FAQs

Classes are held in a dedicated photography studio designed specifically for image-making — not a standard office classroom. Studio learning is paired with real-world exploration, small-group mentorship, and a strong, inclusive creative community.

Students leave with both technical confidence, new connections and a meaningful body of work.

Our Youth Photography Summer Program runs Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Early drop-off is available for families who need additional flexibility. Details and pricing are provided during registration.

The locations for drop off and pick up are all within a 5 - 10 minute drive of Perspectives Photo School in Emeryville. For privacy and safety reasons locations are not disclosed until students are registered. If you have questions about a specific week - please email us for the full schedule.

Student registration is kept to small groups of 12 students to allow for close one on one instruction. Students work closely together throughout the week on individual projects as well as a group show at the end of the week.

Each day begins in our dedicated photography studio in Emeryville, where students receive focused instruction and review. On several days, we travel to carefully selected Bay Area locations for guided field photography sessions.

We use public transit for some excursions, allowing students to experience the city while learning to adapt to changing environments and light.

All travel is supervised and structured as part of the learning experience.

Students learn to understand how light works and manage exposure with confidence. They gain fluency adjusting shutter speed, aperture, and ISO intentionally — and practice these skills daily in both studio and field settings.

Parents can expect measurable growth in technical ability by the end of the week.

ItemNo prior experience is required for our Fundamentals program. Students are grouped thoughtfully, and instruction meets them where they are.

More experienced photographers can deepen their skills in our Photography Intensive + Exhibition. description

Students will need a camera with manual settings for shutter speed, aperture and ISO. If your teen already owns a camera, we strongly encourage them to bring it.

Learning on the equipment they will continue to use allows students to build familiarity, confidence, and fluency with their own settings and controls. Technical growth is most meaningful when practiced on the camera they will return to after the program ends.

Rental options are available for students who do not have access to a camera - this can be added on at the time of registration!

We offer different programs based on experience level and age.

Fundamentals of Photography and Nature & Landscape Photography are excellent options for middle school students or those newer to photography. These classes focus on building strong technical foundations, understanding light, and developing creative confidence in a supportive environment.

Photography Intensive + Exhibition is ideal for high school students or more experienced photographers who are ready to go deeper. This two-week program emphasizes technical consistency, cohesive project development, and preparing work for exhibition or portfolio use.

If you’re unsure which class is the best fit, we’re happy to help guide you.

Feel free to email us: info@perspectivesphotoschool.com

We’re excited to have you as a part of the Perspectives community.