Three Day San Francisco Creative Photography Workshop (April 20-22)

Explore San Francisco through light, architecture, and intentional seeing during this three-day photography workshop led by Josh Weinberg. Photograph iconic views and overlooked corners of the city while learning creative techniques and developing a more thoughtful approach to making images.

Blending hands-on instruction with local history and storytelling, this workshop is designed to help you connect with San Francisco, slow down, see differently, and create photographs that feel personal and meaningful.

An immersive, hands-on photography workshop that balances individual guidance with the creative energy of shooting in a small group (maximum of 5 participants).

You’ll receive individual, one-on-one guidance in the field, tailored to your interests and experience, while also benefiting from group discussions around approaching scenes to capture the obvious and beyond.

The workshop is designed as a few focused days of immersion—time to step away from daily distractions, concentrate on photography, and grow through both personal feedback and shared experience.

Experience level: Intermediate to advanced

Participants should be comfortable setting basic camera controls such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

This workshop is ideal for photographers who enjoy walking, observation, and thoughtful image-making, and those who want dedicated time to focus on photography in a supportive group setting.

You do not need to be an expert—just curious, comfortable with your camera, and interested in growing.

• Three focused days to slow down, observe, and photograph with intention
• A deeper connection to San Francisco as a place to photograph, not just visit
• New perspective gained from seeing how others interpret the same scenes
• A collection of images that includes both San Francisco’s icons and quieter, more personal photographs

• Workshop fee is $850.
• "Plus ones" using only camera phones can register at a discounted rate of $500.
• A $200 deposit reserves your seat until March 9, 2026.
• Purchase the $650 balance by March 9 to complete your registration.

Deposits are fully refundable until March 9, 2026. After March 9, deposits and all final payments are non-refundable, unless the workshop is canceled by the organizer.

Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance.

• Three full days of guided, instructional field photography sessions and photo walks
• Individual, one-on-one guidance in the field
• Group instruction and discussion focused on location selection, timing, composition, and creative decision-making
• Carefully scouted locations with flexibility to adapt to light and conditions
• Local transportation used with the group for workshop activities
• Opportunities for image sharing and informal review during the workshop
• Pre-workshop guidance on gear, preparation, and creative focus

• Meals
• Lodging
• Transportation to and from San Francisco
• Airport transfers

I'm a San Francisco–based photographer and photo educator whose work focuses on architecture, overlooked details, and the spaces people pass by without noticing.

I spent ten years writing and leading historic walking tours for San Francisco City Guides, which gave me a deep understanding of the city’s history, neighborhoods, and visual character. I've taught photography at the community college level, led numerous photo walks, and worked one-on-one with photographers looking to grow creatively and technically.

My workshops emphasize preparation, flexibility, and individual guidance, creating an environment where participants can focus fully on photography while learning alongside a small group of fellow photographers.

You can learn more about my teaching approach at weinbergphoto.com and see my portfolio at joshuaw.com.

The workshop is designed as a three-day immersion in photography, with a daily rhythm that balances guided shooting, discussion, and independent time. Each full day includes approximately four to five hours of active shooting, broken into one or two focused sessions, along with time for conversation, reflection, and personal exploration.

Evening

• Arrive in San Francisco and check into your hotel
• Group welcome and orientation
• Overview of workshop flow, shooting focus, logistics, and expectations
• Introductions and time to connect with fellow participants

Most days follow a general rhythm while remaining flexible to take advantage of light, weather, and unexpected opportunities.

Morning (approximately 2–3 hours)

• Early morning shooting during blue hour and sunrise
• Emphasis on light, composition, and intentional seeing

Midday

• Time for lunch, rest, image review, or independent exploration
• Optional museum or attraction visits when appropriate

Afternoon / Evening (approximately 2–3 hours)

• Group discussion or instruction
• Guided photo walk in a different neighborhood or location
• Golden hour, sunset, and twilight shooting

While this outline reflects the typical flow, not every day will follow this exact schedule. Some activities may be concentrated into a single extended session, while others may be spread across the day. Daily plans remain adaptable based on weather, light, special events, and the group’s energy and interests.

On the final day, the workshop concludes with a group image review and wrap-up gathering, followed by a casual meal, drink, or goodbye get-together (optional).

Rather than trying to “cover it all,” the workshop will focus on a carefully chosen subset of locations selected for light, timing, weather, and participant interest. Not all locations listed below will be visited.

• Golden Gate Bridge (including Crissy Field and Fort Point)
• Bay Bridge
• Palace of Fine Arts
• Cable Cars and surrounding streets
• Painted Ladies and Victorian architecture
• Lombard Street

• Embarcadero (including night photography)
• Ferry Building and Farmers Market
• South Beach
• Fisherman’s Wharf and nearby piers
• Pier 70

• Chinatown
• Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower
• Mission District (including murals)
• Art Deco architecture

• Sutro Baths and Lands End
• Ocean Beach and the Pacific Ocean
• Camera Obscura
• Golden Gate Park (windmills, Japanese Tea Garden, de Young Museum)

• Marin Headlands
• Marin Civic Center
• Twin Peaks
• Fort Mason and the Marina district
• North Beach

Participants will be invited ahead of time to share what excites them most, helping shape the final itinerary.

Depending on light, weather, and group interests, we may explore creative approaches such as:

• Long exposure and motion blur
• Night and blue hour photography
• Working with reflections, shadows, and layered scenes
• Abstract and detail-focused urban photography
• Seeing and photographing beyond the obvious view

These techniques are introduced as ways to support personal expression, not as a checklist to complete.

• DSLR or mirrorless camera
• 24–120mm (or similar) zoom lens
• Wide-angle zoom (optional)
• Smartphone (optional)
• Travel tripod

A detailed gear and preparation guide will be shared before the workshop.

Recommended hotel details will be provided.

A pre-trip online meeting will be held approximately six weeks before the workshop to review logistics, answer questions, and help everyone prepare.

If you have questions or want to explore if this workshop is right for you call or email Josh at [email protected] or (415) 723-6009.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

• Deposits: 100% refundable until March 9, 2026. After this date, deposits and balances are non-refundable. Contact [email protected] to request a refund.
• Event Cancellation: In the event the organizer cancels the event, all attendees will receive a 100% refund.
• Standard Policy: All other refund requests will comply with Eventbrite’s standard terms.
• Protection: We highly recommend all attendees purchase trip insurance to cover any personal travel interruptions or unforeseen changes.

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