Learn documentary photography from a former National Geographic photographer! Susie would love to work with you during her upcoming spring workshops. You can also book her individually. Are you hoping to learn how to make stronger images for personal use or at work, learn to use a new camera, develop a workflow in PhotoShop or Lightroom, or discover how to develop narrative flow in your project? Or do you just want to talk photography? She will cater your time together to your needs, your schedule and your development. See details on different opportunities below.
Susie Post-Rust has been mentoring students since she began working as a photographer. Most recently, she has taught at Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies since 2003. Susie has worked one-on-one with hundreds of students, both undergrad and continuing education. Previous to coming to Duke, Susie taught at Western Kentucky University, as well as in many workshops including the Missouri Photo Workshop, Mountain Workshops and YWAM's Photo Schools. She looks forward to hearing from you!
Read below to see descriptions for the Photography Workshop, Post-Production (Editing) Workshop, and Personalized Coaching.
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." – Dorothea Lange
Compelling photography isn’t just about the camera—it’s about how you see. Whether you're using a professional camera or your phone, this six-week workshop will help you develop the skills to create images that have impact. If you're new to photography, you'll gain a strong foundation to start making thoughtful images. If you already have experience, need to photograph as part of your job or are working on a personal project, this workshop will provide guidance and support to help you refine and deepen your work. Through a mix of lectures, discussions, and feedback, you’ll explore the essential elements of photography. This workshop is designed for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of visual storytelling.
Led by former National Geographic photographer and Duke's Center for Documentary Studies Instructor Susie Post-Rust, this course is designed to develop your creativity and give you practical skills to elevate your photography—whether for personal expression, professional use, or an ongoing project.
What You'll Learn
Each week, we’ll focus on a different aspect of photography to build your skills.
📷 Week 1: Introduction & Camera/Phone Usage
💡 Week 2: Light
❤️ Week 3: Emotional Content
🖼️ Week 4: Composition
⚡ Week 5: Focus on What Matters to You
This week is designed to be flexible based on the interests of the group. Early in the course, participants will vote on a specific area (or areas) to explore during week 5. This session will give you the opportunity to refine skills in an area that excites you most. Possible topics include:
📖 Week 6: Culmination & Portfolio Review
👥 Personalized One-on-One Meetings
In addition to group sessions, each student will receive a private one-on-one meeting to discuss your photography and how I can support your goals. These will be set up early in the course but will take place during the last half of the class.
What's Not Covered
This workshop focuses on capturing strong images and developing an understanding of the tools you have within your control as you make images. Digital workflow—organizing and correcting color / density—is also an important part of photography, it is not included in this course. However, I offer a separate workshop dedicated fully to digital workflow for those interested. If you are also interested in this please let me know. A discount is available.
Course Details
📅 Thursday evenings | 6:30–8:30 PM | beginning Spring 2025
📍 Location: Limited Spots Available – Reserve Yours Today!
"I love editing. It's one of my favorite parts about filmmaking." – Steven Spielberg
Taking beautiful or interesting images is just the first step. How do you choose the best ones when you've taken hundreds? How do you keep them organized? How do you make the most — without doing too much — in the post-production process? We will use the Adobe Suite to develop a workflow, learning color and density correction along with organizational techniques. Finally, how do you disseminate your work, beyond posting on Instagram? If you are interested in learning how to create a movie or a website with your images, we can also do that! This whole process can be daunting when you are not familiar with the process. Susie has a post-production workshop where you will learn to import, organize, edit, process, and prepare your images for dissemination. You will need to have the Adobe Suite on your laptop.
🗂️ Week 1: Organizing and Workflow, Using the Adobe Suite
🖌️ Week 2: Basic and Advanced Editing
🎨 Week 3: Creative Editing & Output
If taking the Photography Workshop, you will receive a $25 discount on the Post-Production Workshop.
"You taught me how to step beyond my comfort zone and ask the kinds of questions that reveal the soul of a place, a person, or a moment. I realized that people are often searching, not just for answers, but to be truly heard. Photography, I’ve come to understand, is more than just an image. It is a way of witnessing, honoring, and giving presence to those who might otherwise go unseen." —Elsie Othman, Student
Susie will begin by consulting with you on where you are photographically. Your time together will be tailored to your needs. Before booking, Susie will have a consultation with you to learn what you want. Your time will be scheduled and formed in response to that conversation. Because of her years of teaching, she has resources such as videos, handouts, etc that she can provide to you before or during your time together. Your eight hours can be scheduled as one day or divided into as many different meetings as you prefer.