Workshops & classes

2025 was another busy year with lots of classes and workshops taught, many talks given and two international workshops taught, one to remote areas of  India in February and one very successful 12-day Nepal workshop in October for the first time. In May, I also conducted another New York City Neighborhood workshop featuring such out of the mainstream places as Bushwick and Sunset Park, both in Brooklyn, I continued to teach virtual classes for the International Center of Photography and the Los Angeles Center of Photography during 2025. Additionally, I was asked to do several talks/lectures during the year, (i.e, Soho Photo Gallery, Bronx Documentary Center, Rhode Island Center of Photograhic Arts, Photo Midwest, etc.) including reflections on my photographing the world for 50+ years, creating ten photobooks, and how to sustain a lifelong career in photography. Several were recorded, they are available to listen to in this website's Interview section. Of course, I continued to photograph during the year, mostly in New York City and India. I continued to sell copies of my last five books and went through some of my archives, finding several possible book projects from past work. 

The good news is that I plan to teach two more international workshops in 2026, starting with an Amazing India workshop this February/March (completely full) and possibly Butan/India in late September, early October, both with my travel partner, the incomparable Margarita Mavromichalis. Also, for the first time since the beginning of COVID (2020), I will teach a two-day weekend in-person class at ICP about publishing a photo book, See below for descriptions of the workshops and classes planned so far through the spring of 2026 . It’s too early to know what I’ll teach in the fall besides the Butan/India workshop. If you don’t see something that you are interested in, please contact me. More classes will be planned, particularly virtual classes for the International Center of Photography. If you have questions about any of the workshops or classes, please email me at hsteinfoto@aol.com. Many thanks.

2026 IN-PERSON classes

Publishing A Photography Book
International Center of Photography, New York
January 31–February 1, 2026, 10-5pm ET
Two in-person sessions during one weekend, six hours per session (one-hour break for lunch).
Register: online or call 212-857-0000

Have you thought that you’d like to publish a photo book? Maybe you have a concept in mind. Or a body of work to support your concept. Or you have only a vague idea. Or a ‘someday’ wish to do a book but no real project yet. I will offer a way to shape your ideas, to conceive and explore your concept and to determine the approach that will make publisher’s take notice. This workshop is a nuts and bolts exploration of the steps necessary to successfully approach publishers. Topics include generating book ideas, writing the book proposal, identifying potential publishers, publisher’s criteria for evaluating proposals, what to present to publishers and in what form, using a book agent, ways of editing and sequencing the images, negotiating the contract, maximizing advances and royalties, working with printers and book distribution and sales. 

The second day will be spent evaluating each participant’s book project in light of the information given the first day of class. This weekend class is for those who are just beginning to think about arranging their images into book form to those who have completed their projects but not sure how to approach publishers.

2026 ONLINE classes

Between Strangers: A Street Photography Intensive
The Griffin Museum of Photography, Winchester, Massachusetts 
February 7–8, 2026, 10-5pm ET
Two online sessions during one weekend, six hours per session (one-hour break for lunch).
Register: online

The workshop will consist of short lectures, demonstrations, image presentations, portfolio reviews of each participant’s street work and a guest showing her amazing work. Topics include methods of approaching strangers, overcoming shyness, candid versus confrontational shooting techniques, ways of posing and interacting with people, controlling light and exposure on the street, the use of daylight flash, and issues of self-expression an objectivity. 

This workshop is for photographers who wish to begin or improve their street photography. It is an opportunity to work with a very dedicated  teacher and photographer and come away with a greater understanding of not only how to advance your photography but also to be inspired to find new ways of personalizing your approach and bringing greater meaning to your imagery.

The Fundamentals of the Portrait
International Center of Photography, New York
March 31–May 12, 2026, 1-4pm ET (Tuesdays)
One session per week for seven weeks, three-hours per session via Zoom
Register: online or call 212-857-0000

Portraiture — the visual interpretation of a person — is much more than merely recording a face. This online class provides the in-depth foundation necessary to achieve strongly felt, expressive, and interpretive portraits. Elements of portraiture such as lighting; environment and location; gesture, expression, and pose; composition; camera position and formats; and the relationship between subject and photographer will be explored and analyzed. Photographic assignments will be given and discussed during class. This course is limited to 12 students and is open to all skill levels ranging from beginner to experienced.

2026 IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS

Amazing India: Photographing Delhi, Pushkar
February 27–March 10, 2026
Register: hsteinfoto@aol.com
NOTE: AT THIS TIME THE WORKSHOP IS FULL. WE WILL DO ANOTHER TRAVEL WORKSHOP TO INDIA IN 2027 AROUND THE SAME TIME.

This workshop emphasizes the people and architecture of North India, the palette of India’s colors, from the riches of its palaces to the down-to-earth lives of its people.

Photographing People Workshop (three-day weekend in Boston)
The Griffin Museum of Photography
June 12–14, 2026
Three in-person sessions during one weekend, seven hours per session (includes a one-hour break for lunch).
Register: call the Griffin Museum at 781-729-1158

The three days will focus on the techniques and insights needed to make meaningful images of people. We will consider the variety of ways to photograph individuals, including friends, family, and strangers in such diverse settings as the home, the street and in work situations. The workshop will also explore ways of organizing environmental elements to make persuasive statements of and about people.

Key topics include ways of capturing character, methods of approaching and photographing strangers, the use of light (both natural and flash) as an expressive and aesthetic element of the photograph and techniques of posing and interacting with subjects. The workshop will be presented in lectures, demonstrations, and photographic field trips to various local areas in and around Boston where people congregate. A key feature of the workshop will be to photograph the 56th Boston Gay Pride March most of Saturday. 

Those who are intrigued by the variety, psychology, and social interactions of people and who want to capture these elements photographically will benefit from this workshop.

New York City Neighborhood and Coney Island Workshop (four-day weekend)
June 19–21, 2026 (fourth day is a 3-4 hour online session several weeks later to critique photographs taken during the workshop)
Register: hsteinfoto@aol.com

The workshop is a tourist-free exploration of the many interesting and unusual neighborhoods of New York City; it will be  exciting  to photograph out of the way places in one of the greatest cities of the world. Additionally, we will photograph the amazing and unique Mermaid Parade all day Saturday in Coney Island. 

On Friday and Sunday, we photograph in such outside of Manhattan neighborhoods as Williamsburg, Bushwick, Sunset Park, and Dumbo in Brooklyn and Flushing, Corona and Jackson Heights in Queens. Exact locations depend on the weather, class interests, and what events are occurring that weekend. 

 We will discuss ways of approaching people to photograph (friends and strangers), ways of directing strangers, capturing character and emotions, making meaningful as opposed to obvious images, knowing when our photos are successful, developing a portfolio and long-term photo projects (the conceiving, creating and marketing of our work). We will critique online each day’s shoot on a fourth day to be determined, and think about personal approaches to photography.                                                                                                 

If there are any questions, please let me know via email at hsteinfoto@aol.com. This workshop is open to all levels of photographer who have a good working knowledge of their cameras.

Bhutan and India Workshop (October 2026)
In planning stages
Contact if interested: hsteinfoto@aol.com

A 12-day photography workshop to these spectacular countries of natural riches combined with vibrant cultures, very friendly people and a strong sense of history  We will split our time evenly between both countries, Our base in India will be Kolkata (Calcutta) while we will visit Butan’s main city, capital and cultural center, Thumphu, and it’s local villages. We will visit ancient temples/monasteries, marketplaces, attractions and festivals where people gather.

This workshop is in the planning stages; please contact me if interested: hsteinfoto@aol.com.

And lots more to come in the Fall of 2026, including virtual classes at ICP and several planned lectures (in-person at the Vermont Center of Photography on June 17th) and online. Stay tuned. Have a great 2026.