Last Updated on August 8, 2022 by Team College Learners

Learn with Magnum Photos

Magnum Photos provides photographers at different stages in their careers with truly unique educational and professional development opportunities. Magnum Photos is committed to making quality education accessible to the next generation of visual storytellers from across the globe.

Magnum Explained

Who are we?

Magnum is a cooperative of photographers based around the world. As well as still images, some of our photographers also use film, writing, and other art forms. We are a community who practice independently, share ideas, and sometimes create work together. Whilst the organisation traditionally centred around offices in Paris, New York and London, nominees in the last decade came from 20 different countries including Turkey, Iran, South Africa, Mexico, India, USA, Singapore, Tunisia, and Spain.

What does that mean? What is a cooperative?

Magnum is owned by its members, who become shareholders in the company once they are elected to full membership. There are 44 members today who engage in the organisation a democratic way: we have debates and also disagreements about how things should be done, and we take votes on key issues. There are many different voices and ideas within the group and we have discussions across generations, across cultures, and across different photographic ideals. We also rotate the board and leadership roles of the President and Vice-Presidents, which are voted on at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) each June.

How do new photographers join?

Anyone can apply to join Magnum though an open call each year which closes in early spring. Current members can also invite applications. At the AGM of shareholders each year, members vote on who to take in as new ‘nominees’. Successful nominees present a portfolio of new work two years later to be voted on becoming ‘associate members’, and a further two years they can submit to be voted to the full membership.

What does Magnum represent photographers for?

Magnum represents photographers for assignments globally, licenses existing work, placing exhibitions, and selling fine prints through their galleries.

How is it run?

The day-to-day operations of the company are run by our CEO, Caitlin Hughes, and her global team in close collaboration with photographers. The organisation is governed by a board that is made up of members, estate representatives and an independent director.

The current board of directors is: Olivia Arthur (President), Matt Black (VP New York), Jonas Bendiksen (VP London), Lorenzo Meloni (VP Paris), Patrick Sutter (Estates representative), Peter Van Agtmael, Richard Kalvar, Stuart Franklin, Fiona Naylor (Independent Director), Mikhael Subotzky, Alessandra Sanguinetti and Larry Towell. Susan Meiselas (Magnum Foundation), Newsha Tavakolian and Marco Bischof (Paris Fonds de Dotation) are also non-voting members of the board.

What about the Magnum Foundations? Who are they?

The Magnum Foundation in New York is a separate non-profit organisation founded by the Magnum Photographers in 2007 with a mission to expand creativity and diversity in documentary photography through grant-making and mentorship of emerging photographers. Its management, finances and governance are independent of Magnum Photos though some Magnum photographers sit on its board. More information can be found here.The Magnum Photos Fonds de Dotation in Paris focuses on the conservation and preservation of the Magnum archives and also has independent management and governance.

What are the rules and values under which we operate?

As a group of individuals we all have our different outlooks but we are also drawn together by common journalistic values. We plan to publicly commit to these values by publishing a new ethical code to guide the practice of members later this year.

Magnum company by-laws give the overall framework for the governance and running of the company, and the relationship between photographers/ estates and the company is encoded in representation agreements. All photographers and team members are also legally obliged to adhere to the code of conduct which was first established in 2018 and will be published soon. 

Sometimes Magnum photographers work is seen in other places, why is that?

Photographers are entitled to sell work on their own or through galleries other than Magnum as well as seek commercial work through alternative routes, however all photographers are represented and available for assignment through Magnum and fine prints are available through Magnum’s galleries. Magnum is also the exclusive place to license work from Magnum’s extensive archive of material.

Is there a time limit to membership?

After 25 years as an associate or member, a photographer can request to become a contributor at the following AGM, and when this happens they sell back their shares and are no longer voting members of the collective. They are not obliged to do so and can remain a member for life instead. A small number of other relationships exist but the majority of photographers move through the processes outlined here.

What happens when a photographer dies?

The work of a photographer can continue to be represented by Magnum after their death on agreement with their estate representatives.

Do photographers ever leave? How does that happen?

Photographers can opt to leave the cooperative by submitting their resignation. A number of photographers have left the cooperative over its history. Permanent exclusion of a photographer can also occur with just cause through a vote of the board of directors, followed by a 2/3 vote of the membership a number of days later.

Online Courses

Magnum Photos offers a range of workshops globally, aimed at all levels, from emerging photographers to established practitioners.CHECK IT OUT

On-Demand Courses

Learn at your own pace with Magnum photographers through in-depth interviews, on-location shoots and off-line workbooks with expanded interviews.CHECK IT OUT

Free Opportunities

Magnum Photos is committed to offering free educational opportunities and scholarships for emerging photographers under-represented in the industry.CHECK IT OUT

 Even after 15 years as a working photographer the Magnum Learn programme this year has been absolutely superb and expanded my mind to new possibilities. Now living in a rural part of Australia I am even more isolated, but thanks to Magnum this year I have been able to connect on a global stage with peers and experts that wouldn’t previously had been possible. LUKE DAVID KELLETT

ONLINE ON-DEMAND

Gregory Halpern: Documentary Sur/Realism

Gregory Halpern leads our latest on-demand class. Featuring a curriculum of 16 lessons, this class unpacks his approach to portraiture, the power of editing and sequencing in building photographic narratives, and shares insights into how his celebrated projects and photobooks – including A, ZZYZX and Omaha Sketchbook – were created.START LEARNING

Upcoming Workshops

SEE ALLPARIS, FRANCE SEPTEMBER 2022 – JULY 2023Creative Documentary and Photojournalism with Magnum Photos and SpéosONLINE 25.03.22 – 27.03.22Professional Practice Series: Working with NGOsOlivia Arthur, Zied Ben RomdhanePARIS, FRANCE 23-25 APRIL, 2022Street Photography Workshop with Richard Kalvar in ParisRichard KalvarISTANBUL, TURKEY 25-29 APRIL, 2022Istanbul: A five-day workshop with Emin Özmen and Cloé KerhoasCloe Kerhoas, Emin OzmenONLINE 13.04.22 – 21.04.22The Making of a Photo Book: A Guide for Photographers and CollectorsAlessandra Sanguinetti, Martin Parr

Mentorship

SEE ALLONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Zied Ben RomdhaneZied Ben RomdhaneONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Jonas BendiksenJonas BendiksenONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Matt BlackMatt BlackONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Chien-Chi ChangChien-Chi ChangONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Sabiha ÇimenSabiha CimenONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Cristina de MiddelCristina de MiddelONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Bieke DepoorterBieke DepoorterONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Carolyn DrakeCarolyn DrakeONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Thomas DworzakThomas DworzakONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Nikos EconomopoulosNikos EconomopoulosONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Stuart FranklinStuart FranklinONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Bruce GildenBruce GildenONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Lorenzo MeloniLorenzo MeloniONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Emin ÖzmenEmin OzmenONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Mark PowerMark PowerONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Lua RibeiraLua RibeiraONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Jérôme SessiniJérôme SessiniONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Lindokuhle SobekwaONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Peter van AgtmaelPeter van AgtmaelONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Yael MartínezYael MartinezONLINE ONGOINGMentorship with Patrick ZachmannPatrick Zachmann

ONLINE MAY 2022 – DECEMBER 2022

Long Term Mentorship with Gilles Peress and Alex Majoli

Are you looking for mentorship on a long-term personal project? Would you benefit from regular feedback or critique from two world-renowned photographers? Do you want to understand more about book publishing or publishing your work journalistically? And are you missing support from a creative community? Find all of this and more via Magnum’s Long Term Mentorship program. Develop your personal or editorial projects with Gilles Peress and Alex Majoli, special guests from across the industry, along with your peers, over the course of six months.APPLY NOW

Mentorship

Through multiple interactive online sessions, this mentorship will help you to identify next steps in the production process of a long term or personal project. Magnum photographers will guide their mentees on all aspects of the creative process: from concept development, and editing and sequencing, to the process of discovering and making a long-term project that you’re passionate about, to practical advice on photographing in the field.
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Free Opportunities

Magnum Photos is committed to fostering better access to opportunities within our own organization and the wider photographic industry. Over the past five years we have provided free educational offerings for over 1,200 emerging photographers.

We offer scholarships opportunities for many activities across our educational program, ranging from workshops and seminars, to portfolio reviews and our professional practice series.APPLY NOW

Learn at your own pace

Learn through the lenses of Magnum Photos’ members. Discover our growing catalogue of on-demand courses. The Art of Street Photography brings together seven Magnum photographers who share their best advice on making work in the streets, while Alec Soth leads an in-depth course on photographic storytelling and Bieke Depoorter offers insights into building trust with your subjects, and her unique approach to collaborative portraiture.

Latest Workshops 28

Magnum offers a range of workshops globally, aimed at all levels, from emerging photographers to established practitioners

The Making of a Photo Book: A Guide for Photographers and CollectorsOnline13.04.22 – 21.04.22UPCOMING“On Assignment” workshop with Moises SamanOnline05.04.22 – 19.04.22UPCOMINGIstanbul: A five-day workshop with Emin Özmen and Cloé KerhoasIstanbul, Turkey25-29 April, 2022UPCOMINGStreet Photography Workshop with Richard Kalvar in ParisParis, France23-25 April, 2022UPCOMINGProfessional Practice Series: Working with NGOsOnline25.03.22 – 27.03.22UPCOMINGMentorship with Lindokuhle SobekwaOnlineOngoingCURRENTMentorship with Zied Ben RomdhaneOnlineOngoingCURRENTMentorship with Jérôme SessiniOnlineOngoingCURRENTCreative Documentary and Photojournalism with Magnum Photos and SpéosParis, FranceSeptember 2022 – July 2023UPCOMINGMentorship with Emin ÖzmenOnlineOngoingCURRENTMentorship with Jonas BendiksenOnlineOngoingCURRENTMentorship with Patrick ZachmannOnlineOngoingCURRENTMentorship with Nikos EconomopoulosOnlineOngoingCURRENTMentorship with Thomas DworzakOnlineOngoingCURRENTMentorship with Lua RibeiraOnlineOngoingCURRENT