Course Overview

Academy Experience

Skill Level and Ages

Skills Gained

How We Teach

Our Recommendations

Camp Reviews

FAQ

Professional Photography

Ages 13-18

Introduction to the iD Visual Arts Academy

The iD Visual Arts Academy is a two-week, overnight, teen-only summer program held at top universities throughout the country. Learn industry-standard film and photography techniques from faculty with proven visual arts credentials. Tour a big-name studio. Go on fun off-site excursions. The pre-college curriculum is intensive, but appropriate for beginner through advanced skill levels. Graduate with a film or photography portfolio and the tools to excel in the field of visual arts. Participants can also purchase CEU Credits (Continuing Education Units) and receive an official transcript from Stanford Continuing Studies, to boost their portfolio for college.

About This Course/ Featured Software

Great photographers master their equipment and see the world through a unique lens. Learn not only how to use the advanced technical features of a DSLR camera, but when to use them and what settings will achieve the desired effects. Find the perfect balance between light, composition, exposure, shutter speed, aperture and Raw vs JPG formats to create stunning digital images. Polish your portfolio of work by editing your photographs in Adobe® Photoshop® and Adobe® Lightroom®. Already own a DSLR camera? Bring it to your film course for even more customized instruction.

Note: iD is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged equipment.

Curriculum At A High Level

Week One: Capture powerful moments in time through the use of exposure, dynamic range, image analysis, shutter speeds, aperture, location scouting and creative lighting. Learn the fundamental art of digital photography, with an introduction to visual aesthetics and the exploration of several genres of photography. You will be guided through the principles of hands-on camera operation, focusing on the key elements of a DSLR camera. Produce a portfolio of images to showcase your initial experimentation and creativity and build a solid foundation for taking high quality, meaningful photographs.

Week Two: Discover the differences and advantages of Raw vs. JPEG. Learn color balance, ISO and exposure compensation, advanced camera and shooting techniques, as well as complex natural lighting techniques. You will enter the artistic world of photography post-production, utilizing the industry standard Adobe® Photoshop® and Photoshop® Lightroom®. Learn proper work flow, color correction and “finishing” techniques to organize, polish and create stunning photographs. “Finish” your photographs through advanced post-production techniques, prepare your photos for web presentation or print and build a masterful portfolio.

Other Related iD Programs

All Other Courses at iD Visual Arts Academy
iD Gaming Academy
iD Programming Academy
iD Tech Camps –Weeklong Film & Photography Courses

The Academy Experience

University Immersion

Teens experience independent college life in a supervised environment. This pre-college program is overnight-only, so teens stay in real college dorms, eat in dining halls and get a feel for daily life on campus. Choose the recommended Weekend Stay option to have even more time to explore campus and local attractions.

Online Portfolio Workshops

Teens spend two nights each week in portfolio-building workshops and create their own online portfolio. Finished portfolios include a bio page and samples of completed projects. This industry-standard portfolio tool is easy to update as teens delve further into their fields, developing more advanced projects over time. Establishing a portfolio sets our participants apart from their peers on college and internship applications.

Continuing Education Units

Build up your resume for college by earning Continuing Education Units. Receive an official transcript from Stanford Continuing Studies (available for purchase at all Academy locations). CEU Credits demonstrate that students have completed course content of college-level difficulty.

Tour a Big-Name Studio

Get a feel for future career options and meet industry professionals. Depending on session location and availability, students tour big-name studios around New York and San Francisco.

Skill Level & Ages

This photography course is for ages 13-18.

There are no prerequisites for this teen camp, except for the desire to learn photography and the premiere industry-standard software in the field.

Our ever-evolving curriculum is designed for beginner through advanced learners, allowing students to move along at their own pace with customized lessons for a fun and appropriate challenge. Instructors work closely with students and adjust the curriculum to fit their progress and their project goals.

Top 10 Skills Gained

Our teen photography camps are the best in the industry. Here are the cutting-edge skills you can expect to gain:

Conceptual Skills Development

1. Genre photography
2. Digital photography techniques
3. Location scouting and lighting preparation
4. Color theory and balance
5. Post-production “finishing”

Software & Hardware Skills Development

6. Professional DSLR cameras
7. Adobe® Photoshop®
8. Adobe Lightroom®

Soft Skills Development

9. Project planning
10. Creativity

Industry Leading Curriculum & Instruction

8:1 Ratio, Guaranteed

We guarantee ridiculously small class sizes, with a maximum of 8 students per instructor. Why? Because our teaching philosophy is premised on personalization – your path, at your pace. iD's passionate, adult-only instructors guide students through customized curriculum with 1-on-1 teaching. The immersive environment (typically 5, 6, 7 or 8 students – but never more than 8 per instructor) is ideal for fostering creativity.

Two-Week Intensive Course

Our two-week courses at the Academy provide students with the right amount of time to get comfortable in their field of study and put their knowledge to use with hands-on projects. Students also have ample time to work on their online portfolios, enjoy excursions and tours of nearby facilities, relax with late-night gaming tournaments and explore campus.

Adult-Only Faculty, No Counselors-in-Training

Staff at the Academy have a deep understanding of the software, hardware and technical skills needed to succeed in their competitive industries.  They pass along their knowledge to Academy students, and are able to cover a tremendous amount of material in a two-week period. The reason?  Small ratios, innovative curriculum, an intensive staff training program, and an expectation of excellence.  The end result is an awesome online portfolio—and newfound confidence that comes with accomplishing something BIG.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are iD Teen Academies the nation’s premiere pre-college destinations to learn essential STEM skills?

iD Teen Academies offer intensive and relevant technology curriculum, taught by well-versed, accomplished faculty. The programs offer:

• Guaranteed staff ratios – maximum of 8 students per instructor
• Intensive, college-level curriculum for beginner to advanced learners
• The latest industry-standard hardware and software
• Portfolio-building workshops for iD Gaming Academy and iD Visual Arts Academy
• Software repository system utilization experience for iD Programming Academy
• Accredited Continuing Education Units Studies
• Industry-savvy faculty
• An immersive university experience
• Tours of big-name studios
• Guest speakers

How are iD Teen Academy courses different from the courses at iD Tech Camps?

iD Teen Academy courses are two-week, overnight-only programs (at most locations) for teens ages 13-18. Students in the iD Gaming Academy and iD Visual Arts Academy build online portfolios in addition to completing a final project. Students in the iD Programming Academy will utilize software repository systems and graduate with full access to their code. All students get the opportunity to tour a nearby studio. iD Teen Academies are more intensive, and are intended to be a pre-college experience. iD Tech Camps offers weeklong day camps and overnight camps, and is for ages 7-17.  iD Tech Camps features more traditional summer camp activities integrated into the curriculum.

Where is this course offered?

See Step 3 for location availability.

How much does this course cost?

The cost for the two-week overnight program is US $3,499. Check our site for special promotions. Continuing Education Units are available. Age restrictions apply. Weekend Stays are optional, but recommended, and cost $349 per weekend.

Are there teen summer camp savings?

• Register early to take advantage of our seasonal promotions. Registering early also helps you reserve the course and location you desire.
• Save $50 when referring a friend. Your friend saves $50 too!
• Save $50 with our sibling discount.
• Sign up for multiple sessions to save with our multi-session savings.

What are the dates of this course?

Choose a location in Step 3 to find the dates that the course is offered.

How do I know if this course is open for enrollment?

View real-time availability of iD Teen Academies and iD Tech Camps courses by selecting a location.

How do I register?

Go to Step 3 and select a location, then follow the steps to register.

What if the curriculum is too easy or too hard once the course starts?

iD Teen Academy programs are taught in small, personalized classes. Instructors are able to work closely with each student to customize the course curriculum to each student’s skill and experience level. Whether a student is a beginner or extremely advanced, our instructors find fun and challenging ways to develop their tech skills. If students have a particular goal or project idea, instructors will work with them and guide them along the way to realizing their dream.

Do I need to bring any computer equipment to camp?

No, students are provided with everything they need for their course, and each student gets their own computer for the session. Students never need to share computers.

What “off-computer” activities are there?

Our teen programs are academic camps, but we also create a fun summer experience. The intensive curriculum and lab time are balanced out with cool excursions, trips to nearby studios and fun down time activities like gaming tournaments. Students may participate in organized outdoor sports, movie nights, talent shows, campus tours and more. Since this is a teen-only program, we try to allow students as much freedom as possible in shaping their own weeks.

Do you provide transportation for students? What about Carpooling?
We do not arrange transportation for our students. For your convenience, we have created a user-friendly carpool application located in My Account (you must be enrolled to use it). All transportation to and from camp is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. There are transportation services that past students have utilized, which can be found through a web search. The Academy is not affiliated with any such company and thus cannot be held accountable for clients’ use of outside transportation services.

Who should I contact with questions or concerns?
Contact our Client Services Department at 1-888-709-TECH (8324) or 1-408-871-2227. You can also email us at info@internalDrive.com. And, if you’d like a brochure sent to you, please click the brochure link. To register, go to Step 3 and select a location, then follow the steps to register.

Our Recommendations

This teen summer camp is a great step if you are considering studying visual arts or photography in college or want to explore the field as a potential career direction. Learn from top-tier instructors with impressive photography portfolios.

Other Courses and Programs

To view all courses offered at the iD Visual Arts Academy, click here.
You may also be interested in the teen-only iD Gaming Academy or iD Programming Academy.

If you are interested in weeklong tech camps, as opposed to our Teen Academies, please jump to iD Tech Camps for a complete list of related courses and programs, which include:

Movie Making Camp (iD Tech Camps)
Film Production with Final Cut Pro® (iD Tech Camps)
Digital Photography – Photoshop® and Lightroom® (iD Tech Camps)

Photography Camp Reviews

What Parents Are Saying

“Super projects and instruction. My daughter’s emails revealed her glee at learning so much about the technical side of her camera use, as well as using it creatively. I was impressed with the specificity of the individual reviews for each student at the graduation. Very positive- highlighting their strengths, and very encouraging toward their next step in this field of work.
Jane G., parent, Professional Photography

“This was a very successful experience for my son. He learned a lot about photography and also had a really fun time. I felt very comfortable that he was well cared for and safe.Thanks for doing a great job running an awesome camp.Victoria N., parent, Professional Photography

“Very nice work! The kids obviously had a great experience and the quality of the work was excellent! Many thanks!Pamela R., parent, Professional Photography

“Thank you so much for the great opportunity. I know that my daughter really enjoyed her experience and I was so pleased to know that she was in such good hands. Richard S., parent, Professional Photography

“Our daughter had a wonderful experience. She had lots of fun and she felt really good about herself at the end of the course. She’s proud of her work and anxious to build on what she learned. Thank you!Brenda H., parent, Professional Photography

What Academy Students Are Saying

“I loved the environment and the people! Everybody was great!Alexandra S., student, Professional Photography

“I had so much fun and learned so much!!! Jessica M., student, Professional Photography

“This experience has been one of the best I’ve had. I learned so much about photography and am definitely a better photographer because of it. Thank you for an amazing summer. Melissa B., student, Professional Photography

“It has been so much fun! All the counselors/teachers were amazing, personable, fun, and fantastic! They were always full of energy which helped to keep me going too. Thank you to everyone for making this an unforgettably phenomenal experience! Ivana C., student, Professional Photography

Tuition & Hours

	HOURS	MEALS	TUITION	WHAT'S INCLUDED
iD Visual Arts Academy Ages 13-18	Sunday 6:00PM to Friday: 3:30PM	Includes all meals and 24/7 supervision.	US $3,499	Each 2-week session includes computers & peripherals, software, instruction & supervision, camp t-shirt, outdoor activities, games and gaming tournaments, team building & life skills development, official iD diploma, free year-round online workshops and more. Tuition also includes all meals, housing, supervision, and extra time for social activities. Also included are the Studio Tours and excursions. Tax is included with the prices listed. Prices are quoted in $ U.S.
Weekend Stays Ages 13-18	Friday: 3:30PM Sunday: 3:30PM	Includes all meals and 24/7 supervision.	US $349	Optional, but recommended.
iD Tech 365 All Ages	Online 24/7 365 Days a Year	n/a	$179/year	The perfect add-on to our summer programs. Learn online before & after camp.

Note: Minimum deposit of US $500 is required at time of registration.

Continuing Education Units (teens only) are available for purchase.

All prices are quoted in U.S. Dollars and include all taxes.

Select a location for availability and dates

Location	Geography	Nearby Airport(s)
New York University	New York, NY	LaGuardia Airport, JFK Airport, Newark Airport (EWR)
Princeton University	Princeton, NJ	LaGuardia Airport, JFK Airport, Newark Airport (EWR)
Stanford University	Stanford, San Francisco Bay Area, California	San Francisco International Airport San Jose International Airport