Choose what to cover. Use your knowledge, background and lived experiences to get to the core of what’s happening and why. Cover the stories that no one else will, and report on the big stories in your own way. Explain why the public should care, and advocate for the communities involved. Go even further and organise, bringing communities together to find solutions.

In my brand-new workshop, Photographers of the Future, learn how to create a visual history of our time. Learn everything from developing an idea right through to creating a finished photography project, and how to accompany your images with writing in a way that respects the subject and impacts the spectator.

Let’s show the world something it’s never seen before, and let’s do it together!

I work as a multimedia journalist for El País, the Guardian, BBC, Al Jazeera and, of course, my own blog, MNF. I cover a broad range of topics such as the housing and climate emergencies, gender inequality and migration, but also food, culture and beautiful Spain. I’ve run headlining articles, broke stories to the world, and conduct my own investigations and visual stories.

But one of my greatest passions is teaching. I’m a professor of multimedia journalism and run storytelling and photography courses at universities. I also run affordable courses for professional journalists looking to expand their field, and for disadvantaged groups for whom journalism may not have previously seemed a career option.

And yet I have no training in journalism, like many good journalists.

You don’t need a degree to be a journalist – only 12% of journalists have one. Just start photographing and telling stories.

I learned everything I know about photography and storytelling though Madrid No Frills and, today, I’m a multi-award-winning journalist writing for some of the world’s biggest newspapers. While I’m proud of my self-taught journey, I believe I could have progressed much faster with the right guidance, through either an affordable course or a mentor who gets me. Just having someone tell me that becoming a photographer or a journalism was even possible would have made a massive difference.

The stories we tell matter, but so do the people who tell them. For centuries, journalism has systematically excluded people from marginalised backgrounds, filtering what we read through an elitist lens. We need storytellers who truly reflect the world around us – people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives across class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, geography, and politics.

You don’t have to conform to the elite journalism world to succeed – I never have, and I never will. Instead, I carved out my own niche. As the proud editor of a respected local platform, I’ve built a space for stories that matter while contributing valuable journalism to major global publications.

If I can do it, so can you.

Session two is about creating. Learn how to make a visual archive of our time, from developing an idea right through to creating a finished reportage, and how to accompany your reportage with writing that both reflects and empowers the images.

Learn about various photography concepts including Social Realism and Creative Documentary, and examine our favourite images, historical reportages and contemporary photographers from all around the world. Learn how to write to accompany images, understanding the impact a good (and bad) explanation can have on a set of photographs and how powerful a tool this can be for change.

Then, we’ll bring in your own visions and life experiences in order to explore your ideas and set aims and objectives for your own photo reportage.

I’ve set my prices significantly lower than industry rates because I want this course to be accessible to everyone:

• €120 early-enrolment price (until 31 March)
• €150 standard course price (last enrolment 18 April)

What my classes of 2023 and 2024 said

My students have gone on to do many amazing things all around the world, including working for the BBC, El País, the Guardian and more. Others have pursued careers in grassroots journalism, or creating their own blogs and platforms, and their own community spaces.

I stay in touch with them, continue to be a mentor for them, and I now even work alongside some of them. I’m immensely proud that their storytelling and photography careers began with me, and that they continue to hold and practise the skills and values they learned through me.

Here’s what they say… 🫶🏾

Thank you for making me push myself out of my comfort zone and do something I never knew I was capable of.

It’s amazing to have a person like you doing what you do, you’re a role model.

What I found the most valuable about your course was feeling that we all got your individual attention and feedback.

Your course kick-started my career in journalism.

This course is everything I wanted it to be and more!

And my favourite quote of all…

More than just teaching us, you fostered a wonderful space for us to form meaningful friendships. So thank you for that.

Enrol now and become a Photographer of the Future!

Simply send me an email to hola@madridnofrills or use the contact form below for more details. Feel free to ask me any questions about the course, and please tell me a little bit about yourself if you like!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Profe Leah 🙂