The Collection-Based Book

Documentary-based photographers tend to work in collections rather than projects

While projects transfer easily to book format, the obsessive collectors may have trouble finding a concept

Project: a set of images created through a quest that often has a conceptual center, defined intent or urgent personal question

Collection: a set of repeated or related images made over time and discovered after the fact; an unintended obsession

Dates can be helpful, such as FAMILY WORKS 2012-2022

Collections can also be titled by simple name as in these three works:

Annie Leibovitz, WOMEN

Clarence K., SKATE-HOMIES

Joel Meyerowitz, Redheads

My favorite publishers for inspiration:

KOMINEK

TBW Books

Loose Joints

EXERCISE:

Search the offerings of the above publishers noticing works which fall into the “project” or “collection” category.
Which speaks more to your body of work?

Previous
Previous

On Scanners & Ephemera

Next
Next

Parameters for Book Creation