In this kickoff class, National Geographic Explorer Hannah Reyes Morales will discuss how she ideates for visual stories, and the key elements for pitching those ideas for publication. With extensive experience publishing long-term projects and stories, Hannah will also address the reality that not all pitches are successful and how to learn from each attempt so your spirit remains lifted and determined. And, she’ll walk through best practices after publication, such as promoting, sharing, and archiving your work.

Hannah Reyes Morales is a Filipina photographer who focuses on bringing historical memory and current events home by looking at how they shape daily life. Her long term project “Living Lullabies” explores the role of lullabies in creating safer spaces for children and caregivers in challenging environments globally. Blending photography, audio, animation, and performance from collaborators, the project illuminates critical issues facing women and children through the storytelling of families’ nighttime rituals. As a working photojournalist, she has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic Magazine, and the Washington Post, among others. She is the recipient of the Tim Hetherington Visionary Award and the ICP Infinity Award for Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism. She was commissioned for the Nobel Peace Prize exhibition in 2021. Hannah is currently focusing on longer term projects. She is a co-founder of Emerging Islands, an artist-run residency in the Philippines. She is a National Geographic Explorer and currently a fellow at Columbia University’s Institute for Ideas and Imagination in Paris. Follow her at @hannahreyesmorales.