Montana Photo Workshop 2026
Description
Join me 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, where participants will explore landscape and portrait photography through hands-on demonstration. Any camera system or format is welcome, whether digital or analog, large format or small. 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. I’ll 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 during shared meals and hangouts, offering a deeper look into my working methods and the broader world of contemporary photography.
Community Events at Strata
During each workshop session, we'll also attend a public program hosted by Strata Editions, an artist-run space in Livingston dedicated to art and photography. While the schedule is still being finalized, these events may include artist lectures, film screenings, exhibitions, or other gatherings connected to the local arts community. These visits will be attended together as a class and are intended to expand the workshop experience beyond the classroom, offering participants a chance to engage with artists and conversations taking place in the region during their stay.
Fee
This course costs $1650 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
We’ll meet daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with an off-day in the middle of the workshop for shooting, rest, and exploring the area.
To keep the class groups small and close-knit, there are three sessions to choose from:
1. September 7–11, 2026
2. September 14–18, 2026
3. September 21–25, 2026
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 . Please submit by July 6, 2026.
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, 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 National Geographic, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and many more. He co-founded the imprint Trespasser.
