Camp Overview -

So, what is Atwater Photo Camp?

The kind of week
they can’t wait to tell you about

ENROLL NOW

APC is a week-long photography experience
where kids explore LA through their cameras.

This isn’t a sit-in-a-classroom kind of camp — kids learn by doing.

By Friday, they walk away with work they’re proud of —
and a whole new perspective.

How Kids Learn

Discover
Learn a new idea — composition, light, storytelling

Shoot
Practice the idea out in the field

Learn
Look at your photos, get feedback, and see what’s working

Refine
Try again with more intention — and see the difference

Student Photos

A Typical Day

Morning
Photo challenge + intro lesson

Midday
On-location shoot – parks, streets, museums

Afternoon
Review, feedback, creative exercises

End of Day
Wrap-up + preview of tomorrow

No prior experience needed — just curiosity.

What Kids Actually Do

Throughout the week, campers:

Photograph people, places, and everyday moments
Experiment with light, composition, and perspective
Take on creative challenges and prompts
Learn editing techniques
Share and discuss their work with the group

Every activity is designed to build both skill and confidence.

Over the week, campers learn to:

Develop their own photographic eye
Read light, composition, and visual storytelling
Think creatively and solve problems on the fly
Express their ideas with confidence
Give and receive feedback in a supportive, non-competitive setting

[Link: See more camper work →] (links to Testimonials/Gallery page)

They learn:

How to use a camera with confidence
How to compose stronger, more interesting images
How to notice light, color, and detail
How to tell a story through photography
How to edit and refine their work

No prior experience needed — just curiosity.

Seeing for Yourself

We teach the tools of photography — but at the core we’re focused on how we see.

Every assignment, every outing, every challenge is designed to help kids notice more, think differently, and develop their own point of view.

It’s not just about making better photos —
it’s about building confidence through creativity

Why This Camp Feels Different

This isn’t a lecture-based program or a technical workshop.

Professional photographers
Kids learn from professional working photographers — not just instructors

Small groups
Just 14 campers per week, so every student gets real attention

Real-world locations
We don’t stay inside — Los Angeles is our classroom

Supportive environment
Campers are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and develop their own style

Exhibit!

The Friday Exhibit

Every week ends the same way — with a show.

Each camper selects 10 photos from their week and presents them to friends and family at our end-of-week exhibit.
It’s part gallery opening, part celebration. Kids talk about their images, what they learned, what surprised them.

For a lot of parents, it’s the first time they’ve seen their kid truly proud of something they made.

The Week Ends With an Exhibit

On the final day, campers showcase their favorite photos in a small exhibit for friends and family.

It’s a chance to:

see their work printed and displayed
talk about what they created
leave with a real sense of accomplishment

For many campers, it’s their favorite moment of the week.

The Camp Experience

Draft copy : (the emotional side.)
We work hard to create a camp environment that is encouraging, curious, and non-competitive. Campers are challenged, but they’re also supported. Many come in feeling unsure or inexperienced and leave the week more confident, more independent, and excited about what they can create.
Our instructors are working photographers with experience in education and childhood development, so they know how to spark curiosity while keeping the atmosphere fun and welcoming.

We work hard to create an environment that is encouraging, curious, and non-competitive. Campers are challenged — but they’re also supported. Many come in feeling unsure or inexperienced. Most leave the week more confident, more independent, and genuinely excited about something for the first time in a while. That’s not an accident. That’s the whole design.