Previous Events
Before You (Photo)Book: Practical Perspectives on the Publishing Journey
June 24th, 2026
Webinar hosted by The Griffin Museum of Photography
In this online presentation, Mary Virginia Swanson demystified photobook publishing, offering insights into critical steps that will shape your publishing journey. Being mindful of key decisions and your responsibilities will guide you toward creating a meaningful photobook you can be proud to share with your audience and beyond.
Online Marketing Course: 4 Fundamentals for Photographers
May 5th - June 2nd, 2026
Webinar hosted by Maine Media
In this professional development workshop, Mary Virginia Swanson taught the fundamentals of presenting photographic work, and students learned about photography markets, audience targeting, professional presentation, and business practices through lecture-based sessions.
Photobook Panel at 2026 Society for Photographic Education (SPE) Annual Conference
March 20th, 2026
In-person panel in Atlanta, GA
MVS participated in a Photobook Panel titled "After the Glut - Photobook Publishing in the Age of Plenty" at the 2026 Society for Photographic Education (SPE) in Atlanta, GA.
FotoFest's "The Meeting Place" Portfolio Review
March 11th - 17th, 2026
In-person reviews in Houston, TX
MVS participated as a Portfolio Reviewer at FotoFest's "The Meeting Place" in Houston, TX.
Webinar: Funding the Publication of your Photobook
February 21st, 2026
Webinar hosted by LACPhoto
In this session, Mary Virginia Swanson shared practical strategies for sponsorship, insights on photobook competitions, and honest advice on crowdfunding, empowering artists at any stage of their project. Participants learned what it really takes to fund and publish a photobook, from production costs to distribution realities.
CODEX Foundation Book Art Fair
February 7th - 10th, 2026
In-person fair in Oakland, CA
MVS attended the CODEX Foundation Book Art Fair in Oakland, CA. From their site:
“The International Biennial CODEX Book Art Fair & Symposium focuses on serving practitioners, scholars, curators, collectors, students, and all those who are curious newcomers or avid enthusiasts of the art of the book. We bring together the international community to exhibit the work and to educate the public about the rich traditions and contemporary practices surrounding artists’ books and fine press publications — where craft and concept unite into exemplary works of art.”
November 14th - 16th, 2025
In-person Masterclass hosted by PCNW in Seattle, WA
Masterclass with Mary Virginia Swanson at Photographic Center Northwest
Mary Virginia Swanson provided an overview of the landscape for publishing photobooks today. Throughout this weekend workshop, she explained options for artists, reviewed participants' projects, and guided them to publishing scenarios that may be a good fit for their work.
Photographic Center Northwest’s 27th Juried Exhibition "Visual Narratives"
September 7th, 2025
Online submission for juried exhibition hosted by PCNW
MVS served as the juror for PCNW’s 27th Juried Exhibition, “Visual Narratives". The deadline to submit was September 7, 2025. While the theme was “open”, she looked for image sequences that provided intriguing visual narratives and offered a window that reflected larger bodies of work. Accepted images were installed in the order submitted, providing viewers with a study in edit and sequence. This was a blind jury process.
Webinar with MVS for The Griffin Museum of Photography
July 12th, 2025
In-person and online webinar hosted by The Griffin Museum of Photography in Boston, MA
This offering was titled “Photobook Focus | The Role of a Photobook in your Career with Mary Virginia Swanson, " and took an in-depth look at moving artists’ photobook ideas forward. We zoomed in from the Griffin Museum. If you were in the Boston area, you could attend in person and see the two photobook shows that opened the night before!
MVS Workshop at Anderson Ranch Arts Center
June 30th - July 4th, 2025
In-person workshop at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Aspen, CO
Mary Virginia Swanson taught a rare, in-person workshop on bringing your long-term project to publication in book form at Anderson Ranch Arts Center the week of June 30, 2025, in Aspen, Colorado.
Presentation at the ASMP/NANPA Summit
May 13th, 2025
In-person lecture in Tucson, AZ
MVS presented her lecture titled “The Role of a Photobook in Your Career” during “Develop Your Business” at the ASMP / NANPA SUMMIT Pre-Conference Programming held at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona.
"The Art of Photographic Bookmaking" Symposium
May 10th - June 7th 2025
Online symposium hosted by La Luz Workshops
In this four-day online symposium hosted by La Luz Workshops, Susan kae Grant and Mary Virginia Swanson explored the many options available to artists when considering the book form, including small press, fine art press, self-published, and handmade artists’ books.
Eight distinguished international Special Guests joined them to share their collective knowledge of photobooks and the many layers of considerations involved in bringing a book to completion and on to its audience. Book artists, designers, publishers, and collectors shared their studio practices, insights into production and marketing, and the role the visual book plays in educational initiatives and collecting strategies of libraries.
April 5th, 2025
In-person lecture hosted by COMO Art Space in Phoenix, AZ
MVS Lecture at COMO Art Space
MVS presented her lecture titled “Publish Your Photography Book” at COMO Art Space in Phoenix, Arizona.
Webinar for the Los Angeles Center for Photography
March 22nd, 2025
Webinar hosted by LACPhoto
In this informative and richly illustrated presentation titled “To Be Published, or Self-Publish? Options & Considerations for Artists Today”, Mary Virginia Swanson demystified the process of making a photobook from the perspectives of traditional trade, small press, and self-publishing paths, helping participants determine the pros/cons of each.
Mary Virginia Swanson attended the 2025 Annual Conference of the Society for Photographic Education (SPE) from March 6th to 8th in Reno, Nevada.
March 6th - 8th, 2025
In-person conference in Reno, NV
MVS at 2025 Society for Photographic Education (SPE) Annual Conference
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Photobook Panel at 2026 Society for Photographic Education (SPE) Annual Conference
March 20th, 2026
In-person panel in Atlanta, GA
MVS participated in a Photobook Panel titled "After the Glut - Photobook Publishing in the Age of Plenty" at the 2026 Society for Photographic Education (SPE) in Atlanta, GA