April 12-18, 2026 - Paris In Springtime with Steve Simon & David Brommer

Workshop Details

Join us this April for an exclusive photography workshop in the heart of Paris, just as the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral reopens its doors to the world after years of restoration. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to photograph one of the most beloved landmarks in the world, and to immerse yourself in the vibrant street photography scene of Paris. This workshop is led by David Brommer and Steve Simon. There will be pre and post 2-hour Zoom lectures included with this workshop. 

We are excited to announce a visit to the Foundation Henri Cartier-Bresson as part of our program.

"Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French artist and humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography, and an early user of 35mm film. He pioneered the genre of street photography, and viewed photography as capturing a decisive moment. Cartier-Bresson was one of the founding members of Magnum Photos in 1947."

Henri Cartier-Bresson is one of the most influential photographers of all time and in particular has inspired many generations of street photographers, myself included.
Workshop co-leader David Brommer says, "If street photography has a father, it is Henri Cartier Bresson and if Street Photography has a family home, it is Paris". I have to agree. 

We were so excited to have this opportunity on our inaugural Paris workshop and it inspired us. The idea of the  Foundation opening its doors for us to explore the life and work of its two founding photographers, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck, is very exciting and rare.

We will be granted a unique opportunity to spend time discovering Henri Cartier-Bresson's and Martine Franck’s collection which is kept from the public and only open to researchers. The Collections Team will showcase some of the rarest pieces preserved at the Foundation, including vintage prints, contact sheets, various books and publications, correspondences, HCB's press cards, cameras, and more.

The city of lights offers a wealth of photographic opportunities, making it an ideal location for our spring workshop. With the season’s soft light and the Parisian charm in full bloom, you'll be inspired to take your photography to the next level. Whether you're shooting the grand architecture of its numerous cathedrals or capturing spontaneous street scenes, Paris promises to be the perfect backdrop for your photographic adventure.

Luxury  Accommodations-Our Venue:

Hôtel Le Six  14 Rue Stanislas, 75006 Paris, France. +33142220075

Luxury boutique hotel ideally located in lively Montparnasse-Luxembourg in the heart of the capital, two steps away from Saint Germain-des-Prés and the perfect access point for our documentation of the streets of Paris.  Hotel Six is lose to Saint-Sulpice in the 6th district of Paris on the Left Bank and 2-minute walk to Notre-Dame-des-Champs Metro Station (Line 12).

It's nested in a quiet Haussmann-style building on Stanislas street located between the very chic Luxemburg Gardens and boulevard Montparnasse, in the heart of the Left Bank. It will be a soothing stop to rest and edit. with Spa facilities should you be inclined. 

Photograph the Rebirth of Notre Dame

The reopening of Notre Dame is a monumental event in Paris’ history, and this workshop offers you a rare chance to capture its magnificent architecture in its newly restored glory. From the intricate stone carvings to the sweeping arches of the interior, you’ll have the opportunity to document the cathedral as it returns to life after the fire in 2019. You will be guided on how to shoot both the grand exterior and the finer details, making sure you capture the essence of this historic moment.

Street Photography was invented in Paris, let the City of Lights inspire you!

Explore the Streets of Paris Paris is one of the world’s most photogenic cities, and its streets offer endless opportunities for stunning street photography. From the charming cobblestone alleyways of the Marais to the bustling cafés of Montmartre, Paris’s urban landscape is alive with stories waiting to be told through your lens. Capture the essence of Parisian life—whether it's a spontaneous moment on the Seine, the light spilling onto the Haussmannian boulevards, or the unique characters of the city’s vibrant neighborhoods.

Our classroom is the Nikon Plaza  on boulevard Raspail...

Offering a state of the art class room located inside a gallery and showroom, The Nikon Plaza is a unique place to host our workshop. We will have access to a team of specialists providing us with all the experience of the Nikon brand.

Our co-workshop leader David Brommer speaks to photographic style and some of what we will cover in Paris and the upcoming sister workshop in Milan...

Steve will be teaching you new and powerful street photography techniques guaranteed to push you from your comfort zone to new heights in your work and share his street-shooting philosophies gleaned from a lifetime of wandering urban places with his camera.

David will bring his years of experience shooting in Europe and share his lessons to help you find and develop your photographic style. In classroom David will lead talks that dissect the anatomy of photographic style that will help students achieve a definable style they can call their own. 

In addition to exploring the streets of Paris, Steve and David will take you exploring vibrant, visually rich places and neighborhoods chosen for their visual potential.

Street Philosophies

 “When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear.” – Alfred Eisenstaedt

This intensive workshop will help you find your own unique vision and street style through assignments created to get you past photographic fears and cliches to capturing lyrical, poetic and decisive moments that communicate the energy of the streets.

All levels of photographic experience can benefit from this workshop.

You’ll learn about the “rhythm of place” and you will discuss the laws and ethics of street photography as well as dealing with difficult situations that might pop up. You will define a strategy for capturing the rich daily life of people on the street; overcoming fears and shyness, approaching strangers, framing, juxtaposition, layering your compositions, letting the image come to you and whether color or black and white best suits your vision.

And you will have fun!

“I am a tourist.“ – Garry Winogrand

Street Tech

You will talk street-tech and Steve will give you his minimalist view on gear along with a simplified shooting process to maximizing your response time to capture decisive moments.

Steve’s street tools include the Nikon Mirrorless Z System, a Z8/Z9 along with a carefully curated selection of lenses and an iPhone. He is also familiar with a wide range of equipment to help you maximize your mirrorless, compact, rangefinder, DSLR or even your camera phone for compelling street images.

Taking cue’s from Steve, David shoots Nikon and Fujifilm, but is also known for shooting analog and will have a few film cameras on hand for the curious. David is a famous “Camera Whisperer” and calls himself “PolyCamerous” from his years working for B&H Photo and the camera industry. 

Regardless of the tools you choose and use, David and Steve will be able to help you with all your technical questions. Though the technical is arguably the least important area of photography, you need to get past tech issues to get to the other side of great images. So we will talk lenses, auto focus, zone focusing, shooting form the hip, using live view, flash and a host of other tips, tricks, distractions and ideas that will improve your work dramatically. We want to make sure all tech issues are taken care of to free you to make your best work; closing the gap between where you are now and becoming the photographer you know you can be. 

It’s a street photography workshop but the lessons learned will benefit you in all genres of image-making including developing your own unique photo style.

Critique Is Critical

In class at The Nikon Plaza, you will look at a selection of your best work from the previous day. These daily critiques are of crucial importance, where you share ideas and constructive criticism as you look through each others’ images. The workshop will be a “safe place” for group discussions with suggestions and new ideas put forward.

David & Steve will help guide participants work in to a cohesive set of images, through careful editing. You will visit a photography gallery and participate in lectures and critiques every day. You will be encouraged to take on a theme over the week for your final set of pictures. You will be given  assignments when appropriate to push you to a higher level in your work.

“A picture is the expression of an impression. If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it? “ – Ernst Haas

Itinerary

The detailed shooting agenda will be distributed closer to the workshop date!