In-depth course on documentary photography

Develop a documentary photo essay around a subject that matters to you.

Over the course of five months and eight sessions, this course will guide you through the process of creating a documentary photographic essay. It combines theoretical context, from ethical considerations to editorial thinking, with practical tools for building visual stories that unfold over the medium or long term.

You’ll work through the key stages of documentary photography: research, observation, documentation, planning your shoots, and editing your material. During the group sessions, Ioana will provide guidance and feedback as you choose and refine your topic, deepen your research, and shape the structure of your final work.

By the end of the course, each participant will present a photographic essay on a self-chosen subject, accompanied by an 800–1,000 word text, in a presentation delivered to a small audience.

In short: you’ll leave the course with a strong photographic essay and a clear process for continuing to develop your own long-term visual stories.

What you’ll learn/do

• how to research, plan, and produce a long-term photographic essay;

  how to recognize the visual and narrative potential in real-life situations and ideas;

• how to develop documentary photography project proposals and carry them through research and production;

• how to create coherent documentary photography series and essays;

• how to edit and structure extended photographic projects;

• how to write clear and compelling descriptions of your photographic work;

• how to professionally present your projects to editors or potential collaborators;

Course structure and schedule

• Two introductory in-person theoretical sessions – at our location

  • Wednesday, May 6 — 18:00–20:00

  • Monday, May 11 — 18:00–21:00

  
  

• One online session to discuss your chosen topic and approach

  • Monday, May 18 — 18:00–21:00

• Two intermediate feedback sessions (45 min/participant), focused on reviewing progress and defining next steps

  
  

  • Feedback session 1 – image review and project direction – online

– Tuesday, June 2 — 18:00–21:00 (Group 1)

– Wednesday, June 3 — 18:00–21:00 (Group 2)

– Thursday, June 4 — 18:00–20:00 (Group 3)

• Feedback session 2 – image review and early selection process – at our location

  – Friday, September 4 — 18:00–21:00 (Group 1)

  – Saturday, September 5 — 11:00–16:00 (Group 2)

  
  

• One online session on writing the accompanying essay text

  • Monday, September 14 — 18:00–21:00

  
  

• One editing and sequencing session to shape the final form of the photo essay (1 hour/participant) – at our location

  • Monday, September 21 — 18:00–21:00 (Group 1)

  • Tuesday, September 22 — 18:00–21:00 (Group 2)

  • Wednesday, September 23 — 17:00–21:00 (Group 3)

• Final editing and text review session – at our location

  • Saturday, October 3 — 11:00–16:00

  
  

• Final presentation; participants will present their completed projects to a small audience – at our location

  • Friday, October 16 — 18:00–21:00

*The schedule may be subject to change.

Course details

This course is designed for people interested in documentary photography who want to develop a coherent photo essay and better understand the editorial and narrative processes behind this kind of work. The course does not include guided photo outings, so participants are expected to photograph independently between sessions. Editing sessions (image selection, sequencing, etc.) take place one-on-one, with Ioana allocating approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour per participant. You can choose your preferred day from the available options. You’re also encouraged to attend your classmates’ sessions.

Participants must have a camera with interchangeable lenses.

The course is limited to 10 participants.

About the lecturer (short bio):

Ioana Moldovan is a freelance photojournalist, documentary photographer, writer, and published author. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Bloomberg, Der Spiegel, GEO Magazin, Libération, de Volkskrant, De Standard, Trouw, Society Magazine, NPR, ESPN, Al Jazeera English, Huffington Post, Deutsche Welle, LensCulture, Radio France Internationale, and Vice, among others. Ioana’s photographs have won awards, illustrated books, been featured in theater performances, and in numerous national and international exhibitions.