Dates: January 23 - February 13, 2027
Meetings: Saturday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST (4 sessions)
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Cost: $360 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount, Advanced Photography Practices students receive a 15% discount)
Instructor: Michael Robinson Chávez
Skill Level: Intermediate - Advanced
This course is designed for photographers and visual journalists who want to strengthen their editing skills and produce more compelling work. Explore how thoughtful editing and sequencing can elevate your projects.
Through guided critiques of works-in-progress and completed essays, participants will learn how to refine narrative flow, expand their visual approach, and avoid common editing pitfalls that weaken stories. Students will be challenged to step outside their comfort zones and broaden their vision.
Emphasis will be placed on creating edits that resonate with editors. Drawing from his extensive experience editing award-winning stories, Michael will break down the process behind effective storytelling, offering tools to help your work stand out in a competitive field—whether for publication, exhibition, or a portfolio.
Objectives:
Evaluate and refine your own work with a potential client’s perspective in mind
Understand what distinguishes a unique and strong set of photos from predictable storylines
Learn how to build a persuasive narrative arc with strong openers, transitions, and closers
Realize what key elements make your work stand out from the competition
Recognize common pitfalls and practice how to avoid them (under-editing, repetition, weak transitions, etc)
Be able to tailor submissions to the ethos and criteria of specific publications
Prerequisites:
This course best serves students who have completed a body of work they deem worthy of submitting for publication or those that are currently working on a project.
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 (50 to 70 images) you would like to edit through in order to get the most out of the course.
Dates: January 23 - February 13, 2027
Meetings: Saturday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST (4 sessions)
Location: Online Zoom Classroom
Cost: $360 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount, Advanced Photography Practices students receive a 15% discount)
Instructor: Michael Robinson Chávez
Skill Level: Intermediate - Advanced
This course is designed for photographers and visual journalists who want to strengthen their editing skills and produce more compelling work. Explore how thoughtful editing and sequencing can elevate your projects.
Through guided critiques of works-in-progress and completed essays, participants will learn how to refine narrative flow, expand their visual approach, and avoid common editing pitfalls that weaken stories. Students will be challenged to step outside their comfort zones and broaden their vision.
Emphasis will be placed on creating edits that resonate with editors. Drawing from his extensive experience editing award-winning stories, Michael will break down the process behind effective storytelling, offering tools to help your work stand out in a competitive field—whether for publication, exhibition, or a portfolio.
Objectives:
Evaluate and refine your own work with a potential client’s perspective in mind
Understand what distinguishes a unique and strong set of photos from predictable storylines
Learn how to build a persuasive narrative arc with strong openers, transitions, and closers
Realize what key elements make your work stand out from the competition
Recognize common pitfalls and practice how to avoid them (under-editing, repetition, weak transitions, etc)
Be able to tailor submissions to the ethos and criteria of specific publications
Prerequisites:
This course best serves students who have completed a body of work they deem worthy of submitting for publication or those that are currently working on a project.
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 (50 to 70 images) you would like to edit through in order to get the most out of the course.
Images:
Michael Robinson Chávez for Los Angeles Times
Michael Robinson Chávez for Los Angeles Times
Michael Robinson Chávez
Michael Robinson Chávez for The Washington Post
