The photobook workshop led by Brian Paul Lamotte is an opportunity for photographers and artists interested in developing their own photobooks to understand and work through the steps of taking their work off the screen and into print. Over the two-day intensive workshop, we will explore and discuss concept development, the building of a visual layout, basic typography, cover strategies, and production preparation. The intention of the workshop will be to help develop an initial treatment and approach for each participant's project through collective conversations and dialogue, setting the foundation to eventually work towards a physical dummy or publishing plan.

Through presentations, tutorials, and one-on-one development participants will think deeply about the creative choices behind their intended outcome and apply these approaches to best realize these intentions through both design and materials choices. The presentations will investigate design strategies of contemporary and historical photobooks alike, as well as dig deeper into books designed by Lamotte for practical insight. We’ll discuss and explore everything from lo-fi artists’ zines to offset-printed and bound photobooks.

This workshop is open to anyone who has an existing photographic series, finished or in progress, that they would like to eventually realize in book form. Previous experience with InDesign (or other layout software) is helpful but not required for participation, there will be a short optional tutorial for those who need assistance. The workshop will culminate with a group presentation and critique of the participants’ work from Lamotte and Danaé Panchaud, director of Centre de la Photographie Genève.

Brian Paul Lamotte is an independent graphic designer and publisher specialising in art and photography books. He has designed and produced books for select publishers, editors, and artists including; Aperture Foundation (Lesley A. Martin), Carmen Winant, Charlie Engman, Dashwood Books, Edition Patrick Frey, GOST Books, Hauser & Wirth Publishers, Images Vevey, Image Text Ithaca Press, Jiazazhi, John Chiara, MAST Foundation (Francesco Zanot), Meta/Books (Delphine Bedel), Nicholas Muellner, Rizzoli, Sasha Wolf, Shane Lavalette and SPBH Editions (Self Publish, Be Happy/Bruno Ceschel). Books he has designed have been shortlisted for the Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Award and Rencontres d’Arles Book Awards.