Passionate Photographer Steve Simon

Come join us for an amazing photographic and educational life experience on one of our many global destinations detailed below. Online workshops include a variety of comprehensive Nikon Camera Bootcamps (Nikon Z9/Z8 & ZF) as well as Mentoring and Creating Your Photo-Book classes. Look for more workshops being added for 2024-2025 and be sure to sign-up for our newsletter to keep up to date with new offerings and get your free 78-page workshop guide. 

Safety is always our first priority. Travel Insurance is recommended and SquareMouth have policies covering a wide range of travel emergencies and trip interruption including "Canel For Any Reason" policies. 

From the author of the best-selling book, The Passionate Photographer; Dream It; Be It, Steve's masterclass workshops focus on teaching you new and powerful techniques guaranteed to push you from your comfort zone to new heights in your work. He shares his shooting philosophies gleaned from a lifetime of wandering urban places with his camera. Not only will you be taken to amazing places not seen by tourists but the daily critique and class lectures sessions will help you become the photographer you know you can be.

"Best workshop I've ever taken! Steve is not only a great photographer, he is also a terrific teacher. He is patient and very hands- on. In some workshops the instructor sends students out to shoot after a short lecture--Steve goes out with his students, coaching them throughout the process. His course is well organized and covers diverse topics. He is funny and engaging and generous with his time and knowledge. I had SO MUCH fun and am ready to sign up for the next one. Highly recommended!"     

 ANNA BLANCO

Philosophies

Steve's intensive street & urban workshops will help you find your own unique vision and style through assignments created to get you past photographic fears and cliches to capturing lyrical, poetic and decisive moments that communicate the energy of life. 

All levels of photographic experience can benefit from Steve's workshops. You’ll learn about the “rhythm of place” and will discuss the laws and ethics of urban and travel photography as well as dealing with difficult situations that might pop up. You will define a strategy for capturing rich daily life; 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!

Steve Simon is an award-winning documentary photographer and author of five critically acclaimed photography books including The Passionate Photographer (first edition), which was chosen as one of Amazon’s "Top Ten Art and Photography Books."

He has photographed on assignment in more than 45 countries and his work has been published in the New York Times Magazine, Mother Jones, Colors, Life, Time, Le Monde, Harpers, Macleans, Walrus and many others. 

His documentary work has been featured in solo shows across the globe. His post 9/11 work Empty Sky has been published by Life Books and a complete set of prints from that project was acquired by the 9/11 Memorial Museum for their permanent collection. 

Corporate clients include Nikon, SanDisk, McDonalds, Sony Music & Apple. Among his honors: Art Director’s Club NY, Canadian News Photographer of The Year, Global Health Council, NPPA , American Photo, PX3 & the Moscow Photo Awards. Steve is passionate teacher as well, participating as a guest lecturer and workshop leader at various photography events worldwide. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Tanja and 8-year-old son, Sawyer. 

View his series of photography videos on Lynda.com - LinkedIn Learning, including his weekly "Critique of the Week Show". Check out his portfolio images here. See his Patreon page by clicking here. 

Workshop Video

Watch The Passionate Photographer Tokyo or Havana workshop videosbelow to get a better idea about what a Passionate Photographer workshop entails.