2025 PICTURE EDITING WORKSHOP
Maysville & Mason County, Kentucky
OCT 21 - 25, 2025
One week. Fifty Photographers. Sixty thousand live images to debate.
Photo by Akash Pamarthy
If you are looking to jump-start your visual journalism career, or if you need to rejuvenate your passion for storytelling, spend a week with us in the Bluegrass State for a week of immersive learning, inspiration, and community interaction at the 50th annual Mountain Workshops.
Registration opens
Payment begins July 1, 2025
June 1
Tuition
Save $100 off the $800 tuition if you pay before August 31.
$700
Celebration Dinner
Participants are welcome to join us Monday, Oct. 20 at a special rate.
$30
PICTURE EDITING WORKSHOP 2025
How do you manage the process of editing thousands of gorgeous pictures as they are unloaded off dozens of little plastic memory cards, while the creators of these images run off to their next assignment? Where do you begin when the photographer wants to take the story in one direction and you think it needs to go in another direction? How do you make good choices about content, layout and design across multiple platforms while keeping true to the story? This is where the editing begins.

With a coach-to-student ratio of approximately 1:4 the Mountain Picture Editing workshop participants, along with some of the best visual editors in the country, help guide a team of photographers through the storytelling process. They select photos, craft them into visual narratives and design the layout for a book publication.

To complement your days and nights of editing and collaborative production, each evening there are inspiring presentations by the coaches from all forms of visual journalism. Any downtime you may have is spent soaking up the knowledge of your passionate coaches and maybe getting a few hours of sleep.
Max Gersh, Senior Visuals Editor, The Indianapolis Star
"As the demand on people’s attention increases, the need to be concise and captivating is critical. We teach people how to distill a collection of images down to only those needed to get to the heart of a story. It’s a collaborative process that yields the understanding and context necessary to bring forward an emotive and engaging story."
MAYBE THE PICTURE EDITING WORKSHOP IS NOT FOR YOU?
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER OPTIONS!
WHAT WE DO
Each October, a group of visual journalists set up shop in a different community in Kentucky to document life and culture in a unique way. Raw and live, it’s all about the people and their stories, not the institutions. It’s called the Mountain Workshops, and dozens of students and professionals from around the country swoop in for a week every year to garner new skills and fresh inspiration.

It’s a crash course in visual journalism.

Participants can choose from one of three options for the week. Photojournalism, Video Storytelling or Picture Editing. Three workshops held in one location, in one week, with a constant flow of new ideas and one-on-one guidance by the top professionals in their fields, all add up to an intense five days of high-octane education in visual communication and storytelling.
1
What you create
  • The narrative organization and design for the annual Mountain Workshops book.
  • Moments of learning that rapidly propel your skills forward.
  • A network of friends, colleagues and connections that will remain a part of your life throughout your career.
2
Who should attend
  • Pre-professional or early professional visual storytellers looking to increase their knowledge in the art of storytelling.
  • Any visual journalist, NGO, visual editors or commercial videographer in need of inspiration or a week away to experience visual immersion to rejuvenate their passion.
  • College students interested in documenting communities and the people who live in them.
A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE 2024 MOUNTAIN
Video by Sean McInnis
HEADQUARTERS LOCATION
THE COX BUILDING
2 E Third St
Maysville, KY 41056
HOUSING
You are required to provide your own lodging and dinning arrangements during the Workshops.

There are three hotels within walking distance from the Workshop's headquarter. The faculty and staff are being lodged at the French Quarter Inn. The Lee House Inn and the Moon River Bed and Breakfast are also located in downtown Maysville. The greater Maysville area has many charming AirBNB options worth exploring and the Hampton Inn and a more budget friendly Quality Inn are just outside of town.

Once you have been accepted AND paid to attend the workshop of your choosing, you will be invited by your registration email to join a PRIVATE Facebook group for all the 2025 participants. It is in this social space that many of our workshop attendees coordinate hotel and transportation arrangements. We will post on Facebook any private housing options as they become available from the community.
TRAVEL
You will need to have a vehicle for the workshops.

The Photojournalism and Video workshops requires each participant to work individually at various locations each day and it is mandatory to have your own transportation during the week as well as get yourself to and from your airport if you are flying in for the workshop.

The nearest airport is Cincinnati, Ohio. (CVG) and is 66 miles from our headquarters or Lexington, Ky. (LEX) which is 72 miles away. It is always worth looking at other airport options to perhaps find better prices or connections but it can come with double the driving distance. You can consider Louisville, Ky. (SDF) at 137 miles from our headquarters. Another option would be Columbus, Ohio (CMH) at 127 miles away.

If you are in the Picture Editing workshop AND you book a room at one of the three in-town locations you will be able to walk to and from your hotel to our headquarters. The participants in Picture Editing do not travel for their assignments but will need to provide their own transportation for all other local activities as well as airport ground transportation.
DINING OPTIONS
Since this year's workshop headquarters is located in a downtown district, there are multiple dinning choices for breakfast, lunch or dinner, not to mention the obligatory fast food establishments on the outskirts of town. Participants are invited to join us for our celebration dinner on Monday, Oct. 20 at a reduced rate of $30. You will purchase your ticket at the time of registration.
THE 50th CELEBRATION DINNER AND PRESENTATION
Honoring our past, inspiring our future
For half a century, the Mountain Workshops have helped shaped visual storytelling for countless numbers of individuals, and this year, we celebrate our anniversary! Join us in historic Maysville, Kentucky, on Monday, Oct. 20 at 6:00 pm to honor this legendary experience.
LEARN MORE
2025 TENTATIVE PICTURE EDITING SCHEDULE
All times are EASTERN

TUESDAY | OCT. 21

7:45 - 8:45 AM
7:45 - 8:45 AM
Workshop Registration
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
Vendor's Open
Visit our national, regional and local sponsors.
9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Picture Editing Workshop Introductions
MICK COCHRAN Former DP, USA Today | PICTURE EDITING
Meet the coaches in the picture editing space; overview of the week, past, present, future.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
Lunch
Visit one of the local downtown restaurants or spend more time with the vendors.
12:30 PM
12:30 PM
Welcome and Community Comments
JAMES KENNEY Mountain Workshops Director
Join the photo and video workshop participants for our grand opening of the 2023 Mountain Workshops. Photo and video participants will draw their subjects name out of the hat.
1:30 PM
1:30 PM
First Read
Your individual coaches | SMALL GROUP SESSION
Picture Editing participants join their assigned photo team as it meets with its coach.
2:15 PM
2:15 PM
And it Begins
Return to picture editing room to begin the editing photo stories, InDesign instruction, exercises.
3:00 PM
3:00 PM
Coaches SCC Training
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
On your own.
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Evening welcome and announcements
JAMES KENNEY Mountain Workshops Director
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Evening Lecture Series "What Makes A Story?" #1
TBD
8:20 PM
8:20 PM
Evening Lecture Series "What Makes A Story?" #2
TBD
8:55 PM
8:55 PM
Evening Lecture Series "What Makes A Story?" #3
TBD
9:30 PM
9:30 PM
Meet With Coaches
SMALL GROUP SESSION
Meet with Photo coaches and teams; prepare list of stories.
11:00 PM
11:00 PM
Workshops Building Closes

WEDNESDAY | OCT. 22

9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Workshops Building Opens
Vendors tables are open.
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
Class  Session
Meet in picture editing space; discussions around ethics, choosing pictures, storytelling.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
Progress Report
Check in with photo coaches to update progress of stories.
11:30 AM
11:30 AM
Coaches Meeting
All photo coaches and picture editing coaches meet for daily agenda.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch
On your own.
2:00 PM
2:00 PM
Editing
PICTURE EDITING
Editing exercises, discussions, beginning book layouts.
4:00 PM
4:00 PM
Progress Report
Check in with photo coaches.
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
On your own.
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Evening welcome and announcements
JAMES KENNEY Mountain Workshops Director
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Finding the story within the story." #4
TBD
8:20 PM
8:20 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Finding the story within the story." #5
TBD
8:55 PM
8:55 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Finding the story within the story." #6
TBD
9:30 PM
9:30 PM
Group Photo Critique
Coaches will present your work shot that day and provide valuable feedback for all to hear.
10:30 PM
10:30 PM
Editing Strategy
PICTURE EDITING
Meet with Photo coaches and teams. Work on list of stories and/or book layouts.
12:00 AM
12:00 AM
Workshops Building Closes

THURSDAY | OCT. 23

9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Workshops Building Opens
Vendors tables are open.
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
Sequencing of Images
PICTURE EDITING
Storytelling workshop, continue book layout and revisions.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
Progress Report
PHOTO ROOMS
Check in with Photo coaches.
11:30 AM
11:30 AM
Coaches Meeting
All photo coaches and picture editing coaches meet for daily agenda.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch
On your own.
2:00 PM
2:00 PM
Design Continues
PICTURE EDITING
Photo editing exercises, continue layouts
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
On your own.
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Evening welcome and announcements
JAMES KENNEY Mountain Workshops Director
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Making the Story Visually Unique." #7
TBD
8:20 PM
8:20 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Making the Story Visually Unique." #8
TBD
8:55 PM
8:55 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Making the Story Visually Unique." #9
TBD
9:30 PM
9:30 PM
Group Photo Critique
Coaches will present your work shot that day and provide valuable feedback for all to hear.
10:30 PM
10:30 PM
Progress Reports
PHOTO ROOMS
Meet with Photo coaches and teams. Work on list of stories.
12:00 AM
12:00 AM
Workshops Building Closes

FRIDAY | OCT. 24

9:00 AM
9:00 AM
Workshops Building Opens
Vendors tables are open.
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
Layouts continue
PICTURE EDITING ROOM
group discussion, photo yoga, continue page edits
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
Progress Report
PHOTO ROOMS
Check in with Photo coaches.
11:00 AM
11:00 AM
Coaches Meeting
All photo coaches and picture editing coaches meet for daily agenda.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Lunch
On your own.
2:00 PM
2:00 PM
Discussions Continue
PICTURE EDITING ROOM
Photo editing exercises, continue layouts.
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
On your own.
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
Evening welcome and announcements
JAMES KENNEY Mountain Workshops Director
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Evening Lecture Series " Why Do We Do What We Do?" #10
TBD
8:20 PM
8:20 PM
Evening Lecture Series " Why Do We Do What We Do?" #11
TBD
8:20 PM
8:20 PM
Evening Lecture Series " Why Do We Do What We Do?" #12
TBD
9:30 PM
9:30 PM
Progress Report
PHOTO ROOMS
Meet with Photo coaches and teams. Work on list of stories.
1:00 AM
1:00 AM
Workshops Building Closes

SATURDAY | OCT. 25

8:00 AM
8:00 AM
Workshops Building Opens
Vendors tables are open.
10:00 AM
10:00 AM
The Final Touches
PICTURE EDITING
Meet in picture editing room; finish page edits.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Ceremonial Closing of Content Gathering
Some fun with your new friends, group photo.
12:30 PM
12:30 PM
Sponsor Equipment Return Deadline
If you borrowed equipment from our sponsors, all equipment should be returned. If possible, please return as you can throughout the morning.
12:45 PM
12:45 PM
Lunch
On your own.
2:00 PM
2:00 PM
Cleaning Up
PICTURE EDITING
Final touches done to page layouts.
3:30 PM
3:30 PM
Deadline
All page design and final edit deadline
5:30 PM
5:30 PM
Welcome and Announcements
JAMES KENNEY Mountain Workshops Director
6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Where Do We Go From Here?"#13
TBD
6:35 PM
6:35 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Where Do We Go From Here?" #14
TBD
7:10 PM
7:10 PM
Evening Lecture Series "Where Do We Go From Here?" #15
ED OU Independent Visual Journalist
7:45 PM
7:45 PM
Pizza Party
Sponsored by Canon and Sony
8:30 PM
8:30 PM
Presentation Viewing
Sit back and enjoy - dare we say revel, in your success as you present your work and get a chance to see all the photo stories, videos and page design produced this week.
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
Closing Comments
Canon, Sony and Tamron door prize winners announced. Closing overview video you do not want to miss!
12:30 AM
12:30 AM
Workshops Concludes
Ready to Apply?

The application process opens May 1 and will continue until all seats for each workshop sells out or by September 15, whichever comes first. Our payment window opens July 1. Acceptance into each workshop will be based on various factors, including your portfolio, resumé and additional information you may supply.


Interested participants must fill out the online application to start the process to be considered for the Mountain Workshops. Once accepted, you will be notified by your registration email (be sure to monitor your SPAM folder) and instructed on how to pay to reserve your spot. This workshop can sell out. Your seat is not confirmed until you pay. Registration and acceptance alone does not guarantee a seat.