Private lodging via our lodging partner for this retreat is now full. Alternative lodging options are available (prices vary).  Contact Wild Rice Retreat for lodging coordination by emailing jennifer.albrecht@wildriceretreat.com or call (715) 779-0178.

A 5.5% tax on tuition/meals will be added to the retreat rates displayed online. Deposits will not include tax and will be applied to overall retreat registration fees. Guests making a deposit online will receive follow-up written communication showing applicable remaining fees, including taxes.

Full payment of any remaining fees is due 60 days prior to the retreat start date. New registrations made less than 60 days prior to the retreat start date will require full payment of all retreat related registration fees.

Do you have a companion who would like to join you for the Bayfield experience without attending the educational components?. Companion Rates are available for one companion over the age of 18 and one per registered retreat participant. Companion rates entitle the companion to lodging, all retreat package meals, and use of Wild Rice Retreat facilities.

$45 supply fee due to instructor upon arrival.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

In this comprehensive workshop, respected advisor Mary Virginia Swanson will provide participants with a broad overview of the market for fine photographs today.  Through information provided in illustrated lectures and examples of “best practices”, Mary Virginia will impart a wealth of information on the path to finding a receptive audience for your work.  Interested participants are also encouraged to learn more and consider attending Doug Beasley: The Emotional Landscape July 24 – 28, 2019. 

Topics covered:

• effectively editing your work to its strengths

• understanding grants and other sponsorships to complete projects

• gaining awareness on finding public, private and institutional collections that are most likely interested in your subject(s)

• identifying and maximizing every exhibition opportunity

• assessing retail vs online sales environments, as well as appropriate editorial and licensing placements

• strategizing marketing your work to its targeted audience in print, online and through social media platforms

• determining whether investing in competitions and/or portfolio review events will be an asset to your path to those who can make a difference in your career

In addition, Mary Virginia will allocate time to work individually with each participate to discuss their project and prioritize their ‘next steps’ (all students are encouraged to observe and learn from the examples of others).   

Our unique classroom environment offers us a rarified learning space in which to consume a wealth of information from an expert in the field and participate in daily dialogue with like-minded practitioners. 

Who Should Attend:

• Artists working with photography who are serious about completing bodies of work, engaging in a public dialogue and presenting the work to the public will benefit from this workshop.  

• Those who are active in the field should consider attending towards gaining renewed and current perspectives on today’s diverse multiple markets for photography.

15% DISCOUNT - When you book Beasley and Swanson Retreats Together!

Douglas Beasley: The Emotional Landscape

15% discount applies to retreat tuition only (meal and lodging costs are not discounted) and is only offered with the combination of the Beasley and Swanson 2019 retreats. Retreat guests wishing to take advantage of this special offer should call Wild Rice Retreat (715) 779-0178 to register.

WHAT TO BRING

PRINT READY SUPPLY LIST

• 20 samples of the current project in small print form (8x10 or 5x7) – lab produced prints are acceptable

• If easy to facilitate, please bring several samples of what you currently consider your final exhibition format (no framed prints, please)

• If you have produced marketing mailers in the past, please bring samples as well as any other promotional tools in print (a brochure, Magcloud or other print-on-demand booklet) that you have produced.  

While you are encouraged to bring your cameras to this beautiful location, know that there will not be shooting assignments during this workshop.  

Please note: Approximately 4 weeks in advance of the workshop you will receive a questionnaire from the instructor to help her prepare for our time together. 

SCHEDULE

Please note that this schedule is subject to change and will be finalized in the weeks leading up to the retreat.

Download + Print

SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm            Arrival and Check-in at Wild Rice Retreat

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm            Welcome Dinner at Wild Rice Retreat

7:15 pm – 8:15 pm             Instructor Meet & Greet with Students 

MONDAY, JULY 29, 2019

8:00 am - 8:45 am             Breakfast buffet at Wild Rice Retreat 

9:00 am – 11:45 am          Class Time

INTRODUCTIONS (students have 10 minutes each to introduce themselves and their work, 10 prints maximum (prefer small prints, no digital presentations please)

LECTURE: THE LIFE OF A PROJECT, from concept to 

presentation. In this lecture Mary Virginia will breakdown the five phases of project development and what steps artists should take to maximize the potential support, attention to craft and final presentation elements towards reaching their targeted audience.  

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm       Lunch Buffet at Wild Rice Retreat

1:00 pm - 4:00pm             Class Time (a snack will be set out mid-afternoon, coffee/water/tea available all day)

LECTURE: MARKET OVERVIEW / MARKET UPDATE.

In this presentation Mary Virginia will introduce the markets for fine photographs today, beginning with an overview of the development of collecting markets, the constraints to these markets and the new and expanding opportunities in a world of image-saturation. 

4:00 – 5:30 pm                    REVIEWING PARTICIPANTS WORK – optional attendance, time for participants to view MVS Library here 

5:30 pm- 7:30 pm              Dinner on your own in Bayfield or area (a list of restaurants will be provided at check-in) 

TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2019

8:00 am - 8:45 am             Breakfast buffet at Wild Rice Retreat 

9:00 am – 11:45 am          Class Time

LECTURE:  ASSESSING AND MAXIMIZING EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm        Lunch Buffet at Wild Rice Retreat

1:00 pm - 4:00pm             Class Time (a snack will be set out mid-afternoon, 

coffee/water/tea available all day)

LECTURE: TO BE PUBLISHED, or SELF-PUBLISH?

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm            REVIEWING PARTICIPANTS WORK – optional attendance; time for participants to view MVS Library here 

5:30 pm                              Free time and dinner on your own in Bayfield, optional Music in the Park

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2019

8:00 am - 8:45 am             Breakfast buffet at Wild Rice Retreat 

9:00 am – 11:45 am          Class Time

LECTURE TOPIC(S):   STRATEGIES FOR SELF-PROMOTION in print, on line, social media

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm        Lunch Buffet at Wild Rice Retreat

1:00 pm - 4:00pm             Class Time (a snack will be set out mid-afternoon, coffee/water/tea available all day)

LECTURE TOPIC(S) SELF-PROMOTION STRATEGIES, continued, sharing of participant’s websites

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm            REVIEWING PARTICIPANTS WORK – optional attendance; time for participants to view MVS Library here 

6:00 - 7:30 pm                  Dinner at Wild Rice Retreat 

7:45 - 9:00 pm                   Optional fire outside at Wild Rice Retreat, weather permitting  

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2019

Check out of lodging (luggage may be stored at Wild Rice Retreat)   

8:00 am - 8:45 am              Breakfast buffet at Wild Rice Retreat

9:00 am – 11:45 am           Class Time

FINAL INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS, if needed  

FINAL DISCUSSION: TO BE DETERMINED as per class needs/requests

12:00 pm                           Lunch buffet at Wild Rice Retreat

END OF WORKSHOP

BIOGRAPHY

Mary Virginia Swanson is an educator, author, advisor and entrepreneur who guides and assists artists to find the strengths in their work, identify appropriate audiences, and present their work in a professional, informed manner. Her public lectures and workshops on marketing opportunities have proven to aid photographers in moving their careers to the next level. 

A native of Minnesota, Ms. Swanson interned then then served as Research Assistant in the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s Department of Photography, working with founding curator Carroll T. “Ted” Hartwell while completing her MFA at Arizona State University. Upon graduation, she embarked on a career that began in the NY gallery scene. She moved west to Ansel Adams and the Friends of Photography before returning east to head Special Projects for Magnum Photo and later managed licensing rights for fine art photographers. Her experiences in the fine art, editorial, commercial and licensing arenas bring a unique knowledge and range of perspectives on making and marketing art.

Ms. Swanson coauthored with Darius Himes Publish Your Photography Book (Princeton Architectural Press, 2011, updated and revised 2014).  Her forthcoming title Finding Your Audience: An Introduction to Marketing Your Photographs is in the final phases of research and nearing completion (anticipated 2019).  

Swanson has contributed articles in numerous publications, including Photo District News, British Journal of Photography and the compilation The Education of a Photographer. She frequently serves as a Judge on contemporary photography and photobook competitions, visits academic programs to work with emerging artists and offers continuing educational opportunities for those deep in their creative practice. Ms. Swanson counts among her consulting clients internationally known artists and respected arts organizations. She is based in Tucson, Arizona and New York City.

contact // mvswanson@gmail.com 
web // http://mvswanson.com/
follow // Facebook Instagram

Lodging and Meal Rates & Info

All lodging costs listed are per person/per night costs. Due to the format of retreats, meal plans are required of all participants to maximize time with other students and instructors, while still providing time to explore Bayfield and the surrounding community. Please reference the cancellation policy as needed.