Image & Text Workshop: Photographing and Writing About Your Work

Many creatives struggle to present their work clearly, whether in person, on a website, or on social media.

This practical studio workshop introduces simple tools to help you photograph your work and communicate your creative practice through visual storytelling and engaging text.

Through guided exercises, you will explore how images and text work together to add meaning, context and a deeper story to creative work.

You will photograph an object, artwork, or material from your practice and develop the key texts creatives often need. We will develop captions, work descriptions, a personal strapline, and the foundation of an artist statement.

The workshop focuses on visual storytelling, writing and practical documentation techniques that you can continue using in your own practice and field research.

This session grew out of conversations within the Atelier Māya community. Over the past year and a half, in creative workshops with more than 300 participants, these challenges frequently appeared in discussions about documenting and communicating creative work.

How to photograph your work using simple tools
We will explore practical techniques for documenting artwork, objects, textiles and materials using natural light and everyday equipment and tools. We will share creative smartphone techniques and how to work with limited time (and space), if you don't have a camera.

How to write strong captions
Learn how writing good captions can add context, meaning and a deeper story to images. We will learn how to show, not tell.

How to write clear work descriptions
We will work with a very simple framework to describe objects, materials, processes and creative ideas in a concise and engaging way.

A workable artist strapline
We will create short introductions that summarise creative practice.

The foundation of an artist statement
We will develop a short statement that can later be edited and expanded for portfolios, exhibitions or applications.

- a photograph or two of your work

- a written caption

- a short work description

- a personal strapline

- a draft artist statement

- portfolios

- websites

- exhibitions

- social media

- press introductions

This workshop is open to anyone working in the creative and visual arts, including:

artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, makers, writers, creative freelancers and students.

No previous writing experience is required.

-a small artwork, object, textile or material sample

-a sketchbook and tools from their practice

-a smartphone or camera

-laptop or ipad

All the tools you will bring will be used during the workshop. Demonstrations will also be done with studio lights and professional camera gear used in our studio, in our work, field work and research.

Examples of our own creative projects, feature writing, and visual journalism will be used as guidance and inspiration during the workshop and for photography and writing exercises.

The workshop is led by , a visual researcher, photographer and founder of , a Berlin-based textile and design atelier and research space dedicated to textile traditions, craft practices and experimental printmaking. Lizane has two decades of experience in photography, multimedia journalism and design.

Lizane holds a Master’s degree in Journalism, a degree in Visual and Performing Arts, and certificates and diplomas in Multimedia Journalism and Design.

Louw’s work explores the relationship between image, text and material culture, documenting craft traditions, creative processes and objects through photography and research.

At Atelier Māya, she hosts workshops and print labs exploring textile traditions, block printing and creative practice.

Spiritual Essence, Bagru 2024. This photograph captures a traditional textile workshop's rustic charm and enduring creative spirit. Surrounded by history and religious iconography, the well-worn tables and intricate wooden blocks on the shelves symbolise the ambience of the handblock printing heritage craft. This space, alive with the echoes of past artisans, invites reflection on the cultural depth and spiritual essence printed into each fabric created in this space. Photo Lizane Louw

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Host or Publisher Māya by Lizane Louw