This is for you if you want to improve and develop your own photography style and storytelling.
In April, Matti Sulanto, Peter Forsgard, and Robin Wong will guide your photography and creativity to another level in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!
This is a must for every aspiring beginner or seasoned photographer and something you simply can’t miss.
What?
A photography workshop to develop your storytelling.
Where?
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The capital of Malaysia and a vibrant and photogenic city in the heart of Asia!
When?
March 30th – April 3rd. 2026, five days.
How much?
Early Bird Special until July 31st 2025
$1400, a $300 initial deposit will secure your spot and the remaining balance of $1100 will be due on January 31st 2026.
After July 31st 2025
$1600, a $500 initial deposit will secure your spot and the remaining balance of $1100 will be due on January 31st 2026.
Where can I sign up?
You can sign up on Urban Street Narratives store.
___________________________________________________________________________
Every photographer claims to be a visual storyteller, but few master the true art of storytelling, which is the skill of telling stories with multiple photos. A single photo can tell a story, but only to a certain extent. With multiple pictures, the photographer has many more options to tell the story. Creating a story with multiple images requires planning and an idea. It also calls for careful curation of the photos to make the story coherent and interesting to the viewer.
“A very stimulating workshop combined with an interesting city visit.” Ruud Dirks (participant in Helsinki workshop in 2022)
What is Urban Street Narratives all about?
This workshop concentrates on developing a personal storytelling style in an urban environment with multiple photographs. There will be an assignment every day, and the aim is that by the end of the workshop, you will know how to build a series of 5-6 photos that tell a story.
Our three instructors will guide you through the assignments to ensure you take the right steps. We have chosen some truly interesting locations to photograph, so you will have enough visual stimulants to fire up your creativity. We accept only 24 participants to ensure we have enough time for everyone. We will have small groups of 8 photographers during the weekly photo critique. Every one of you will have time with each of us.
“I enjoyed every minute of the workshop I attended in 2022. Matti and Peter are born teachers when it comes to stimulate their pupils to get the most out of their talents. Not by giving a lot of theory, but helping you as you go through the process by yourself. The course is not about pixels, but about becoming more aware of your style and refining it. The format is so, that you also see your fellow students’ style and development. I also learned from that. I now feel that I am a more consistent amateur who looks around better to shoot a story. “ Robert de Vroom
Reserve your spot now!
This workshop is for everyone who wants to improve their photography and become a better storyteller. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a more seasoned shooter. We will tailor the assignments for you individually. We only require that you know your camera and other gear well enough to operate them independently.
What gear do I need?
You should bring your preferred digital camera and lens, but we have no specific requirements.
You’ll also need a laptop or other device to process and select your photos.
You can bring any other gear, such as a tripod, etc., if you think you will need it.
How much?
$1600 (Early Bird Special $1400 until July 31st 2025)
Where can I sign up?
You can sign up on the Urban Street Narratives store.
What is included?
This is included:
- Some dinners (water included)
- All museum and public entrance fees
- Photography instructions from three instructors
- Photography discussions in private and in groups
- Image critique every day
- A presentation about the day’s assignment each day.
- Photography Assignments for each day
This is not included:
- Airfare to and from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Travel to and from the Airport.
- Hotel and meals (except the ones that are)
- Travel Insurance
- If you choose to do something on your own, you’ll pay for it.
- Any fees or charges that you incur as a result of canceling this trip once you have made a reservation
- You’re responsible for all the expenses if you arrive early or depart late.
Schedule
This is a preliminary schedule, and we reserve the right to make changes to the schedule without further notice.
Monday (March 30th)
2pm Gathering in GMBB, No. 2, Jalan Robertson, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Introduction to the workshop
2.30 pm What is Storytelling? Presentation by Matti Sulanto
3 pm The first, look at your images
6 pm Photographing in the City, Bukit Bintang area
9 pm Welcome Dinner (included in the price)
Tuesday (March 31st)
Morning Photographing in Masjid Jamek area
2 pm Robins’ presentation: Approaching Strangers, Capturing Street Portraits
2.30 pm Photo Critic in small groups (Your images from Monday)
5.30 pm Personalized Assignments for the evening
6 pm Photographing in the City
Wednesday (April 1st)
Morning Photographing in Chow Kit area
2 pm Peter’s presentation: What makes a good image?
2.30 pm Photo Critic in small groups
5.30 pm Personalized Assignments for the evening
6 pm Free time to photograph your story.
Thursday (April 2nd)
Morning Photographing in Petaling Street area
2 pm Photo Critic in small groups
5.30 pm Personalized Assignments for the evening
6 pm Photographing in the City
Friday (April 3rd)
Morning Free time to photograph and finalize your story.
2 pm Showcase of the final stories
6 pm Final Dinner at (included in the price) and the presentation of the diplomas
Where can I sign up?You can sign up here.
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- Photography instructions from three photographers
- Photography discussions in private and in groups
- Image critique every day
- A presentation about the day’s assignment each day.
- Photography Assignments for each day
WHAT IS NOT :
- Airfare to and from Malaysia
- Travel to and from the Airport
- Hotel and meals (except the ones that are)
- Travel Insurance
- If you choose to do something alone, you’ll pay for it.
- Any fees or charges that you incur as a result of your canceling this trip once you have made a reservation
- If you decide to arrive early or depart late, you’re responsible for all expenses.
___________________________________________________
PAYMENT SCHEDULE: 2025 and 2026
DEPOSIT: $500 per person (non-refundable) (Early Bird Special $300 until July 31st 2025) upon registration
January 31st, 2026 – BALANCE DUE
The full amount must be paid if the registration is after January 31st 2026.
January 31st 2026 – CONFIRMATION OF PARTICIPATION: Cancellations made after January 31st, will be charged the full cost of the workshop.
Cancellation notices received after January 31st 2026, will not be refunded.
The March 2026 workshop is limited to 24 participants.
Passport and Identification – Each workshop member is responsible for their valid passport. Please ensure it is valid for six months beyond your return date.
The required travel documents for Malaysia are here: (www.imi.gov.my). Each Workshop participant is responsible for having all the necessary travel documents.
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY:
We are conducting everything according to Malaysian law.
BINDING AGREEMENT:
These terms and conditions apply to this Workshop. Constitute a binding agreement between Urban Narratives workshop (“organizer”) and each Workshop participant (“Participant” or “you”). You should read these terms and conditions carefully. If you do not agree with any part of them, you should not book this Workshop. To complete your reservation, you must also sign the workshop Waiver.
About two weeks before the starting date of the workshop, participants will be sent information about the destination and all the information they’ll need to prepare. Also, any gear-related requirements will be informed.
The workshop organizer provides educational Photography Workshops. Tuition is for one workshop only. The workshop organizer is not responsible for planning or booking any other aspect of the Participant’s travel to and from the workshop, lodging, etc.
The itineraries and staff presented on this website are subject to modification and change by the organizer at any time. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate programs as planned, but alterations may still occur.
Your enrollment in a Workshop will only be complete upon the organizer’s receipt of the following:
(i) full Tuition for the Workshop and
(ii) a signed copy of the completed Workshop Waiver.
Suppose you have any problems or complaints during the Workshop. In that case, you must promptly communicate them to the organizer so that the organizer may attempt to resolve them however it deems appropriate. You may direct any such communication to info@urbanstreetnarratives.com.
PAYMENT:
A non-refundable deposit of $500 (Early Bird Special $300 until July 31 2025) is required to reserve your place in the workshop. This will be paid upon registration. No reservation will be considered confirmed until the deposit has been received. Tuition must be paid in full to confirm your place in the workshop. Unless otherwise noted, tuition and any other amounts due hereunder are reflected in US Dollars (USD).
CANCELLATION:
We rely on your attendance to make necessary arrangements and logistical preparations. If, for any reason, you must cancel your enrollment or participation in a Workshop, please notify the organizer in writing by email to info@urbanstreetnarratives.com as soon as possible. Your cancellation notice will be adequate as of the date the email is received by the organizer and will be subject to the following tuition & refund policy:
- The final payment is due by January 31st 2026.
- Cancellation at any time while the Workshop is in progress, for any reason whatsoever, will result in 100% of the tuition for the Workshop. No refunds will be made for unused portions of a Workshop.
- There are no exceptions to this cancellation policy, even in the event of a medical emergency. We strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation/Interruption Insurance to avoid incurring the above cancellation charges.
If you do not pay your tuition on time, the organizer has the right to cancel your reservation for the Workshop. You agree that the organizer will have no liability for any such cancellation.
The organizer reserves the right to cancel any Workshop because of inadequate enrollment that makes the trip economically unfeasible to operate or because of good-faith concerns concerning the safety, health, or welfare of the participants. If the organizer elects to cancel a Workshop for either of these reasons, you will receive a full refund and/or credit equivalent to any tuition you have already paid to the organizer. Similarly, if the organizer cancels a Workshop after it has commenced, you will receive a prorated refund based on the number of completed days.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the organizer will not be liable for any forced delay in, change to, or cancellation of one or more Workshops due to any event of Force Majeure or any other circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the organizer, including, but not limited to war, the threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, disease, industrial or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire, and strikes.
The organizer will not be responsible for any other expenses you may have incurred in association with the Workshop, such as airline tickets, personal purchases, travel outside of the Workshop, etc. We strongly recommend that all participants purchase Trip cancellation/interruption Insurance that covers Workshop expenses and non-refundable travel costs.
SUITABILITY TO PARTICIPATE:
You must be physically and mentally healthy to participate in the Workshop. Any physical condition, diet, or treatment requiring special attention or for which you need assistance or accommodation must be reported in writing when the reservation is made. The workshop will keep any personal or medical information you share with the workshop confidential. It will only use the information to the extent needed to coordinate your successful participation in the Workshop. We strongly recommend that you purchase international medical insurance for the duration of the Workshop.
You must be 18 or older to attend the Workshop. You are solely responsible for assessing the following for yourself:
(i) Whether you are in good enough health and fitness to travel to and from and to participate in a Workshop
(ii) You can legally travel to and from Malaysia to participate in the Workshop.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:
All participants are responsible for ensuring they have the proper travel documents (including, but not limited to, a valid passport and visa(s)). Each workshop member is responsible for their valid passport. Please ensure it is valid for six months beyond your return date. The required travel documents for Malaysia are here: (www.imi.gov.my). Each Workshop participant is responsible for having all the necessary travel documents.
COMPLIANCE:
The workshop requires that you follow all laws, rules, and regulations regarding the workshop’s location. Suppose your actions interfere with your safety and well-being. In that case, that of any other participant or any Workshop owner, employee, or agent, the workshop reserves the right to terminate your enrollment in the Workshop and to require you to leave.
IMAGE RIGHTS AND USAGE
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the copyright to all photographs taken by participants during the workshop remains with the participant. By attending, you grant the organizers a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use images taken during the workshop (including images featuring participants) for promotional and educational purposes, with appropriate credit where possible.
LIKENESS RELEASE:
Unless you direct the organizer otherwise before a Workshop, the organizer may capture and use your likeness by photograph or otherwise.
RIGHT TO ALTER THE ITINERARY
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the organizers reserve the right to change the workshop itinerary, locations, or instructors. Reasonable efforts will be made to provide equivalent alternatives.
MINIMUM PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENT
The workshop requires a minimum number of participants. If this minimum is not met, the organizers may cancel or reschedule the workshop and will offer a full refund.
DATA PROTECTION
– I understand that my data will be collected, used, and stored under Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and only for Workshop administration and legal compliance.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:
PARTICIPANTS WAIVE ANY AND ALL LIABILITY
Your total remedy, if any, for any injury and/or damages you may suffer arising from or connected in any way with a Workshop is limited to the total amount you have paid for the Workshop. The workshop will not be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages of any kind, regardless of the form of the action and even if the workshop has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Participant expressly waives any correct Participant may have to recover such damages.
CHOICE OF LAW:
These terms and conditions, along with any applicable Workshop Agreement, are governed by the laws of Malaysia. You agree to the courts’ exclusive venue and personal jurisdiction in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The organizer may change these terms and conditions at any time. It is your responsibility to review them frequently.