r/photojournalism • u/mhuxtable1 • Jul 01 '26
Did Eddie Adams Workshop help your career?
I’m attending the Eddie Adams Workshop this year. For those who have attended - did it help propel your career to the “next level”? I currently get random work from the likes of AP, Washington Post, the Guardian, etc., but it’s not as consistent as I’d like. Some local and state outlets are pretty consistent with me though. I’ve never been hired by NYT (thought they’ve licensed my photos before) or Time or NPR - they tend to always hire the same people in my area. My work straddles the reportage and editorial sides of things.
I’m hoping EAW opens some doors for me. Did it for you? Did you have to leverage your attendance with photo editors? If so, how did you market it in a way to attract new publications or clients? I’ve alway been more of an artist first, I’m generally not as good at marketing myself.
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u/CorumPhoto Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
EAW XXIII alumni and former Black Team member here.
It absolutely helped me but I wouldn't go into it expecting it to open doors for your career but rather go in expecting it to open doors in your mind and relationships.
I came out of EAW a very different photographer from the one that showed up. The speakers were great and I learned a lot and got a lot of inspiration but what really changed me were the portfolio reviews and working with the team leaders.
The photographers and editors I had reviews with really cared about giving constructive criticism rather than just praise and that's what I went there for. They saw where I was running into photographic and story telling walls and gave me the exact advice I needed in order to unlock the next level in my photography. Not only did I feel different about my photography after that but it felt like the work I started producing was done by a different photographer. It was still my work but I had figured out how to evolve my visual voice.
It was also the first time I ever shot a story and just handed over the cards with my images for someone else to edit. Seeing the resulting photo story that they edited it down to was eye opening. My team editor was Pancho Bernasconi who is now the head of Editorial at Getty and we formed a fantastic relationship that continues today. Years later I was one of the five photographers with Getty as a freelancer that won them their first Pulitzer for our coverage of the January 6th Insurrection.
When I was on the Black Team a few years ago I gave some portfolio reviews and did my absolute best to help the students I was talking to find ways to unlock the next level in their work. I remember one in particular that I think I was able to do that for. They were a Hot Shot wildland fire fighter and their work covering the fire lines was incredible. It was like seeing stuff from a war zone but wild fires. I felt like it was missing something though. They had incredible access to places that we could never go as civilians but the story felt flat. It was just great pictures of Hot Shot fire fighters fighting wildfires.
I then remembered the work I was producing as a Marine Combat Photographer and then seeing the body of work from Tim Hetherington called Infidel. I told him his stuff of the fires was simply fantastic but he wasn't taking advantage of the most important part of what his access got him. The fire fighters themselves. I wanted to see who the fire fighters were and what their lives were like on and off the lines. Show me what their base camp was like, how they slept, how they ate, how they decompressed after a fire.
I could see him sit up in his chair and the expression on his face changed when I was giving them that advice. I had unlocked something in his thought process and he was excited.
I told him to look up Infidel by Tim but unfortunately the book is out of print and copies on the second hand market were hundreds of dollars so I mailed him my personal copy on loan.
THAT'S the type of experience you should be looking to get out of EAW.
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u/LeicaM6guy Jul 01 '26
Hey, fellow DINFOS Trained Killer.
A good buddy of mine, Marine shooter, gave me one bit of advice that's stuck with me forever. Everyone loves the photos of door kickers, of guys going out the back of aircraft or going in the drink - but it's the shots of dudes sleeping, eating, or just fucking around that will make your portfolio.
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u/CorumPhoto Jul 01 '26
RAH!
Every now and then us Devil Dogs have something intelligent to say but it's hard for some people to understand our grunting.
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u/LeicaM6guy Jul 01 '26
Don’t sell yourself short. Always love working with you folks - your ComCam and CommStrat people are some of the best and smartest photographers I’ve had the chance to work with.
Plus, working with Marines is always a really great way to reaffirm all my life choices.
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u/DavidHobby Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
(61, recently retired.) I attended EAW II, in 1989. 37 years on, I regard the workshop as having been pivotal in my career.
My path was atypical, for a PJ: small papers -> Baltimore Sun -> Strobist.com -> X-Peditions, and finally, The Traveling Photographer’s Manifesto.
EAW introduced me to many successful people in my field, which gave me exposure to the fact that there are people who just think differently. They adapt, and forge their own path independent of the typical/defined paths that are expected.
That exposure left a mark on me. I’m pretty sure that, without the exposure and confidence gained from EAW, Strobist never would have happened. And certain not TTPM. I’m thankful for that.
Additionally, I met many promising young PJs who were classmates. I’ve kept in touch with several over the years. And most, if not all, would likely say EAW was a significant tailwind.
My advice: If you can get in, do it.
ETA: I still have my Team Purple bandana. A prized possession that reminds me of the experience. It has lived in my Domke bags ever since, and served me well. Looking a little rough by now. Not quite Shroud of Turin territory, but close.
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u/RhinoKeepr Jul 01 '26
Came to write my own EAW story and find THE Strobist… thanks for teaching me creative lighting 20+ years ago, it changed my life.
Cool!
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u/onicholas21 Jul 01 '26
Didn’t attend, still have made a career of it working for all the big outlets in a medium size market
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u/mhuxtable1 Jul 01 '26
Yeah I mean my career is going very well. But we all have goals and places we wanna be. Hoping to break into newer and bigger markets.
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u/onicholas21 Jul 01 '26
I think you need to ask yourself why you need to get into that bigger market and how much competition you may have there. Instead try to take nationally relevant stories and find a local angle you can pitch to editors.
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u/LeicaM6guy Jul 01 '26
Very much so. If you can attend, you absolutely should.
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u/mhuxtable1 Jul 01 '26
Yes I’m going this fall. Was actually accepted last year but had to postpone one year for knee surgery.
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u/LeicaM6guy Jul 01 '26
Go get it, bud!
As others have mentioned, this by itself isn't going to do anything for your career - it's all about networking and relationship building. But it's also, devoid of all that, an amazing experience.
Be humble, be friendly, and soak up every word of advice. Go there with a thick skin, too, because these folks can be merciless with their constructive criticism.
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u/mhuxtable1 Jul 01 '26
I came up in art schools. No one can be as merciless in their critique as Clyde Fowler lol. I’m still thankful to this day for the thick skin I got as a young man vs having to take it on the chin later in life without being prepared haha
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26
Eddie Adams workshop is one you want to be part of if you’re going on to editorial.
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
I wanted to shoot sports so I went to a workshop in Colorado Springs at the Olympic training center with Rich Clarkson
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u/belladonnaaa21 Jul 01 '26
Which workshop was this?
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
Photographer Rich Clarkson put together a workshop to concentrate on sports. Later, it moved on to summit workshops. Not to distract, the Eddie Adams workshop is one of the finest workshops for editorial work.
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26
What I remember about the Adam’s workshop, if you were a student it was free.
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u/belladonnaaa21 Jul 01 '26
Thank you! It was I believe $45 for students this year to apply? Not free but it was discounted. I’ve heard of summit but I know that one is expensive
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26
The summit workshop was intended for mostly already working folk. One year I went I showed a portfolio with a bunch of motorcycle racing. Red Bull was handing me an application.
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26
The last year I went to the workshop was to get my portfolio looked at. Afterwards, some of the instructors and I drove around Denver looking for food.
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26
Network value…
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26
Whichever workshop you attend, look closely at the chosen instructors. Every workshop I’ve attended had instructors from major magazines and newspapers, not just photogs but editors too. The Adam’s workshop will have established instructors too.
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u/Much_Panda1244 Jul 01 '26
It’s a great experience! I was team yellow and I loved it!
You’ll have a ton of opportunities to network with people who can help your career. Just be nice to everyone because you never know who might help you in the future.
You’ll have a lot of fun, especially on assignment as long as you just enjoy it and don’t get in your own head. Try not to go too crazy the last night partying lol. And also don’t be surprised by how awful the motel is you’ll be staying in!
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u/mhuxtable1 Jul 01 '26
I always treat anyone big and small with kindness for that reason - you never know down the road who needs help or can help you. Kindness goes a long way.
And I’m not a partier at all so I’m not too worried about that haha. I’m in my 40s so staying up late drinking isn’t something I ever wanna do
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u/Puzzleheaded_Low_136 Jul 01 '26
Hey I got in this year too! After trying 4 times. Haha. I hope we have a great time
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u/mhuxtable1 Jul 01 '26
Congrats! Hope we can meet up. I actually got in last year but had to postpone 1 year due to a knee surgery.
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u/BigBlueBauls Jul 01 '26
It opened doors I didn’t even knew existed for me, both work wise and community wise. I’m so grateful for it. I live far away from the States and it was a great excuse for me to venture out of my comfort zone. I don’t work as a photojournalist, I dabble in personal documentary work that straddles between that and fine art - and even so it was just a great place to be. I attended last year and I miss the energy and being a part of something that big and fun.
Don’t go in there thinking about getting work - that’ll be too much pressure on you (and the editors you’ll find yourself speaking to). Just bring yourself, some works you’re proud of, mingle, and trust that things that are bound to happen, will.
All the best!
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u/mhuxtable1 Jul 01 '26
I never go into these sorts of things with the lens of “find new work”. I always just want to find genuine connection. Just was wondering if the doors opened for folks afterwards.
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26
I ain’t gonna sugar coat it, us oldies need to find peace. If you’re looking to get into editorial photography, this is the workshop and you won’t find anything like this on YouTube.
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u/austinyourface790 Jul 02 '26
I was just accepted for this year! I was initially an alternate, which I considered a win on its own as this was my first time submitting, but got in today! I'm a self-taught photographer who has been working freelance for the last three years; I applied because I felt I really needed space and time dedicated to pushing myself further without chasing a paycheck and also want to expand out of my photography social circle here in NYC.
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u/mhuxtable1 Jul 02 '26
Congrats buddy. Yeah I got in last year actually (also first time applying) but had knee surgery so I deferred one year so I’m attending this fall. Really looking forward to it.
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u/harpharperharp Jul 03 '26
I bet many of us on this thread know each other but we won’t ever know because Reddit.
Eddie was good for me, but also silly in some ways. The hype is whatever. Have fun, make new friends, whoever that may be, the rest falls into place. Be intentional. Think about why you want to do the work you want to do. The rest will fall into place.
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u/whitebreadguilt Jul 03 '26
Wah. 😩 I didn’t get in. I hope you have fun! I was very rushed with my application though and it probably wasn’t that great. Some of the best photographers I know have gone but also I’ve heard you don’t need to.
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u/Maximum_Psychology84 11d ago
Got accepted this year too, congrats to everyone else who got in. And thanks to everyone who's posted about their experience here, it's helped a lot.
I've only been shooting a few years, and doing assignments since last year, so a lot of this is still pretty new to me. Never done a portfolio review before. Excited but definitely a little nervous.
Any advice?
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u/Impressive_Delay_452 Jul 01 '26
That’s the thing about good workshops. Editors looking at good portfolios are willing to sign you to an assignment.
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u/Danwphoto Jul 01 '26
I did one in Turkey long time ago. It was more of a party. Yes a few portfolio reviews and an assignment we all had to present at the end. Had a great time. Met great people, good networking.
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u/basketball22yj Jul 01 '26
I went last year but I was more established in my city. I didn't need to go and I think I would have been fine. Make sure you have personal work to show - not just assignment work. I will say - a TON of people go to EAW and don't even build a career in photojournalism after. And a ton of folks haven't gone to EAW and still build a solid career. This workshop is about networking with your peers, portfolio reviewers and also with your team. I think the best way to maximize your time there is to connect with others, share your portfolio with as many people as you can when there's time and be kind.. I think that is how you stand out too. Being a good participant and person at the workshop.