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Learning Lab: San Francisco iPhone
At a Glance
Location
San Francisco, California
Tuition
$3,995
Dates
October 14 – 17, 2027
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 8 Guests
Collections
- Learning Lab
- Short Escape
Learning Lab: San Francisco iPhone Photography Workshop
Learn to create travel images with the camera already in your pocket
October 14 – 17, 2027
- Learn to create intentional travel images using only your iPhone
- Master long-exposure, lens-compression, and mobile editing
- Designed for recent iPhones, ideally iPhone 13 Pro or newer
San Francisco is one of the few cities in the United States where travel photography feels almost European in character. Fog moves between neighborhoods, steep streets create constantly shifting layers and viewpoints, and the city’s mix of Victorian architecture, waterfronts, bridges, modern skylines, and graphic urban detail means photographic opportunities are everywhere.
For years, we’ve wanted to build a workshop around iPhone photography, but we felt the technology needed time to mature beyond simple point-and-shoot snapshots. Today’s phones now offer enough creative and technical capability to support a genuinely educational photography experience, one that allows you to travel lighter without giving up the ability to create meaningful, technically great images.
Throughout the workshop, we’ll explore parts of San Francisco when the light is right, from sunrise cityscapes and waterfront scenes to glowing Golden Gate sunsets. Carefully planned locations and routes allow us to focus on a wide variety of photographic situations, including layered urban compositions, architectural abstracts, reflections, graphic minimalism, panoramic landscapes, and low-light photography.
Alongside broader photographic principles, we’ll also teach the specific technical tools that make modern iPhone photography so effective. Topics include lens selection, portrait mode, HDR management, macro photography, panoramas, night mode, long exposures, and controlling light and perspective with camera apps outside the phone’s native camera system. We’ll also spend time editing images in Lightroom Mobile, helping you develop a polished workflow that travels with you.
More than anything, this workshop is about learning how to create stronger travel photographs while remaining present with friends and family, moving more spontaneously through a place, and discovering just how capable the camera in your pocket already is.
And yes, every image you see here was photographed on an iPhone during a single 48-hour scout with Kelley. The office was a little surprised, too!
Your Pros
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
October 14, 2027: Evening Exploration at Golden Gate Bridge
Arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California before 11:00 AM today. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
After settling into the hotel, we’ll begin with an introductory presentation covering iPhone photography techniques, mobile workflows, composition, and creative approaches for photographing cities. As evening approaches, we’ll head out for our first sunset session, photographing the Golden Gate Bridge as shifting fog, surf, and changing light begin to transform the bay.
October 15, 2027: San Francisco Exploration and Image Review
Our first full day begins before sunrise at the Painted Ladies, where we’ll photograph San Francisco’s iconic Victorian architecture against the city skyline in soft morning light. Here, we’ll focus on telephoto landscapes and how longer focal lengths on the iPhone can be used to compress layers and simplify urban compositions.
Throughout the morning, we’ll explore quieter corners of the Presidio, photographing cypress groves, abstract details, layered pathways, and some of the city’s most photogenic scenes. Following breakfast, we’ll return to the hotel for rest, an editing session, and our first image review before heading back into the field later in the afternoon.
The evening focuses on the Presidio coastline and the Golden Gate Bridge from various perspectives, culminating in blue-hour photography around the Palace of Fine Arts.
October 16, 2027: Full Day in The City
The morning begins by combining San Francisco’s historic cable cars with layered city scenes and views toward the Bay Bridge in early morning light. From there, we’ll explore neighborhoods including Russian Hill, North Beach, and Chinatown, balancing iconic locations with quieter areas and visual storytelling opportunities. Throughout the day, we’ll focus on street photography, architectural layers, reflections, color, and finding strong compositions in busy urban environments.
After a midday break, we’ll regroup for sunset over the city skyline, then finish along the Embarcadero and waterfront during blue hour, focusing on reflections and low-light photography techniques.
October 17, 2027: Sunrise City Architecture, Final Portfolio Review
Our final morning includes one last sunrise session featuring modern city architecture and waterfront compositions, followed by a closing image review and portfolio discussion.
Flights out can be made after 3:00 PM on October 17, 2027.
Which Phone Should I Bring?
This workshop is designed for recent generations of iPhone cameras, ideally an iPhone 13 Pro or newer, to take full advantage of the techniques covered throughout. We'll explore topics including Night Mode photography, long exposures, panoramas, lens selection, HDR management, and editing in Lightroom Mobile.
While we hope to offer workshops that teach using Android devices in the future, we will focus on iPhones for this workshop.
Fitness
Moderate: Guests should be comfortable walking several miles throughout the day on paved urban terrain, including San Francisco’s steep hills and occasional staircases. To reduce unnecessary walking and maximize time in the field, we will regularly use Uber transportation between key locations.
Flights
Arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco before 11:00 AM on October 14, 2027. Flights out can be made after 3:00 PM on October 17, 2027. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $300 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Multiple image reviews and post-processing sessions.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from San Francisco, California.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic Beverages.
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming available for $300 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $1,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- The balance is due not later than June 1, 2027.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
You'll learn to use your iPhone creatively, mastering techniques for low-light photography, long exposures, and Lightroom Mobile to help you develop a polished workflow.
Yes, this workshop is refundable. If you cancel more than 150 days before the start date, you'll receive a full refund. Cancellations made 150–91 days before the workshop will receive a refund of payments exceeding 50% of tuition, and 90–61 days before will receive a refund of payments exceeding 75% of tuition. No refunds are given within 60 days unless we fill your space, in which case you'll receive a 100% refund. All refunds are subject to a 5% administrative processing fee and are issued by the original payment method.
The San Francisco iPhone Learning Lab is limited to a maximum of 7 participants, ensuring personalized attention and guidance from our two professional instructors.
A moderate fitness level is required, as you'll be walking several miles each day on paved urban terrain, including San Francisco's steep hills and occasional staircases. We'll use Uber transportation to reduce unnecessary walking and maximize time in the field.
Bring a recent generation iPhone, ideally an iPhone 13 Pro or newer, to fully benefit from the techniques covered. Also, pack comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and any personal items you might need during the workshop.
The fee includes double occupancy lodging, all meals, soft drinks, snacks, permits, park fees, and all transportation during the workshop. You'll also receive photographic guidance, multiple image reviews, and post-processing sessions. A single room is available for an additional $700.
While travel medical and trip cancellation insurance is optional, it is recommended to protect your investment against unforeseen circumstances. This is not included in the workshop fee, so consider purchasing it separately.
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