Montana Photo Workshop 2026
Description
Join photographer Bryan Schutmaat in Livingston, Montana, for an immersive workshop set against the grand backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. This course is primarily centered on creative development in a classroom setting. It will also feature fieldwork and guided sessions, where participants will explore landscape and portrait photography through direct, hands-on demonstration. The workshop will include personalized critiques, artist lectures, and extended Q&A sessions designed to address your individual goals and challenges. Together, we’ll examine creative process, intention, and what it means to build a compelling body of work. A main focus of the course will be photobook creation and its emotional, narrative, and conceptual significance. Participants are encouraged, though not required, to bring a project in-progress for discussion and critique. Bryan will offer in-depth feedback and provide guidance on how to approach publication. Beyond the structured sessions, there will be plenty of informal opportunities to engage, whether over shared meals or hangouts, offering a deeper look into my working methods and the broader world of contemporary photography.
Fee
This five-day course costs $1675 USD. A 50% deposit is required upon acceptance to secure your spot, with the balance due by September 1, 2026. Travel, accommodation, and meals are not included.
Schedule
There are three sessions to choose from:
1. September 7–11
2. September 14–18
3. September 21–25
Application
To apply, email schutmaat@gmail.com with the subject "Montana 2026" and include:
20–30 photos of your work
a brief project statement
CV (optional)
your preferred session dates (see above)
Please use a file hosting service like WeTransfer or Dropbox to share your images. There is no fee to apply.
Deadline
Applications are open and must be submitted by July 6. Selected participants will be notified July 13.
Location
This workshop will be held in Livingston, Montana, just north of Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park, with excursions into the nearby wilderness for fieldwork and dedicated photography time. Please note that the closest major airport to Livingston is Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is approximately 35 miles away. We will help to coordinate carpooling among attendees.
Instructor
Bryan Schutmaat is a photographer based in Austin, Texas whose work has been widely exhibited and published. He has won numerous awards, including a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, the Aperture Portfolio Prize, and an Aaron Siskind Fellowship. Bryan’s prints are held in many collections, such as the Harvard Art Museums, Rijksmuseum, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, among others. His work has appeared in the National Geographic, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and many more. He co-founded the imprint Trespasser.
