Chicago Stories

Chicago is a city built on stories. Every photographer has photographed it. Few have learned to tell its stories.

Every neighborhood, storefront, train station, park, and street corner reflects the people, history, traditions, and everyday moments that give the city its character. The challenge isn’t finding stories. It’s learning how to recognize them.

Chicago Stories is a seven-week photography course that blends documentary photography, environmental portraiture, street photography, and photo essays to help you create meaningful visual stories. Rather than chasing individual “great shots,” you’ll develop a personal documentary project focused on a person, place, neighborhood, business, or community that genuinely interests you.

Through classroom instruction, guided field sessions, critiques, and individual coaching, you’ll learn how to:

• Recognize compelling stories hiding in plain sight
• Research subjects and photograph with greater intention and purpose
• Capture portraits, details, environments, and candid moments that work together to tell a story
• Edit and sequence images into a cohesive photo essay
• Create a visual narrative that communicates something meaningful

By the end of the course, you’ll have completed a finished photo essay and gained a practical framework for approaching future documentary projects with curiosity, patience, and purpose.

Date and Time: 

• Classes will take place at the Ravenswood location on Mondays at 7pm with the exception of the two practicum/field classes. Please note that these classes will take place on Saturday at the following dates and times:
  • Week 2: September 12th at 11am
  • Week 4: September 26^th at 11am

Prerequisites: Photo I (or equivalent camera knowledge). Mobile phone users are also welcome.  No previous Street, Documentary or Environmental Photography experience is required!!