From project to photobook
A Photobook Workshop with Katya Bogachevskaya
Number of participants: 6
Format: 2-day intensive workshop from 11 am to 7 pm with breaks
Dates: 19 – 20 April — intensive workshop at NARRATIVA + 3 additional online consultations afterwards
Result: Presentation of participants’ photobook dummies at NARRATIVA during Photobook Week in June 2025*
*The presentation will take place if participants successfully complete their photobook dummies.
Language: English
Fee: 300 euros (including the intensive workshop and three follow-up online consultations)
Note: The workshop is designed for photographers and visual artists with a finished project or a project in its final stages. To apply, participants should send a small sample from their project (20 images, 1500 px on the long side) together with a short project description to:
bogachevskaya@gmail.com
Lecturer short bio
Katya Bogachevskaya (b. 1986) is a visual artist, independent curator, photobook editor and lecturer currently based in Lisbon, Portugal. She is the director of the Academy of Documentary and Art Photography Fotografika, founder of Fotografika Publishing, and editor-in-chief of the Photo Journal at Republic Media.
Photo projects by her students have received numerous prestigious awards, including World Press Photo, Sony World Photography Awards, Foam Talents and Gomma Grant, among others. Photobooks created by her students have been nominated for the Kassel Dummy Award, Star Photobook Dummy Award, Photometria Photobook Award, Gomma Grant Get Published, OFF Libris, VAIF, APhF Photobook Award and Photo Frome Photobook Award, and have been presented at various international exhibitions and festivals.
About the workshop
For whom
This workshop is intended for photographers with completed or ongoing photo projects who would like to learn what an author’s photobook is, what possibilities this format offers, and how to develop a photobook dummy based on their own project during the workshop. Because the group is limited to six participants, each project will receive individual attention and detailed feedback throughout the process.
Goals of the workshop
to introduce participants to the world of the author’s photobook and its different formats
to provide an overview of the stages involved in creating a photobook
to guide participants through the process of developing a photobook in practice — from concept to dummy
The workshop includes examples of significant contemporary photobooks from the lecturer’s collection, as well as books created within Fotografika Publishing and photobooks made by students of the lecturer.
What participants will gain
By the end of the workshop participants will:
develop a clear concept for their photobook based on their own project
create a structured image sequence for their book
produce a first physical photobook dummy
gain practical knowledge about editing, sequencing and photobook structure
learn the basics of photobook layout and production
receive professional feedback on their project and guidance for further development
Workshop plan
Note: Participants will be asked to bring a wide selection of small prints (10 × 15 cm) for the workshop. The prints can be of any quality (printed at home or in a lab). If necessary, additional prints can be made during the workshop.
Day 1
(11 am – 7 pm with breaks)
Part 1
Introduction to the lecturer and presentation of photobooks created with the participation of the workshop author.
What is a contemporary photobook? We will look at different types of photobooks and publishing formats and discuss how to decide what kind of book a project might become. We will also talk about how to choose a project suitable for a photobook and what forms a photobook can take: a photo album, limited edition book, collector’s edition, artist book, zine, or diary. Special attention will be given to the book as an object and to the most interesting contemporary publishers working with photobooks today, as well as the possibilities of self-publishing. The session will be accompanied by a presentation of photobooks from the lecturer’s personal collection.
Part 2
Introduction to the participants. Each participant presents the project they will work on during the workshop.
Part 3
Deconstructing the photobook. We will analyse several photobooks and examine their internal structure: how the book is organised, what works within it and what does not. We will discuss book format, cover, binding, concept, design elements and additional components of the book, as well as the role of text and how the physical form of the book relates to its content. Particular attention will be given to the role of design in shaping narrative and storytelling, using examples from contemporary photobook practice. We will also discuss how to select photographs for a book, how to build pairs and visual rhythms, and how sequencing works in photobook narratives. Different techniques of editing and selecting images will also be explored.
Day 2
(11 am – 7 pm with breaks)
Part 1
Image selection and development of the photobook sequence for participants’ projects in real time.
Part 2
Creation of a draft photobook — the first prototype of the dummy in paper form. Participants will work on their projects with the guidance of the lecturer, developing the sequence and narrative structure of their future book. Because the group is limited to six participants, each project will receive individual attention and detailed feedback throughout the process. The session will conclude with a group discussion of the drafts and possible revisions
After the intensive workshop
Participants will receive three additional online consultations with Katya to complete their photobook dummies.
Session 1
Introduction to Adobe InDesign for photobook makers.Working on photobook layouts in InDesign in real time.
Session 2
Artist books: how to create a handmade book, necessary materials and basic types of hand binding.Overview of contests and open calls where participants can submit their photobook dummies.
Session 3
Review of participants’ layouts in InDesign and making edits in real time. Discussion of cover design, paper choice and preparation of files for printing.
Masterclass livro de fotografia Katya Bogachevskaya
19 e 20 Abril | NARRATIVA
PARA QUEM?
Fotógrafos com projectos fotográficos em curso ou concluídos
Para quem quer compreender o que é um livro de autor
Para quem quer transformar o seu projecto num fotolivro
O QUE É?
Introdução ao universo do livro de autor
Conhecer diferentes formatos de livros
Compreender as etapas de criação de um livro
Desenvolver um livro na prática — da ideia ao dummy
O QUE VAIS APRENDER?
Criar uma sequência estruturada de imagens
Produzir o primeiro dummy físico do livro
Aprender edição, sequenciação e estrutura
Noções de design e produção de livros
CONDIÇÕES
Datas: 19 e 20 de Abril
Horário: 11h - 19h
Masterclass ao longo de dois dias na NARRATIVA e três sessões online de acompanhamento pós-masterclass
A masterclass é lecionada em inglês e limitada a 6 participantes
Custo: 300€
Masterclass Photography Book by Katya Bogachevskaya
April 19th and 20th | NARRATIVA
FOR WHOM?
Photographers with ongoing or completed photographic projects
For those who want to understand what an author's book is
For those who want to transform their project into a photobook
WHAT IS IT?
Introduction to the world of the author's book
Learning about different book formats
Understanding the stages of creating a book
Developing a book in practice - from idea to dummy
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
Creating a structured sequence of images
Producing the first physical dummy of the book
Learning editing, sequencing, and structure
Basics of book design and production
CONDITIONS
Dates: April 19th and 20th
Schedule: 11am - 7pm
Two-day masterclass at NARRATIVA and three online post-masterclass follow-up sessions
The masterclass is taught in English and limited to 6 participants
Cost: €300