class by amy elizAbeth

Blue & Beyond

Make your dream cyanotype prints right at home

We will start with the classic 180+ year-old process but give it some modern twists, leaving you with inspiration and tools to create the raddest prints right in your own home. (Apologies in advance for your new hyperfocus obsession.)

i'm interested
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COURSE LENGTH

3 weeks

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class start date

19th Oct 2026

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INVESTMENT

$300 / $350

Independent / Guided

A woman with long dark hair lying face down on a beige couch, wearing red lingerie. The photo is labeled 'self-portrait at 42'.
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amy elizabeth

This class will be your safe-hatchery as you step away from the comforts behind the viewfinder and allow yourself to be seen.  

Maybe your kids are grown and you need a subject for your photography.  Maybe you want to play with new ideas and techniques at any moment.  Maybe you are seeing so many people embracing the benefits of self-portraiture and you have FOMO.  

Whatever your reason, this class will empower you to show up in front of the camera, be seen and learn to create self portraits that are meaningful and compelling. It’s time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Ralph Steiner once famously said “Every photo is a self-portrait.” 

If you don’t know the story of ‘self’ you’re telling, how is anyone else supposed to?

Learn your story. 

Tell your story. 

It’s time to come back to yourself.  

A collage of black-and-white photos of a woman's face and hand, assembled in a mosaic style, with a primary focus on her eyes and lips. 
amy elizabeth
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  • In this 3 week experience you will learn:

    • How to set up your equipment in preparation for self-portraits

    • The difference between a selfie and self-portrait and why they’re both valuable

    • Self-portrait artists who can inspire and inform our work

    • The magic of showing up consistently

    • How to identify the stories you’re already telling and the stories you long to tell

    • How to use techniques like multiple exposure, slow shutter, and slow sync to further your story

    • How to identify your values and when to refer back to them

    • The process of getting comfortable sharing your distinct story and using diffuse storytelling

    • Retroactively finding meaning and its value

    • How to be aware of your body in front of the lens

    • How to seek out and where to find creative input

    • The power of feeling silly

    • How to take any prompt and turn it into a self-portrait 

    • My favorite activity for brainstorming

    • How to alchemize all you’ve learned into a single project

  • This three-week interactive class will include:

    • A welcoming environment for sharing successes, frustrations, brainstorming, and exploring

    • Discussion questions and mini-assignments to keep you creating, sharing, and communing

    • Written and video lessons as well as lots of example images

    • A behind-the-scenes look at my own self-portraiture

    • Group zooms for time to connect and process 

    • 4 larger assignments with individualized feedback 

    • Scaffolding as you navigate your way through the final project

    • A space to pool our resources, ideas, and inspiration

    • A very active and enthusiastic guide (!!!) who wants to hold your hand and cheer you on every step of the way

    • A soft and open heart

    • A desire to dig deep and make steps toward vulnerability

    • An understanding of how to use your camera

    • Access to artificial light not necessary, but beneficial

    • A tripod

  • Interactive classes are held online and registration opens seasonally.

    Guided students can participate fully in class, by asking questions, submitting assignments, and getting personalized feedback from your teacher.

    Independent students have full access to class content and can participate in class discussions —they just don’t get teacher critique and feedback on images or assignments.

“Amy’s heart and passion come through in every part of this class—from the thoughtful way she built the lessons to her warm, genuine feedback on our work. She creates a space that feels safe and supportive, where it’s easy to share your art and take creative risks.”

lisa
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MEET THE TEACHER

Amy

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Elizabeth

Hi, I’m Amy. I am passionate about self-portraiture and have deepened my love for it over the last 5 years in particular, as I discovered it’s one of my favorite ways to externally process.

I extol the therapeutic act of showing up, letting go, and allowing what’s going on inside to pour out onto the frame. It’s my way of coming back to myself.

I love empowering others in their own artistry (you are an artist!). I delight in passing along my knowledge and experiences so others can add technical and artistic tools to their storytelling toolbelt. 

I fell in love with photography in my high school darkroom and after a brief dalliance with digital, I slowly returned to my film roots.  Although I connect best with the technical aspects and artistry of film photography, I strongly believe we should unapologetically use the best tool for our job (my iPhone is one of my favorites!) 

I am passionate about tangible art, whether it’s making cyanotypes, embroidery, weaving, cutting, or folding.  Not only does it bring me satisfaction to work manually, but I refuse to let my art and memories be swept away in the Digital Dark Age. 

 I am an artist, owner of Film Lab 135, The Art Lab guide, and Post-Processing podcast host, residing in Minneapolis, MN with my three boys (and cat, Lily). I’d love to connect and create with you.  I truly believe we are better together, a rising tide lifts all boats, teamwork makes the dream work, and any other cliché about community that is only trite because it’s true. 

See amy's instagram
Visit amy's website 
Any questions?

Email your teacher directly here and they will get back to you.

Alumni Student?

We’d love to have you back! Email your teacher here and they will send you a link.

Interactive Class Registration opens August 26th

EXPLORE
Silhouette of a woman in yoga pose with arms raised, standing in front of stained glass windows.
Abstract digital artwork with vibrant colors, featuring a blend of red, pink, green, and purple hues, along with patterns resembling leaves and multicolored lines.
Black and white photo of a woman with long hair, wearing a black dress, sitting against a plain wall, looking at the camera.
Black and white photo of three women, with a layered, double exposure effect. One woman is sitting with her legs crossed, another is standing with arms raised and a hand on her head, and the third is partially hidden, holding a bouquet of small white
A black and white photograph of a woman sitting on the floor, with her back to the camera. She is topless and wearing a long, flowing black tulle skirt.
Abstract black and white spiral pattern with swirling lines and gradients.
Black and white portrait of a woman with long hair, looking over her shoulder, with a pensive expression, against a dark background.
A woman sitting with bent knees, surrounded by red light streaks, against a black background.
A black and white photo of a person's hand making a fist with the thumb wrapped around the fingers, resting on a dark surface.
A woman with long hair sitting barefoot on a black surface, illuminated by red and blue light, with motion blur creating a dynamic effect.
A woman kneeling on a black surface with her eyes closed, wearing a black sleeveless top, illuminated by red and blue lights against a black background.
A black and white photograph of a woman with multiple exposures creating a ghostly, layered effect, with her eyes closed and her hands crossed over her chest.
Close-up of a person's finger touching the side of a smartphone, in black and white.
A woman with dark hair, wearing a spaghetti strap top, covering one eye with her raised hand, with colorful lighting and a projected silhouette on the wall behind her.
A woman wearing a white dress sitting on a rustic outdoor bench with vintage-style chairs and ornamental bust sculptures on a small table beside her, outside a building with large windows.
Person lying on bed with a colorful rainbow projected on the wall and body.
Black and white photo of a woman standing in a body of water, with colorful embroidery illustrating a sun behind her head and water ripples around her feet.
A monochrome artwork of a person with a flower shaped background.
A blue artwork with a heart silhouette in the center and faint handwritten text overlaying the image.
A woman lying face down on a couch, wearing red underwear, with her arms and head hanging off the edge of the couch. The photo is labeled "Self-portrait at 42".
A collage art piece composed of multiple strips of blue-tinted print of a woman's face and neck, arranged in a layered, patchwork style.
Black and white photo of a woman holding a candle, overlaid with colorful zigzag lines on a patterned background.
A sequence of black and white grainy photographs showing a person on a bed, positioned in front of a dark background, with the images progressively getting darker and less detailed.
A blue-toned print of a woman with long hair, holding a ruler or pen, partially obscured by a grid of visible fold lines.

What other students had to say

This class was an absolute dream - challenging, introspective, encouraging, supportive.  I was pushed outside of my comfort zone in so many ways - but the teacher and students were so thoughtful and engaged, that I felt safe the entire time.  I would take this class again and again - honestly, I'd take it each year to see what growth and changes happen in my sense of self.  This class and Cami's class on process have been work/life changing for me.

SaraH

Amy teaches with a great mix of technical know-how and personal experience, and she’s always there with encouragement and guidance when you need it. The process ended up being unexpectedly healing for me, helping me work through parts of my past in a really meaningful and healing way. The Zoom sessions were another favorite; they brought everyone together and created real connections that I know will last. I can’t recommend this experience enough, and I’m already looking forward to continuing my creative journey using the skills I learned during this course

LisA
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This class was incredibly refreshing,  I haven’t taken one that kept me this engaged every single day in a long time. I truly admire her artistry and her teaching style. The way she shares her knowledge made learning both inspiring and practical, and I now feel equipped with new skills I can confidently apply to my future projects. Thank you Amy!

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mONICA
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