Winning Edits: Crafting Award-Worthy Stories (Dec 6-7)
Dates: December 6 - 7, 2025
Meetings: Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST (2 sessions)
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Cost: $185 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)
Instructor: Michael Robinson Chávez
Skill Level: Intermediate
This intensive workshop is designed for photographers and visual journalists looking to elevate their editing skills and strategically prepare work for prestigious photography contests. Acquire the skills and insight necessary to edit photo stories and single images for maximum impact and resonance as you receive guidance from a photographer who has edited portfolios and stories that have been honored for Photographer of the Year in both Pictures of the Year and the Best of Photojournalism competitions, as well as top honors in the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris and Siena Photo Awards among others.
With a focus on competitions such as World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International (POYi), and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Awards, the class will review the editorial and narrative decision-making process to improve not only your chances at recognition, but your editing and sequencing skills in general. We will also consider the increasing number of for-profit photo contests: Siena Photo Awards, PX3 Paris, The International Photography Awards, Sony World Photo Awards, as well as those associated with the growing number of photography festivals. Students will discuss the ethical considerations and understand the actual potential benefits of these “pay to play” contests.
Objectives:
Evaluate and refine your own work with a juror’s perspective in mind
Understand what distinguishes a strong single image from a compelling story edit
Learn to build a visual narrative arc with strong openers, transitions, and closers
Realize what makes a portfolio or story stand out in the first 30 seconds of judging
Recognize common pitfalls and how to avoid them (under-editing, repetition, weak transitions)
Discuss how to tailor submissions to the ethos and criteria of specific contests
Prerequisites:
While this workshop is open for all, this workshop best serves students who have completed a body of work they deem worthy of entering for the coming contest cycle.
Course Prep:
Students must have Zoom installed on their computers with an active camera and tested microphone. Please prepare a set of photographs or portfolio you are looking to submit to upcoming photography contests.
Dates: December 6 - 7, 2025
Meetings: Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST (2 sessions)
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Cost: $185 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)
Instructor: Michael Robinson Chávez
Skill Level: Intermediate
This intensive workshop is designed for photographers and visual journalists looking to elevate their editing skills and strategically prepare work for prestigious photography contests. Acquire the skills and insight necessary to edit photo stories and single images for maximum impact and resonance as you receive guidance from a photographer who has edited portfolios and stories that have been honored for Photographer of the Year in both Pictures of the Year and the Best of Photojournalism competitions, as well as top honors in the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris and Siena Photo Awards among others.
With a focus on competitions such as World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International (POYi), and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Awards, the class will review the editorial and narrative decision-making process to improve not only your chances at recognition, but your editing and sequencing skills in general. We will also consider the increasing number of for-profit photo contests: Siena Photo Awards, PX3 Paris, The International Photography Awards, Sony World Photo Awards, as well as those associated with the growing number of photography festivals. Students will discuss the ethical considerations and understand the actual potential benefits of these “pay to play” contests.
Objectives:
Evaluate and refine your own work with a juror’s perspective in mind
Understand what distinguishes a strong single image from a compelling story edit
Learn to build a visual narrative arc with strong openers, transitions, and closers
Realize what makes a portfolio or story stand out in the first 30 seconds of judging
Recognize common pitfalls and how to avoid them (under-editing, repetition, weak transitions)
Discuss how to tailor submissions to the ethos and criteria of specific contests
Prerequisites:
While this workshop is open for all, this workshop best serves students who have completed a body of work they deem worthy of entering for the coming contest cycle.
Course Prep:
Students must have Zoom installed on their computers with an active camera and tested microphone. Please prepare a set of photographs or portfolio you are looking to submit to upcoming photography contests.
Dates: December 6 - 7, 2025
Meetings: Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST (2 sessions)
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Cost: $185 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)
Instructor: Michael Robinson Chávez
Skill Level: Intermediate
This intensive workshop is designed for photographers and visual journalists looking to elevate their editing skills and strategically prepare work for prestigious photography contests. Acquire the skills and insight necessary to edit photo stories and single images for maximum impact and resonance as you receive guidance from a photographer who has edited portfolios and stories that have been honored for Photographer of the Year in both Pictures of the Year and the Best of Photojournalism competitions, as well as top honors in the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris and Siena Photo Awards among others.
With a focus on competitions such as World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International (POYi), and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Awards, the class will review the editorial and narrative decision-making process to improve not only your chances at recognition, but your editing and sequencing skills in general. We will also consider the increasing number of for-profit photo contests: Siena Photo Awards, PX3 Paris, The International Photography Awards, Sony World Photo Awards, as well as those associated with the growing number of photography festivals. Students will discuss the ethical considerations and understand the actual potential benefits of these “pay to play” contests.
Objectives:
Evaluate and refine your own work with a juror’s perspective in mind
Understand what distinguishes a strong single image from a compelling story edit
Learn to build a visual narrative arc with strong openers, transitions, and closers
Realize what makes a portfolio or story stand out in the first 30 seconds of judging
Recognize common pitfalls and how to avoid them (under-editing, repetition, weak transitions)
Discuss how to tailor submissions to the ethos and criteria of specific contests
Prerequisites:
While this workshop is open for all, this workshop best serves students who have completed a body of work they deem worthy of entering for the coming contest cycle.
Course Prep:
Students must have Zoom installed on their computers with an active camera and tested microphone. Please prepare a set of photographs or portfolio you are looking to submit to upcoming photography contests.
Images:
Michael Robinson Chávez, Gold miners, Puno (2011), from the series “Mestizo”
Michael Robinson Chávez, Hamas rally, Khan Younis, Gaza, Palestine (2004)
Michael Robinson Chávez, Melting permafrost, Zyryanka, Siberia (2019), © Washington Post
Michael Robinson Chávez, Fishermen, Dakar, Senegal (2004), © Washington Post
Michael Robinson Chávez, On the altiplano, Peru (1997), from the series “Mestizo”
