Andrea Petrosino

"Sebastian is a great teacher, a great photographer, and a brilliant, beautiful person. He's that kind of person you know you can learn a lot from.

He knows how to convey passion, and after those first months within the Collective, I can honestly say that I've started to focus better on my work, especially on what concerns my long-term projects and the way I have to approach magazines; photo-editors, etc...

Also, thanks to the Collective, I met other very interesting photographers and people with a soul to deal with."

Caterina Suzzi

“Choosing to enroll in your training was the wisest choice I have made this year! Your vision of the world and your humanity are helping me a lot, thanks to your enthusiasm I was able to continue and go deeper into a work that I have been doing for a long time, the one with my daughters. Every now and then I reread the notes I took during your lessons and I find that there are really wonderful ideas on how to construct the work, to make it clear in my head, to think about what I really want to say, to whom (even if this part is still a bit fuzzy), how, thinking about before, during and after, doing research, really connecting with the people in front of you...in short, working seriously and passionately to arrive at a result that satisfies me!”

Kerem Yüciel

“I can say that I work more carefully and slowly while selecting the photos. Especially a portfolio I prepared with the information I gained during my education here received the second prize, best portrait series award at NPPA. I guess I was not patient and careful in the previous editing of my photographs. Now, it is as if the previous photo speaks to the next photo while choosing the photos as if there is a relationship between them. I cannot say that I paid close attention to this before. One of the practical things I learned here was that my communication with editors was simpler, clearer, and more engaging. This gave me a new perspective on my professional life. As a result, it's not enough just to have good stories. We need editors to bring these stories to more people.”

Maren Preib

“It was very helpful for me to hear you talking about the importance of daily routines. How important it is to focus on and not to lose the connection with photography. To go out with the camera as often as possible. And to learn that failing is part of the game. I like the editing sessions (to learn why you have chosen the edited pictures) as well as the sessions with the guest experts. It’s always inspiring to see other photographers’ work and listen to them talking about their work and approach. And I also very much appreciate the self-supporting structure of The Collective. It is helpful to know other photographers and the possibility to contact them for more personal exchange. I really appreciate the kindness of the group. It’s good to know that I have this professional network in the background.” 

Michelle Gagnon

"I came to Sebastian training with what I considered a sturdy background in visual storytelling after years of working as a journalist and television producer. I think the emphasis Sebastian put on suggesting that people think of why they are doing what they are doing is key -this insight is- much more personal and intimate.

His teachings are instructive in that they offer specific, concrete references, which makes them very prescriptive. The same goes for the editing sessions.

I got the insight that "a bunch of pretty pictures" is just not enough, now I feel like there is so much more work for me to do than I thought when I began. There is a bigger picture and a broader vernacular that I have only glimpsed.”

Marcel Mayer

"Your training and the open discussions have helped me take a clearer look at my work, engage even more intensively with others' work, and with my permanent learning process.

Watching your review of another student’s portfolio, your comments remarks, and how you edited it had an inspiring effect on me and gave me a powerful motivational push.

I feel even more motivated and pushed not to give up and work even harder on my personal Visual Voice."

Masood Sarwer

"The collective is one of the strongest pillars in building and finding own unique voice and visual language. It has narrowed down the chaos and allowed me to look beyond documenting & reporting. It has given me a mental and creative space where it unlocks doors to creativity and allows me to imagine. Being in this profession you are always circled by questions and self-doubts and it is very important that you are guided by such a collective as it nurtures you and amplifies your voices and thought-process from day today. The collective doesn’t teach us what to see rather it educates us on how to see so that we find and reflect as we grow and nurture the mind and visual literacy. I have started noticing many differences within my approach and documenting in the field after months of in-depth training. It taught us how we can be better at telling stories that are important and close to our hearts. It has not only cultivated the power of visual language but also enabled us in finding our own unique voice and art of storytelling. It has further elevated my professional development and it continues to do so."