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Venice with a smartphone
Venice with a smartphone
Venice with a smartphone
Venice with a smartphone
Venice with a smartphone
Venice with a smartphone
Venice with a smartphone
Venice with a smartphone
From January 29 to 30, 2027 VENEZIA PHOTO MASTERS

VENICE WITH A SMARTPHONE

Venezia Photo Masters
Capture Venice with the camera you always carry
Academy Workshop
Sale price€990,00
Finance my workshop

A 2-day immersive photography experience through the hidden side of Venice

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

The best camera is sometimes the one already in your pocket.

Lightweight, discreet and always available, the iPhone allows photography to become immediate and instinctive. But creating a strong image still requires the same fundamental decisions: where to stand, what to include, how to read the light and when to press the shutter.

Venice with iPhone is a two day immersive workshop designed to help participants move beyond automatic snapshots and discover the creative potential of smartphone photography.

Through guided walks, practical exercises and editing directly on the phone, participants learn how to use their iPhone more intentionally. Architecture, reflections, street scenes, details, panoramas and evening atmosphere become a playground for composition, light and visual storytelling.

The workshop covers both essential and more advanced smartphone functions, depending on the device being used. Participants explore focus, exposure, available lenses, panorama, night mode and editing applications, learning when technology can help and when the most important decision is simply how to frame the image.

Accessible to beginners and more experienced photographers alike, the workshop is designed around one idea: great photography depends far more on how you see than on the size of your camera.

 Each participant will leave the workshop with a printed photograph of their own work, selected during the final editing session.

About Venezia Photo Academy

Discover Venice through the eyes of exceptional photographers.

Building on ten years of experience organising photography workshops in Venice, Venezia Photo introduces its Academy: a year-round programme of immersive photographic experiences led by renowned professional photographers who know the city intimately.

Laurent Dequick, a photographer and architect by training, is the author of Grand Canal, published by Éditions du Chêne, a remarkable photographic book featuring a 38-metre panoramic exploration of Venice’s iconic waterway.

Ludwig Favre, an internationally recognised fine art photographer known for his distinctive use of colour, light and architecture, has exhibited in Paris, New York and Tokyo. He has collaborated with Leica, Adobe, Hasselblad and Condé Nast, and his work is represented in the permanent collection of the Ford Foundation in New York.

Each workshop is led by either Laurent Dequick or Ludwig Favre, offering participants an exclusive experience alongside an accomplished photographer, the opportunity to refine their photographic skills and discover a side of Venice beyond the familiar sights.

More photographers will soon join the Academy, bringing fresh artistic perspectives and enriching the range of experiences offered throughout the year.

DURATION & LOCATION
2 Days - San Servolo - Venice

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION

English

REQUIRED LEVEL

Venice by night is designed for curious travellers and photography lovers who want to experience Venice differently. No professional experience is required. Whether you have recently discovered photography or already photograph regularly, the experience is adapted to your level and focuses on developing your eye rather than mastering complex technical concepts. Participants should be comfortable walking for several hours through Venice, including across bridges.

MAX PARTICIPANTS

12

BIO

PEDAGOGICAL LEARNING

Participants will learn how to frame and compose stronger photographs using an iPhone.

They will understand the essential photographic functions of their device and explore more advanced possibilities where available.

The workshop covers focus, exposure, lens selection, panorama and night mode, while helping participants decide which tools best serve the image they want to create.

Participants also learn how to photograph in changing light, from daylight into evening, and how to edit photographs directly on their phone.

By the end of the workshop, each participant will have developed a more personal and intentional approach to smartphone photography.

SKILLS TARGETED

  • Smartphone photography
  • Composition and framing
  • Focus and exposure control
  • Panoramic photography
  • Night mode
  • Low light photography
  • Street and urban photography
  • Architecture and details
  • Reflections and colour
  • Mobile photo editing
  • Image selection
  • Developing a coherent visual series

TARGET AUDIENCE

Venice with your smartphone is designed for anyone who wants to improve their smartphone photography, from complete beginners to more experienced photographers curious about working with a lighter and more spontaneous camera.

No previous technical photography experience is required.

Exercises and explanations are adapted to the functions available on each participant’s device.

PREREQUISITES

No advanced photographic knowledge is required.

Participants should bring a fully charged iPhone with sufficient available storage.

A charger and external battery are strongly recommended.

A personal laptop with photo-editing software is recommended if available, but is not mandatory.

As the workshop includes extended photographic walks through Venice, participants should be comfortable walking for several hours and crossing bridges. Comfortable shoes and rain protection are recommended.

Detailed program

DAY 1 - FROM SNAPSHOT TO PHOTOGRAPH

10 AM til Lunch - San Servolo | Understanding Your iPhone Camera

The workshop begins on San Servolo with an introduction to each participant’s expectations and current photographic practice.

Participants explore the photographic functions of their iPhone, including focus, exposure adjustment, available lenses, image formats and stability.

More advanced settings are introduced where relevant to the devices being used.

The session then moves into the fundamentals of composition: point of view, lines, visual balance, foreground, background and the position of the subject within the frame.

Participants are also introduced to applications and digital tools that can help anticipate light and prepare a photographic walk.

Afternoon | Photographing Venice

The group heads into Venice to put the morning’s principles directly into practice.

Architecture, everyday scenes, reflections and details become opportunities to experiment with composition and camera position.

Individual guidance helps participants understand when to use different lenses and how changing position can transform an image.

Panoramic photography is also explored, with attention to subject choice, photographer position and controlled movement of the phone.

Late Afternoon & Evening | Venice in Changing Light

The photographic walk continues as daylight begins to fall.

Participants explore reflections, artificial light, colour and atmosphere while discovering how their iPhone responds to lower light conditions.

Night mode is introduced practically, including its strengths and its limitations when photographing movement.

The objective is to understand how to choose the right smartphone function according to the image rather than relying automatically on the device.

DAY 2 - SHOOT, EDIT, TELL A STORY

9:00 to 10:00 am | Image Review

The second day begins with a collective review of photographs made during the first day.

The group discusses composition, light, sharpness and intention, identifying both successful choices and areas to explore further.

10:00 to 11:30 am | Editing on iPhone

Participants discover a simple and repeatable mobile editing workflow using an application such as Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed, depending on the solution selected for the group.

The session covers cropping, straightening, exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows and colour.

Black and white is explored where it strengthens the subject rather than as an automatic stylistic effect.

The emphasis remains on subtle editing and maintaining coherence across a group of images.

11:30 am to 12:30 pm | Lunch

Lunch together before returning to the city for the final shooting session.

12:30 to 3:00 pm | Final Shooting Session

Participants return to Venice and put the previous day’s lessons into practice with greater independence.

Each person begins following a personal visual thread, which might emerge through colour, reflections, architecture, passages, details or human presence.

The photographer works individually with participants on anticipation, timing and varying their compositions.

The objective is to begin building a short photographic series rather than simply collecting individual images.

3:00 to 4:00 pm | Final Edit

Back on San Servolo, participants review their photographs and refine a short personal selection.

They apply their mobile editing workflow and make final choices around framing, colour and consistency.

4:00 to 5:00 pm | Final Presentation

Each participant presents their final selection to the group.

The workshop concludes with collective feedback and a discussion around how to continue developing a stronger photographic eye using the device they already carry every day.

The workshop ends at 5:00 pm.

The programme is indicative and may be adjusted by Venezia Photo and the photographer according to weather conditions, light, transportation schedules, the pace of the group and the needs of participants.
What's included
  • 2-day photography workshop with a Venezia Photo Master
  • Small-group photographic walks in Venice
  • Individual photographic guidance throughout the workshop
  • Image reviews and editing sessions
  • Any equipment loans
  • Access to the workshop space on San Servolo Island
  • Fine art printing session
What's not included
  • Return transport to Venice and San Servolo
  • Accommodation: 100 rooms are available on site, in San Servolo, otherwise you'll need to arrange your own accommodation in Venice
  • Meals
  • Vaporettos and other water cabs outside the excursions scheduled as part of the workshop
  • All insurance cover for lost or stolen luggage, delayed or cancelled transport, theft or breakage of equipment during the workshop
Evaluation methods
  • Continuous assessment through daily individual feedback and group discussions
  • Final presentation of each participant’s work during the collective screening
  • End-of-session evaluation and self-assessment form to measure satisfaction and learning outcomes
  • Access to a shared alumni group for post-workshop dialogue and creative exchange
After the training

Participants’ work may be featured through Venezia Photo’s communication channels (newsletter, website, social media).
A private online group will allow participants to stay connected, share projects, and continue discussions beyond the workshop.
Accessibility

All efforts are made to accommodate participants with disabilities. Please contact us in advance for adaptation of conditions.