THE GAZE & THE FRAME
Photographing with Consent, Myth, and Intention,
FIRDAY AUGUST 29, 2025 12-6PM
The camera isn’t innocent. It’s a mirror, sometimes a weapon, always a myth-making machine.
This workshop interrogates what it means to photograph with models today—with an awareness of historical power dynamics, aesthetic codes, and collaborative image-making.
Led by avant-garde photographer, lens-based artist and publisher Bil Brown, The Gaze & The Frame invites photographers, artists, and cultural workers into a critical and practical rethinking of the model-photographer relationship.
We’ll move from discussion into direct experience: shooting with working models, reframing old ideas of “the muse,” and engaging with ethical, intentional practices of visual authorship.
The Saturday session photographs will be collected and the best will be selected for a group zine, that will be available in weeks prior and potential pop-up.
What to Expect
Lecture and visual history talk
Model panel with open discussion
Collaborative shooting sessions
Guided feedback and critique
Optional 1:1 mentorship and creative direction
Frameworks for consent-based, culturally-aware image-making
Opportunity to participate in a post-event zine or pop-up exhibition
Bil Brown
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
“TEACHING MUST BE AN EXPERIENCE TAUGHT BY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.” – BIL BROWN
Whether working in portraiture, fashion, experimental work or diaristic photo essays, Bil Brown’s visionary imagery captures highly energetic moments and extremities of the conscious world, or the foreboding of prescience — of what is to come. Often using his work as a platform for advanced ideas, social-change, and excising historical reference addressing current events, Brown pushes the boundaries of his visual storytelling as a “concrete-poetry” infused with empathy for our current cultural milieu. Bil’s work excels in long-form essays, exhibitions, books and prints exploring a single subject or theme. Maintaining a recognizable voice across all media. Oft an editorial contributor to magazines and periodicals such as FLAUNT, PURPLE FASHION MAGAZINE, AUTRE, INTERVIEW, SCHON DETAILS, PAPER, The Sunday Times (UK), Le Monde (FR), Mala Fronta DNES (CZ), and founding editor and publisher of Black & Grey magazine. Bil also is the founder and president of the creative agency NINESIXTYNINE, and is often a presenter for LEICA AKADAMIE worldwide.
Bil’s still photography has been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows. His 2018 show at the Leica Gallery LA, in conjunction with the estate of the late Jim Marshall, PROTEST, vehemently documented the 2016-2017 protests following the election of an American President. In 2020, during the global pandemic, Bil started a teaching series with Leica Akademie entitled Fragments Toward the History of Photography. In 2021, Bil’s series MYLAR was made into NFTs and held gallery shows at two galleries in Vienna, Austria and now for the first time is at Tamarkin Camera in Chicago July-September, 2025!
CHOOSE FROM THESE Tiers
four different opportunities to collaborate.Participation Tiers
VOYEUR DECK — $145
Access to lecture, discussion, and model panel
Observe live model shoots
Group Q&A and ethics in image-making
Ideal for students, creatives, writers, and early-career photographers
GUIDED SHOOT — $245
Includes General Admission
Group shooting session with models
Feedback and visual coaching from Bil and guest panelists
Designed for photographers developing their portfolio and voice
COLLABORATOR TIER — $395
Includes all above access
One-on-one shooting time with a model
Creative coaching with Bil on story, theme, and intention with group.
Consideration for inclusion in post-event zine
Recommended for those wanting some time with different models.
WEEKEND MENTORSHIP — $995 (5 slots only)
Full workshop access, pre-work call available
Includes all above access
Dedicated 1:1 session with Bil and student selected model (Saturday and Sunday available)
Private portfolio review + direction, and follow up critique call
Featured in workshop curated zine
Conceptual development for publication, gallery, or longform project
Reserved for serious students, someone wanting guided 1:1 with a model and Bil, and zine-makers/long projects
Refund and Upgrade Policy
Spots are non-refundable but transferable. You may gift or resell your spot up to 48 hours before the event to the waitlist or privately. Just let us know if anything comes up!
I want to make sure everyone has a chance to be involved as deeply as they want to be. If you buy into a tier and you realize you want to do more, we can always upgrade.
Add-Ons will be Available (Bespoke sessions, off-location shooting, prints and books/zines)
