The Power of the Personal Photography Project

A Documentary Photography workshop in Columbia, SC

Decemeber 4-6, 2026

$499 per student

There was a time not too long ago when photo editors developed photographers.

If you’ve ever wanted to go back to this time, this workshop is our flux capacitor — and on the first weekend in December you'll spend the day working on a personal photography project in Columbia, SC.

Photojournalist Sean Rayford will help you plan and execute — and review your work. He’ll serve the role as photo editor and mentor.

Rayford brings his experience with hundreds of personal projects that helped advance his career. Some became self-published books and zines. Some found their way onto book covers in your library. 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:

Dec. 4: 7pm: Kickoff lecture + social hour

Dec. 5: Full day field work with 1-on-1 sessions

Dec. 6: Brunch and review session

Your workshop leader will establish a base camp for the 7th, making himself available on the phone and in person from the location. This will most likely be a coffee shop or our wonderful Richland Library where he is artist in resident alumnus. Students have structured time together with Rayford and also some on-the-fly availability.

What photographers say about Sean’s Instruction

“If you don't know where you want to go, you can't set your GPS. This [workshop] reeled me in and I feel like I have a trajectory. I can set my GPS now. I think it gave me chills.”

-Elisa

“Hearing directly from someone actively working at a high level shortens the learning curve and gives clear direction on how to carve out space for yourself. Sean doesn’t sugarcoat challenges, but provides guidance to make the work sustainable and approachable. I feel more prepared to focus, stay ethical, and continue producing meaningful work without getting lost in the noise.”

-Katherine Beard

“Sean has WAY more experience in the documentary photography/photojournalism and he was able to help me figure out a path to what I see as success.

-Jim Conyers

“As someone trying to break into the industry it was really helpful to finally speak with someone who has so much experience. I found Sean's ability to provide advice on a one on one basis really beneficial. Sean listened to where I was in my career, gave me realistic expectations about the industry, and encouraged me to start my own site to host photo essays.”

-Thomas Hunter

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