SEMINAR + REVIEW
The 14th annual WPOW Seminar + Portfolio Review, sponsored by Canon, will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the beautiful Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at George Washington University.
This year’s event promises to be an incredible day of lectures from renowned photojournalists, hands-on workshops, one-on-one portfolio reviews, professional camera cleanings, and plenty of networking opportunities.
Register here!
Meet our keynote speakers
Stephanie Sinclair is known for gaining unique access to the most sensitive gender and human rights issues around the world. She has documented the defining conflicts of the past decade with a fearless persistence. Her widely published images of the occupation of Iraq and the war in Afghanistan refute characterizations of violence in anything but human terms.
Jessica Koscielniak is an award-winning visual journalist and leader based in Washington, DC. Currently, she is a Senior Video Producer for Breaking News and Enterprise on the National and Local desks at The Washington Post. She is currently serving as President of the White House News Photographer Association.
By popular requests again this year — workshops!
We’ve heard your feedback and added more workshops to the line up this year. These dynamic workshops are designed to enhance your photography skills, support your well-being, and boost your creative confidence.
Visit our workshops page for a full description of the sessions we’ll have this year!
And of course, the portfolio reviews!
We’re securing talented editors and photographers from companies and publications such as National Geographic, Associated Press, NPR, Smithsonian Magazine, Reuters, and more. A list of reviewers can be found here, updated soon, and be sure to check back often as more names are added.
Camera cleanings and demos
Participants can bring their gear for free cleanings and checks by technicians from Canon, Sony, and Nikon. Plus they’ll have all kinds of equipment to look at and all the gear talk you can handle!
Closing reception
You’ve spent the day learning and getting personalized feedback, and your head is swimming with a million ideas. Now its time to relax with your WPOW community! Chat with reviewers and other participants, plus, during the reception, we’ll draw the winner of the grand prize for the WPOW fundraiser, a NEW CANON CAMERA!
Support WPOW and win!
Each year at the Seminar+Portfolio Review we hold a special fundraiser to help support all of the amazing programs and activities of WPOW.
Plus, your donation enters you to win from a long list of prizes, including a brand new Canon EOS R1 + RF24-105mm f/4 L Lens!
You can also enter to win reviews by top editors, Think Tank bags, computer software, memberships, services, photo books, and of course our beloved WPOW-branded swag!
Donate and win here!
WPOW is a 501c3 and all donations will directly support our programming and operational expenses.
About the Seminar+Portfolio Review
The Seminar + Portfolio Review is WPOW’s largest annual event. We are very proud of its evolution since the first review in 2011. This growth is thanks to the many WPOW volunteers and reviewers who have given their time to help and inspire both new and seasoned visual journalists. The event is an opportunity to learn from our esteemed speakers and to share your still, video, and multimedia work one-on-one with industry leaders in Washington, D.C.- a base for many of the world's top visual journalists, editors, and publications. Editors from National Geographic, NPR, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, and more will be on hand to conduct the portfolio reviews. In addition, Canon, Nikon and Sony offer complimentary equipment clean and check services.
What People Say About The Event
Amazing speakers! - great combination of women photo/videojournalists from different points in their career and different subject focuses. Both so inspiring in their own way, and gave great advice. I was also absolutely satisfied with my reviewers. They all had such unique perspectives, and were able to give incredibly helpful guidance on both short-term goals (improving photography, portfolio etc.) and long-term aspirations (career advice etc.).
— Katherine Cheng, 2019 Participant and videojournalist at Global News
“I thought it was very well done. Very organized, kept on schedule, the room was organized well, great speakers and reviewers, etc. Great job All!!
— Aubrey Gemignani, Photo Archivist/Photographer, Mori Associates, 2019 Participant
“The seminar and portfolio review were excellent. Both speakers were just perfect. it's as if they were talking to me personally: they hit so many issues I'd been struggling with. My reviews were very helpful. She was wonderful and has a way to put someone at ease; be critical and encouraging at the same time. The atmosphere at the seminar was great: friendly and supportive. Thank you for a great event.”
