October 2026 Fully Mentored Four Week Course – Create a Photobook Like a Professional With Stewart Wall

Course Introduction

Thank you for signing up for this fully mentored eight-week photobook and zine workshop using Affinity Publisher 3 – Create a photobook Like a Professional.

The course has been designed to help you create professional-quality photobooks through a practical, step-by-step process. Rather than starting with a blank page, you will begin by working with a supplied template, together with supplied images and text, allowing you to create a completed photobook PDF within the first two weeks.

Once you have successfully produced your first publication, the course will guide you through the process of creating your own templates from scratch, helping you understand not just how to populate a photobook, but how to design and construct one yourself. From there, we will develop the skills needed to create your own projects, refine your visual storytelling, and prepare files for professional printing.

What’s Included:

• Full access to the online course, guiding you step-by-step through the creation of professional-quality photobooks and zines
• Direct email and telephone mentoring, feedback, and support from Stewart throughout the course
• Full access to the course Basecamp community during and after the course for discussion, support, and questions
• Five live Zoom sessions, including four module mentoring sessions and a final end-of-course review
• Ongoing support, encouragement, and feedback as you develop your publications

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📚 Course Content Overview

This fully mentored Eight-week photobook course is divided into 4 modules, where each module lasts 2 weeks.
The whole course is designed to provide you with the structure, support, and resources needed to enable you to fully understand creating photobooks like a professional.
Throughout the course you are very welcome to ask questions about anything concerning photography and photobooks.
Enjoy being part of the course group for general conversation and support about photobooks and zines

Here’s what to expect:

🖥️ Fortnightly Module Zoom Meetings

The course includes four live Zoom mentoring sessions, held at the start of each two-week module. These meetings provide an opportunity to ask questions, share progress, receive feedback, and discuss any challenges you may be experiencing. The Zoom sessions are open only to course participants and all sessions will be recorded for those unable to attend live.

Zoom Meeting Schedule:

27 September — Module 1: Quick Start Creating a Publication Using a Supplied Template and Preparing Files for Print
11 October — Module 2: Creating Photobook Templates from Scratch
25 October — Module 3: Developing Your Own Photobook Project
8 November — Module 4: Developing a Series of Publications
22 November — Finale Session End-of-Course Review, Questions, and Next Steps

📹 All sessions will be recorded, so don’t worry if you’re unable to attend live—you can catch up at your own pace.

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🧑‍💻 Basecamp Group

Attendees have access to a dedicated Basecamp project space, where you can:

• discuss the course lessons
• Ask questions
• Share feedback
• Connect with both Stewart and fellow participants throughout the course

This is your virtual studio space—open 24/7 for collaborative discussion and support.

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💬 Mentoring Support

Stewart is available throughout the course to provide one-to-one guidance, usually via email but also via one-2-one zoom meetings if required. Whether you need feedback on your sequence, layout suggestions, or support preparing your file for print, mentoring is there to help you stay on track.

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🎥 Online Modules and Video Lessons

Throughout the course, you will have access to a series of online learning modules to guide you through the process of designing a great photobook. Each weekly sections go live on the Sunday. If you get stuck with any of them please email Stewart who will guide you through.

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Weekly Agenda

Module 1 — Quick Start

Creating Your First Photobook

• Working with a supplied template
• Understanding pages and spreads
• Replacing images and text
• Exporting a print-ready PDF

Outcome: A completed photobook PDF.

Module 2 — Foundations

The Secret of Creating a Great Photobook

• Concept
• Narrative intention
• Image editing
• Sequencing
• Text
• Project structure

Outcome: A complete set of assets for your own publication.

Module 3 — Building Your Own Template

• Page architecture
• Grids
• Master pages
• Typography
• Building a publication from scratch

Module 4 — Developing a Publishing Practice

• Completing the book
• Printing and proofing
• Zines and photobooks
• Creating a series of publications

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🎥 Final Zoom Meeting – Sunday, November 22nd at 6:00 PM

This wrap-up session gives us all time to receive our printed photobooks, reflect on the process, and share outcomes. It’s also a space to talk about your next steps, future projects, and how to stay engaged with the photobook community.

Let’s enjoy this exciting journey together and create some great photobooks

Course Instructor

stewart wall Author

Stewart Wall is an experienced photographer and educator with over four decades in the industry. He started his career in 1978 when he was offered a job as a press photographer whilst still at school doing A Levels. He went on to work in many different fields of photography before returning to school in 2015 to complete a degree in Photography and Graphic Design, an MA in Photography and Visual Communication, and a Level 7 PGCE teaching qualification. He has taught in colleges and for the Royal Photographic Society and in 2020 was a recipient of the RPS Fenton Medal and made a life-long member for his contributions. It was the same year he wrote the criteria for the RPS Photobook Distinction and chaired the assessments for both that and the Licentiate award. Stewart is dedicated to teaching photographic technique, photobook creation, and visual storytelling, and continues to produce photography and photobooks as potential futureheritage.