PCVS: A Media Arts Program in Visual Storytelling

Are you an aspiring creative professional in the fields of photo, video and media arts?

Students aspiring to careers as artists and working professionals in the world of media arts become fluent in multiple forms of visual media in order to effectively tell a story – whether it is one of personal expression, documentary journalism, social advocacy, or fictional narrative.

A Certificate Program in the Arts

The Maine Media College Professional Certificate in Visual Storytelling is a 30- Week program designed to graduate visual storytellers with the skills, vision, experience, and knowledge needed to build a career in the evolving media arts fields.

Program Goals & Objectives

Hear from Recent Graduates About the Professional Certificate in Visual Storytelling


Hear from PCVS graduates Jacklyn Grad, Matt Cosby, as well as renowned photographer Joyce Tenneson on the PCVS Experience.

What Our Students Say

Dave Backlin, PCVS graduate 2021

“The Professional Certificate in Visual Storytelling program with Maine Media was transformational. Before entering the program, I had a basic sense of how to use the camera, but was unconfident on how to improve my skills and what direction I wanted to go. Maine Media creates a very collaborative, and community-based space that allows people to put their guard down, and really explore their creative potential. The instructors are working professionals in their respective fields, and you are getting direct guidance from their years of experience being creators. The program is work, and will push you, but I am grateful it did because I feel much more confident as a photographer and filmmaker. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to fast track their visual storytelling skills.”

Dave Backlin, PCVS graduate

Rob Schulz, PCVS Graduate 2020 (On being a student during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

“The solid foundation I needed in my work was [enhanced] with the broad support and the professional and personal dedication of the faculty. This team, along with students I worked with from the MFA program and community workshop participants, provided me with a network of support during a time where networking seemed an impossible hope.”

Rob Schulz, PCVS Graduate (On being a student during the COVID-19 Pandemic)

Jacklyn Grad, PCVS Graduate 2019

“PCVS provided an environment for me to express a creative side I had never explored, and mentorship that I would not have received at a traditional four-year college. I started the program thinking I might learn to be a better photographer, and walked away with a passion for storytelling in multiple mediums, and skills that allowed me to walk directly into the workforce.”

Jacklyn Grad, PCVS Graduate

Nikolas Hample, PCVS graduate 2017

“As my year out of the program has progressed, the perceived value has blossomed. I’m seeing how instrumental a lot of the practices were and how that helped to develop our skills. I’m capable of working in processes and creating products that people who have been in the industry for years, can not.”

Nikolas Hample, PCVS Graduate

Matt Cosby, PCVS Graduate 2012

“The PCVS program afforded me the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the medium of photography with little distraction from the outside world. The faculty are extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, and nurturing. At the start of my 30 weeks I felt most comfortable when my camera was in Automatic Mode, but upon completing the program I left with a comprehensive understanding of my camera, a great feel for industry standard editing software, lighting setups, marketing for my business, and a great looking website. All of which have helped me immensely as a freelance working photographer. MMW+C has given me a ton of confidence to be working in a highly competitive field, and I was able to pursue opportunities shooting for major magazines directly following my completion of the program. With the help of Brenton Hamilton and Elizabeth Greenberg I was able to hone my vision and craft in a way that wouldn’t have been possible on my own.”

Matt Cosby, PCVS Graduate

We are ready for you!

Applications now being accepted. Call 207-236-8581, or Apply online!

 

 

 

Meet Your Faculty

Kari Wehrs Profile Picture

Photography Program Chair

Kari Wehrs

Kari Wehrs is a photo based artist and educator. She received her MFA in photography from Arizona State University in the spring of 2018. Kari is currently the Photography Program Chair at Maine Media College in Rockport, Maine. Prior to this, she had been associated with Maine Media since 2008 and has been a workshops instructor since 2012. 

Elizabeth Greenberg Faculty Headshot

Provost

Elizabeth Greenberg

Elizabeth Greenberg is an artist and educator living on the coast of Maine. She is an explorer of places and memories of that which has never been seen. Elizabeth’s passion for photography is her guide for living a life and career immersed in a daily conversation about looking at and making pictures. She is Provost at Maine Media College and teaches in all programs at Maine Media, including a workshop in Hawaii.

Tom Ryan Profile Picture

Maine Media College Faculty

Tom Ryan

A New England-based editor and filmmaker, Tom has worked extensively in the worlds of commercial, corporate, and documentary film. He has freelanced in Production for over 9 years and is a co-founder of the Maine-based Production company, Tailwind Media. As an editor, his work in fiction and documentary film has been shown in numerous festivals. Tom is passionate about teaching storytelling to students of all career paths and skill levels.

Maine Media College Faculty

Brenton Hamilton

Brenton Hamilton holds his MFA in photography, earned in 1992, from the Savannah College of Art & Design. His teaching specialties include, B&W Craft, Historic Processes, and the History of Photography at Maine Media College. Brenton is an enthusiastic workshop leader exhibiting special care and interest in the teaching process and for his students.

Jim Nickelson - Profile Picture

Maine Media College Faculty

Jim Nickelson

Jim works as a fine art photographer, custom digital printer (as Nickelson Editions), bookmaker, and teacher. Before committing himself to the photographic life, he pursued the classic artistic career path of NASA engineer and corporate attorney (with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Univ. of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Harvard Law School).

Past Student Work

Dave Backlin – PCVS 2021

Kristina Fort – PCVS 2021

Jacklyn Grad – PCVS 2019

 

Aled Lewis Furniture Maker Short Documentary, Created by Jacklyn Grad & Tillie Marsh.

VIEW MORE STUDENT WORK

Admissions Information

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About Maine Media

Learn About Maine Media College Students & Faculty

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Admissions Information - Professional Certificate in Visual Storytelling

Take the next step! You’ll find all the details about applying to the Professional Certificate in Visual Storytelling (PCVS) program here.