I've proudly worked in collaboration with the following universities, colleges and professional photography associations nationwide:
I was the featured guest on the B&H Photography Podcast, their top rated show in 2021. Click here to listen.
This business minded photography workshop is geared toward photographers with an interest in a career producing images for various media outlets, nonprofits, foundations and corporations. Open to the public, it provides practical, timely advice and information addressing the many business issues that freelancers must contend with on a daily basis and provides you with knowledge to help you manage your freelance career. I have a strong desire to maintain small classes to maximize discussion time over traditional lecture time. From my experiences in the classroom, a smaller learning environment facilitates better teacher/student interaction.
There is no disputing that the evolution of the profession has resulted in a fundamental shift in employment standards in this country. In years past, photographers emerging with newly minted degrees, or veteran photographers merely wishing to change locations, could readily find employment as staff photographers at any number of newspapers, wire services or non-profits and concentrate almost entirely on creating strong images. Photo agencies offering personal engagement with their freelancers were far more common. But this no longer the case. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the vast majority of photographers will forge their way as freelancers without the safety net of a guaranteed paycheck. As a result, a strong foundation in skills that go far beyond just creating striking photographs is required if photographers wish to financially sustain themselves.
Your skill set as a photographer will be instrumental in gaining clients, but your business skills will keep you in business for the long run.
The onus is on you to learn business skills.
As a Southern California based freelance photographer, I've handled assignment work for over thirty years from some of the world’s leading publications, foundations and corporations. My clients have included Sports Illustrated (19 years as a regular contributor), Smithsonian, ESPN, TIME, Newsweek, National Geographic Traveler, Der Spiegel, People, NBC News, Politico, Vox, The NY Times Magazine, The LA Times, Washington Post among others. I've also worked extensively with non profits including AARP, the James Irvine Foundation, The Southern Poverty Law Center, The US Holocaust Memorial Museum and Teaching Tolerance as well as for corporations including Costco and Target.
My work has been exhibited internationally with images residing in the permanent collection at the California Museum of Photography. While serving as a contract photographer at the LA Times, I contributed to two team Pulitzer Prizes for Breaking News coverage of the LA Riots and Northridge Earthquake. Formerly represented by Black Star Photo Agency and Aurora Photos, I'm extremely fortunate to be a contributing photographer to Contact Press Images.
I taught a variety of photography and photojournalism courses at California State University, Northridge since the late 1990s including Beginning Photojournalism, Advanced Photojournalism, Documentary Photojournalism, Tutorial and Advanced Studio Lighting. I've also taught Street Photography and Portrait Photography at UCLA Extension.
I was the recipient of the Distinguished Service to Students Award in 2017 from California State University, Northridge. I was also named the 2019 Clifton Edom Award recipient from the National Press Photographers Association for my work in helping others in the profession through my workshop.
Courtnay Robbins, Workshop Student
