
- Book Designer Caleb Cain Marcus (Luminosity Lab)
- Publishers Gianluca & Gianmarco Gamberini (L’Artiere Edizioni)
- Special Collections Librarian Marieke Van Der Steenhoven (Bowdoin College)
- Specialty Photographer Richard Klein
Participants will be inspired and empowered to envision their own photobook, from concept to design to production, while gaining a deep understanding of the critical relationship between form and content.
Subscribers have access to the full recordings and resources for one year from the date of purchase.
Price: $675 USD
Watch a 9-minute introduction to these recordings with symposium highlights here
Complete Symposium details and access to recordings can be found here