Mary Virginia Swanson

Mary Virginia Swanson helps emerging and established photographers find the strengths in their work, identify appreciative audiences and present their work in an informed, professional manner.  Her varied career has provided her with extensive expertise and deep understanding of the fine print, editorial, commissions, licensing rights and artbook publishing arenas, having worked with an enviable roster of artists, collecting institutions and arts organizations.  Swanson has contributed articles in numerous publications, including Photo District News, British Journal of Photography and the compilation The Education of a Photographer. She frequently serves as a Judge on contemporary photography and photobook competitions, visits academic programs to work with emerging artists and offers guidance to those long committed to their creative practice on navigating critical changes in our imaging industry.  

Swanson co-authored with Darius Himes the acclaimed Publish Your Photography Book (2011, 2014, Princeton Architectural Press) which they recently updated to reflect the rise of self-publishing, small presses, photobook competitions and art book fairs as well as the critical role unique, limited and library editions now play in the collectible market for photographic bookworks (Radius Books, Santa Fe, NM USA, 2023).  

Driven by her passion to help artists find their audience and her keen interest in identifying new markets, Swanson engages with international audiences through in-person and online educational offerings. Her most recent online collaboration with La Luz Workshop, “Finding Your Audience: An Introduction to Marketing Your Photographs”was attended by hundreds of photographers from over 20 countries.  

An active and celebrated contributor to the photographic community, Swanson’s public presentations are highly anticipated due to the range of information and depth of personal insights she shares with her audiences. Swanson is based in Tucson, Arizona.