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Teen photographer develops a photograph

2 & 3 Week Intensives · Ages 14–18

Core Photography

Digital and/or darkroom photography for teen photographers—studio, location, and post-production.

New York Los Angeles Vermont Browse Dates

Core Photography

Digital Only or Darkroom + Digital

SOCAPA photography students in NYC

SOCAPA’s Core Photography intensives can be taken as Digital Only (students use Digital SLR cameras) or as Darkroom & Digital (students use both 35mm SLR and Digital SLR cameras). Other than the capture format and a few afternoon technical classes, the programs share the same curriculum, exercises and “Faces and Places” theme. The “Faces” component of the program emphasizes the art of capturing the human condition on camera.

Students learn what makes a good photograph by studying the aesthetics of master photographers such as Dorothea Lange, Sally Mann, Walker Evans, Diane Arbus and Robert Frank. Students learn the fundamentals of composition and natural lighting as well as studio portrait techniques. The “Places” component of the program reminds students to never forget where they are. New York City, Los Angeles, and the diverse landscapes of Vermont offer a wealth of photographic opportunities as well as some of the world’s most exciting collections of visual art. Field trips are planned on an almost-daily basis.

Digital and/or 35mm

Teen edits photos in Lightroom

Digital Focus

With a focus on digital photography, students begin their week with an in-depth lesson in the workings of their digital camera. From there, students move quickly out of the classroom and into the field on Photo Safaris. Instructors take the students on field trips to interesting areas of the city where they will complete a variety of photography assignments, including landscapes and street portraits. The program culminates in learning professional photo re-touching in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

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Digital & 35mm Focus

With a focus on both digital as well as traditional 35mm B&W photography, students will learn how to operate both a digital and a 35mm camera. Students will then split their time between learning post-production developing in the digital lab as well as in the darkroom. Students will learn intermediate to advanced Lightroom and Photoshop techniques, but their time using those programs will be less than in the Digital Photography intensive.

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Girl uses a 35mm camera

Studio Photography

Light, backgrounds, and controlled creativity

Photography studios provide a controlled environment in which to make your photographic dreams possible. Studio lighting and backgrounds create dynamic portraits and beautiful professional headshots.

Students learn intermediate portrait lighting techniques and have ample opportunity to experiment with studio photography through photographing their classmates, SOCAPA Actors, Musicians, Dancers and themselves!

In addition to the above, students learn advanced portrait lighting techniques and have more opportunities to experiment in the studio during the Themed Portfolio project the third week.

Developing

From capture to finished image

Edited photo of a girl in red

Lightroom & Photoshop

Beginning with introductory lessons in Lightroom, students will learn to import, organize and rank their photographs in a digital workspace. After making their selects, students will learn to develop their photographs using various digital scopes and meters to measure and balance exposure and color. From there, students can continue to effect their photographs using Adobe Photoshop—adding masks, vignettes, burning and dodging, or adding whole new image layers and compositions. After learning the basics, intermediate and advanced techniques will be directed by student interest and their individual project needs.

Black and white image of a kiss

Darkroom

Starting with the basics, students will learn how to develop 35mm film in the darkroom. Students will then print their photographs using enlargers and chemical baths. Working in the darkroom provides students with an opportunity to slow down, spend time with each image, and really understand the impacts that technical and aesthetic choices have on a final photograph. Learning to develop film and prints informs how students think about light, time, and photography as a whole.

Projects

Signature assignments

Woman on bench

The Cartier-Bresson

Guided by lessons on composition, street photography and techniques for safely and confidently approaching subjects, students will take to the streets, capturing candid portraits, human interactions, architectural street scenes, and urban details. This assignment takes its name from Henri Cartier-Bresson, an early 20th century master of street photography and father of photojournalism, who coined the expression the "decisive moment." Practice of the "decisive moment" encourages students to capture that fleeting creative instant in which everything in the frame comes together to create the best possible image.

Headshots of teen actors

The Hurrell

After completing a "Headshot Workshop," including a creative portraiture and natural lighting lesson, photographers will be paired up with students from the SOCAPA acting programs to create professional studio headshots, portraits, and action photographs. Photographers gain basic knowledge of studio set-up and learn to control strobe lighting using equipment such as soft boxes and grids.

Photoshopped image of teenage girl and newsprint

The Sherman

Students in the two week program will have the opportunity to create a series of creative self-portraits. Students will be encouraged to think outside the box, discovering what they want to say about themselves and translating this into images using in-camera techniques, costumes, props, lighting and/or Photoshop compositing. This project stresses the importance of conceptualization, metaphor, symbolism and self-expression.

Student photo project at beach

The Cameron

Students will tell a story by creating a narrative photographic series. These projects are tailored to each student's interest and can be elaborate, conceptualized fictions or non-fictional documentaries of person or place. Students study the work of Julia Margaret-Cameron, Duane Michals, Alec Soth, Gregory Crewdson and Danny Lyon—photographers who successfully tell photographic stories with a variety of inspiring approaches.

Movie poster with locket

Movie Posters

For this assignment, three-week photography students work with the filmmakers and actors to create a movie poster concept for display at the final screening. Photographers study the graphics and typography of well-known movie posters, then create one image to represent their assigned film. Students learn to integrate text and graphics into their images and employ advanced Photoshop compositing skills to bring their ideas to life.

2026 Summer Intensives

Summer Campuses

Core Photography runs in New York City, Los Angeles and Burlington, Vermont.

NYC Campers in Washington Sq

New York

NYU & TNS, Manhattan's E. Village

Los Angeles Campers at Oxy

Los Angeles

Occidental College, Eagle Rock

Vermont Campers in Burlington

Vermont

Champlain College, Burlington

Student Photo Slideshows

See SOCAPA Photography work

A few slideshow highlights from recent sessions.

See More Photo Slideshows

Questions about Core Photography?

Tell us a bit about your student and what you’re looking for. Our team can help you choose the right campus, dates, and session length.

(802) 251-7378

admissions@socapa.org

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Core Photography

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