—FAQ
A few things people ask. If your question isn't here…
Ask us!
—Is this for you
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Photographers with a body of work and a project they want to push further. Emerging, art-school-trained, self-taught, mid-career, it doesn't matter how you got here. What matters is that you have something you keep circling and you want the structure, feedback, and time to develop it.
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No credential required. We look at the work and where you are with it, not your resume. You should be past the beginner stage, with a real body of work to build from.
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No. The Classroom is about developing a project into a resolved body of work, most often a photobook. It's advising and critique, not technical instruction. You should already be comfortable with your own camera and workflow.
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No. A loose idea, an archive you can't read yet, or a body of work that hasn't found its shape are all good starting points. Part of the work is figuring out what the project wants to be.
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Yes, as long as you have enough work to show us how you see and what you're after. Some people will arrive still making the work, others will arrive with an archive to edit. Both fit.
—Format and commitment
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The program is built to run online, so you can take part from anywhere. There are two optional in-person events in Los Angeles: a kickoff weekend in early March and the group show opening in late August. You can complete the whole program without traveling to either.
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No. Both are encouraged because they're a good time and a chance to be in the room together, but neither is required, and your work is in the group show whether or not you attend the opening.
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Most weeks have one scheduled session, usually one to two hours: a one-on-one with Tracy or the publishers, a group critique, or a guest lecture. That works out to roughly four to six hours of live sessions in a typical month, with optional study halls on top. Beyond that, the time is your own work on the project, which is where most of it goes. The two in-person events (the March kickoff and the August show) are a weekend each if you choose to come.
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Most group sessions land in PST mornings. Individual sessions flex to the person, and if a cohort skews European, we'll shift accordingly.
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The core program runs February through September 2027. February is online introductions and individual prep. The group show and publication launch in August, with individual and group sessions wrapping up in September. October and beyond is optional: you'll have the chance to keep going with ongoing mentorship and an invite-only crit group, so the community and structure don't just stop when the program does. And the publication keeps traveling through the fall and beyond, going to Paris Photo, Printed Matter, and other fairs alongside Deadbeat Club's other publications.
—What you leave with
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Two things carry the group's work into the world each year, and every participant is in both: a group exhibition in Los Angeles, and a collective publication by Deadbeat Club that includes work from your cohort. The group publication debuts at the August show and travels to fairs and events through the fall alongside Deadbeat's other publications.
You also leave with your own project resolved to a real presentation, in whatever form suits the work and the stage it's in: a maquette, a full dummy, a print set, an online portfolio. It varies by person and project. What you get is your work meaningfully further along, sharpened and clear, with a real plan for where it goes next. -
Yes. This isn't a juried selection at the end. Every participant is in the group show and in the collective publication.
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No. The point isn't a credential. It's real work that exists, in print and on a wall, and a clear plan for taking your practice further.
—Applying
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Applications are here. You'll upload images and answer a few short questions. It takes about thirty minutes.
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A portfolio of 15 to 20 images, short answers about your practice and your project, and a CV. Full details are on the application.
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Yes, $20.
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On a rolling basis. We read them as they come in, so applying earlier is better than waiting. Acceptances and invitations go out on an ongoing basis. The application window stays open through December, so even once some spots are filled, you can still apply, and the group is publicly announced in late January.
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Because we read as we go, it depends on when you apply. We may reach out for a short conversation before we finalize the group.
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Maybe. For some applicants we'll set up a quick conversation before deciding. It's low-key, a chance to talk about your work and make sure the fit is right both ways.
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Seriousness of practice and the quality of the work, clarity about what you want to develop, and readiness for sustained engagement.
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We're not able to give individual feedback on applications, but if you have a specific question for us, feel free to ask.
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Yes. You'd apply together with one application and one fee, and share everything across the program: your session times, your space in the group show, and your spot in the collective publication.
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Yes, and we hope you will. If it's a matter of readiness, we may point you toward a workshop to prepare. If space was the only issue, we may hold a spot or offer a discount for the next round.
—Tuition and payment
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$7500 early bird rate / $8500 full tuition rate
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Yes. A deposit secures your place, and the balance is split into 3 payments across the program, at no extra cost. The deposit is non-refundable.
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Yes. Applicants accepted during the early window get a discounted rate, locked in with your deposit. Early Bird window is SEP 2026 - OCT 2026.
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There's one scholarship place, and for this first year it's fully free. You opt in on the application and answer a short additional prompt, no financial documentation required.
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Deposit is non-refundable; balance refundable at least 30 days before the program begins, non-refundable after. Full terms here .
—About us
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A Los Angeles photobook publisher and gallery. The Classroom is its mentorship program.
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Tracy L Chandler leads the program, alongside Deadbeat Club publishers Clint and Alex Woodside. Full bios are on the program page.
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Each year brings a rotating group of prominent guest artists for lectures and critiques, drawn from working artists, editors, curators, and friends of Deadbeat Club. And there are always a few surprise appearances.