JOIN THE COLLECTIVE

You will get in at the current price and be locked in at that price as long as you remain a member in good standing. You will have access to all the content for as long as you are a member. No strings attached. You can stay for as long as you like.

CRISTINA DE MIDDEL

VISUAL ARTIST / MAGNUM

Learn how to unleash your creativity with Cristina, and author of more than 13 photo books, in which she constantly challenges our perception of reality and fiction.

ROBIN HAMMOND

PHOTOGRAPHER / PANOS

Think beyond what is possible with your photography, with Robin's unique entrepreneurial mindset. He founded Witness Change to amplify the voice of those suffering in silence. His work ‘Where Love Is Illegal’ has become an impactful and popular social media campaign

MAGDALENA HERRERA

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY / GEO FRANCE

She knows everything about editing a story!

Magdalena has worked in books, print, and magazines, spending ten years as art director and head of the photo department at National Geographic France before joining GEO France as Director of Photography.

MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER BROWN

DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER

His ability to capture critical moments with an iPhone in Lybia, China, Egypt, Congo, Cuba, or Palestine has led to his involvement with Time, The New York Times Magazine, and National Geographic's Instagram platforms; reaching millions of followers to inform and educate on social and political issues in remote and under-reported areas of the world.

TANYA HABJOUQA

PHOTOGRAPHER / NOOR IMAGES

She will shake your world, your creative thinking and stimulate your imagination! That I can guarantee! Her projects bring politics and creative vision into the same frame, interlaying journalistic, academic, conceptual, and documentary practices.

BERTAN SELIM

Head of Programmes / Prince Claus Fund

Head of Programmes at Prince Claus Fund and Founder of the VID Foundation, he knows all about giving, caring, and how to support the careers of documentary photographers and visual artists from the Global South, that often expose unseen and relevant social issues.

“Choosing to enroll in your training was the wisest choice I have made this year! Your vision of the world and your humanity are helping me a lot, thanks to your enthusiasm I was able to continue and go deeper into a work that I have been doing for a long time, the one with my daughters. Every now and then I reread the notes I took during your lessons and I find that there are really wonderful ideas on how to construct the work, to make it clear in my head, to think about what I really want to say, to whom (even if this part is still a bit fuzzy), how, thinking about before, during and after, doing research, really connecting with the people in front of you...in short, working seriously and passionately to arrive at a result that satisfies me!”

Caterina Suzzi

“I can say that I work more carefully and slowly while selecting the photos. Especially a portfolio I prepared with the information I gained during my education here received the second prize, best portrait series award at NPPA. I guess I was not patient and careful in the previous editing of my photographs. Now, it is as if the previous photo speaks to the next photo while choosing the photos as if there is a relationship between them. I cannot say that I paid close attention to this before. One of the practical things I learned here was that my communication with editors was simpler, clearer, and more engaging. This gave me a new perspective on my professional life. As a result, it's not enough just to have good stories. We need editors to bring these stories to more people..”

Kerem Yüciel

“It was very helpful for me to hear you talking about the importance of daily routines. How important it is to focus on and not to lose the connection with photography. To go out with the camera as often as possible. And to learn that failing is part of the game. I like the editing sessions (to learn why you have chosen the edited pictures) as well as the sessions with the guest experts. It’s always inspiring to see other photographers’ work and listen to them talking about their work and approach. And I also very much appreciate the self-supporting structure of The Collective. It is helpful to know other photographers and the possibility to contact them for more personal exchange. I really appreciate the kindness of the group. It’s good to know that I have this professional network in the background. ” 

Maren Preib

The collective is one of the strongest pillars in building and finding own unique voice and visual language. It has narrowed down the chaos and allowed me to look beyond documenting & reporting. It has given me a mental and creative space where it unlocks doors to creativity and allows me to imagine. Being in this profession you are always circled by questions and self-doubts and it is very important that you are guided by such a collective as it nurtures you and amplifies your voices and thought-process from day to day. The collective doesn’t teach us what to see rather it educates us on how to see so that we find and reflect as we grow and nurture the mind and visual literacy. I have started noticing many differences within my approach and documenting in the field after months of in-depth training. It taught us how we can be better at telling stories that are important and close to our hearts. It has not only cultivated the power of visual language but also enabled us in finding our own unique voice and art of storytelling. It has further elevated my professional development and it continues to do so.

Masood Sarwer

I came to Sebastian training with what I considered a sturdy background in visual storytelling after years of working as a journalist and television producer. I think the emphasis Sebastian put on suggesting that people think of why they are doing what they are doing is key -this insight is- much more personal and intimate.

His teachings are instructive in that they offer specific, concrete references, which makes them very prescriptive. The same goes for the editing sessions.

I got the insight that "a bunch of pretty pictures" is just not enough, now I feel like there is so much more work for me to do than I thought when I began. There is a bigger picture and a broader vernacular that I have only glimpsed.”

Michelle Gagnon

Your training and the open discussions have helped me take a clearer look at my work, engage even more intensively with others' work and with my permanent learning process.

Watching your review of another student’s portfolio, your comments remarks, and how you edited it had an inspiring effect on me and gave me a powerful motivational push.

I feel even more motivated and pushed not to give up and work even harder on my personal Visual Voice.

Marcel Mayer

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHO CAN JOIN THE COLLECTIVE?

The Collective is designed for photographers, storytellers, and visual thinkers.

AM I READY FOR THE COLLECTIVE?

It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a pro, here is space for you to grow and expand your career.

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO STAY IN THE COLLECTIVE?

As long as you would like! You can cancel your subscription at any time.

IS THERE A SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTHLY CONTENT?

Yes!

Every monthly session includes these 5 lessons:

1. Educational Lesson

2. Behind The scenes of my Studio or my Work in the field

3. Guest Expert Interview with Leaders of our Industry

4. Creative Challenge

5. Live Q&A Discussion

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T MAKE IT TO THE LIVE SESSIONS?

No problem! All the sessions will be recorded and uploaded to my educative platform so you can watch them at your own pace!

WHAT TYPE OF COMMITMENT IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE EDUCATIVE MATERIAL?

No strings attached! We are all busy; I get it. That’s why you can follow the content at your own pace.

WHO IS BEHIND THE CREATION OF THE COLLECTIVE CONTENT?

Sebastian Liste is the creator and curator of this platform, and all the content included in The Collective.

HOW OFTEN WILL SEBASTIAN BE INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY?

Sebastian will be in the community answering questions on a weekly basis, and he will be hosting Live Q&A discussions monthly.

FOR HOW LONG WILL THERE BE ACCESS TO THIS OPPORTUNITY?

The Collective will only open a couple of times per year.

Doors close on November 16th