2025

Teenager Summer

Photography Camp

San Francisco | Palo Alto

Equipment provided during class 

Ages 12-19 | Small Group Format

Sign up : San Francisco Camp

Looking for some fun and in-person activities for your kids this year? Photosprouts’ Teenager Summer Photography Camp will be your best option. We offer a 5-Day summer photography program in San Francisco, and a 3-Day Exploration in Palo Alto. Campers will learn how to photograph animal, urban landscape, portraits, documentary, and nature & flowers with a DSLR camera.

We provide the equipment during the camp so you don’t have to buy a camera for your kids to learn photography! Each camper will be provided with a DSLR camera, two lenses, memories cards and a camera bag. Our camps are small sized with no more than 10 campers in each session, and are designed not just to teach photography as a skillset but also patience, introspect, and discipline. Through photography, campers will learn how to express themselves, build lasting friendships and see the world from a new perspective. 

Parents gave us 5-star reviews on Google and Yelp  as they saw their kids taking breathtaking pictures while having fun. We want to help create these important social interactions that teens have missed nowadays.  Our program is thoughtfully structured with a fixed classroom location, providing peace of mind with a consistent pick-up and drop-off point. All entrance fees, including admission to the San Francisco Zoo, are included.


SESSIONS (SF & PA)

Quick Facts

CANCELATION POLICY

HOW DO WE TEACH PHOTOGRAPHY

WE TAKE PHOTOGRAPHY EDUCATION SERIOUSLY

Camper's Work & Presentations

WHAT WILL THE CAMPERS LEARN?

ReviewS

BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOSBEHIND THE SCENES VIDEOS

Sessions in San Francisco

and Palo Alto

2025


Session 1: June 16th-20th 2025 (M-F) 

1 spot left


Session 2: July 14th-18th 2025 (M-F) FULL

Add to Wait List


Session 3: July 21st-25th 2025 (M-F) 

1 spot left



  • Class size: 8-10
  • Monday-Friday, 10am-4:30pm
  • Classroom session (Drop-off and pick-up): 535 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94105 (The Financial District)
  • 5 Outdoor Field Trips
  • Early drop off: 9am
  • Clicking the "Sign Up" button will open a new browser tab for checkout. Please make sure pop-ups are not blocked in your browser settings.


The Palo Alto Exploration is a 3-Day Photography Program designed for teenagers.


Session: August 5th-7th 2025 (Tuesday-Thursday)


3 spots left!


  • Time: 10am-4:30pm

  • Drop-off and pick-up location: Joe & The Juice at 508 University Avenue, Palo Alto  CA94301

  • Class size: 5

  • The Exploration requires minimum of 3 campers to move on by the end of July. Otherwise it will be canceled and parents will get a full refund. 

  • Points to note:

1. The Exploration does not have classroom sessions.


2. Instruction and editing sessions will be in Joe & The Juice Cafe at 508 University Avenue, Palo Alto, instead of an office space.


3. There will be no camps in the Palo Alto this year as we do not have an office space there. 


4. Each student will be offered one free drink at Joe & the Juice every day.


5. The itinerary: 


Day 1: 

-Morning Instruction time at Joe & The Juice

-Morning field trip: The University Avenue

-Afternoon field trip (Architectural & Urban Photography): Stanford University


Day 2:

-Morning field trip (Animal Photography): Palo Alto Zoo

-Afternoon field trip (Flower & Nature photography): Elizabeth Gambles Garden

-Editing session at Joe & The Juice


Day 3:

-Morning field trip (Travel and Portrait Photography): Google Visitor Center

-Early afternoon: Editing and Print at Joe & The Juice

-Presentation



6. The rate: $890




The Exploration is mostly the same as the Palo Alto Teen Camps in the previous years except:


1. The instruction and editing session happens in Joe & The Juice instead of a traditional classroom.


2. The location for the Travel Photography field trip will be in Google Visitor Center, instead of  Niles Frement.


3. There is no macro photography session.


4. Multiple field trips will happen in the same day instead of being spread across the week, making it a 3 instead of a 5 day experience.






Quick Facts

The San Francisco Camp

Equipment provided during class
Canon T6 camera body+ 2 lenses + memory card(s)

Drop-off & Pick-up location:

535 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94105

Monday - Friday

Start Time: 10am

End time: 4:30pm

Textbook included

Print and frame

Campers get to print 5 photos and frame the best one

Editing

Adobe Lightroom Classic

(campers need to use their own laptops)

Pricing

$1395

Fares included

round trips from classroom sessions to field trip locations

Creative Skills

Different types of photography

Life skills

social skills, public speaking, and persistency


Entrance fees Included

Types of photography

Animal, Portrait, Nature, Documentary, Urban Landscape, Macro (PA only)

 Points to Note

 

  1. Sprouts need to bring their own laptop computers on Days 2-5. The computers need to have Adobe LIGHTROOM CLASSIC installed.
  2. Camp fees include the transportation and entrance fees to field trip locations and cost of prints.
  3. Sprouts' safety is our top priority. There are activities that we would prohibit them from doing (for example, climbing the rocks on the beach). A list of safety guidelines will be emailed to parents prior to the camp, we need parents' cooperation to remind the Sprouts the activities that are prohibited. 
  4. Lunch is not included. Sprouts will have lunch together in local restaurants (e.g Chipotle, Super Duper, Cafe in Zoo), average meal cost is $18-$25 per day. Parents can also pack lunch for the Sprouts. Please advise us of any food allergies.
  5. Transitions between classroom sessions and field trips will be via Uber/ Lyft. This arrangement is to save time finding a park spot in the city.
  6. Drop-off and pick-up location: 535 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94105 (SF class)
  7. Max. class size in each session: 10 (SF)

 

Cancelation policy


  • Customers will get full refund if the cancelation is made more than 2 months prior to the start date of the session, less $50 processing fee.

  • Customers will get 50% refund if the cancelation is made within 2 months prior to the start date of the session, less $50 processing fee. The credits can be applied to Photosprouts' classes (must be the same attendee).


  • No refund if the cancelation is made within 14 calendar days prior to the start date of the session. The credits can be applied towards Photosprouts' classes.

 

Sign up : San Francisco Camp

Note: Clicking the "Sign Up" button will open a new browser tab for checkout. Please make sure pop-ups are not blocked in your browser settings.

How do we teach photography?

We believe learning photography should be hands-on—more doing, less theory—because photography is not just a skill, but a powerful tool for teens to see the world and express themselves.


In the summer camps, each day begins with a short but engaging classroom session at the Photosprouts office in downtown San Francisco (535 Mission Street). This structured morning lesson sets the stage for the day by covering the key photography concepts like lighting, composition, and the must-get shots tailored to that day’s destination.


Campers then head out on the outdoor field trips to San Francisco’s most photogenic spots, where they will apply what they’ve just learned in real-world settings. We wrap up each day with 30 minutes to an hour of photo editing in Adobe Lightroom, where campers build their editing skills and bring their images to life.

We Take Photography Education Seriously

At Photosprouts’ Teen Summer Photography Camp, we take photography education seriously.


It is not a camp that simply take kids out to snap photos. Instead, our program is thoughtfully structured to ensure students truly absorb and apply what they learn.


Structured & Purposeful Learning
This isn’t just a “walk around and take pictures” camp. Our curriculum is carefully designed to combine theory with hands-on practice, helping teens consolidate their knowledge and build real photography skills.


Effective Classroom Sessions
Teens need structure to learn well. Photosprouts' short but powerful classroom sessions give them the essential foundation they can apply during outdoor shoots. Fully outdoor learning may sound fun, but it’s not effective.


Fixed Classroom Location
We meet at the same place every day—a beautiful, high-floor classroom in San Francisco’s Financial District with panoramic city views. This ensures consistent drop-off and pick-up for parents.


Detailed Parent Information Pack
After registration, parents will receive a complete schedule outlining where we go, what we learn, where we eat, and even bathroom locations. You'll always know what your child is doing—and feel confident they’re in good hands.


An Environment That Inspires Excellence
Our classroom is located in a professional, inspiring building where many of San Francisco’s elites gather—a setting that reflects the high standards and intention behind our program. Teens don’t just learn photography here—they gain exposure to how a well-designed, thoughtfully run program operates, helping them grow both creatively and intellectually.


Purposeful Field Trips (No Cutting Corners)
We don’t go to free spots just to save money. Since animal photography is a powerful way to reinforce the concepts taught on Day 1, we choose to take students to the San Francisco Zoo (rather than taking photos of random pets on the street)—even if it comes at a higher cost—because meaningful learning always comes first.


The Artistic Perspective

We are experienced photographers ourselves, and one of the most valuable things we pass on to our students is the artistic perspective of photography—a skill that often takes years to develop. Beyond just teaching how to use a camera, we guide teens in understanding what makes an image truly compelling: from mastering composition and creative angles to seeing through the eyes of a viewer or client. This deeper visual awareness helps them create photos that are not only technically sound but also emotionally resonant and aesthetically powerful.


Campers' Work

San Francisco

Palo Alto

Campers' Presentations

What Will The Campers Learn?


The San Francisco Camp (5-Day)


Palo Alto Exploration (3-Day)

Why Do Parents Love Us?

Read More Reviews

Gallery
Equipment  | Classroom |  Behind the scenes

 

VIDEOS
THE SAN FRANCISCO CAMP

2024, 2023 & 2022


THE PALO ALTO CLASS

Wait List: June 16th-20th 2025

Wait List: July 14th-18th 2025