Introduction to Documentary Photography - Online Workshop | April - May 2026
11/04/2026 - 09/05/2026
10:00 - 22:00
Introduction to Documentary Photography - Online Workshop | April - May 2026
Introduction to Documentary Photograph with Jim Grover | Online Workshop
Documentary photography is not simply about recording events. It is about attention, intent, and the careful construction of meaning over time
This online workshop offers an in-depth introduction to the documentary photo-essay, guided by photographer Jim Grover. Now in its fourth iteration, the workshop has been highly regarded by previous participants, with work produced during earlier courses demonstrating both rigour and personal vision - you can read more about previous workshop attendees experiences in the "About Jim Grover & Workshop Testimonials" tab above.
Designed specifically for online learning, the course brings together a small group of participants for five weeks of focused study, discussion, and photographic practice
Maximum participants: 8
Format: Online (live Zoom video sessions + independent shooting)
Workshop Overview
The course comprises six modules delivered over five weeks, combining live seminars with practical photographic assignments
Participants will develop and complete an 18-image documentary photo-essay, supported by group critique, historical context, and detailed guidance on editing and sequencing. The workshop emphasises thoughtful observation, narrative structure, and the disciplined craft that underpins strong documentary work
Photographers have previously joined from across the world including the UK, Europe and Asia, making this a truly international learning environment
What You Will Explore
- Jim Grover’s approach to documentary photography and the photo-essay
- Practical frameworks for developing documentary projects
- Close study of landmark photo-essays by leading documentary photographers
- Editing, sequencing, and shaping a coherent visual narrative
- Constructive group critique and comparative editing exercises
Each participant will:
- Create an original 18-image photo-essay
- Edit and sequence another participant’s work to explore alternative narrative interpretations
Participant Requirements
- A camera of any make or format (including mobile phones)
(Film users must be able to supply low-resolution digital files) - Sufficient time between 11th April and 30th April to photograph a new or ongoing project
- Reliable access to Zoom video software and email
- Ability to print low-resolution A6 images (at home or locally)
Recommended Reading
Two books will be used during the workshop:
- Adventures in the Lea Valley — Polly Braden & David Campany (Module 2)
- Walker Evans: American Photographs (Module 3)
Workshop Structure
Module 1: Documentary photography
Saturday 11th April, 10am-1pm; ‘Zoom Webinar’
An introduction to photo-essays: what is a photo-essay and what are the attributes of a successful photo-essay?
An introduction to Jim’s approach to documentary photography, illustrated with experiences and examples from Jim’s own photo-essays
Jim will describe various practical photo-essay frameworks that can be used by photographers (and which participants can put into practise as they shoot their own photo-essays)
Module 2: Looking at photo-essays
Sunday 12th April 10am-1pm; ‘Zoom Webinar’
Group discussion and Q&A arising from Module 1
Structured review and discussion of four different photo-essays by acclaimed documentary photographers, beginning with W. Eugene Smith’s 1948 ‘Country Doctor’ (one of the most famous photo-essays of all time). What can we learn from these; what thoughts and ideas do they stimulate?
Jim will also share fascinating background materials describing how two photo-essays were created by two legendary photo-essayists
Module 3: Creating your own photo-essay
3 weeks: Saturday 11th April – Thursday 30th April
Each participant will create their own 18 image photo-essay (or continue to work on an existing photo-essay)
Module 4: Editing and sequencing a photo-essay
Saturday 25th April, 10am – 1pm; ‘Zoom Webinar’
Jim will describe how he curates, edits and sequences his photo-essays and describe approaches for participants to use as they create their own photo-essay
The session will include a review of the book ‘Walker Evans: American Photographs’, widely recognized and admired for its brilliant sequencing of imagery
Module 5: Group review and discussion of each participant’s photo-essay
Saturday 2nd May, 9am – 1pm, ‘Zoom Webinar’
Each participant will share their 18-image photo-essay, for group review and discussion
Module 6: Group review of alternative edits of each participants’ photo-essay
Saturday 9thth May, 10am – 1pm; ‘Zoom Webinar’
Each participant will create an alternative edit and sequence of another participant’s images working from the original photographer’s 18 selected images plus their 18 ‘rejects’/didn’t quite make the final edit’
Group review and discussion of these alternative edits, and comparison with the originals. This has proved to be a revelatory process on all three previous workshops!
Workshop summary and close - Jim will also recommend further reading and information sources
Materials Provided
-All presentation and reference materials used during the course
-Recordings of each Zoom session for participants’ exclusive use
-Additional stimulus materials, including a wide variety of photo essays by some 10 documentary photographers
If you have any further questions about this course, please do not hesitate to contact: akademie.uk@leica-camera.com
About Jim Grover
Jim Grover is a social-documentary photographer based in Clapham, South London. His particular passion is using images to tell stories…especially about people, ‘unsung heroes’, everyday life, local communities, cultures and traditions…and ‘making the unseen seen’.
Jim's images and photo-stories have appeared in many publications and online including The Times; The Sunday Times; The Observer; The Guardian; the BBC; The British Journal of Photography; Black + White Photography; Leica Forum; Amateur Photographer, and many others.
Over the last 10 years Jim has exhibited nine major photo-essays, all of which have received national media coverage in either The Guardian or the BBC, beginning with Of Things Not Seen (2016); a year in the life of a Clapham vicar. His 2018 Windrush: Portrait of a Generation, (‘One of 2018’s must-see shows…’) has now been seen by over 20,000 exhibition visitors and staged six times. His most recent photo-essays have focused on an almshouse in Brixton (‘Behind the Blue Doors’), a haberdashery shop-keeper (‘Behind the shop façade: The life of Maurice Dorfman’), and a traditional produce show in a small Cornish Village (‘Crafthole Summer Show’). You can see all of these, and others, at Jim’s website.
His images have been recognized in various competitions including The Sony World Photography Awards, and the Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards. In 2015 he won the ‘Faith Through a Lens’ competition; the judging panel was chaired by Sir Don McCullin CBE. In 2016 he was a member of the judging panel at the MIA Photo Fair in Milan. Jim is a member of the V&A Museum’s ‘Photographs Acquisition Group’.
Jim has led two other popular Leica Akademie webinars ‘Beauty in the Ordinary’, as well as ‘Learning from the Greats’.
Feedback from previous participants
This 5-week Leica Akademie workshop has been run three times, most recently with 8 participants; it has consistently been given positive feedback. You can see some of the work created in the second workshop, in 2021, on the Leica Blog here:
Feedback from previous participants include:
"The course stands out amongst a number of photography workshops I have attended over the years, even previous Leica workshops and these always set the standard! What's different is that this is less about technique or tools, but what Jim Grover does superbly is to develop a framework and approach that provides a great foundation to then work in your own style and creativity. It brings structure to what has previously been hit and miss for me and it systematically unpeels the layers of how to tell a good story photographically. It opens up a whole, new phase of my photography journey with renewed energy and curiosity. Jim is a fantastic tutor, with great insight and perspective who clearly loves documentary photography but also enthusiastically imparts and shares his knowledge and experience."
"Awesome. Jim Grover is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had the joy to learn from. Very encouraging and full of contagious enthusiasm. I was a little sceptical about doing a workshop online, but it turned out to be a very vivid and enriching experience. [I learned] so much more than expected!"
"This was a great webinar…I strongly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about documentary photography. The content, outcome and duration were perfectly balanced…and the management of the session was impeccable. I enjoyed every minute. Provided me with a series of frameworks that will be very valuable to me…the practical part was invaluable."
"This was my first Leica Akademie workshop. The workshop was great and I am already missing it. I was able to learn so much as well as complete my project. Jim’s engaging and positive style helped me relax and enjoy the experience. I find learning other artists’ thought processes fascinating and enlightening…this workshop was full of that."
"Superb. I learned so much. I really enjoyed the interaction with fellow students too. They were such a talented group of photographers and they presented such fascinating projects!"
"Jim is an amazing tutor, and his knowledge, engagement and enthusiasm are incredible. For me, this workshop was a very enjoyable and meaningful experience, and I feel more confident in exploring documentary photography further. I am thrilled Leica was able to offer this online via zoom, and it did not hinder me in my learning process."
"An excellent course. It has plugged some gaps I needed to fill in my skillset. Zoom worked well. Great stuff and very useful."
"The amount of effort that Jim put into the workshop for the benefit of us participants was incredible and I very, very much enjoyed the process. Having my work critiqued by Jim and the other members of the group has been hugely beneficial both from the point of view of each single image, through to the editing, structuring and sequencing of the final body of work. It helped to push me outside my comfort zone… I’m inspired to continue to further develop my project and develop new ones."
"I really enjoyed the Leica Akademie experience. Jim’s knowledge, enthusiasm and positive attitude was motivational and it has helped enormously with my project. I feel that I know a lot more about documentary photography now."
