This Intensive offers intermediate and advanced photographers a holistic opportunity to develop their portrait photography practice and personal style. Drawing inspiration from personalities, physical features, gestures, and personal stories, portrait photographers combine sensitivity, creativity, and technical skills in an effort to develop interpretive and engaging connections between sitters and viewers. Gain confidence taking thought-provoking and compelling portraits, while acquiring the knowledge, techniques, and artistic background needed for photographing people intentionally and ethically. Through lectures, assignments, critique sessions, and class discussions, students examine practical, cultural, and visual aspects of portraiture and explore approaches practiced by leading photographers to develop their artistic voice in their preferred genre. As they develop their portfolios, students can learn advanced image processing techniques, edit and sequence their imagery, or prepare their work for presentation to photography professionals or potential clients.
The Portrait Photography Intensive can be completed in its entirety online. Additional onsite courses included in the program are offered for students visiting or living in New York.
Topics of study include:
- Historic and contemporary portraiture
- Creative usage of light and composition
- Studio and location lighting practices
- Ethical Photographer-Sitter dynamics
- Aesthetic choices and sensitivities
- Fashion and editorial portraiture
- Documentary and street portraiture
- Intimate photography and self-portraiture
- Developing a photo series and/or a personal voice
- Image selection and sequencing
- Advanced image processing tools and techniques
- Portfolio preparation and presentation
Expected Outcomes:
- Acquire a cultural artistic background in the field of portraiture
- Understand and practice technical and practical aspects of photographing people
- Capture provocative, expressive, and compelling portraits
- Develop your visual vocabulary and personal style
- Understand how to create a portfolio and acquire initial editing skills
- Adopt industry-leading methodologies and practices
- Share your work with potential clients and photography professionals
Special Benefits:
- Official ICP digital certificate (see requirements below)
- $150-$200 total savings after completing all courses
- Exclusive early registration period before each term
- Personal consultation by ICP staff (upon request)
- The opportunity of having your work highlighted by ICP (website, social media, etc.)
Program Structure
Framework & Courses
Important Notes
Prerequisites
The Portrait Photography Intensive is an intermediate program: You are comfortable using your camera, whether film or digital, and with your photographic practice. You have experience using Adobe applications such as Lightroom or Photoshop. You may want to understand how to utilize your camera in a more thoughtful and articulate way, practice creative methodologies, or learn how to utilize theoretical concepts in relation to your portfolio of work. Students must meet the prerequisites of each course they register for as part of the program.
Tuition
Enrollment to the Portrait Photography Intensive is open throughout the year. Once enrolled, students may select their preferred courses (see ‘Register for Upcoming Courses’ above). Use the ‘Enroll in Intensive’ button below to submit your online application form (no preparations are needed).
Depending on students’ course selection, the total tuition can range between $1305–$2060 and includes:
- A non-refundable registration fee of $450
- The discounted fees of 3 selected and studied courses. Courses’ fees range between $365–$965 and enrolled students receive $200 discounts on each of their courses (total discount of $600).
In addition, students can upgrade their program at an additional fee of $150, allowing them to take one of the listed Lighting Courses (see the Program Structure section above) while applying another special $200 discount.
As a limited promotion, ICP may approve and credit courses previously taken at ICP towards completion of the Intensive, and adjust the registration fee and remaining discounts accordingly (see Special Promotion).
Certification
Students must pass all required courses before receiving ICP certification. All courses must be completed within a period of 1-year from the date of registration (excluding approved past courses). Additionally, to receive their certificate, students need to present an edited and sequenced selection of 10-20 pictures they have photographed as part of this program. Once a student completes the requirements, a request for the certificate should be submitted using the button below.
