Making visual decisions in a world that never slows down
March 30 @ 11:00 AM – April 26 @ 12:00 PM New York
We live and work in a visual world that never really pauses, and photography doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. It unfolds in real time, packed with distraction, and uncertainty. Images are made, edited, approved, shared, and forgotten at a relentless pace. When you’re immersed in that cycle every day, it’s easy to rely on instinct and habit without stopping to ask why. During this four-week course, Jim Veneman, a professor of photojournalism, will discuss how to step back from the noise and look closely at how you’re seeing.
You’ll learn how to make intentional visual decisions that shape the success of your stories, even in distracting, uncertain, real-time environments. Reconnect with clarity, curiosity, and purpose—and renew your excitement for visual storytelling that is thoughtful, meaningful, and engaging.
Those who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion.
Course topics include:
- Rediscovering how you see
- The weight of even the small decisions
- Photography is storytelling at the speed of life
- Moving beyond the visual autopilot
- Finding the magic between the plans
- Seeing the familiar with fresh eyes
Schedule
The schedule is flexible in order to meet the needs of each student. The only scheduled events are the weekly one-hour live sessions. If you are unable to attend live, you may watch a recording, which is available online anytime. The live sessions will be held on Mondays at 11:00 am EST.
Course requirements
Background reading: Book excerpts and articles
Live session: Attend a one-hour online live session with the instructor. All sessions are recorded. The recordings are available 24/7 within a few hours of the live event.
Forum discussion: Participate in the class forum by making comments and asking questions throughout the week.
Homework assignment: Complete and return the homework assignment by Saturday each week.
Time required to complete coursework: Approximately five hours each week.
MTI website: Class instructions and forums are available via this website in the MTIOnline free learning center. You may signup for a free membership at any time.
ClickMeeting: The online course live sessions are delivered via ClickMeeting. Each live session includes video and audio. You are not required to dial in by phone or download and install any software in order to attend the meeting. ClickMeeting provides the following system requirements in order to get the best experience from the workshop:
Course fee: $75 (Financial assistance may be available. Please contact MTI.)
Payment options: Credit card via PayPal (If you would like to participate in the course, but have no way of transferring funds over the Internet, please contact MTI to discuss other options.)
Registration: Please register online by March 13, 2026. Accepted registrants will be notified and given further instructions.
Class size: Up to 20 students
MTI is a division of the
