March 8–13, 2027: Lisbon Passionate Photographer Masterclass

Six Days of Street Photography, Night Shoots & Critique in Lisbon; Sintra & Cascais Outing

DatesMar 8 – Mar 13, 2027

LocationLisbon • Sintra • Cascais, Portugal

GenreStreet • Urban • Travel

Group sizeMax. 6

Skill levelAll Levels

Tuition$6,900.00 USD

Deposit$500.00 USD

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Workshop overview

Join me in Lisbon for six days of shooting, editing and thoughtful critique. It is a place where history, color and light reward patience, curiosity and a willingness to look a little longer. We’ll spend the week working inside that rhythm together.

We’ll photograph beyond the postcard views, from grand plazas and hills to Alfama’s narrow alleys, Baixa’s tiled streets and neighborhoods where everyday life unfolds. There will be time to stay with a scene, return to an idea and begin shaping a portfolio that reflects your own way of seeing.

The week balances guided assignments, independent shooting and honest critique. We’ll discuss strategy and intent, and I’ll encourage you to slow down, trust your eye and take chances in your work.

There will also be a pre-workshop group meeting and lecture, along with a post-workshop Zoom session where you’ll present a refined sequence from the photographs you make in Lisbon.

What I want for you this week is simple: to create the best work you’ve ever made, to feel yourself grow in real time, and to leave Lisbon with a renewed sense of purpose and passion for the craft.

The group is limited to six photographers, allowing personal attention and a collaborative, supportive environment.

Why March in Lisbon?

We’ve rescheduled our Lisbon Street Photography Workshop for March, a wonderful time to experience the city with a camera. Early spring brings longer days, changing light and a city beginning to emerge from its winter rhythm. The weather is generally comfortable for exploring on foot, and the streets are lively without the crowds of the busier travel season.

Cafés, squares, local markets and the waterfront give us places to observe everyday life, linger with a scene and work at our own pace. Our schedule leaves room to respond to the weather, follow the light and spend more time wherever the streets give us something worth staying for.

More Lisbon photographs

The route

Where we'll photograph

Lisbon — Neighborhoods & Everyday Life

Alfama, Baixa, Castelo and Mouraria give us different ways into the city. We will work with narrow streets, tiled facades, plazas, changing light and the people who move through them.

Bica, Cais do Sodré, Rossio and the LX Factory area add further contrasts. The aim is to spend time with a scene and build photographs that reflect your own experience of Lisbon.

Sintra & Cascais — A Day Beyond Lisbon

The schedule includes a day in Sintra and Cascais, with morning photography around Sintra and Pena Palace, a special lunch in Cascais and an afternoon shoot there.

The change of setting gives us another visual thread to explore alongside our Lisbon street work.

Lisbon After Dark

Night photography is part of the week, including scheduled shoots in Chiado. We will work with artificial light and street life, from wider city views to the atmosphere of narrow streets.

Steve will discuss handheld shooting at higher ISOs. A small, light travel tripod can also be useful.

Day by day

Itinerary

The schedule will remain flexible so we can respond to weather, light, local events and unexpected photographic opportunities.

Mar 8 — Arrival, Orientation & First Lisbon Walk
We meet at 1 p.m. in the Bessa hotel lobby for introductions, orientation, a quick-start session and a review of participants’ portfolios. This gives us a starting point for shaping the week around your interests and photographic goals.
After class, we take a photo walk near the hotel. Ascensor da Glória and Rossio Square are a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. We go out to dinner together before the first full shooting day.
Mar 9 — Castelo, Critique & Mouraria
After breakfast at the hotel, we head out for an early shoot in Castelo. We return for a late-morning lecture and critique, looking at a selection of photographs from the first outings and discussing shooting and editing strategies.
Bring your six strongest images from the morning and the previous day for discussion. The afternoon takes us to Mouraria, followed by the scheduled welcome dinner at 7:30 p.m.
Mar 10 — Metro Shoots, Alfama & Chiado at Night
We begin with breakfast and a morning of Metro Stop Speed Shoots along the Blue and Yellow lines. These short shoots encourage you to respond quickly to changing scenes and work beyond your usual habits.
Class and critique are scheduled for 11 a.m.–2 p.m., followed by an afternoon shoot in Alfama. Dinner is on your own before we meet again at 8:30 p.m. for night photography in Chiado.
Mar 11 — Sintra & Cascais
We leave early for Sintra, spending the morning exploring its streets, architecture and the Pena Palace area. The schedule includes a special lunch in Cascais at 1 p.m., followed by an afternoon shoot there.
The day offers a change from Lisbon’s urban streets, with time to observe a different setting and consider how these photographs connect to the work you have already made. We finish with dinner and critique.
Mar 12 — Bica, Cais do Sodré, LX Factory & Fado
After breakfast, our early shoot takes us to Bica and Cais do Sodré. In the afternoon, we explore LX Factory and the surrounding area, followed by an evening shoot in Chiado.
At 8 p.m., the itinerary calls for a special dinner and Fado music performance, bringing another part of Lisbon’s life into the week.
Mar 13 — Independent Work, Final Critique & Wrap-Up
The final morning is set aside for an independent shoot and editing, agreed upon with the instructor. You can return to a promising area, continue your theme or look for photographs that complete the portfolio you are developing.
We gather for our final lecture and critique from 11 a.m.–2 p.m., then share a final lunch and wrap-up at Time Out Market.

In the field and in class

What You’ll Learn

This intensive workshop is a chance to develop your own vision and street style through sustained shooting, assignments and thoughtful critique. We’ll work past photographic fears and familiar clichés toward photographs that communicate the energy of the streets, whether through a quiet gesture, an unexpected connection or a decisive moment.

Mostly, though, you’ll be photographing the theatre that is the street: sometimes together, often on your own. All levels of photographic experience are welcome. If you find a place or an idea you want to stay with, you’ll have room to follow it. And we’ll make room for the pleasure of being out there with a camera.

Street Philosophies

We’ll explore the “rhythm of place” and develop strategies for photographing the daily life unfolding around us. We’ll discuss the laws and ethics of street photography, photographing people respectfully and handling difficult situations that might arise.

Through assignments and time in the field, we’ll work on overcoming shyness, approaching strangers, anticipating moments, framing, juxtaposition and layering compositions. Sometimes the most useful thing is to slow down and let the image come to you. We’ll also consider whether color or black and white best suits your vision and the photographs you’re making.

Night Photography

Lisbon comes alive after dark, with opportunities to photograph both wider city views and the atmosphere of its narrow streets. We’ll explore how artificial light, gesture and movement change the way a photograph feels, with night shoots close to our hotel as well as elsewhere in the itinerary.

You’ll practise shooting handheld at higher ISOs and learn when a small, light travel tripod can help. We’ll work with the night light and street life we find rather than relying on one familiar approach.

Street Tech

Steve will share his minimalist approach to equipment and a simplified shooting process designed to help you respond quickly when a moment unfolds. He works with Nikon mirrorless cameras and a carefully chosen selection of lenses, but the workshop welcomes all camera systems, including mirrorless, compact, rangefinder, DSLR and camera-phone photography.

We’ll discuss lenses, autofocus, zone focusing, shooting from the hip, live view and flash, along with practical choices that can make the camera feel less like a barrier between you and the scene. Although our focus is street photography, these lessons carry into other kinds of image-making. In class, we’ll look at a selection of your strongest work from the previous day.

Class Lectures & Critiques

Each lecture will lay the foundation for your daily shoots. Honest, thoughtful critique is central to the workshop. We’ll look closely at one another’s photographs, share ideas and offer constructive suggestions. These discussions take place in a supportive environment where you can ask questions, try something unfamiliar and learn from work that may be very different from your own.

Photography doesn’t end when you press the shutter. In some ways, that’s where the next part begins. Finding a consistent way to manage, edit and revisit the thousands of photographs you make is an essential part of developing your work.

Steve will walk you through his own process of organizing, editing, processing and archiving a large photographic library. Using Lightroom Classic, he’ll show you how he finds the strongest photographs from each shoot, moving from memory cards through backups and long-term storage on drives and in the cloud.

You’ll be encouraged to develop a theme during the week and shape it into a final portfolio. Assignments will push you beyond familiar habits, while daily critiques will help you recognize what’s working and where to take the work next. We’ll consider not only individual photographs but how they work together.

Before we meet in Lisbon, we’ll gather online for a group meeting and lecture. After the workshop, we’ll reconnect on Zoom, where you’ll present a refined sequence of your Lisbon photographs for further discussion and critique.

A photograph from the Lisbon workshop collection

Travel & logistics

Our base is near Restauradores Square on Avenida da Liberdade. Much of the workshop takes place on foot. Lisbon is compact, but the itinerary involves a great deal of walking and includes hilly neighborhoods.

We meet at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 8, in the Bessa hotel lobby. The final lecture and critique run from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, followed by lunch and wrap-up at Time Out Market. Plan your travel around both the opening meeting and the final activities.

The schedule balances early and late shoots with daytime class, critique and editing. Class times will be clarified before the workshop and may adjust to make the most of the light and shooting opportunities.

The itinerary includes a day in Sintra and Cascais, Metro Stop Speed Shoots, night photography in Chiado and a Fado dinner. Exact arrangements will be shared before the workshop.

Accommodation & Food

Our home for five nights is BessaHotel Liberdade, a stylish, contemporary hotel on Avenida da Liberdade. Just a short walk from Restauradores Square and the Santa Justa Elevator, it puts us close to Lisbon’s street life, cafés and neighborhoods, with a comfortable place to return between shoots. Your tuition includes five nights of private accommodation and a generous breakfast buffet each morning to fuel the day ahead.

The well-appointed rooms have complimentary Wi-Fi, a work desk for reviewing and editing photographs, and an in-room safe. Having your own private room gives you space to rest, catch up on your editing and prepare for the next day.

Beyond the room, there’s an indoor heated pool, a fitness room, a sauna and a Turkish bath. The garden terrace has a bar and a striking vertical garden. There are places to unwind, compare notes with fellow photographers or simply take a break from the intensity of the week.

Food is part of getting to know a place, and we’ll make time to sample Portuguese cooking together. From fresh fish and seafood to local cheeses and the much-loved custard tart, there’s plenty to discover between shoots. Lisbon’s café culture also means good coffee, baked goods and a place to pause are rarely far away.

Selected lunches and two group dinners are included. Other meals are at your own expense, leaving room to explore independently or join fellow photographers around the table.

Our base in Lisbon: The Bessa.

Who you'll work with

Your instructors

Steve Simon

Steve Simon is an award-winning documentary photographer and the author of five critically acclaimed books, including The Passionate Photographer, selected as one of Amazon’s “Top Ten Art and Photography Books.” He has photographed in over 40 countries on assignment, with work appearing in publications such as The New York Times Magazine, Time, Mother Jones, Le Monde, Colors, Life, Harpers, Macleans, and The Walrus.

Best known for his humanistic approach, Steve’s photography explores the complexity and beauty of the human condition—capturing authentic, unscripted moments in real time. His images have been exhibited in solo shows in New York, Toronto, Montreal, and Buenos Aires, and three times at Visa Pour L’Image in Perpignan, France. An excerpt from Empty Sky, his photographic tribute to the aftermath of 9/11, was published by Life Books. The 9/11 Memorial Museum later acquired the complete set of prints for its permanent collection—recognizing the work as both witness and memorial.

A passionate educator, Steve has taught at the International Center of Photography (ICP) and the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York, and continues to lead workshops around the world. He is currently working on two new books—one on the art of photographic critique, and another exploring the American political convention.

Miguel Helfrich

Miguel Helfrich is a gifted photographer who has spent a lifetime making photographs. He is our local Lisbon expert and joins Steve in the field throughout the workshop. Steve and Miguel have photographed and scouted the areas in the itinerary, sharing local knowledge, tips and suggested starting points while encouraging you to follow your own interests.

Reserve your place

Pricing

Six days of photography, instruction, assignments and thoughtful critique with Steve Simon and local Lisbon expert Miguel Helfrich. Our group is limited to six photographers.

Your tuition includes five nights of private accommodation at the Bessa Hotel, daily breakfast, selected lunches, two group dinners and scheduled local transportation. Pre- and post-workshop online lectures and critiques are also included.

Tuition

$6,900.00 USD

Deposit: $500.00 USD secures your place
Balance due: December 8, 2026
Group size: Limited to 6 photographers

The remaining balance may be paid by bank transfer, wire, ACH, or credit card (3% processing fee applies to credit card payments).

What's included

Five nights of private accommodation at the Bessa Hotel
Daily breakfast
Selected lunches and two group dinners
Photographic instruction and mentorship from Steve Simon
Local Lisbon expertise and field guidance from Miguel Helfrich
Lectures, critiques, editing discussions and photographic assignments
Group outings and scheduled local transportation
Pre-workshop online group meeting and lecture
Post-workshop Zoom critique and presentation of your refined Lisbon sequence

Our goal is to provide a seamless, supportive experience so you can stay focused on making your strongest work.

Not included

International airfare to/from Portugal; Transportation from the airport to the first hotel on arrival; Meals other than daily breakfast, selected lunches and the two included group dinners; Personal expenses; Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended).

Once you’ve checked in, we’ll handle the workshop logistics from there, with clear guidance before and during the trip.

Before you reserve

Deposit & Cancellation Policy — Lisbon 2027

A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. If we need to cancel the workshop, your deposit will be refunded. Group size is intentionally limited to six photographers, so early registration is encouraged.

The remaining balance is due December 8, 2026, 90 days before the workshop begins.

If you withdraw more than 90 days before the workshop begins, tuition paid beyond the deposit will be refunded once we receive your cancellation in writing.

If you withdraw less than 90 days before the workshop, a refund is possible only if we can fill your place from the waitlist. In that case, tuition paid beyond the deposit will be returned. If your place cannot be filled, tuition cannot be refunded.

Because hotels, transportation, bookings and local partners require fixed commitments in advance, PhotoEducate and The Passionate Photographer Inc. cannot offer refunds or credits for medical or family emergencies, travel delays, illness, weather, transportation disruptions, political events or other unforeseen circumstances. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is strongly recommended.

A Note on Travel & Medical Insurance

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that includes international medical coverage, trip cancellation protection that can reimburse your workshop fee, coverage for delays, lost luggage and emergency evacuation, and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions when available. Many policies require this coverage to be purchased within a set period after your initial trip payment.

Insurance protects you from absorbing the financial loss of an unexpected situation and offers added peace of mind when traveling internationally with expensive camera equipment. We recommend www.squaremouth.com as one place to compare travel and medical insurance options.

Testimonials

What participants say

“If I am honest, I approached this workshop with a combination of excited anticipation and butterfly inducing dread. This is my third Steve Simon workshop; you’d think it would get easier and less stressful. Nope, doesn’t work that way. The excited anticipation is about traveling to new and sometimes exotic locations, seeing old friends from previous workshops, meeting new ones, getting to know Miguel at this particular workshop - enjoying...”
Don Dillon, Phoenix, Arizona
Read Don’s full Lisbon experience
If I am honest, I approached this workshop with a combination of excited anticipation and butterfly inducing dread. This is my third Steve Simon workshop; you’d think it would get easier and less stressful. Nope, doesn’t work that way. The excited anticipation is about traveling to new and sometimes exotic locations, seeing old friends from previous workshops, meeting new ones, getting to know Miguel at this particular workshop - enjoying his knowledge of Portugal and his edgy sense of humor - and spending time with and learning from Steve Simon, our dear leader and mentor. The fear is knowing I really have to produce images at the level I know is coming.

In pregame preparation, I spent some time with the photographs I made in Tokyo and Havana as well as the rudimentary attempts of street shooting done in another lifetime. They are like visiting old friends with whom I have shared a powerful, split second human moment. I modestly tell people who see my “keepers” that, “even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while” or “ when you take a zillion photos, you’re bound to get a decent one occasionally.”

But truthfully, there is so much more to it. This feels like the semi pro street photographer’s tour. There are years of knowledge and experience mixed with lots of rookie mistakes. For me, what makes this such a powerful experience is I always come away from one of these an incrementally better street photographer with a clearer sense of what and why I am doing this in the first place.

For me fear is the best motivator. If we all were just showing up as a nice group of folks out for some travel and vacation snapshots, I would be bored to death and would never come back. But, our Dear Leader has a very gentle way of throwing down the gauntlet and letting us know we are expected to triple down on the amount of time out on the streets shooting, become fearless in going in for the kill shot, cull and edit when normal people are sleeping and eating, and actually producing images that will be critiqued by some very talented people. As they say, “this ain’t easy.”

Lisbon has been one of those tough venues that from time to time really dislike, especially when getting the 15th brushoff or outright angry rejection. I’m not a hunter but this feels like a hard bow hunt for elusive game. I finally know what I am as a street shooter. I know what I have to do to “bag” the elusive jewel. I know I can’t leave the little black camera in a drawer between workshops anymore; that just won’t cut it.

I got more than what I came for.

“What a fabulous experience. I learned more about photography in one week than I had in 5 years. Steve is very knowledgable about the technical side as well as composition. He is very patient, gives excellent feedback and will work one on one with you on any photography subject you want. I asked him for help on night photography and at 10 PM he was out on the streets of Havana with me with step by step instructions on how to take the shot. 5 star plus rating!!”
Gary Niederpruem, Chicago

“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, New York City

“My week in Steve’s Street Shooting workshop challenged me tremendously. There’s nothing like taking your work apart and putting it back together with new vision to make you a better photographer. If you take this workshop, I guarantee you will see the world differently at the end.”
Anne Dunford, Ithaca, New York

“Steve’s passion for photography is contagious and his teaching abilities and knowledge extraordinary! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in photography.”
Paul Lavergne, San Juan, PR

“Participating in the NYC Street Photography Workshop was an enriching and exhilarating experience. It challenged me to step out of my comfort zone to improve my skills. Steve’s curriculum and hands on approach offered me an opportunity to learn new techniques, add some creativity and visualize subject matter from another perspective. Each day presented abundant photo opportunities, resulting with the capture of some amazing images, exceeding my greatest expectations.”
Chapman Solomon, Mountain View, CA

“Not only is Steve a great photographer, he is also a caring, compassionate person as well. He is constantly trying to help participants achieve their photographic goals in a gentle, caring, and sincere manner. Sadly, the critiques of my work were very helpful. Steve was right-on in terms of his suggestions to better my work. The totality of the workshop was terrific, primarily because the parts were all excellent as well. Choice of shooting locations, image reviews, suggestions, videos shown, and galleries visited were all great. Steve also promoted wonderful interactions among the participants. The venue was perfect for the workshop. We could spread out, leave your things there, use the facilities, and eat the goodies provided. You know you’re in good hands with Steve! An outstanding workshop!!”
Stephen Sholl, New York City

“This is an outstanding workshop. It is impossible to spend time in a room with Steve Simon and not be inspired to get out there and make great images …I had high expectations and you exceeded them…Steve is very personable, articulate and passionate about photography, very welcoming with a warm, engaging personality. Steve’s style is outstanding. I knew of Steve from the TWiP podcast and would have attended if he was talking about how to watch paint dry…”
Steve Lavelle, London

“I just spent the last three days with Steve Simon, What a wonderful experience, the best time spent in a workshop ever. Steve is a perfectionist, every presentation not only had spectacular photography but also the perfect music to enhance the mood, a roller coaster of emotions. He cannot hide his journalistic background every single image tells a story. His technique is flawless; his teaching patience unparalleled. I am eager to start a new chapter of my photography applying what Steve taught me in the last few days.”
Oscar Piñeyro, Dallas