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Overview

Refine Your Storytelling
Philadelphia, USA
Apr 19 - 24, 2026
Magnum Photos image
Magnum Photos
$2,100
Deposit: $800

About your trip

Refine your vision, strengthen your voice, and deepen your photographic practice alongside Magnum photographer Jérôme Sessini.

In this intensive week-long workshop, you will undertake a photographic project with Philadelphia’s dynamic cultural amalgam and cityscape as your backdrop. Through in-depth critique and analysis — both technical and creative — Jérôme will help you uncover the deeper meaning behind your images and guide you towards formulating a personal photographic intention.

Jérôme Sessini has decades of experience working on assignments for magazines and newspapers. He also worked extensively in the US, and most specifically in Philadelphia. His understanding of working under time constraints and pulling together a comprehensive story in just a few days will be integral to this workshop. 

Through the practice of observation and finding purpose, you’ll learn to create work that resonates with authenticity and depth. “As an instructor, my guiding principle is raising awareness of intention. My approach is more about sensitizing than strictly teaching: exploring what it truly means to be a photographer, and how to initiate a personal process,” says Jérôme.







What's included

Free talks

Snacks

What's not included

Accommodation

Flights

Meals

Day Zero

Day Zero image

Meet & Greet

Welcome drinks with participants, Magnum photographers and Magnum staff

Day One

Day One  image

Understand where you’re at in your journey.

AM: Each participant shares their background, project ideas and objectives for this workshop.

PM: Individual Shooting – Individually or in small groups, participants explore the city and start shooting.









Day Two

Day Two image

Developing personal narratives in photography

AM: Group reviews – Jérôme will discuss process, the importance of personal storytelling, and how to find compelling angles on themes of personal interest.

PM: Individual Shooting – Individually or in small groups, participants continue shooting and working on their project.











Day Three

Day Three image

Continue developing your project with the feedback received.

AM: Group reviews – Review of participants’ images. Group critique focusing on composition,  mood, and narrative potential.

PM: Individual Shooting – Individually or in small groups, participants continue shooting and working on their project.





Day Four

Day Four image

Refine your vision and technique.

AM: One-to-one review* – When not in a review session, participants continue shooting their projects.

PM: One-to-one review* – When not in a review session, participants continue shooting their projects.

*A schedule will be sent to you one week before the start of the workshop.









Day Five

Day Five image

Create a selection of all the participants’ work

AM: Group reviews – Reviewing everyone’s work produced during the week, Jérôme Sessini will select the best images for the night screening.

PM: Participants are free to rest, visit the city.

Evening: Screening – Magnum photographers, the Learn staff and all participants will gather together to celebrate the end of the workshop and look at what has been produced throughout the week.







About your organizer

MP
Magnum Photos
Magnum Photos is a cooperative of acclaimed, independent photographers who share an ongoing commitment to documenting world events, people, places, daily life and culture. Founded in 1947, Magnum Photos has been telling stories of the past, defining the present, and shaping the future through photography for over 75 years, united by its values of authenticity, excellence, and respect.

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