Self Publish, Be Happy

An economic and cultural revolution has shaken the photobook world in the last five years: self-publishing. Operating as their own publishers, a generation of photographers have had an instrumental role in today's photobook renaissance. Self Publish, Be Happy offers a do-it-yourself manual and a survey of key examples of self-published success stories, as well as a self-publishing manifesto and bookmaking tips from the photobook community. The manual portion of this volume offers insight, advice and rudimentary how-tos for the photographer interested in self-publishing. The survey offers an overview of the contemporary self-publishing landscape; each case study illustrates a particular theme and genre of self-publishing (such as diary, documentary or conceptual object), and is accompanied by a personal testimony from the artist. Author Bruno Ceschel issues a rallying cry for all those involved in the contemporary photobook revolution, urging photographers to take control of a moment in which the photobook, in all its manifestations, has never before been so omnipresent in our cultural landscape, nor so critical to the photographer's practice.

Format: Paperback / softback
Number of pages: 512
Publication date: 2015-11-24
Measurements: 8.3 x 10.7 x 0.8 inches
ISBN: 9781597113441

[Self publishing] has always been an act of defiance against oppression (religious, political, economic, sexual, etc). DIY culture is, by its nature, an ethic in opposition to society’s rules at large. It flourishes in environments of communitarian support, collaboration, and even informal barter economies. –Bruno Ceshel in Time

Bruno Ceschel writes regularly for publications such as Foam and Aperture, is coeditor of the forthcoming publication issue of the journal Photography and Culture, and was the guest editor of The PhotoBook Review’s spring 2014 issue. He is also an associate lecturer of photography and contextual studies at University of the Arts London.