The Power of the Personal Photography Project

A workshop in Columbia, SC

February 28, 2026

Limited to 5 photographers. $100 for ASMP members, $200 general admission

Remember when photo editors actually developed photographers?

On February 28, you'll spend the day working on a personal photography project in Columbia, SC. With acclaimed photojournalist Sean Rayford acting as your photo editor, he will help you plan and execute — and review your work.

Rayford brings his experience with hundreds of personal projects. Some became self-published books and zines. Some found their way onto book covers in the fiction section. Some landed at the top of awards lists and on museum walls.

And when hired by Time Magazine, the assigning photo editor referenced a personal project in his portfolio. It was mostly portraits of friends.

With more than 25 years experience as a freelance photojournalist working with outlets like New York Times, Getty Images and the Associated Press, Rayford invites you to explore the power of the personal project.

In today’s hyper distracted world dominated by social media — we see a lot of folks trapped in a cycle of shallow photography. It’s encouraged. Rayford has been there himself. A photojournalist since 1997, he’s become an expert on shallow photography — even before newsrooms crumbled.

Rayford has had his fair share of requests for mid-day building mugshots and long winded press conferences.

Much of this workshop is about the planning and review stages. Photographers will be working in the field and Sean will be providing logistical support — like the role a photo editor once performed at a newspaper.

This workshop is for photographers who are comfortable using their camera but want more out of their relationship with photography. Essentially, Sean will be your editor and mentor on the assignment. (This does NOT mean he’ll perform post-processing for photographers).

Our workshop is for serious hobbyists and working professionals - if you can operate your camera outside of the program mode and have been making photos regularly, you're ready. But you’ll need to dedicate some time. That’s how these things come about.

Don't have a project idea yet? That's fine. Part of the workshop is helping you identify and plan your project. You bring the curiosity and together we find a project that you can enjoy and learn from.

And as veteran freelancer, he knows a thing or two about how photo editors can help and hinder projects.

One primary goal of this workshop is to identify the concept of “deep work,” as written about by Cal Newport. With an interest in the intersection of philosophy, art and literature - Rayford will bring lessons from authors like Stephen King, Ryan Holiday and Stephen Pressfield

Details:

Length: One day in the field + more

Schedule:

Feb 27, 7pm: Kickoff lecture + social hour

Feb 28: Full day field work with 1-on-1 sessions

Two 30-min Zoom sessions (pre and post workshop)

Your workshop leader will establish a “base camp” for the 28th, making himself available on the phone and in person from the location. We’ll have structured time together and also some on the fly availability.

And this is why the workshop is limited to five students. Pricing is currently at an introductory rate. The kickoff lecture takes place the night before you should be in the field making photos on the 28th.

SOME OF SEAN’S PERSONAL PROJECTS

Photo zine: Recovery efforts in western North Carolina nine months after the Helene

Photo book: Great to be a Gamecock

Photo zine: Mud Bogs in the South