Photography Workshops Presentation
The photography workshops offered by Spéos are suitable for beginners, experienced amateurs, and student photographers. These workshops, taught in French and English, highlight the art and technique of modern photography.
Participants can customize their program based on their interests. Workshops conducted in English are offered in partnership with the International Center of Photography (ICP), while workshops in French are part of the French-language program.
It is also possible to enroll in the full program:
– in English with the ICP x Spéos Summer Program,
– or in French with the Summer Photography Course – Introduction to Photography in 2 months.
Photography workshops in English, in partnership with the International Center of Photography (ICP)
The photography workshops in English are taught jointly by instructors from ICP and Spéos, offering an international educational experience:
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 7-11 June, 2027, from 9am to 12pm
Tuition: €750
This workshop provides participants with a strong technical foundation in photography through the Stop-System method, developed by Spéos. Introduced through theory and then applied in both the darkroom and the studio, the method provides a practical framework for understanding and controlling exposure across all photographic disciplines.
The week is structured as follows:
- Day 1 – Theory: Photography fundamentals and an introduction to the Stop-System method, giving participants a solid understanding of exposure and the essential principles of photographic technique.
- Days 2 & 3 – Black & White Darkroom: Applying the Stop-System method to analog photography through hands-on darkroom practice, from shooting film and controlling exposure to developing negatives and producing black and white prints.
- Days 4 & 5 – Studio Photography: Applying the Stop-System method in the studio to understand and control lighting, exposure and camera settings.
By the end of this week, participants have learned to apply the Stop-System method in different photographic contexts, giving them the technical independence needed to photograph confidently.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 14-18 June, 2027, from 9am to 12pm
Tuition: €750
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.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 21-25 June, 2027, from 9am to 12pm
Tuition: €750
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.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 28 June to 2 July, 2027, from 9am to 12pm
Tuition: €750
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.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 5-9 July, 2027, from 9am to 12pm
Tuition: €750
This workshop is open to participants with previous studio experience (for example after the workshop “Introduction to Studio Photography”).
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.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 12–16 July, 2027. This workshop runs over 4 days due to Wednesday 14 July, 2027, being a public holiday: classes will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 9am to 1pm and Friday from 9am to 12pm.
Tuition: €750
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. 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.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 19-23 July, 2027, from 9am to 12pm
Tuition: €750
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.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 26-30 July, 2027, from 9am to 12pm
Tuition: €750
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.
> View the schedule of ICP x Spéos à la carte workshops in English
Photography workshops in French
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 7-11 June, 2027, from 1pm to 4pm
Tuition: €750
This workshop provides participants with a strong technical foundation in photography through the Stop-System method, developed by Spéos. Introduced through theory and then applied in both the darkroom and the studio, the method provides a practical framework for understanding and controlling exposure across all photographic disciplines.
The week is structured as follows:
- Day 1 – Theory: Photography fundamentals and an introduction to the Stop-System method, giving participants a solid understanding of exposure and the essential principles of photographic technique.
- Days 2 & 3 – Black & White Darkroom: Applying the Stop-System method to analog photography through hands-on darkroom practice, from shooting film and controlling exposure to developing negatives and producing black and white prints.
- Days 4 & 5 – Studio Photography: Applying the Stop-System method in the studio to understand and control lighting, exposure and camera settings.
By the end of this first week, participants have learned to apply the Stop-System method in different photographic contexts, giving them the technical independence needed to photograph confidently.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 14-18 June, 2027, from 1pm to 4pm
Tuition: €750
This workshop presents the different aspects of a photographic essay: the construction on the long term of a story through pictures – the protagonists, the context, what is at stake.
Current techniques and tools of photojournalists will be discussed as well as how to contact publishers. The training includes practical exercises.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 21-25 June, 2027, from 1pm to 4pm
Tuition: €750
In this practically-oriented workshop, participants are introduced to the techniques of studio photography: use of studio equipment, electronic flashes, basic studio lighting techniques, large format cameras, as well as the Stop-System.
The course is based on intensive studio practice.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 28 June to 2 July, 2027, from 1pm to 4pm
Tuition: €750
This workshop is open to participants with previous studio experience (for example after the workshop “Introduction to Studio”).
By shooting portraits that reflect their own sensitivity, participants aim at developing their self-expression.
They learn to optimize shooting parameters such as lighting, lenses, cameras, so as to exploit their creative potential to its best.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 5-9 July, 2027, from 1pm to 4pm
Tuition: €750
This workshop is open to participants with previous studio experience (for example after the workshop “Introduction to Studio Photography”).
Every day a different commercial studio topic is introduced: basic packshot, metal, glass, culinary, use of digital view cameras, etc.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 12–16 July, 2027. This workshop runs over 4 days due to Wednesday 14 July, 2027, being a public holiday: classes will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 1pm to 5pm and Friday from 1pm to 4pm.
Tuition: €750
This workshop uses the Stop-System method invented by Spéos to help participants quickly master film techniques. It offers a tactile and sensitive approach to photography, ideal for understanding the very essence of the image.
Participants discover the magic of the darkroom and learn how to develop their black and white films. They are guided through each step: preparation, development, developer, fixer, and first prints.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 19-23 July, 2027, from 1pm to 4pm
Tuition: €750
This workshop aims to teach the basics of natural and consistent retouching, accessible to all.
Participants learn how to easily process their digital photos using Lightroom.
They discover how to import, organize, and select their images, then how to adjust exposure, color, and contrast for a balanced result.
Duration: 15 hours
Dates: 26-30 July, 2027, from 1pm to 4pm
Tuition: €750
This workshop helps trainees assert their vision and give meaning to their images.
They learn to select, organize, and articulate their photographs to tell a story: image selection, rhythm, consistency, tone, and intention.
An essential introduction to moving from “taking photos” to “building a project.”
> View the schedule of à la carte workshops in French
Enrollment and Contact
Registrations are open all year round and subject to availability.
Feel free to contact Spéos if you have any questions about this program.
At any time you are most welcome to come and visit the school, just make an appointment!
FAQ
The Stop-System method is a teaching approach developed by Spéos to simplify and make the film development process in the lab more reliable. It structures each step (developer, stop bath, fixer) in a clear and reproducible way, ensuring consistent results, even for beginners.
During the one-week workshop dedicated to the darkroom, this method emphasizes understanding processing times and the role of each bath, while making the workflow smoother and more accessible
No, it is not necessary to have perfect mastery of lighting to attend these short workshops in portrait and still life photography. However, it is recommended to have completed an introduction to studio work or to have basic knowledge of photographic lighting.
The portrait and still life workshops are designed to deepen and refine your practice, but instructors support each participant in order to reinforce existing skills and progress at their own pace.
Yes, it is entirely possible to combine these short one-week workshops to create a coherent and intensive learning path over several weeks, depending on your interests.
Starting with the studio introduction course allows you to acquire the essential technical foundations, then immediately apply them in a specialization workshop such as portrait or still life. This progression is ideal for maximizing your learning in a short period of time.
Yes, in one week the street photography course covers advanced techniques, including the combined use of natural light and flash.
You will learn how to balance these two sources to create dynamic images, manage outdoor contrast, and use flash subtly without altering the mood of the scene. This approach broadens your creative range in real-life situations.
Yes, the intensive one-week format of this course is designed to enable you to conceive and produce a coherent photographic essay in a short time.
You are guided at every stage: choosing the subject, shooting on location, selecting images, and editing. The teaching approach focuses on essentials and helps you quickly structure a fully developed visual narrative.
Group editing sessions are key moments in this one-week workshop. Participants present their images, which are then analyzed and discussed as a group with the instructor.
This process allows you to gain perspective on your work, learn how to select your photos, and understand narrative and aesthetic challenges. It is a true critical exchange that enriches everyone’s practice.
The Lightroom workshop emphasizes a professional and realistic approach to post-processing, focused on natural retouching. The goal is to enhance your images while respecting their authenticity: color management, contrast, light, and visual consistency.
Heavy manipulation or complex compositing is not at the core of this one-week workshop, which instead aims to develop an efficient and controlled workflow.
The visual identity workshop goes far beyond image analysis. It helps you build an authorial approach by working on your visual universe, your aesthetic coherence, and the meaning of your work.
Through editing sessions and discussions, you learn how to structure a personal photographic project, make editorial choices, and assert your style.