Royal College of Art (RCA)

Why Photographers Still Make Books | RCA Photography MA at Offprint, Tate Modern

The speaker, a master's student at the Royal College of Art, explains that photobooks remain vital because they let photographers control every aspect of presentation, from size to material, and because the medium fosters a direct, tactile conversation with the audience. He stresses that designing a book from scratch eliminates conventional limits—books can be tiny, massive, or even non‑traditional shapes—allowing artists to push photography’s boundaries. The Offprint fair at Tate Modern provides a physical venue where independent publishers, curators and creators meet, generating feedback and sales opportunities. Experimental formats, such as his condom‑shaped book “A Way to Measure the Universe,” illustrate how content and form can intertwine to address personal themes like women’s sexual health. A memorable line captures the intimacy of the medium: “You are talking to him face to face,” referring to the reader’s interaction with the photographer’s designed pages. He also recounts his girlfriend’s mother’s surprise at the hands‑on process of sourcing paper, cloth and foil, underscoring the craft’s depth. The discussion signals that photobooks are more than archival objects; they are strategic tools for emerging artists to build confidence, expand networks, and monetize work, reinforcing the book’s relevance in a digital age.