Making a photo zine can be a great way to present a body of work or, alternatively, re-contextualize a series of images which may exist elsewhere, such as on your website.
For "30 Days in Mexico," Canadian photographer Kam Vachon’s images capture the vibrant sights and sounds of Mexico. As a self-assigned project, Vachon chose to work exclusively with film cameras. Vachon further outlines their process for editing a body of work intended for a zine. Understandably, editing for a zine means the images need to be read in a linear manner. Furthermore, Vachon offers helpful advice on designing, printing, and distributing a zine.
Zines are a grassroots form of publishing with a basis in punk rock and DIY. They hold a special place for the dissemination of alternative voices.
Self-assigning can be a great way to test out ideas without the pressure of adhering to editorial or commercial demands. Furthermore, taking the extra step to consider and present work in a tangible form shows your respect and vision for your images as an artist.
The other side of publishing, however, is that there is little to no money in it. This is very much passion work, which may not yield anything more than breaking even and reaching a certain audience. That isn’t to say that I mean to dissuade from watching the video or making a zine — quite the contrary, really. I think you should definitely give it a go. If you’ve tried it, share your results in the comments below!
