Superior Pre-College Photography Summer Program for High Schoolers in New York City

Course Description: Superior Pre-College Photography Summer Program for High Schoolers in New York City

Welcome to the 3-Week Photography Camp for Teens in New York City. Now in its 24th year at this location, the program offers an intensive, conservatory-style experience designed for students who want to seriously develop their photographic skills.

This is a hands-on, demanding, and highly creative program. Students should be prepared to work long days, think critically about images, receive constructive feedback, and fully commit to the artistic process. Over three weeks, participants deepen both their technical mastery and creative voice, producing a strong portfolio of work.

Parents and students are encouraged to read this information carefully, as it contains essential academic, logistical, and safety details.

***

📍 Location

The program takes place in Lower Manhattan, New York City, with classroom facilities and student residences located within walking distance of each other. The surrounding neighbourhoods provide constant visual inspiration and real-world shooting opportunities, making the city itself an extension of the classroom.

***

📚 Program Description

The 3-Week Photography Program is an intensive course designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and artistic aspects of photography.

Over three weeks, students take a deeper dive into the craft, mastering:

• Camera operation

• Exposure and lighting

• Composition and visual storytelling

• Digital imaging and post-production

Through a combination of shooting labs, studio sessions, image-editing workshops, critiques, and field trips, students explore multiple genres of photography while refining their own style. Extended instruction time allows for deeper experimentation and more polished results.

By the end of the program, students produce a cohesive, well-edited photographic portfolio that reflects their personal vision and technical growth.

***

🧠 Core Subjects

📷 Shooting Labs

Students participate in an extended series of shooting labs, working both on-location throughout New York City and in studio environments. With more time for practical application, students tackle increasingly advanced photographic challenges, learning to adapt to varied lighting conditions, subjects, and environments.

Assignments include both guided exercises and independent projects across multiple genres.

***

💻 Digital Imaging & Post-Production

Students receive in-depth instruction in digital editing and post-production using industry-standard software. Topics include:

• Professional image processing

• Advanced retouching

• Color correction and grading

• Composite photography

• High-quality printing preparation

The extended timeline allows students to experiment, revise, and refine their images to a professional standard.

***

🎨 Vision & Style

Students explore historical and contemporary photography through lectures, discussions, and critiques. Emphasis is placed on visual storytelling, conceptual thinking, and developing a personal artistic identity. Assignments encourage students to push creative boundaries while grounding their work in technical skill.

***

📸 Photo I & Advanced Camera Techniques

Building on foundational photography concepts, students work with:

• Studio lighting

• Off-camera flash

• Long exposure

• Experimental photography

The additional program length allows for deeper engagement with both natural and artificial light, helping students learn to use light intentionally as a creative tool.

***

🖼️ Portfolio Development & Critiques

Critique is a central part of the program. Students participate in regular review sessions with instructors and peers, learning how to evaluate images, accept feedback, and make informed creative decisions.

By the end of the program, each student assembles a cohesive portfolio demonstrating growth, technical proficiency, and artistic direction.

***

🏁 Final Project

Each student completes a curated photography portfolio consisting of finished images across multiple genres. Portfolios are prepared for both digital and print presentation and are:

• Copied onto a USB drive

• Available for download via Google Drive after the program ends

This final body of work reflects the student’s ability to conceptualise, shoot, edit, and present professional-quality photographic images.

***

🏡 Housing & Accommodation (Optional)

Students may attend as commuters or choose supervised residential housing.

Residential Housing Includes:

• Shared dormitory-style rooms

• Furnished rooms with Wi-Fi

• Private bathrooms

• Small refrigerator in each room

• High-speed internet and air-conditioning

• 24/7 supervision by residential advisors

Students must bring their own linens, pillows, and towels (Twin XL size).

Housing Fees (2025 – subject to change for 2026):

• 1-Week Shared Room: $1,312.50

• 3-Week Shared Room: $3,780.00

• 6-Week Shared Room: $7,875.00

A $250 refundable room and key deposit is required.

🍽️ Meals –

Meals are NOT included in tuition or housing fees.

Residential Students

• Grab-and-go snacks provided in residence

• Lunch and dinner eaten at local cafés and restaurants

• Estimated food budget: $200–$250 USD per week

• All meals are supervised using a buddy and sign-out system

Commuting Students

• Lunch and snacks not included

• Students may eat at nearby eateries during lunch break

• Supervised sign-out procedures apply

***

🗽 Excursions & Supervised Activities (Residential Students)

Residential students participate in structured evening and weekend activities, all included in the housing fee:

Weekday Evenings

• Guided neighbourhood walks

• Times Square visits

• Game nights and film screenings

• Social and group activities

Weekends

• Coney Island day trip

• Central Park excursions and scavenger hunts

• Optional museum visits on Sundays

All excursions are fully supervised, with transportation provided where necessary.

📸 A Day in the Life of a Photography Student

A typical weekday in the 3-Week Photography Camp is structured, creative, and immersive — balancing technical instruction, hands-on shooting, and artistic exploration.

🌅 Morning: Orientation & Studio Practice

Students arrive on campus around 9:30 a.m., settling in and preparing their equipment for the day. Mornings often begin with orientation sessions or visual lectures, where instructors introduce key concepts such as ways of seeing, photographic intent, or the technical focus of the day.

By 10:00 a.m., students transition into studio practice or workshops, applying concepts immediately through guided exercises. These sessions may focus on composition, camera settings, or controlled studio shooting, allowing students to experiment in a structured environment with instructor feedback.

***

🍴 Midday: Lunch & Recharge

From 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., students break for lunch. Commuting and residential students explore nearby cafés and restaurants in Lower Manhattan using the buddy system, giving them a chance to recharge, socialise, and experience the city before returning to class.

***

📷 Afternoon: Shooting Labs & Digital Imaging

Afternoons are dedicated to hands-on creation. From 1:00 p.m. onward, students head into shooting labs, either working on-location around New York City or continuing studio-based assignments. These labs challenge students to adapt to real-world conditions, refine their technical skills, and develop a stronger visual voice.

Later in the afternoon, students move into digital imaging and lab sessions, where they edit, process, and review the images captured earlier in the day. Instructors guide students through professional workflows, helping them improve their selections, retouching, and overall presentation.

***

💡 Workshops & Creative Development

On select days, afternoons include specialised workshops, such as:

• Lighting workshops, focusing on studio and off-camera flash techniques

• Photographer’s craft sessions, exploring storytelling, ethics, and professional practice

• Digital labs, allowing deeper engagement with post-production tools

These sessions help students connect technical skills with artistic intent.

***

🖼️ Cultural Experiences

At least once a week, students end the day with a museum or gallery visit, exploring exhibitions that expand their visual references and inspire new ideas. These guided outings reinforce classroom learning and expose students to diverse photographic styles and histories.

***

🌇 End of the Day

By 5:00 p.m., the academic day concludes. Residential students return to the dorms for dinner and supervised evening activities, while commuting students head home. Many students spend the evening reviewing images, backing up files, or preparing ideas for upcoming shoots.

***

✨ What the Experience Feels Like

A day in the program is full, focused, and creatively energising. Students are challenged to think visually, work independently and collaboratively, and steadily build confidence behind the camera — all while learning in one of the most inspiring cities in the world.

***

🛡️ Supervision & Student Safety

• Residential advisors live in the dorms

• An advisor is always on duty

• Students may not leave buildings alone

• A strict buddy system is enforced

• Evening and weekend activities are supervised

• Curfews and room checks are enforced

***

🎡 Activities & Excursions

Residential students may participate in supervised activities such as:

• Sightseeing and neighbourhood walks

• Film screenings

• Museum visits

• Weekend excursions (Central Park, Coney Island, etc.)

All activities are included in housing fees.

***

✈️ Arrival & Transportation

Arrival

• Residential students: arrive Sunday before classes begin

• Commuting students: arrive Monday (first day of classes)

Students flying in should arrive between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Optional airport transportation is available from:

• JFK

• LaGuardia (LGA)

• Newark (EWR)

A staff member will meet students at baggage claim.

***

⏰ Daily Schedule & Commuting Students

• Classes typically run 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Commuting students should arrive around 9:00 a.m. on the first day

• Lunch and snacks are not included

• Students may eat at nearby cafés using the buddy system

***

📸 Required Equipment – Photography Students

📷 Camera (Required)

Students must bring a digital camera with full manual controls, including:

• Manual exposure

• Manual focus

A DSLR is strongly recommended.

Phones, tablets, and fully automatic cameras are not acceptable.

***

💾 Storage (Required)

• One bus-powered external hard drive

• USB 3.0 / USB-C / Thunderbolt

• 500GB–1TB recommended (1TB preferred)

• 7200RPM recommended

• USB flash drive (any capacity)

Bringing a second backup drive is strongly encouraged.

***

🔋 Memory & Power

• At least two memory cards (16–32GB recommended)

• Camera battery charger

• At least one spare battery

***

✏️ Creative Materials

• Unlined sketchbook (8.5×11” or 11×14”)

• Two 4B pencils

• Pencil sharpener with shavings catcher

• Kneaded eraser

• Pens for notes

***

🖼️ Pre-Course Images

• 10 favourite images previously shot

• As prints or high-resolution JPEGs on a drive

***

🎒 Preparation for the Photography Camp

To get the most out of the 3-Week Photography Camp, students are encouraged to begin preparing before arrival by immersing themselves in visual art and photography. Familiarity with strong visual storytelling will help students engage more deeply in class discussions, critiques, and creative assignments from the very first week.

🖼️ Visual Exploration

Students are encouraged to spend time:

• Looking at photography, paintings, and drawings

• Visiting art museums or galleries where possible

• Taking note of artists and photographers whose work resonates with them

Exposure to a wide range of visual styles will strengthen students’ ability to analyse images, develop ideas, and articulate their creative intent.

***

📸 Recommended Photographers to Explore

Before the program begins, students should explore the work of the photographers listed below. Viewing their work online is acceptable, though printed books from libraries or bookstores are strongly encouraged where possible.

Photojournalism

• Sebastião Salgado – particularly his book Workers

• Steve McCurry

• James Nachtwey

• Henri Cartier-Bresson

• Eugene Richards

***

Portraiture

• Diane Arbus – documentary and fine-art crossover

• Yousuf Karsh – students are encouraged to read about the stories behind his portraits

• Annie Leibovitz – commercial and editorial photography

• Arnold Newman

***

Fine Art Photography

• Keith Carter

• Loretta Lux

• Ernst Haas

• Joel Meyerowitz

***

Commercial Photography

• Erik Almas

• David LaChapelle

• Jay Maisel

• Matthew Turley

***

🌐 Online Photography Collections & Resources

Students may also explore the following online collections to broaden their visual references:

• Photo Tractatus Collection (Flickr)

• Photo Eye Gallery – fine-art photography

• Masters of Photography – curated works from multiple photographers

• National Geographic Image Collection – photojournalism

***

🎯 Why This Preparation Matters

Early exposure to diverse photographic styles helps students:

• Develop visual literacy

• Engage more confidently in critiques

• Discover personal aesthetic preferences

• Arrive ready to create, not just learn tools

This preparation is strongly recommended, though not mandatory, and will significantly enhance the overall learning experience.

🌍 International Students & Visas

International students attend on a tourist visa or visa waiver.

This program is recreational — no student visa required.

Students should state they are attending “summer camp” when entering the U.S.

Passports must be valid six months beyond departure.

***

⚠️ Rules & Conduct

• Zero tolerance for drugs or alcohol

• Respectful behaviour required at all times

• Adult supervision during all activities

• Violations may result in dismissal without refund

***

🧳 General Packing List

• Pillow, linens (Twin XL), towels

• Warm-weather clothing

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Rain gear

• Sunscreen

• Refillable water bottle

• Cell phone and chargers

• Debit card or spending money

***

🚪 Departure

• Commuting students finish Friday

• Residential students depart Saturday by 11:00 a.m.

• Airport shuttles depart by noon

• Flights should depart no later than 3:00 p.m.