October 2026 An Eight Week Fully Mentored photobook Workshop Designing a Great Photobook Like a Professional – from Concept to Printing using Affinity Publisher with Stewart Wall

Description

Designing a Great Photobook / Zine Like a Professional – from Concept to Printing Workshop

A Fully Mentored Eight-Week Online Photobook Workshop with Stewart Wall

Begins September 27th 2026

Two of the things I love most about creating photobooks is the sense that it makes my photography eternal. In a world where so many photographs remain hidden on hard drives or in prints that few people ever see, I believe that once published in a photobook, my work has a chance to be appreciated by someone, somewhere, in the future. I love that idea. But its more than that, the second thing is that the making of the photography for a photobook changes how I take photographs. Creating photobooks today reminds me of seeing my photographs published in the newspapers when I was a press photographer, a career that I started in 1978.

But I aim for my photobooks is to go beyond simply showcasing my images, like a photo album might. I want them to share the experience of creating those photographs and the reasons behind them. My goal is to craft photobooks with stories—narratives that engage and absorb the viewer. I love the idea of someone looking at my photobooks in 50 years time and seeing what life was like today. Creating a photobook is akin to creating a piece of heritage for the future.

Join Me for a Fully Mentored Photobook Workshop in 2026 starting with an introduction on Sunday 27th September between 6pm and 7.30pm
Over eight, I will guide you through every step of creating your own photobook. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have produced a compelling, professional looking photobook you’ll be proud to share.

The live Zoom session lasting around 90 minutes to introduce the weeks online modules for everyone on the course. If you can’t attend live, a recording will be sent to you immediately afterward. 
> You will also have access to an easy to follow online course that will guide you through the process.
> At all times you will have full email support from me, ensuring you have the help you need at every stage.

The zoom sessions are recorded in case you can’t make them all. They will take place on:
Module 1 – Sunday September 27th 6pm – 7.30pm
Module 2 – Sunday October 11th  6pm – 7.30pm
Module 3 – Sunday October 25th  6pm – 7.30pm
Module 4 –  Sunday November 8th  6pm – 7.30pm
Final zoom- Sunday November 22nd  6pm – 7.30pm

What You’ll Learn

This four-module workshop takes you from creating your first photobook using a supplied template to developing the skills and confidence to design, print and publish your own photobooks and zines.

Module 1 — Quick Start

Creating Your First Photobook

Rather than spending weeks learning software before you make anything, we’ll start by creating a photobook.

You’ll work with a supplied Affinity template and learn how to:

• Understand pages and spreads
• Replace photographs and text
• Work with an existing photobook layout
• Prepare your book for printing
• Export a print-ready PDF

Outcome: A completed photobook PDF ready to print.

Module 2 — Foundations

The Secret of Creating a Great Photobook

With your first book created, we’ll explore what turns a collection of photographs into an engaging photobook.

We’ll look at:

• Concept
• Narrative intention
• Image editing
• Sequencing
• Working with text
• Project structure

We’ll also look at successful photobooks and consider how photographers use photographs, words, sequencing and design to communicate their ideas.

Outcome: A complete set of photographs, words and ideas ready to develop into your own publication.

Module 3 — Building Your Own Template

Now we move beyond the supplied template and learn how to construct a photobook or zine from scratch.

You’ll explore:

• Page architecture
• Pages and spreads
• Grids
• Master pages
• Typography
• Image placement
• Working with text
• Building a repeatable publication template
• Preparing files for print

Outcome: Your own reusable photobook or zine template and the skills to create publications independently.

Module 4 — Developing a Publishing Practice

The final module moves beyond making a single photobook and considers how photography can become a continuing publishing practice.

We’ll explore:

• Completing and refining your book
• Printing and proofing
• Choosing between zines and photobooks
• Working with professional printers
• Preparing images and colour for print
• Creating a series of related publications
• Developing future photographic projects through publishing

Outcome: A completed publication and, more importantly, a method you can continue using to create future photobooks and zines.

Final Zoom Meeting

After completing the four modules, we’ll come together for a final Zoom session to review your publications, discuss what you have learned and look at how you can take your publishing practice forward.

Throughout the workshop, I’ll provide detailed, personalised feedback to help you develop your ideas and your publication.

My aim isn’t just to teach you how to operate publishing software. It is to help you understand the complete journey from photographic idea to printed publication — and give you a process you can use again and again.

Course Feedback From Some Previous Attendees

From Courses held 2025/26:

John Orr
Your course materials are really excellent from a photography and pedagogic perspective. I say this as someone with 30 years experience as a former Government Inspector of education programmes!
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Gerry Coe FRPS
Having just finished Stewart Wall’s book/zine making course I would just like to say how much I enjoyed it. Stewart takes you through the use of Affinity and how to lay out your pages for your book. I had never used Affinity before so it took a little while to get used to the layout but once that was sorted it was fairly easy. There were plenty of demos and videos on how to do many of the tasks and if you were not sure you could go back and watch again. Sometimes there may not have been a video to cover a specific topic but Stewart would make a special one to show how to solve any problem you have. If you are interested in making books or zines then I can highly recommend this course run by a master book maker who knows what he is talking about.
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Viveca Koh FRPS
Personally I took so much from Stewart‘s excellent course, both in terms of learning and inspiration. The combination of pre-recorded video tutorials, live Zoom sessions and clear and concise written materials worked extremely well, allowing everything to be absorbed at one’s own pace. No prior knowledge of the Affinity software was needed beforehand, Stewart explained everything clearly, was very patient as a teacher and generous with his time, being available for additional mentoring and support via email or the group collaboration app Basecamp. I have completed the course with a book I’m proud of, aided by Stewart‘s expertise, and I’m inspired to carry on creating and printing books in the future. A creative, enjoyable and highly recommended course.
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Peter Clarke
Thanks very much for providing this course. I enjoyed it immensely. I have never created a photobook and this course took me to the point where I was able to produce a high quality professional looking photobook. The course was well put together with excellent, well thought out, materials presented in a timely manner. Your ability to respond to queries quickly, using clear explanations, generally with short purpose made videos was excellent, and helped, I believe, to allow all the students achieve the objective of moving from zero to hero in creating a good quality photobook. The breadth of material taught was extensive, from the use of Affinity to the settings required for sending the file to the publisher, to the type and clarity of the font used, background colour, and the consideration of the story of the book. I don’t know how we managed to fit in all the subject matter in one month. Thanks again and I would strongly recommend your course to anyone who is thinking of, or who would like to be able to produce their own photobook.
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Mike Helft
Stewart’s course on Photobooks covered every aspect of creating all types of books from zines to full books. He taught all the topics in a clear easy to follow way and took the time to ensure everyone was following along. Outside the formal sessions he has a very active community for attendees and answers all questions extremely quickly. I would highly recommend this course if you have any desire to produce a book of your photos.
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Carol Hudson
An excellent course. Very comprehensive. Stewart is supportive throughout and keen for everyone to achieve a printed photobook. Most of us are now planning our next book. Certainly if you are thinking of producing a photobook this is a very worthwhile course.
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Howard Fisher
Stewart’s course are well worth the investment. He is an excellent teacher, pleasant and most helpful and the course structures cover the subject perfectly. I always finish them inspired.
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Denise Bailey
I had never used the software before and never made a photobook but within four weeks my first printed book was in my hands. Stewarts calm and professional teaching style really suited me. We had a dedicated site where we could interact with Stewart and the other course participants between meetings and feed off each other’s ideas. Stewart answered any between meeting questions here and posted little videos to illustrate various points. I really enjoyed the course and can’t recommend it highly enough
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Mike Helft
Stewart’s course on Photobooks covered every aspect of creating all types of books from zines to full books. He taught all the topics in a clear easy to follow way and took the time to ensure everyone was following along. Outside the formal sessions he has a very active community for attendees and answers all questions extremely quickly. I would highly recommend this course if you have any desire to produce a book of your photos.
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Chris McIntosh
Stewart’s Photobook Course has been the most immersive photography course I have attended and of extraordinary value. The breadth and depth of content has been extensive with additional elements added as needed throughout the course. Stewart has also been available to reply to our many queries at short notice.
With his huge expertise he has guided us to become competent at the use of Affinity Publisher but, more importantly, to improve both our artisanal and artistic abilities in photobook creation. As a result, by the end of the course I feel that the goal of creating an interesting and good quality photobook is now much more achievable and I am sure this is a sentiment shared by all on the course. Very highly recommended.
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Peter Roworth FRPS.
“Four weeks of well prepared video lessons took the participants on a journey from the story concept through to a print-ready photobook. Tuition in using Affinity Publisher gave everybody an opportunity to prepare their own photobook in readiness for a commercial printer. Each week began with a zoom call outlining our lessons, and a Basecamp became the discussion hub for attendees as the course progressed.
Additional zoom calls arranged by Stewart included conversations with photographers who specialise in self-publishing photobooks – these proved to be a valuable part of the course.
Although at times the workload was intense, everybody maintained their own pace and Stewart, in his own professional and enthusiastic way, was there to help and guide us. All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable course and I would recommend it for anyone who wants to discover how to self-publish their own photobook.”
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John Rutherford
I have both enjoyed the course and found it very useful. I have achieved my aim of getting a book to a printer and I am sure it will be followed by many more of improving quality. I look forward to more interaction with the group.
Thank you for all your hard work, challenge and support in making such a high quality course
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Howard Fisher
Stewart Wall is an excellent teacher and communicator.  His courses are comprehensive and delivered in a relaxed manner which helps his students learn steadily and fully.  Stewart gives full support to his students and has a great interest in everything they do within the course and outside it.  His courses cannot be excelled, and I highly recommend any photographer whether at the start of their photography journey or well along that journey to take a course.  All levels of experience will benefit and will not regret it for a moment.
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John Moore
I was a little stuck with my photography. Like many people I was a little disillusioned with the photoclub type photography and needed some sort of new direction. I had always been ‘sort of’ interested in the idea of photobooks. A new course on PhotoBooks run by Stewart Wall has helped me to reinvigorate my photographic enthusiasm. This course linked me with other similar people and is great for those with only a base level of understanding on how to use their skills to produce a simple (or more complex) body of work for publication. Stewart is a great tutor, mentor and will encourage you to use whatever ability you might have to produce something you will value.
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Graeme Reynolds
This photobook course gave me exactly the motivation I needed to take a more project-based approach to my photography. The content was thorough, and Stewart’s organisation and delivery were outstanding. I looked forward to the weekly interactive Zoom sessions with Stewart and the other participants; they were not only enjoyable but also offered invaluable feedback that helped me improve. The step-by-step guidance on using the Affinity Publisher 2 software was clear and accessible, and Stewart was always available to help if any issues came up. I’m thrilled with the photobook I created during the course and feel well-equipped to produce many more in the future.
I wholeheartedly recommend this course to anyone looking to take their photography to the next level.
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Jan Gray
I found the course very interesting and extremely useful. The tutorial videos were thorough and helped greatly in compiling the zine.I also found the recommendations of other photographers’ videos valuable information and suggestions of what could be produced. Also, the use of Basecamp was a good way of getting us as a group to discuss things.
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Alan Carr
Stewart’s course – it was certainly very comprehensive and informative – significantly more content than I expected.  I hadn’t considered the style, artistic intent/narrative aspect that those more familiar with the visual arts would be aware of. The course introduces delegates to the notion of the artistic intent and personal style that informs the content and approach to working up a project, giving examples of the genre and very attentive assistance during the programme.  There is a great deal of useful info available with a thorough overview of Affinity Publisher and subsequent interaction with printers.  A great learning experience and very good value.