Short photography programs

ICP x Spéos Summer Photography Program

  • Campus: Paris, France
  • Next session: June — July 2026

The ICP x Spéos Summer Photography Program in Paris is a unique international program developed in collaboration between the International Center of Photography (ICP, New York) and Spéos International Photography School (Paris). It is a summer photography course designed for students who want to study photography in Paris while developing their creative vision.

I apply! Campus visits
© Eva Morel

Presentation

For more than 50 years, ICP has been one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to photography and visual culture. Through this collaboration with Spéos, students have the opportunity to experience the educational offerings of both institutions while studying photography in the creative capital of Paris.

Over two summer months, participants immerse themselves in the world of photography while living and creating in one of the most inspiring cities in the world. Combining technical training, creative exploration, and photographic practice in Paris, this program is designed for anyone who dreams of developing their photographic eye.

The program is co-taught by instructors from ICP and Spéos, offering students a truly international learning experience. For many participants, this summer program becomes the first step toward a deeper engagement with photography.

A Collaboration Between ICP and Spéos

Founded in 1974, the International Center of Photography (ICP) is one of the world’s most respected institutions dedicated to photography and visual culture. Based in New York, ICP is a dynamic center encompassing a museum, a school, and a global membership community.

Education is central to ICP’s mission. Having trained generations of photographers and visual storytellers, ICP collaborates with institutions such as Barnard College and supports educational initiatives in Italy, China, and India. In New York City, ICP’s museum presents high-profile exhibitions, stewards a significant permanent collection, and hosts the annual Infinity Awards, recognizing excellence in photography and visual storytelling.

The ICP x Spéos Summer Photography Program in Paris reflects ICP’s commitment to international photographic education and creative exchange.

Founded in 1985, Spéos International Photography School is a leading photography school based in Paris. Spéos offers professional photography programs combining technical excellence, creative development and real-world experience. Located in the heart of Paris, the school provides an ideal environment for learning photography.

The school is also part of a specialized ecosystem through its membership in a group that brings together: Maison Niépce, the museum dedicated to the invention of photography by Nicéphore Niépce; Quai de la Photo, a cultural venue devoted to contemporary photography located in Paris’s 13th arrondissement on the banks of the Seine; and Prophot-TRM, a leading provider of equipment and services for professional photographers. Together, these institutions help anchor Spéos’ programs in the contemporary realities of photography.

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An International Learning Experience

The ICP x Spéos Summer Photography Program reflects a shared commitment by both institutions to high-quality photographic education and international creative exchange.

The curriculum has been developed in consultation between ICP and Spéos to ensure that students benefit from the pedagogical approaches and professional expertise of both schools.

Classes are co-taught by instructors from ICP and Spéos, creating a dynamic learning environment where students benefit from multiple perspectives on contemporary photography. Instructors guide students throughout the program and support the development of both technical skills and artistic vision.

Participants join a diverse group of students from around the world, creating a dynamic and inspiring environment for exchange and collaboration.

Program Overview

Over eight weeks, participants acquire the technical and creative foundations of photography.
The program combines lectures, practical workshops, shooting assignments, and critiques.
Each week focuses on a specific theme, ensuring a structured and progressive learning experience.

> View the full schedule for the ICP x Spéos Summer Photography Program

This workshop, thanks to the Stop-System method invented by Spéos, allows participants to quickly take control of film photography techniques. It offers a tactile and sensitive approach to photography, ideal for understanding the very substance of the image.

Participants discover the magic of the darkroom and learn to develop their own black and white films. They are guided through every stage: preparation, development, developer, fixer and first prints.

  • Day 1 – Technical fundamentals: light, silver salts, ISO sensitivity, principles of development, loading the film.
  • Day 2 – Outdoor shooting and exposure: light meter, 18% middle grey, incident vs reflected light, 36-exposure roll.
  • Day 3 – Developing films in the tank and introduction to the printing darkroom.
  • Day 4 – Introduction to printing: contact sheet, test strips, dodging and burning.
  • Day 5 – Producing a final exhibition-quality print.

By the end of this workshop, participants have full command of the entire B&W film chain on their own.

This workshop introduces participants to the art of telling real stories through images: choosing a subject, understanding the issues at stake, immersing themselves in the field, capturing key situations and bringing meaning to the sequence.

  • Day 1 – Definitions and distinctions between reportage, photojournalism, press photography and documentary photography; analysis of reference images. Presentation of the practical exercises to be carried out during the week.
  • Day 2 – Techniques (exposure, light, composition) applied to the documentary genre and visual storytelling through case studies.
  • Day 3 – Historical and contemporary overview, press photographers vs independents, the importance of point of view and intent.
  • Day 4 – Building a personal project and discovering the professional ecosystem (agencies, collectives, platforms).
  • Day 5 – Presentation and critical analysis of the work produced. Practical work running throughout the week: portrait of a place or a person.

By the end of this workshop, participants are familiar with reportage techniques, the appropriate equipment and the realities of the profession.

This workshop offers a thorough introduction to the essential techniques of studio photography.
Participants learn how to handle professional equipment and to master flash lighting.

The use of large format and the Stop-System method enriches the experience, providing a deep understanding of the precision and rigour required in studio work.

  • Day 1 – Introduction to the studio and the equipment (flashes, stands, light modifiers), framing and use of the tripod.
  • Day 2 – Types of camera bodies and sensors, exposure triangle (shutter speed/aperture/ISO), handheld light meter (incident, reflected, flash mode), guide numbers.
  • Day 3 – Mastering light and exposure, setting up a still life (table, autopoles, backdrops), using booms.
  • Day 4 – Depth of field (the 1/3 – 2/3 rule), colour temperature and custom white balance, tethered shooting with Capture One, choosing focal lengths.
  • Day 5 – Rembrandt lighting and chiaroscuro (fill light, background, metering of highlights and shadows).

By the end of this workshop, participants have the technical skills and the eye needed to design, light and carry out their own studio shoots fully on their own.

During this workshop, the production of portraits allows each participant to develop their personal expression by trying to work as close as possible to their own sensibility. Participants learn to optimise the shooting parameters: lighting, optics, film and camera, in order to maximise their artistic potential.

  • Day 1 – Rembrandt, loop and split lighting, managing contrast with fill light and reflectors.
  • Day 2 – Background lighting (types and construction), short side vs broad side.
  • Day 3 – Rim, Butterfly and Paramount lighting, control of shadows, long exposures in portraiture.
  • Day 4 – Composition applied to portraiture, themed lighting exercises based on keywords, improvising new techniques.
  • Day 5 – Full personalised session for building a portfolio.

By the end of this workshop, participants have mastered the main lighting techniques for portraiture and know how to adapt them to each subject in order to bring out their personality with accuracy and sensitivity.

Each day offers a different creative challenge: photographing glass, metal, everyday objects, products, or exploring food styling. Participants learn to compose precise, elegant and balanced images by playing with textures, materials and lighting. The use of the digital view camera enriches the technical approach and opens up new artistic possibilities.

  • Day 1 – Introduction, surface properties, principles of composition, themed exercises based on keywords.
  • Day 2 – Background lighting, building a themed set, dealing with non-reflective surfaces.
  • Day 3 – Reflective objects — managing the “family of angles”, direct and indirect reflections.
  • Day 4 – Transparent objects with various backgrounds, coloured gels, bright field vs dark field.
  • Day 5 – Portfolio shoot on cosmetic, food or fashion themes.

By the end of this workshop, participants have mastered the essential techniques of object photography and know how to handle every type of material with precision.

This workshop invites participants to roam the city camera in hand, in the manner of the great street photographers. Participants discover various contemporary styles, then put their learning into practice through a range of exercises: capturing snapshots, conveying the energy of a neighbourhood, taking candid portraits.

Participants learn to handle natural light and to make the most of every situation in order to create spontaneous and lively images. Each day combines short theory sessions with long shooting sessions in real urban settings.

This workshop runs over 4 days due to Tuesday 14 July being a public holiday.
The 15 hours are distributed as follows:

  • Day 1 (9am–1pm) – Observation & positioning: seeing before photographing, reading the scene, anticipating.
  • Day 2 (9am–1pm) – Light as structure: direction, contrast, shadows as compositional elements, situations of strong light.
  • Day 3 (9am–1pm) – Human presence & timing: distance to the subject, gestures, expressions, anticipation vs reaction, ethical considerations.
  • Day 4 (9am–12pm) – Intent, direction & final presentation: moving from the isolated image to a coherent body of work, selection, group critique.

By the end of this workshop, participants are able to analyse natural light, anticipate the moment, integrate the human presence and develop a coherent visual approach.

The aim of this workshop is to convey the basics of natural and consistent retouching, accessible to everyone. Participants learn to process their digital photos with simplicity using Lightroom. They discover how to import, organise and select their images, then how to adjust exposure, colour and contrast for a balanced result.

For this workshop, you will need to bring an external drive, ideally an SSD.

  • Day 1 – Importing and organising: workspace, naming, metadata, folder structure, flags/stars/colours, keywords, collections.
  • Day 2 – Basic adjustments: profile, white balance, tones, presence, saturation vs vibrance, cropping.
  • Day 3 – Colour: RGB, curves, mixer, color grading, calibration, RGB vs HSL, editing strategy, presets.
  • Day 4 – Local adjustments with masks: auto/manual selection, gradients, brush, add/subtract/intersect options.
  • Day 5 – Up-to-date workflow with AI tools (denoising), export (formats, size, colour space) and creation of a before/after portfolio.

By the end of this workshop, participants have mastered the essentials of Lightroom and know how to process their images with naturalness, consistency and efficiency, from cataloguing to final export.

This workshop helps participants assert their own vision and bring meaning to their images.

They learn to select, order and articulate their photographs in order to tell a story: choice of images, rhythm, consistency, tone and intent. An essential introduction to moving from “taking pictures” to “building a project”.

Required preparation: 50 to 150 images on a single theme.

  • Day 1 – Vision, intent, the isolated image vs the project, introduction to semiotics and visual identity.
  • Day 2 – Rigorous selection and editing, case studies of photographers.
  • Day 3 – Sequencing, rhythm and narrative arc (opening, development, climax, resolution).
  • Day 4 – Designing the final presentation: choice of prints, hanging, digital portfolio, oral presentation practice.
  • Day 5 – Final presentations and editorial perspectives (publishing, exhibiting, captions).

By the end of this workshop, participants leave with two selections: one of 10 to 15 images and another of 20 to 25 images, accompanied by a project statement and a digital portfolio.

I Apply!

Learn Photography in a Professional Environment

Classes take place at Spéos International Photography School in Paris, located in the 11th arrondissement near Bastille and République.

Students benefit from access to professional facilities including:

  • Studios: Spéos supplies the studio lighting equipment and the large format digital cameras.
  • Computer Rooms: Spéos is equipped with Apple Mac workstations and Eizo calibrated graphics monitors. Students can bring their own laptops, external hardware, USB keys or other devices to work on their photos.
  • Supplies: Photo supplies (papers, prints, backdrops…) – when used during class work – are provided by Spéos free of charge. Supplies used for personal work (such as portfolio and exhibition prints, website subscription fees or business cards) are at the students’ expense.

Equipment Requirements

Participants are expected to bring a digital camera (DSLR or hybrid mirrorless). 

Who Should Apply to this Summer Photography Workshop?

This summer program is designed for:

  • international students interested in studying photography in Paris
  • beginners who want to discover photography in a professional context
  • advanced amateurs wishing to refine their skills
  • artists exploring photography as a new medium

The program is also ideal for anyone who wants to test a potential career in photography before committing to a longer program.

I Apply!

Spend Your Summer Photographing Paris!

Live a creative experience, develop your photography skills and experience the city through your camera!

Paris has inspired generations of photographers. From historic neighborhoods and vibrant street life to iconic architecture and hidden corners of the city, Paris offers an extraordinary playground for photographic exploration.

During some workshops of the program, students photograph the city while developing their technical skills and personal visual style. Street photography sessions, creative assignments, and guided exploration of the city allow participants to experience photography in a real-world environment.

Admissions

As a partner in this program, the International Center of Photography (ICP), New York, brings its long-standing expertise in photographic education and visual culture. 

Applications for the ICP x Spéos Summer Photography Program are managed by Spéos International Photography School.

All candidates must therefore apply directly through the Spéos website and admissions process.

  • Seats are limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
  • Do not hesitate to contact Spéos if you have any questions about this program.
  • You are also welcome to visit the school at any time — simply make an appointment.
Apply now via Spéos!

FAQ

Taking a photography program in Paris during the summer means working in a one-of-a-kind visual environment: natural light, iconic architecture, and lively street scenes that are perfect for documentary and street photography. The ICP x Spéos program turns Paris itself into a classroom, helping you sharpen your photographic eye.

The ICP x Spéos program is an intensive 8-week photography course held in Paris, offered in partnership with the International Center of Photography in New York and Spéos.

This program is a great fit if you're looking for:

  • a summer introductory program,
  • an immersive photography course taught in English,
  • a curriculum that combines hands-on practice, theory, and personal projects.

Over the course of this program in Paris, you'll:

  • build a strong foundation in professional photography in just 8 weeks,
  • master the fundamentals of photographic technique,
  • learn documentary photography and visual storytelling,
  • work under professional conditions, both in the studio and on location.

It's an especially well-suited program for anyone starting out in photography.

Yes. This photography course in Paris is open to students with no prior experience.

You're welcome to enroll if you're looking for:

  • a beginner-friendly photography course in Paris,
  • a career change,
  • a first hands-on experience in photography.

The 8-week program is taught entirely in English.
This creates a multicultural learning environment similar to ICP's in New York.

Yes. You can take the program's workshops à la carte by choosing only the ones you're interested in.
To do this, take a look at the individual photography workshops in Paris.

No, no portfolio is required to enroll in the ICP x Spéos summer photography program.

This program is open to you if you're looking for:

  • a photography course with no prerequisites,
  • a beginner photography class in Paris.

We recommend bringing your own camera (DSLR or mirrorless).
That way you can shoot every day and make rapid progress over the course of the program.

Yes. Part of the program takes place outdoors.

You'll work on:

  • street photography in Paris (see the Week 6 workshop),
  • photojournalism and documentary photography (see the Week 2 workshop).

Yes, an ICP x Spéos certificate is awarded upon completion of the 8 weeks.

Yes. This program is an excellent first step for exploring a potential career in photography, with no long-term commitment.

In particular, it lets you:

  • put your interest in photography to a real-world test,
  • build solid technical and artistic foundations,
  • start developing your own eye and personal style.

It's an ideal program for confirming a passion, considering a career change, or finding out whether you want to take things further professionally in photography.

Practical information

ICP x Spéos Summer Photography Program

  • Next session: June — July 2026
  • Teaching language: English
  • Tuition fees:
    – Students from France and the EU: €3,500
    – International students: €4,500
  • Level: Beginner to intermediate
  • Schedule: 3-hour sessions, Monday to Friday, over 8 weeks
I apply! Open House Days

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