Best Photography Workshops and Lessons in Italy — Our Top 9

1.Unique Rome by Night, Photo Tour and Workshop Under the Stars

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $217Our pick

Join photographer and filmmaker Giulio D’Ercole at 9 p.m. for a private, four-hour walk from Castel Sant’Angelo to the Colosseum. You’ll photograph Rome’s major sights at night, learn camera settings and composition, and hear the stories behind each location. All skill levels, including iPhone users, are welcome.

“If I could give more stars, I would. Giulio was absolutely incredible tonight and he really helped me elevate my photography game! On top of taking me around to some of Rome's popular sights, he gave me more history lessons than any other tour operator had! We laughed, we photographed and I learned so much. Best night I've spent in Italy so far! Thank you Giulio!!”

See open dates →The full review

2.Rome Photography Masterclass – Private Photography Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $181

Bring your own camera for a private three-hour lesson with Emanuele of Aperture Tours. You’ll practise settings, composition, and street photography while walking from the Colosseum past Rome’s classic sights and quieter photo spots. Choose daylight or nighttime, with a professional guide focused on your skill level.

“Great informative photography walking tour - Very interesting information not only about Rome, but also technical help and advice on getting the best shots as we walked around. Emanuele was a great guide and mentor - friendly and knowledgable.”

See open dates →The full review

3.Venice Photography Masterclass – Private Photography Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $204

Meet a professional photographer at Campo San Vidal for a private, English-language lesson in Venice. You will practice aperture, shutter speed, ISO, composition, sunset shots, and night techniques at places such as Rialto Bridge, St Mark’s Square, and the Grand Canal. Marco and Nicoletta are among the guides who may lead the session.

“I loved being the only student for my Venice Night Photography class having one-on-one time with Marco for the entire 3 1/2hrs. Marco came prepared as my returned tripod was not available so we used his Fotopod miniature tripod which with my DSLR Canon camera. He taught me how to take night time photos in Manual verse AV and how to set my camera's timer in coordination with my Manual settings to achieve some spectacular nighttime photos. I was use to using my remote release timer in the past. All in all the evening was a grand success.”

See open dates →The full review

4.Rome by Day, Beauty and History Unique Photo Tour and Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $215

Join professional photographer Giulio D’Ercole for a four-hour Rome photo walk from Ponte Sant’Angelo toward the Colosseum. You’ll practice composition, exposure, camera settings, and visual storytelling at St. Peter’s Square, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, ancient ruins, and local streets. iPhone and Android users are welcome, and groups are limited to four people.

“Giulio is a not just a professional photographer, but also a very kind, interesting and productive guide. He made my tour of Rome very special, and photos I took with his help will remain a faithful souvenir of my trip to the city.”

See open dates →The full review

5.Unique Photo Tour and Workshop in Rome Dusk to Dawn

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $420

Join Rome photographer Giulio D’Ercole from 10pm for a private, small-group workshop through Rome by car and on foot. Practice manual settings, long exposures, composition, and changing light at places such as the Colosseum area, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Square, and Caracalla Baths. The tour ends around dawn and welcomes beginners ready to leave auto mode behind.

“I had the pleasure of taking a photo tour of Rome at night with Giulio. It was an absolutely high-quality and very well organized tour, the guide is from Rome and therefore knows his way around there very well. Accordingly, he leads us to excellent photo spots, pays attention to many details such as the best time for photos, the position of the sun and traffic. During the tour he also explains some of the history of Rome's sights and is always happy to help with various camera settings (if desired). I very much hope that he will continue to expand his range of courses and I would be very…”

See open dates →The full review

6.Street Photography Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 3 hours · from $65Best value

Meet photographer Ugo in Piazza San Domenico for a three-hour Naples street photography workshop. You’ll shoot in areas such as Spaccanapoli and Sanità, learn respectful ways to photograph people, get help with light and composition, then edit your images into a mini series and shared digital photozine. Bring any camera or a smartphone.

“I had an amazing time on this street photography workshop in Naples. It was fun, engaging, and totally worth it for anyone visiting the city who wants to take better photos. From the start, Ugo made everything easy to understand with friendly tips on natural light, composition, and how to capture real moments in the streets. We walked through the heart of Naples, Spaccanapoli and the historic Sanità district, and every spot felt like a new adventure. I loved trying out different techniques and getting helpful feedback right away as we walked, which made my photos much better than I expected! The best part was creating a personal photography fanzine…”

See open dates →The full review

7.Photo workshop in Venice with a local photographer!

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3 reviews · 2 hours · from $77

Meet photographer Konstantina outside Caffè Florian for a 1.5 to 2-hour photo walk through Venice. You’ll work on composition, natural light, and visual storytelling while photographing famous views, quiet alleys, bridges, and canals. Bring a camera or use your phone. Morning walks include coffee and a snack; afternoon outings include wine and cicchetti.

See open dates →The full review

8.Night Photo Tour and Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $203

Meet your photographer at Museo Napoleonico for a four-hour evening workshop through Rome’s monuments, piazzas, alleys, and quieter corners. You’ll photograph 15 to 20 locations, learn night techniques in English or Italian, use a provided tripod, and return to the meeting point by private vehicle.

“This was one of my favorite activities when in Rome. The pictures I was able to take with the expert guidance of the tour leader will be lasting memories of a lifetime. If you're interested in photography in any way, I highly recommend this tour.”

See open dates →The full review

9.Florence Photography Masterclass – Private Photography Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $168

Spend three private hours photographing Florence with a professional guide. Practice architecture, street scenes, food photography, river views, wine doors, Porcellino, and night images. Robin, an American photographer familiar with Florence’s back streets, has guided participants through this personalized lesson.

See open dates →The full review