A 5 week course in creative rule-breaking with local queer photographer Josh Coen (they/them)

About the class

This 5-week photography workshop in Portland is about leaning into imperfection and seeing what happens when we stop chasing “perfect pictures.” Photography has always been about experimentation, but somewhere along the way, rules and gatekeepers started telling us what “good” looks like. Forget that. This class is about breaking those rules, trusting your instincts, and discovering how “bad” photos can be the most alive, emotional, and interesting ones in your portfolio, and how embracing these bad techniques can lead to a more fulfilling artistic practice.

Instead of drilling down on technical mastery, I’ll guide you in exploring how images can tell stories, stir feelings, and spark new ideas in your creative practice.

About me

Hey hey! My name’s Josh and I’ve been a working photographer for 15+ years across editorial, fashion, and fine art. My own work often challenges what photography is “supposed” to look like, and I want to share that approach with you. Check out my sites and socials for a glimpse of my practice:

What’s included

Five weeks of mentorship with both in person and virtual Zoom classes, mostly every Sunday from 4pm-6pm.
Downloadable mini-lectures on bad photography, creative inspiration, and DIY tips
Access to my full photo studio! Everyone gets a 2 hour session to do whatever they want in the studio on the third weekend of class.
An optional gallery trip to see a photo exhibition
A final group digital showcase with snacks & coffee

What gear you will need

Whatever you have! Seriously. It can be a film camera, a DSLR, disposable cameras, webcams, a DIY pinhole camera, even your phone camera will do. Whatever you have will work just fine. No need to go out and buy any new gear for this class.
The only requirement of this course is that you will need some sort of camera.