– Tuition fees & course material

– 3 x nights of Shared Room Accommodations. 2 nights at Samesun Hostel in SF and 1 night at a hotel in Yosemite. You will sleep in your own bed in shared rooms with other au pairs.

– 2 x continental breakfast

– Transportation to and from all activities

– All activities

– Registration fees (credit card processing fee & registration platform fee)

– Airfare to/from San Francisco, CA

– Airport transportation to/from hotel

– Lunches & Dinners

In addition to the in-person meetings, this class will include pre-assignments and post-assignments as part of the 72-hour class.

You will be invited to join Google Classroom about a month before class starts, which is the platform we use for the course. Check your spam folder, as invitations to join Google Classroom sometimes end up there. Please make sure you register for the course with a valid email address, since this is where you will receive the invitation and later, your certificate. Your email has to be Google compatible, so it’s best to use gmail, outlook, hotmail or yahoo. If you do not receive a notification to join Google Classroom, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to contact us.

Pre-assignments will be posted on Google Classroom 3 weeks before class starts. Make sure you join Google Classroom early and complete the assignments BEFORE coming to class. It will take you approximately 18 hours to complete

Follow-up assignments will be posted on Google Classroom on the weekend of class, and also consist of 18 hours. You must complete them in order to receive your course completion certificate. Course completion certificates will be emailed to you, a few days after the class has officially ended. You will have 4 weeks to complete the assignments. If you need your certificate earlier, please indicate it during the registration process and upload proof. The earliest you can receive your certificate is ONE WEEK after in-person portion of class has concluded.

Attendance IS MANDATORY all days during the class in California. You are expected to be in class on time every day, including the first day and last day, so choose flights accordingly.

First Day: Class starts at 10:00 AM in San Francisco. The latest that you should arrive at SFO is 8:30am

Last Day: Class ends at 4:00pm in San Francisco. The earliest you should book a flight out is 6:30pm

If you miss any class hours you will risk not receiving your certificate! Please note, that this is a long weekend intensive class and the days are long. Bring comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing, water & snacks. We expect you to come to class rested and ready to participate, learn and have fun!

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Apply Foundational Photography Skills

• Operate a digital camera in manual mode, understanding the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

• Demonstrate effective use of natural and artificial lighting for both landscape and city photography.

• Compose visually compelling photographs using the rule of thirds, leading lines, framing, and depth of field.

2. Interpret the Relationship Between Culture, History, and Place

• Describe the historical and cultural significance of the locations visited, including San Francisco’s multicultural heritage and Yosemite’s role in the American conservation movement.

• Analyze how photographers such as Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and other California artists used visual storytelling to shape social and environmental awareness.

• Reflect on how different landscapes and communities influence artistic vision and creative interpretation.

3. Develop a Personal Artistic Perspective

• Create photographs that express individual style, emotion, or narrative while maintaining technical accuracy.

• Engage in reflective discussions about personal creative growth and the connection between place and perception.

• Curate a small portfolio that demonstrates progress, creativity, and a cohesive visual story of the Northern California experience.

4. Practice Environmental and Cultural Stewardship Through Photography

• Demonstrate respect for natural and cultural sites by following ethical photography and travel practices.

• Discuss the role of photography in promoting sustainability, conservation, and cultural understanding.

• Explore how art can inspire appreciation and responsibility toward nature and community.

5. Collaborate and Communicate Effectively

• Participate in group critiques, providing and receiving constructive feedback.

• Contribute to collaborative discussions that connect visual storytelling to shared cultural and environmental themes.

• Present a final reflection and photo portfolio that communicates both technical skill and cultural insight.