Join me in Paris

Street photography masterclass PARIS

Paris is at its best the moment you leave the well-known places behind. Along the Bassin de la Villette, in Belleville and at Père-Lachaise ordinary life simply happens, and that is exactly where the photographs are.

For two days we look at people, gestures, light and layers in the street. With no more than five participants there is time to walk together, work apart and talk about what you see as you go.

€ 695

Pick your date

Including 21% VAT

€ 200 deposit when booking, total price € 695.

4 spots left on 4 and 5 June

two days
10.00 – 15.00 (2 x 5 hours)
max. 5 people
book included

An older man in a hat reflected in a passing car, with a building with windows and shutters behind him.

September

September is the month of the return. Parisians come back from holiday, rested, and reclaim their city. The cafés fill up again, the markets are livelier, and you feel that typically French energy that summer had briefly traded for silence. The tourist crush has gone, but the life certainly has not. In September Paris belongs to Parisians again, and you can see it.

The light changes in September. It turns more golden, lower, and the shadows gain character. The trees are just beginning to turn, the streets are slightly quieter and therefore easier to photograph. People dress differently, the terraces fill with coffee cups instead of glasses of rosé, and the city has a calm about it that leaves you room to look. Photographically, September in Paris is one of the richest months of the year.

In 2027, on 17 and 18 September.

June

June is the month when Paris really comes alive. Parisians trade their coats for light clothes, the terraces fill up and everyone seems to have more time. The city breathes summer, from the people buying ice cream by the Seine to the students lying in the grass of the Tuileries. You see that relaxed feeling in the faces on the street, and that is exactly what makes it so good to photograph.

The light in June is long and soft. The sun sets late, which means you can keep photographing well into the evening in that golden hour photographers love. Long shadows, warm tones, busy terraces. Paris in June is generous. The city hands you the photographs.

Who is this masterclass for?

This masterclass runs over two days, from 10.00 in the morning to 15.00 in the afternoon, and is suitable for anyone who wants to take photography seriously, from people just starting out in street photography to photographers who have been at it a while and want to take a next step. That mix is exactly what makes it interesting: you learn from me, but also from each other.

All you need is a camera, whether that is a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, a compact or a smartphone. You learn to look at a city differently and to build stronger compositions. You learn to work with light, shadow, colour, movement and perspective. You learn how to photograph people without disturbing them.

And you learn how to tell your own story with your photographs. You do that by doing, and by watching me and the others in the group. Through the day I give you assignments that force you to look differently. They are always well received, because they create focus. Together they make you look at your surroundings more consciously, and that gives you stronger photographs.

Two women laughing as they walk down the street, one wearing a headscarf and the other with red, curly hair, dressed in white.

A group of people gathered outdoors, among them a priest in white and red vestments, under a clouded sky and historic buildings.

An older man in a flat cap and black jacket walks with a briefcase past a stone building with four windows.

Two young men in a crowded square: one in a white dress and a wide hat with a veil, the other in a white hoodie and a baseball cap. Behind them are many people, some holding up their phones.

People in raincoats crossing the street on a rainy day in Paris.

Three women standing together on a Paris street, talking over coffee.

A woman in a beige coat and skirt stands in front of a closed shop door in an arcade.

Two people dancing in the street while a boy on a scooter watches, on a Parisian square with cafés and passers-by in the background.

Black and white photo of a historic façade with tall windows, a balcony and street lamps. Two people sit on a bench below it, with a child standing nearby.

A boy kneels in front of a wall covered in stickers, apparently adding one or peeling one off.

A child on a ride-on car in a city square, with adults passing by.

A man sits on the pavement in front of a shop window reading a newspaper, a bag beside him and a large wooden door behind him.

Black and white photo of a nun in a white habit walking along a cobbled street, with an old stone building and a street lamp behind her.

The plan for this street photography masterclass in Paris

2 days · 10.00 to 15.00

The masterclass runs for two days, Friday and Saturday, with two editions to choose from: Friday 4 and Saturday 5 June 2027 or Friday 17 and Saturday 18 September 2027. On day one we visit the Bassin de la Villette, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, the beautiful old quarter of Belleville and the Père-Lachaise cemetery. On day two we walk from the Jardin des Tuileries to the Jardin du Luxembourg and stroll along the Seine to Île Saint-Louis. Depending on the weather and circumstances, we can always choose a different route or deviate from the planned one.

Day 1 Friday

We start on the square by the La Villette rotunda

Stalingrad or Jaurès metro station · Google Maps

10.00
Meeting and introductions
A short talk about street photography
10.30
Into the streets with the first challenge
12.30
Lunch break (at your own expense)
13.15
Into the streets with the second challenge
15.00
End of day one

Day 2 Saturday

We start at the Jardin des Tuileries, Grand Bassin Rond

Tuileries metro station, by the Louvre · Google Maps

10.00
A short recap of day one
Room for your questions
10.30
Into the streets with the first assignment
12.30
Lunch break (at your own expense)
13.15
Into the streets with the second assignment
15.00
We close the masterclass with a drink

Changes to this schedule are possible during the workshop/masterclass, in consultation.

Photo review

After the masterclass you can email me up to eight photographs you took during the two days. I will give you personal feedback on them, and tell you what I would try next.

Still in Paris on Sunday? Do go and see the Rue Mouffetard, where local residents dance in the street every Sunday at midday. Highly recommended.

We start both days at ten and finish around three, so you still have time to explore Paris yourself. Most of the places we visit are within walking distance, which does mean you need sturdy shoes.

Included

Two days of guidance, 10.00 to 15.00
Guided assignments with assignment cards to take home with you
My book De Straatfotobijbel (in Dutch) 🇳🇱
A free month of access to all Photofacts courses with the book
A short review over coffee or tea
Feedback by email on up to eight photographs
An invoice and certificate of attendance for your funding application, available afterwards if you ask for them

Not included

Travel to Paris, which you arrange yourself to your own budget
Accommodation, which you arrange yourself to your own budget
Lunch on both days, at your own expense
Getting around the city

Groups are two to five people at most, so there is time for everyone. Price excluding travel and accommodation, which you book yourself to your own budget.

What this masterclass costs

Participation includes my book De Straatfotobijbel (in Dutch) 🇳🇱.

If you would like a certificate of participation, I will gladly send you one after the workshop.

Halfway through we stop for lunch (at your own expense). Paris is of course full of boulangeries, but you are free to choose something else.

What are you waiting for? Treat yourself to this two-day masterclass in Paris. See you there.

Paris? Easy to reach!

For anyone travelling from the Netherlands: Paris is genuinely easy to reach by train. In my experience you end up somewhere between 50 and 150 euro one way. Manageable, and sustainable. Hotel prices vary, and in Paris they vary by neighbourhood. I am a fan of the B&B Hotels chain myself, simple but perfectly good, though I also enjoy a chain like CitizenM. Public transport is well organised, with an excellent metro.

Book soon, because places are limited. Do not miss this chance to sharpen and refine your photography and discover an extraordinary city. See you in Paris. 📸

Details of the masterclass

Guided assignments using assignment cards you can take home with you.
I share all my experience with you, and help you learn to look differently.
A free month of access to all Photofacts courses with the book.
I take you to the best spots.
Groups of up to five people, so there is time for everyone.
Recommended camera: any camera, ideally with a prime lens.
You do your own editing at home, as you see fit. I am happy to give you feedback by email on eight photographs.

Technique before lunch, building a series after lunch.
You get my book Straatfotobijbel (in Dutch) so you can keep practising after the masterclass.
This masterclass runs over two days from 10.00 to 15.00 (2 × 5 hours).
A short review at the end of the day, with coffee or tea of course.
Level: all levels, from newcomer to street photography to experienced.
Recommended lens: whichever lens you feel comfortable with, but 28 to 50mm full frame is a good guide.

This masterclass can be given in Dutch or in English. The group workshop goes ahead with a minimum of two participants.

Before you come: the preparation page says what to bring and what we do over those two days. Still wondering about something? Have a look at the frequently asked questions. Does this date not suit you? The schedule lists every date, and the same masterclass also runs in London.

About Michiel

I am Michiel Heijmans, professional photographer. I run street photography workshops in the Netherlands and abroad. I wrote the photography books De Wet van de Straat (in Dutch), The Observer (in English) and the course book Straatfotobijbel (in Dutch). In 2025 I appeared in Het Perfecte Plaatje op reis. I am also co-host of the popular photography podcast 30 Minuten Sluitertijd.

Paris was beautiful. Excellent routes from Michiel with plenty of variety in the streets. We talked a lot about choosing colour or black and white, and about the photographs you ‘can make but do not want to make’, about developing your own style. With Michiel you really do move forward.Cees Kole, street photography masterclass in Paris and London

Michiel takes you through Paris, camera in hand, and shows you the city as you have never seen it before. There is almost too much to take in. As a teacher, Michiel lets you experience what you can still fine-tune, and coaches you along the way in a pleasant, relaxed manner. Highly recommended!!!Kim Hoozemans, street photography masterclass in Paris

PARIS: two-day street photography masterclass

Book your workshop in Paris

A maximum of five participants, so there is time for everyone.

€ 695

Including 21% VAT

€ 200 deposit when booking, total price € 695.

Paris is far more than the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

I would love to invite you to my street photography masterclass in Paris this year. Immerse yourself in two days of street photography in this world city.

Every year Paris is flooded with visitors drawn by its iconic monuments, its lively squares and its unmistakable atmosphere. It is a city of contrasts: the refined cafés along the Champs-Élysées against the raw energy of the street performers in Belleville, the quiet beauty of the Jardin du Luxembourg beside the busy hum of the Marché Bastille. Here the light changes with every step. From the soft morning glow on the Seine to the dramatic shadows in the lanes of Le Marais. Paris breathes art, romance and stories waiting to be captured.

Paris: a classic experience

Do you love photography and are you looking for a new challenge? Do you want to discover a city that will surprise and inspire you? Then my conceptual photography workshop in Paris is for you.

Paris is the city where classic black and white photography comes to life. The timeless charm of the cobbled streets of Montmartre, the elegant silhouettes on the Pont Neuf and the play of light and shadow in the lanes around the Panthéon evoke the mood of masters like Cartier-Bresson.

The soft Parisian light and the singular architecture make a perfect canvas for images full of contrast, depth and feeling. As a street photographer I would love to help you capture those classic moments. With my guidance you learn how to use composition, timing and atmosphere to make images that not only catch the character of Paris, but that also help you discover your own black and white style.

I have a boundless love of portrait and street photography and, so others tell me, a talent for passing on what I know and the enthusiasm that comes with it. I will guide you along the most interesting and photogenic locations in the city. My aim: to give you all the feedback and advice you need to improve your photographs and develop your own style.

Frequently asked questions

What level do I need?

If you know how your camera works, you can join in. You learn by doing, by looking and, now and then, by simply having no idea what you’re doing. That’s part of it.

It doesn’t matter whether you normally shoot landscapes, documentary work or portraits. Street photography mostly asks you to look, respond and dare to try.

The assignments grow with you. If you’re just starting out, I’ll help you with calm, choices and technique. If you’ve been photographing for longer, the challenge is often in looking more sharply, getting closer and working less on autopilot.

What about portrait rights and the law?

Respect comes first, always.

Photographing and publishing are two different things. In public space, quite a lot is allowed, but not everything. A covered shopping centre may have its own rules, covert photography is not allowed, and in places where people can expect privacy, you really shouldn’t be photographing. A café terrace is a good example.

Portrait rights mainly come into play when publishing. During the workshop I share the knowledge you need, with examples from practice. The rules differ per country: this applies in the Netherlands, elsewhere it’s different. On the two-day workshop in London or Paris, I’ll explain what applies there.

If you want to read more about how that works in the Netherlands, have a look at De Wet van de Straat (in Dutch), the book I wrote with legal expert Charlotte Meindersma.

What if it rains?

Well, the weather is always a bit of a gamble, especially in autumn. But in principle, we keep photographing. Rain is image. Umbrellas, reflections, people suddenly moving differently. I’ll show you how to make use of that.

Sun brings its own challenges, like backlight and hard shadows. Every kind of weather has its own hassle. And sometimes its own little gift.

All right, a snowstorm may not be the handiest weather to photograph in. But no snowstorm = yes, workshop.

Is the workshop suitable for me if I come alone?

Yes. Many participants come alone. That actually works well. You focus more on your own photos and usually settle into the group quite easily.

My experience is that we get used to each other quickly. Everyone is walking around with roughly the same doubts: am I seeing enough, do I dare to get closer, why didn’t that one photo work? The ice is often gone sooner than you think.

All questions about workshops