The Storyteller: Photography Beyond the Single Image

with Alice Chapman and Antonina Mamzenko

I know I can be a better storyteller and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to learn from two of the best!

KYLEE MEYER REED

Unlock your inner storyteller in this intensive and interactive group mentoring programme. We will show you how to craft meaningful narratives to tell powerful stories and take your photography beyond the single image.

Sold out (again)! Third run starts early 2025.

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You will learn how to:

☑ Be a storyteller, not just a photographer.

Find your storytelling why and learn to feel the story as you shoot.

☑ Deal with self-doubt and overcome ‘too-many-ideas’ paralysis.

☑ Embed creativity into your daily practice, pushing through boredom, creative blocks, or lack of inspiration.

☑ Cull and edit like a storyteller: see the bigger picture as you fine tune the detail.

☑ Craft artist and project statements.

☑ Adapt and sequence your stories for different forms and audiences.

☑ Make your story come to life in physical form.

☑ Apply your storytelling toolkit to your work – both personal and client – from your archive to your portfolio.

☑ Get it f*cking done, finally!

From This Farming Life by Alice Chapman.

From Bodies of Water, by Antonina Mamzenko.

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Photography projects were always something I thought about in the sense of “wouldn’t it be cool to do a project on this or that”, but actually doing them was reserved for the (in my mind) elite members of the photography world, and not something little old me would ever do. This course gave me the space and tools to tap into a cause that’s been sat quietly germinating in the rooms of my heart and mind for a few years and helped to bring it forth into an actual project. I’m still amazed at what I put together and managed to do in the time frame, and I am forever grateful to Antonina and Alice for their input, wisdom and belief in all of us. Absolutely worth every penny.

SARAH MARSDEN

The course is for you if:

 ☑ You are driven to tell stories through your photography, whether shooting for clients or yourself.

☑ You have ideas for stories or projects but you don’t know where to start, or you keep getting stuck.

☑ You have a mountain of archive images gathering dust, multiple unfinished projects or a frustrated head full of ideas.

☑ You struggle to find or feel the story during a shoot.

☑ Culling feels like mining for a necklace full of diamonds in a mountain of coal.

☑ You find it difficult to re-craft a story for different forms and audiences.

☑ You fall in love with photography books, albums and photo essays, but when it comes to your own work you think “I wish I could do that!”.

☑ You appreciate having accountability to start, develop and finish a story.

☑ You love connecting with other photographers, learning together and being part of an inspiring, supportive, safe space where everyone is committed to developing their craft.

From Damien, by Alice Chapman.

From eye to camera, from contact sheet to page.

Learn to craft the story.

Seventy, by Alice Chapman. Use arrows to view the whole essay.

Here’s what’s inside:

☑ Three months of intensive learning and mentoring with Alice and Antonina in an intimate online group setting (limited to only 12 students).

☑ The benefit of two experienced and award-winning documentary photographers guiding you and giving you feedback at regular intervals, pushing you to do things you might never achieve on your own.

☑ Practical assignments that will get you out of your seat, building your storytelling muscle and getting stuff done! 

☑ Personalised feedback at every step of the way.

    ☑ Regular round table group discussions on Zoom, with recordings to watch in your own time. 

    ☑ 24/7 access to a private Facebook group for extra support, feedback and discussion.

    ☑ A closing 121 with Alice and Antonina.

    ☑ A supportive group of like-minded photographers who will inspire you, cheer you on, and keep you accountable.

    ☑ A timetable of commitments from day one so you can plan your diary.

      (Un)masking, by Antonina Mamzenko.

      ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

      This was such an excellent course. There was a real push to keep on track and this was so useful in holding me to account. Antonina and Alice helped me to dig into my why and helped me to create work that was very personal to me. I would recommend it to anyone who has stories they want to tell, but don’t know where to start.

      ANGELA ROWE

      ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

      This course has been a turning point in my development as a storyteller and photographer. I’ve come out of the experience with a completed work that I love, another big project already begun, a clear road map for delivering excellent work to my clients, and so much excitement for all the stories I’ll make in the future. Alice and Antonina are fantastic mentors. 100 % recommend, two thumbs up, 5 gold stars.

      DEBORAH BARAK

      Your Instructors

      Alice Chapman

      Alice has been a family photographer since 2011. The moment she realised documentary family photography was an established genre was the moment everything started to make sense. Alice is passionate about enabling families and children to be themselves in their family photos so she can champion their individuality. Alice has been listed five times as the top UK family documentary photographer by the Family Photojournalist Association, winning many awards. Alice is a This is Reportage Family multi-award winner and a Documentary Family Awards finalist. Her work has been featured in many international publications, platforms and exhibitions, including the Royal Photographic Society, Digital Photographer Magazine, Photo Vogue, Shutter Hub, Click Magazine, PhotoPlace Gallery and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. With 15 years’ people management experience, being a qualified coach and experienced mentor, Alice is passionate about helping photographers thrive.

      Antonina Mamzenko

      Antonina Mamzenko is a documentary photographer and multidisciplinary artist. Since 2009 she has become one of the leading UK family photographers working with clients from all over the globe. Her superpower is documentary portraiture and capturing authentic moments of humour and connection. Antonina’s work has received numerous accolades, including Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers, and has been shortlisted for The Portrait of Britain award twice. It has also appeared in a number of national and international publications, including British Journal of Photography, The Sunday Times and Digital Photographer Magazine, and included in a number of group exhibitions in the UK and abroad, most recently at the Royal Academy (UK), Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (USA), and Modern Art Oxford (UK), among others.

      ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

      If you have lots of photo story ideas swirling around in your mind but don’t know how to bring them together and bring them to life, then The Storyteller is the perfect course for you! I learned a lot from Alice and Antonina’s expert, generous and insightful guidance. They helped each member of the cohort shape and complete their photo story, and this was an inspiring learning experience. And satisfying to have a completed story by the end of the course! Thoroughly recommend The Storyteller!

      KERRIE RHODES

      Unlock your inner storyteller.