193 ☼ Behind the Zine: How 101 Portraits Became The Best Medicine
New Zine Out Now! How a portrait project about comedy turned into something much deeper.
Dear friends,
Last night, 275 wonderful people gathered at De Balie in Amsterdam to celebrate the release of The Best Medicine, a zine and project that’s been quietly in the works for months. There were cameras, laughter, newspapers, and people celebrating and gathering in real life.
This issue is about why this kind of work is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
In this issue:
The story behind The Best Medicine
How 101 portraits came together in two days
The importance of making something real in an increasingly virtual world
A few powerful quotes from the comedy community
A look ahead at what’s next
Zine link (less than 60 out of 400 copies left!)
Behind-the-scenes video and gallery
Want to skip ahead and grab a copy? Order the zine here.
The Best Medicine — A Dream Project
The Best Medicine is a photographic tribute to the English-language comedy community in Amsterdam. Over two marathon days in the studio, we photographed and interviewed 101 comedians, writers, and performers: people who use humor to connect, reflect, and get through the mess of being alive. Now, it’s a printed object to savor and a memento to remember a special time and a special community by.
The idea started simple: let’s capture this growing, deeply human scene before it slips past us. These are the kinds of projects I live for. Centered on community, made with care, and released in physical form as a marker in time.
It was a true privilege to bring everyone together in one room. First during the portrait session with 101 comedians and my team of eleven, and then again at the release event last night, where 275 people came out. We laughed together, felt a sense of community, and for a moment, stepped outside the everyday to connect to something bigger than ourselves.
The zine is printed on newsprint, designed by the amazing Maxwell George, and limited to just 400 copies. Inside are portraits, quotes, and reflections on what comedy means to people. It’s part photo project, part oral history.
One of the most satisfying moments last night was overhearing people say they planned to keep the zine for the rest of their lives. The idea that in 5, 10, or 20 years they might look back and see what a special moment, community, and time this was. That no matter where life takes us individually, we are now connected in a physical way. That is exactly what I had hoped for.
One quote from the zine that’s stayed with me:
“A few years ago I had a horrible burnout,” says Adriana. “The one thing that saved me was improv. It gave me the freedom to be silly and make mistakes again. I felt free.”
Another:
“There were things about me that I thought would work against me—my age, my race, my gender,” says Mohna. “But it turns out they were my greatest assets on stage.”
Humor as survival, performance as identity, silliness as self-healing.
This zine and show will not be the last you hear of The Best Medicine. More is in the works, with so many talented people contributing.
The Team
This project only exists because of the people who showed up for it, generously investing their time, skills, and conviction.
The zine was designed by Maxwell George, who I cannot say enough good about. We were able to shoot the entire thing at Studio 13, in my opinion the best photo studio in the city of Amsterdam. The behind-the-scenes film and the secondary portraits were processed and scanned beautifully by Carmencita Film Lab. Paper and printing handled with care by Newspaper Club. Film supplied by Kodak Alaris. The event was hosted by the warm team at De Balie.
I was assisted by Taylor Foster and Lydia O’Donoghue, whose sharp eye at the digi tech station kept the shoot running smoothly. Thanks to them, we were able to get everyone at their best in just a few minutes and a few frames each. Arshya and Simon Ducos captured the spirit of the day with excellent behind-the-scenes photography.
Nastya Klymenko, my favorite person and chef of all, kindly catered the shoot and kept the team well-fed and ready to work. Niharika interviewed all 101 participants, each of whom shared generously from their life stories, which were then woven into a beautiful essay for the zine. Adi Parmar joined up a few months later and took the reigns of corralling the community and running a dedicated The Best Medicine Instagram account.
Below is a wonderful behind-the-scenes video from these shoots, shot and edited by the talented and kind Alain Galje. You can see our set up for the shoots and all the team members and how hard they worked to get all of this to come out so well.
Together, we were a tight, multi-disciplinary team that functioned like a good comedy ensemble: everyone in rhythm, no one overreaching, everyone lifting the others. We worked fast, stayed kind, and somehow got it all done.
It’s a privilege to work like this. It felt like exactly what creative work should be.
Sadly not everyone was still there when we took this team portrait at the end of day two, but this puts some faces with names. From left to right: Simon, me, Alain, Lydia, Niharika.
Why This Work Matters
In a world where more and more of our experiences are virtual, ephemeral, and flattened into algorithmic feeds, projects like this feel like a small act of resistance.
(For more on that idea, I wrote about it back in Process 188.)
We got in a room. We made something physical. We told real stories. We can look at a physical object any time we want to be reminded of this moment.
What Comes Next
One of my core interests as a photographer is documenting meaningful communities and finding ways to shine a light on people who inspire me. The Best Medicine follows that path, just like One of Many and my other projects before it.
And there’s more coming:
Creatives In/AMS, launching this September: a 52-week portrait series and zine project highlighting creative professionals across Amsterdam. Artists, curators, designers, chefs, architects: one per week, published online and culminating in a several events and a printed object, maybe more.
25 in 2025, presented at De Balie on November 7th: a documentary series about people turning 25 in the year 2025. What do they hope for? What are they worried about? How do they see the future? In collaboration with writer Amber Wiznitzer.
These are the kinds of projects I want to keep making, ones that help us slow down, pay attention, and understand each other a little better. That’s the job. I am so glad you chose to follow along with it all and encourage me with your attention and financial support by subscribing, buying books, and hiring me for your portraits.
Order the Zine
We printed only 400 copies of The Best Medicine. As of writing this, fewer than 60 are left and it will not be reprinted. They’re €9.99 each, and shipping worldwide.
Twenty beautifully designed pages, 101+ portraits, an essay, and a lot of behind-the-scenes context. More info here.
Want to Make Your Own Zine?
A huge thank you to Newspaper Club for their expert printing and kind partnership. I’ve admired their work for years, and they delivered exactly what this project needed. It was delivered on time, with great care, and real attention to detail.
If this project has you thinking about printing your own zine, tabloid, or newspaper, they’ve generously created a special discount code just for Process readers. Use TBM_NEWSPAPERCLUB10 at checkout when ordering your own project from Newspaper Club to get 10% off. Check out their website here.
I can’t recommend them highly enough. The team was thoughtful, responsive, and truly went the extra mile. Thank you, Newspaper Club!
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this issue, I’d love for you to share it with a friend.
Let’s keep shooting, learning, and sharing together—one messy, human step at a time.
Warmly,
Wesley
📷 What I Used This Week
Camera: All images from The Best Medicine were shot on the Fujifilm GFX 100S with a Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR.
Fim Stock: Kodak Tri-X, and Double X.
This issue is supported by MPB.com — my go-to for buying, selling, or trading used photo and video gear. Everything comes with a 6-month warranty, and their support helps keep Process going.
Lab: My film is processed by Carmencita Film Lab. I trust them fully for both their work and their humanity. Use code "PROCESS" for a free upgrade on your next order.
Next Week
Immanuel Kant wasn’t a photographer—but next week, we’ll look at what this philosopher can teach us about making pictures, not just noticing them.
Also, a full behind-the-scenes gallery of images from The Best Medicine shoot, and a bonus gallery of all 101 people captured on my Hasselblad 500cm loaded up with Tri-X.
Support Process & Elevate Your Photography
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Process Workbook Volume One & Two: Creative prompts and assignments designed to get you out of your head and into action with your camera.
€8.99 each (free for Process Photo Club members)
NOTICE Journal, Volume One: A fresh perspective on beauty and rebirth, shot in Amsterdam.
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🚧 Currently Working On1
Currently Working On / Project Updates (r = release date)
Process Redesign — Pushed back a few weeks (r: Jul)
NJV1 Exhibition — Framing the works next week! (r: TBA)
Process Workbook, Vol. 3 — Writing assignments (r: Jun)
Creatives In/AMS — Pitch mode for sponsors (r: Sept)
NOTICE Journal, Volume Two — Developing concept
25 in 2025 — Set up master document, planning shoots (r: Nov 7)
I love the white high-key lighting with shadow. It's awesome.
Could you make a post about partnering with a writer? How did you wrangle 101 subjects?