Horizon: Editorial & Entertainment Mentorship with Kwaku Alston (Hybrid Learning)
- Horizon: Editorial & Entertainment
September 15, 2026 - May 15, 2027
10:00 am - 8:00 pm
The Editorial & Entertainment track of Horizon prepares photographers to succeed in fast-paced editorial and publicity environments by developing strong visual style, on-set confidence, and the professionalism required to work with talent, editors, and creative teams.
Instructor: Kwaku Altson
Highlights:
- Build a Distinctive Portfolio and Creative Voice
Develop a focused body of work for editorial, celebrity, and entertainment clients. Learn how to interpret a creative brief, direct talent, shape high-level concepts, and create pitch decks that help others see and believe in your vision. Kwaku will stress the importance of creating personal work as a space for experimentation, discovery, and artistic growth. The personal work you make today can inform your voice and shape the commercial work you are hired to create tomorrow. Kwaku will conduct individual portfolio reviews with each student throughout the course to evaluate progress, identify areas for growth, and keep your work moving toward a professional level. - Lead Professional Productions and Creative Teams
Learn how to select, hire, manage, and inspire the right crew for every assignment. We will cover production planning, team dynamics, payroll, communication, people skills, and how to work confidently with editors, publicists, talent, and other collaborators. - Understand the Business Behind the Image
Explore the balance between art and commerce, including pricing, client development, relationship building, studio operations, and financial decision-making. Learn when to expand, streamline, rent, purchase, or adjust your business as the market and your workload change. - Create with Purpose in Real-World Shooting Scenarios
Take part in practical shooting sessions designed to reflect the challenges and expectations of professional assignments. You will develop stronger lighting techniques, learn to direct subjects, solve problems on set, and create images with a clear editorial or commercial purpose. These are not shoots simply for the sake of shooting. Each session is designed to strengthen your portfolio, show you how to attract the clients you want, increase your earning potential, and help move your work to the next level in the photographic arts. - Receive Personal Mentorship in a Small Group
The small class size creates space for honest feedback, individual attention, and ongoing mentorship. Together, we will strengthen your portfolio, sharpen your visual voice, and develop the kind of imagery that gets noticed, builds relationships, and opens doors.
Tuition: Member Rate, $800 per month for nine months; Non-Member Rate, $845 per month for nine months. (Become a Member today and save!)
APA Los Angeles Members and APA San Diego Members: $800 per month for nine months
Enrollment limit: 8 students
© Photo by Kwaku Alston
About
Hybrid Learning
Horizon is an eight-month, industry-focused photography mentorship program at the Los Angeles Center of Photography designed to help emerging photographers build high-end portfolios, gain real-world experience, and confidently transition into professional, client-facing careers.
Editorial & Entertainment with Kwaku Alston
The Editorial & Entertainment track is designed for photographers pursuing work in editorial, publicity, and entertainment-driven environments. This track focuses on creating compelling images within real-world constraints—tight timelines, specific creative briefs, and collaborative teams. Participants develop skills in lighting, directing talent, and adapting their visual approach to different subjects, publications, and platforms.
Under the guidance of an industry-active mentor, photographers learn how to prepare for shoots, work efficiently on set, and communicate with editors, publicists, and creative collaborators. Emphasis is placed on consistency, professionalism, and developing a strong, recognizable style that aligns with editorial standards. Through assignments, critiques, and practical exercises, participants build a focused portfolio suited for editorial, celebrity, and entertainment contexts while gaining insight into navigating the business and expectations of this competitive field.
Included with tuition:
- Two, two-hour online sessions per month
- One, three-hour in-person session per month (locations TBD)
- One private one-on-on session with instructor once every other month (approximately 20 minutes in duration)
- Final student portfolio showcase event @ LACP
The first session for this track is scheduled online (virtually) for Tuesday, September 15, 10 am – 12 pm. All subsequent sessions will be scheduled by the Kwaku and the group.
Kwaku Alston is a photographer and director whose work bridges still and motion storytelling through a distinct visual language shaped by light, composition, and emotional nuance. He has photographed some of the most influential figures of our time—from Oscar and Grammy Award winners to President Barack Obama and the First Family—creating portraits that feel both intimate and iconic, balancing documentary sensibility with classic portraiture. His clients include The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and Harper’s Bazaar, along with global brands such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and Verizon, and studios including Netflix, Amazon, and Disney.
Beginning in photography and evolving into directing, he brings a frame-driven approach to motion. His work spans commercials, music videos, and short films, including ALONE, which screened at PSFF Paris, MoMA New York (ASVOFF), and VAFF Virginia. Most recently, he produced, wrote, and directed the short film Feeling This Way, starring Gary Dourdan, currently entering festivals for Summer 2026. His experience behind the camera also includes work as Director of Photography on the documentary In Search of Voodoo, with multiple trips to West Africa further shaping his visual language and global perspective.
He is the founder of Open Light Productions, supporting work across both photography and motion. His collaborations with organizations such as DesignACure, the Black AIDS Institute, and Project Angel Food reflect an ongoing commitment to storytelling with purpose. In 2025, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he also delivered the commencement address for the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Details
- Dates: The first session for this track is scheduled online (virtually) for Tuesday, September 15, 10 am – 12 pm. All subsequent sessions will be scheduled by the Kwaku and the group.
- Skill/Experience Level: Students should have a good working knowledge of their camera.
- Tuition: Member Rate, $800 per month for nine months; Non-Member Rate, $845 per month for nine months. (Become a Member today and save!)
- APA Los Angeles Members and APA San Diego Members: $800 per month for nine months
- Location: Hybrid Learning, online via Zoom and in-person
A details email complete with the Zoom link will be sent to the attendees prior to the start date. If you have additional questions please email info@lacphoto.org.