“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.
Starts 2nd March 2025
One-off payment of £1250 or four monthly payments of £325
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!
Our students’ work:
Beyond Mom and Dad by Kylee Meyer Reed
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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 eye to camera, from contact sheet to page.
Learn to craft the story.
Our students’ work:
The Visitors by Nic Shuttleworth
The Visitors is a photographic study of the vibrant landscape of life on the streets of York today, the tourists who explore the city and their response to the environment around them. If I were to show these photographs to you thirty years ago, it would seem very peculiar to see people viewing the world around them through tiny black rectangles, but here we are. As I document the visitors, I realise that I myself am also the visitor, not of the incredible landmarks and historical artifacts but a visitor of the fascinating people that line the streets everyday.
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.
Our students’ work:
When can we chat? by Deborah Barak
Is it possible to create a strong relationship if you’re only together virtually?
Born into the eye of the pandemic, it was 16 months before my daughter would meet her grandparents and aunt in person. When they finally shared the same physical space, it felt like a reunion more than a first meeting – their love had already taken root through screens and pixels.
For all those months, their connections were forged and established in glowing rectangles of light, and now they are sustained that way in the long stretches between visits. These photographs explore a different kind of online relationship, one that challenges our traditional understanding of presence and intimacy.
My family was able to witness her earliest moments through a tiny screen – her first snuggles, smiles, solid food, and triumphant early crawling. Now, with increasing independence, she brings them into her world as if they are physically present, just in miniature.
For the adults, there is still a bittersweet longing for physical closeness. But for her, a digital native in the truest sense, there is no lack in this way of relating and being together. These images capture that paradox: the simultaneous distance and intimacy of modern family connections.
Enrol today – starts 2nd March 2025.
one-off payment of £1250 or 4 monthly payments of £325
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“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
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“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
FAQs
Who is this mentorship for?
We all have a story in us. This course is for any photographer who wants to go beyond the single image. Whether you’re shooting for yourself or are running a photography business of any kind, this course will help you become a storyteller not just a photographer. We welcome photographers of all levels of skill and experience, ready to develop their storytelling skills in a supportive cohort.
Do I have to have a story idea already? Can I work on a story I already started?
A big part of the course is around ideation, picking one workable shiny idea from your “maybe one day” list – and then getting it f*cking done, finally. But this is not just about one story. We’ll be working with you to build your storytelling muscle as you complete a series of storytelling assignments over the course of three months, culminating in one final story project.
Does my story have to be family photography related?
No. Many of the stories produced by our previous students have been about family and childhood, but our students have told wonderfully diverse stories about parents, friends, community, neighbours, neighbourhoods, heritage, travel, health, loss and work. Photographic styles have included documentary family photography, portraiture, abstract, landscape and street.
What happens after I enrol?
Once you enrol, you will receive an automated order confirmation email. Closer to the start time you will also receive information on how to access the private Facebook group, the timetable of dates for your diary, and all other information to get your set up and ready to learn.
What if I change my mind?
Because of the personalised nature of this mentorship and the limited number of spots available in each run we expect our students to be fully committed to the programme when they enrol. With this in mind, the mentorship fee is non-refundable. Please read our full Terms and Conditions here: https://learn.madefordocumentary.com/terms
How much time each week will I need to dedicate to this mentorship?
The more time you dedicate to working on your storytelling, the more you’ll get out of the mentorship. Every two weeks there is a live group roundtable conducted via Zoom which typically takes about 3 hours. Each roundtable is also recorded, so if you can’t make it, or can’t watch it in full, you can access the recording later.
What are the timings for the group roundtables?
The timings will be set in advance and published closer to the start time. The roundtables typically take place on Sunday evenings (London, UK time). If you have any questions about timings please do get in touch with us before enrolling.
What if I can’t attend the group Zoom calls?
You will receive the timeline for the group Zoom calls at the start of the course. If you know you won’t be able to make a particular live call, you will be able to submit your images and questions in advance. All calls will be recorded and posted on our education platform so you can watch (and re-watch) later.
How much is it and what payment options are available?
It’s £1250 if you pay in full. Alternatively you have the option to pay in four instalments of £325. We accept all major credit and debit cards.
How many spots are available?
This group mentorship is limited to 12 students to ensure an in-depth experience, so that each participant receives regular individual feedback.
How long will I have access to the course materials?
You will have access to the materials for the duration of the mentorship and for 3 months after and will be able to save any content you want to keep before the end of that period. You will have access to the Facebook group for the duration of the mentorship and for as long as you wish afterwards so you can continue to benefit from peer support in your group even after the course wraps up.
How much face time will I have with the mentors?
You will get live group mentoring calls every two weeks to review the work that you have produced in response to the assignments. During these calls each participant gets individual attention and feedback on their work. In addition, there will be a closing one-to-one meeting with Alice and Antonina to discuss your progress and plan your next steps. There is also a private Facebook group to ask questions and request feedback in-between the group sessions.
I have more questions!
Great! Email us at hello@madefordocumentary.com and we’ll answer any questions you might have.
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
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“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