FW26 | LAWRENCE, KS | FEB. 22-26, 2026
ready to change your life?
This is more than a workshop. It’s an experience that will completely transform how you approach photography and storytelling. Discover the confidence to create images that truly reflect your soul.
This is your time. Do it for you.
A Photography Workshop Like no other
Immerse yourself in five days of pure, unfiltered inspiration & growth, where some of the world’s leading photojournalists and documentary photographers come together to help YOU elevate your craft. This isn’t about gimmicks or learning how to mimic someone else’s style. It’s about finding your unique voice, seeing the world through your lens, and creating work that only YOU can.
Discover Your Authentic Vision
Connect through your lens to create impactful storytelling.
Learn From the Best
Receive guidance from industry-leading photographers committed to your growth.
Gain Insight Into What Holds You Back
Authentic critiques and inner guidance to refine your sight and storytelling.
Rave Reviews
Notable Alumni
Photographers who have BEEN TRANSFORMED By FOUNDATION workshop
There is before Foundation and after. What will you discover about yourself?
BY THE END OF FW26 YOU WILL HAVE:
NO. 1
Traveled & Spent 5 DAYS in Lawrence, KS
Ever been to Lawrence, KS? It is a super rad place. Inclusive, accepting, friendly. It’s one of the best places on the planet that you’ve likely never heard of (unless you like college basketball.)
NO. 2
Completed an assignment you poured your heart into
Your assignment won’t be easy. You’ll have to document the lives of real people who are living – not posing. You’ll have to gain their trust to help them drop their guard and show up authentically in your photo story.
NO. 3
Showed up open, honest, vulnerable
After you shoot, you show every. single. photo. to a room full of your peers so the instructors can see how you problem-solve visually. It is brave and vulnerable-making to offer yourself up so completely to constructive feedback. Sacrifice your ego on the altar of self-growth to push yourself farther than you’ve dreamed you can go.
NO. 4
Seen yourself reflected authentically
No one makes it out of Foundation with their ego intact. We all have areas that are opportunities for growth. If you lean out of fear and lean into embracing all of who you are as an artist, documentarian, and human, you will be transformed. You cannot come face-to-face with your essence and walk away unchanged.
NO. 5
Gained a community and a point of view
There’s a reason photographers have an average business lifespan of about 10 years. Gimmick-chasing will only feed your soul for so long. When you choose in to Foundation, you are choosing into developing your authentic self – your visual voice – the way you see the world. After this experience, you will forever be connected to the multitudes of other photographers who chose themselves in this industry.
GIMME THE DEETS
FW26 Details
DATES:
February 22-26, 2026 (Sunday – Thursday = 5 days)
LOCATION:
Lawrence, Kansas (Near Kansas City, Missouri. Airport: MCI (Kansas City International)
NUMBER OF STUDENTS:
18
HOW IT WORKS:
An initial non-refundable $500 retainer is required to secure spot once application is accepted. Full tuition is due by January 21st, 2026. We will invoice students for $2200 due by August 20th, 2025 and the final $2200 due by January 21, 2026.
To apply, please use the link below. We will be accepting applications on a first come first served rolling basis.
Please be sure to scroll down to learn about financing, the FW26 teachers and read the entire FAQ section before applying.
TUITION:
$4900 USD per student for tuition only (Alumni save $1,000 on tuition). Students are responsible for their own travel, lodging, car rental (required if you fly in), some meals, and other incidental expenses.
LET’S TALK INVESTMENT
Real talk: most people don’t have $5k just laying around, ready to invest today. That’s a-okay!
We can help make payments easy and painless.
We offer financing through Affirm, Klarna, and Paypal Credit.
Our normal payment schedule looks like this:
Right away: $500 retainer to hold your spot after you are accepted
$2200 payment in August
$2200 final payment in January
Use Klarna or Paypal Credit to break those payments up further without incurring extra fees.
Or, use Affirm and see exactly what you’ll pay in interest before you commit.
We also offer in-house payment plans up to 18 months that let you pre-pay over time without interest. You must PIF before you can attend a session.
(BTW, If you DO happen to be someone that fortune smiles on, we DO offer a Pay-In-Full discount. Reach out and let’s talk about it.)
FW26 TEACHERS
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Citlalli Rico
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David Eulitt
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Ben Chrisman
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Erwin Darmali
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Tyler Wirken
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More to come
Citlalli Rico
Citlalli Rico
Citlalli Rico
Citlalli Rico
Citlalli Rico
Citlalli Rico
David Eulitt
David Eulitt
David Eulitt
David Eulitt
David Eulitt
David Eulitt
Ben Chrisman
Ben Chrisman
Ben Chrisman
Ben Chrisman
Ben Chrisman
Ben Chrisman
Erwin Darmali
Erwin Darmali
Erwin Darmali
Erwin Darmali
Erwin Darmali
Erwin Darmali
Tyler Wirken
Tyler Wirken
Tyler Wirken
Tyler Wirken
Tyler Wirken
Tyler Wirken
Questions?
WE HAVE ANSWERS
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We have been at this since 2003 and we believe in the process! You will be getting the full attention of the best photographers and teachers in the industry in a setting that’s like no other. Each team will consist of 2 teachers to 6 students ensuring as much personal attention as possible. Many of the workshop instructors have gone through the workshop process themselves and all are dedicated to your learning process.
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Students of Foundation Workshop select an assignment at random once at the workshop. The assignments will be a mix including businesses, individuals, families, and nonprofits. All assignments are different and unstructured. Each student will have their own experience. We cannot guarantee any specific outcome or events with assignments.
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You’ll only need the basic digital equipment : two digital bodies, a wide lens, a medium lens, a long lens, flash, and memory cards. You’ll be shooting JPGs to ease with the editing process. Additionally, students should bring a laptop.
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Unfortunately, that can be true. The workshop is very intense, full of challenges and interesting people. Fueled by their passion for photography, many participants find it difficult to rest when immersed in such an environment.
However, since the Workshop was expanded to 5 days students are able to get additional rest.
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No. Photoshop is only a tool to process the images from your story. We will focus our time at the workshop exclusively on the processes of seeing and capturing those images, not on post-production methods.
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Not really. Photography is fun!
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No. Students will draw what team they are on at random once at the workshop. Our teachers are hand picked based on not only their photographic experience but more so for their character. This workshop is a very personal experience and our teachers must not only be able to teach photographic principles but also obtain the necessary skills when dealing with people’s needs and learning abilities. Most of our teachers have been a part of this workshop for decades and fully understand the process of guiding our students.
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Students should already be very familiar with using camera gear in a variety of situations. The teams will not spend a lot of time and energy teaching students how to use a camera.
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Each team has 2 instructors, a team leader and a mentor, for a max of 6 students. Because the teams function as independent units, each team is free to customize its schedule and procedures to suit the needs of its students. Students will be receiving instruction visits by the instructors in the field on each shooting day for the ultimate one on one learning. After shooting, the team will gather for editing, critique, and discussion.
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No. We learn not only from examining our own work but more so from that of others. The editing sessions are conducted with the whole team present. It’s an invaluable process to begin to understand how other photographers think and see.
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Yes. All students are required to stay at the host hotel in efforts to produce a strong workshop community as well as for safety reasons. We prefer students not be driving late at night after team critiques.
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No. It is very important that all students be able to be present the entire time. This ensures students experience the proper learning process from start to finish. Students need to arrive at the hotel on Saturday Feb. 24th, 2024 no later than 6:00pm and leave the workshop on Friday, Feb. 30th, 2024. Students are encouraged to not book early morning flights on the 30th following the workshop celebration party as historically that night is a late night.
Growth is waiting
See It In Action
Past Years Slideshows
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