2025 Workshops & Symposium

Click titles for info & registration

 

 

February 26 - March 2 - Tucson, AZ
Photographic Works
Handmade Artist’s Book:
From Concept to Bound Mock-up

For intermediate and advanced bookmakers
5-day hands-on workshop

SOLD OUT - Waiting List available

 

 

April 26, 27 & May 3, 4 - NYC
International Center for Photography (ICP)
The Art of Photographic Bookmaking

EXCLUSIVE to ICP Creative Practices Students
4-day hands-on workshop

 
 

 

Upcoming Online Symposium:
The Art of Photographic Bookmaking

Spring 2025 | Join Us Online

 
 

About the Symposium:
"The Art of Photographic Bookmaking”
In this four-day online symposium, led by Susan kae Grant with Mary Virginia Swanson, joined by eight special guests we explore the many options available to artists when considering the book form, including small press, fine art press, self-published, and handmade artists’ books.

DATES:
Saturdays - May 10, May 17, May 31 & June 7

Time & Location:
11 AM – 6:00 PM (EST) Online

Five Scholarships Available:
https://www.laluzworkshops.com/online-workshop-scholarships

 
 

Early Bird Discount $75.00:
We are excited to offer an early bird discount for registrations completed by January 3, 2025
Use code: EARLYY75 at checkout

Details, Information & Registration
:
https://www.laluzworkshops.com/the-art-of-photographic-bookmaking

 

 

September 6, 13, 20 & 27 + Follow-up Session: 10/25
Four-day Online workshop - La Luz Workshops
Inspired Design:
Fabricating The Handmade Photographic Artists’ Book


Those who have attended the spring Symposium may apply to this workshop which is limited to 12 participants.
More details coming soon.

 
 

 

October 6 - 10, 2025 - Rockport, ME
Media Media Workshops
Constructing the Visual Narrative:
The Handmade Photographic Artist’s Book

5-day hands-on workshop

Info & Registration coming soon!

 

 

November 6 - 9 - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP)
The Photo Book as Art with Susan kae Grant
Evening lecture + 3-day hands-on workshop

 
 

 

2024 Workshops (Past)


 
 

April 27, 28 & May 4, 5, 2024 - NYC
International Center for Photography (ICP)
The Art of Photographic Bookmaking
Exclusive to ICP Creative Practices Students
4-day hands-on workshop

 
 

 

May 11, 2024: 11:00 - 1:00 (EST) Zoom
Griffin Museum of Photography
From Our Libraries: Extraordinary & Innovative Photobooks With Mary Virginia Swanson and Susan kae Grant
Zoom Presentation for Photobook Month

 

 

July 15 - 19, 2024 - Santa Fe, NM
Santa Fe Workshops
The Handmade Artist’s Book:
Envisioning Form & Content

5-day hands-on workshop


 

September 23 - 27, 2024 - Rockport, ME
Maine Media Workshops
To Be Published, Self-Publish, and Artists’ Books
5-day lecture/site-visit workshop co-taught with
Mary Virginia Swanson and Susan kae Grant
5-day lecture/site-visit workshop

 

 

September 30 - October 4, 2024 - Rockport, ME
Media Media Workshops
The Handmade Photographic Artist’s Book:
A Synthesis of Form & Content

5-day hands-on workshop

 

 
 

Private Mentoring, Collaborative Teaching, Lectures & Past Workshops

Harlaxton College, UK, photo by Jerrilee Lamar

 

History & Overview
As a lens-based artist, mentor and educator, Susan kae Grant has a long history of educational mentoring and presenting workshops & guest lectures at institutions throughout the United States, UK, Japan and China on her creative practice, book arts, photography and pedagogy.

Grant served as Head of Photography & Book Arts at Texas Woman’s University from 1981-2017, and named Cornaro Professor of Visual Art - Emerita in 2018.

Throughout her academic career she held a number of visiting faculty positions and received numerous teaching awards including the Society of Photographic Education’s Honored Educator Awards, 2014 (National) & 2007 (Regional); Santa Fe Center for Photo Excellence in PhotoTeaching, 2004; and the Freestyle Crystal Apple Award (SPE 2003 & 2005).

 
 

Susan kae Grant currently teaches workshops for the International Center for Photography (ICP); La-Luz Workshops; Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP); Maine Media Workshops; and Santa Fe Workshops.

Each spring since 1993, she presents her 4-day workshop, The Art of Photographic Bookmaking, at the International Center of Photography (NYC) exclusively to the students in the Creative Practices One-Year Certificate Program.

 
 

 

Private Mentoring:

 
 
 

Anna - Santa Fe 2023

Information:
Susan kae Grant inspires and empowers photographers and book artists in their creative practice through in-person & virtual mentoring sessions on topics designed specifically for each individual or group.

Grant’s unique style of mentoring focuses on the creation and implementation of time-based holistic project plans for bringing photography and book ideas into fruition from development to production.

Her mentoring sessions often include discussions of photo works, guided writing prompts for balancing form and content through materiality and image sequence, best practices in book design, creation of and feedback on photobook mock-ups, as well as creative and technical problem-solving, fabrication solutions, resources, and strategies for marketing to collections and publishers.

For information & scheduling:
Contact Susan kae Grant

 
 

 

Collaborative Teaching:

 

Susan kae Grant and Mary Virginia Swanson
Photo by Allison V. Smith

 

Information:
From 2003-2023, following their tenure on the SPE Board of Directors, Susan kae Grant along with Mary Virginia Swanson established and co-taught the workshop Strategizing a Career in Photography to student volunteers and scholarship winners at the SPE National Conferences.

Grant and Swanson were named SPE Honored Educators in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

In 2023 they celebrated their twentieth anniversary in presenting this workshop and continue to provide advice to the next generation of photographers through workshops, consulting and mentoring.

Strategizing a Career in Photography is available to programs of higher education and community groups.

Schedule Lecture or Workshop
Contact Susan kae Grant

 
 

 

2023 Collaborative Workshops (Past)

Mary Virginia Swanson & Susan kae Grant

 
 
 
 
 

Main Media
To Be Published, Self-Publish, and Artists' Books: Choices for Photographic Artists Today
September 25, 2023 - September 29, 2023
This is a lecture/site-visit workshop co-taught with Mary Virginia Swanson and Susan kae Grant in Portland Maine.

 
 

Join Mary Virginia Swanson and Susan kae Grant in this dynamic lecture/site visit workshop, where photographers will explore publishing options and gain insights on book design, editing, marketing, and distribution.

Information: Click Here

 
 
 
 
 
 

The Grace Museum
Making & Marketing Art:
Strategizing & Sustaining a Career in Photography

July 15 @ 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm

 
 

Photo Credit: The Grace Museum

In conjunction with her solo exhibition, Shadowing Grace, join Susan kae Grant and Mary Virgina Swanson for an afternoon on professional development for artists at The Grace Museum.

Discussions will address structures for making work and presenting it in the public arena, print sales, strategies for promotion of your work through print and social media today. Session concludes with a look at promotional materials and Q & A with the presenters.

Information: Click Here

 
 
 
 
 

The Photobook: An Overview of Traditional Publishing, Limited Editions & Artists’ Books with Mary Virginia Swanson & Susan kae Grant
November 19 & December 3, 2022
Sponsored by La Luz Workshops

 
 
 
 

Information: Click Here

 

 

Past Workshops: 2023

 
 
 
 

Santa Fe Workshops
The Handmade Artist’s Book:
Envisioning Form & Content

July 31 - August 4, 2023.
5-day hands-on workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico

 
 
 
 

Join lens-based artist Susan kae Grant in the ambiance of Santa Fe to tap into your memory, personal insight and intuition to design and create a handmade book of your photographs that symbolically balances form and content.

Information: Click Here.

 
 
 
 

The International Center of Photography (NYC)
The Art of Photographic Bookmaking
(Exclusive to ICP Students Only)
April 28 - 29 & May 6 - 7, 2023

 
 

Course Description:
The art of bookmaking can expand the way photographs are viewed and interpreted. This workshop surveys the methods of photographic bookmaking as well as the theoretical concerns that arise from interpreting images in sequence and in various presentations. Demonstrations and discussions address design, content, structure, imaging techniques, materials, and sources needed for production.

Students examine work by contemporary artists who draw inspiration from traditional book forms, but transcend or deviate from such structures. Through hands-on experience, students learn to create a bookwork that balances form with content in a symbolic and provocative way.

 

 

Past Workshops: 2022

 
 
 
 

Los Angeles Center of Photography
The Photo Book As Art With Susan kae Grant
April 2, 3 & 9, 10, 2022 (Online Learning)

 
 

Description Summary:
Blending traditional and contemporary practice, this virtual masterclass introduces participants to the art of handmade photographic artists’ books that are as diverse in style and direction as they are in technique. Through brainstorming techniques and guided writing exercises, we concentrate on memory, experience and imagination to inspire the content, design and execution of personal photo book-works.

Each class day includes lectures, hands-on demonstrations, writing exercises, guided studio time and a one-hour lunch break. Topics focus on the technical execution of three binding styles and an array of techniques to physically incorporate images and text into photobooks. Examples of original works are used to illustrate strategies for design, sequence and materials.

More Information: Contact LACP

Bookmaking Tools & Samples

 
 
 
 

The International Center of Photography (NYC)
The Art of Photographic Bookmaking
(Exclusive to ICP Students Only)
May 14, 15, & 21, 22, 2022

 
 

Course Description:
The art of bookmaking can expand the way photographs are viewed and interpreted. This workshop surveys the methods of photographic bookmaking as well as the theoretical concerns that arise from interpreting images in sequence and in various presentations. Demonstrations and discussions address design, content, structure, imaging techniques, materials, and sources needed for production.

Students examine work by contemporary artists who draw inspiration from traditional book forms, but transcend or deviate from such structures. Through hands-on experience, students learn to create a bookwork that balances form with content in a symbolic and provocative way.

 

 

Past Workshops: 2021

 
 
 
 

Wild Rice Retreat, Bayfield, Wisconsin
Mapping the Unconscious: Zen and the Art of Bookmaking
August 8-12, 2021

 
 

Description Summary:
Knowing the techniques and skills to make a book of your own is one thing—tapping into your creativity and subconscious to create a book is yet another. In this workshop, we concentrate on memory, experience and imagination to inspire the content, design and execution of personal handmade photo book-works.  

 Participants learn through lectures and discussions to develop methodologies for collecting and recording dreams and memories. Classes include guided meditations and written exercises designed to elicit creative insights to strengthen and combine writings and images for their books. 

Wild Rice Retreat: Sally & Christina

 
 
 
 

The International Center of Photography (NYC)
The Art of Photographic Bookmaking
(Exclusive to ICP Students Only)
May 8, 19, & 15, 16, 2021 (on-line)

Course Description:
The art of bookmaking can expand the way photographs are viewed and interpreted. This workshop surveys the methods of photographic bookmaking as well as the theoretical concerns that arise from interpreting images in sequence and in various presentations. Demonstrations and discussions address design, content, structure, imaging techniques, materials, and sources needed for production. Students examine work by contemporary artists who draw inspiration from traditional book forms, but transcend or deviate from such structures. Through hands-on experience, students learn to create a bookwork that balances form with content in a symbolic and provocative way.

 

ICP: Zoom Bookmaking Workshop 2021

 

 

Past Workshops: 2020

 
 

ICP: Zoom Bookmaking Workshop 2020

  • The International Center of Photography
    The Art of Photographic Bookmaking
    (Exclusive to ICP Students Only)
    May 9, 10, & 16, 17, 2020 (on-line)

  • Santa Fe Photographic Workshops
    Myth, Metaphor & Memory: The Constructed Image
    Santa Fe, New Mexico
    July 26-31, 2020 (Postponed due to COVID)

  • 20/20 Photo Festival Philadelphia
    The Photo Book as Art
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    September 26 & 27, 2020 (Postponed due to COVID)

 

 

Past Workshops: 2019

 
 
 

LACP Workshop 2019: Photo by Patty Lemke

  • International Center of Photography (NYC)
    The Art of Photographic Bookmaking
    (
    Exclusive to ICP Students Only)
    New York City, New York
    May 11, 12, & 18, 19, 2019

  • Los Angeles Center of Photography
    The Photo Book as Art With Susan kae Grant
    Los Angeles, California
    November 1-3, 2019

 

 

Previous Workshop Venues

 
 
  • Anchorage Museum of Art

  • Anderson Ranch Arts Center

  • Arizona State University

  • Athenaeum Music & Arts Library

  • Center for Creative Studies

  • Center for Book & Paper Arts

  • Houston Center for Photography

  • International Center For Photography

  • La Luz Workshops

  • Los Angeles Center of Photography

  • The Art Institute of San Antonio

  • The Light Factory

  • Maine Media Workshops

  • Museum of Photographic Arts

  • Oklahoma Arts Institute

  • Ringling College of Art & Design

  • Ryerson University

  • Santa Fe Workshops

  • Southwest School of Art

  • University of Colorado Denver

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne

  • University of New Mexico-Albuquerque

 

Bookbinding Tools & Sample Structures

 

 

Selected Teaching Awards

  • Cornaro Professor, 2016
    (Texas Woman’s University)

  • Honored Educator, 2014
    (National Society for Photographic Education)

  • Mentor of the Year Finalist, 2014
    (Women of Visionary Influence)

  • Honored Educator, 2007
    (South Central Regional SPE)

  • TWU Redbud Award, 2007 (Advisor to P.A.C. Organization)

  • Freestyle Crystal Apple Award
    (SPE 2003 & 2005)

  • Who’s Who in Fine Arts Higher Ed, 2005
    (Academic Keys)

  • Excellence in PhotoTeaching, 2004
    (Santa Fe Center for Photo)

  • Mary Mason Lyon Faculty Award, 1986
    (Texas Woman’s University)

Ringling College of Art & Design, Photo by Noelle McCleaf