Photography Holidays in Italy

Taking photographs in Italy and photography study courses

Photography courses

A number of different organisations run photography holidays in Italy and residential photography courses. Most place plenty of emphasis on the culture, the landscape and the cuisine too, so you should still be able to enjoy a complete Italy experience while focussing on your photographs.

Some holidays are in well-known and heavily-photographed regions, with a big choice of obvious subjects. Others are located in less-well-known parts of Italy, and will be a good chance to explore new landscapes and scenery. As well as considering the location, travellers should also reflect on the season. The height of summer can be very hot and bright in Italy.

I travelled to the Abruzzo region for a short photography holiday with a youthful company called Frui (see below).

Find and book hotels in Italy. With location maps and guest reviews.

Photography holidays in Italy

Frui – 2-base trip to the Abruzzo, beginners upwards

Authentic Adventures – 7-night courses in the Abruzzo and Tuscany

Photography and Painting – around Lake Bolsena, northern Lazio

Lakeland Photographic Holidays – 7 nights in Tuscany, April & September

Camera Etrusca – Photography workshops in Orvieto, Umbria; weeks and shorter breaks inc. a winter weekend in Venice

VSP Workshops – Photography workshops in Venice and Tuscany

> Read my report on Frui’s photography holiday in the Abruzzo
> Read about more activity and learning holidays in Italy

Please note that Italy Heaven cannot take responsibility for any companies or organised holidays featured on this website.

Teach yourself photography skills

If you don’t wish for a holiday devoted exclusively to photography, Italy is still a good place for an enjoyable holiday during which you can polish your skills. The country has a huge range of dramatic scenery, from the canals of Venice to active volcanoes in Sicily, and is full of picturesque detail to please everyone from the amateur to the professional photographer.

A book I have found very useful is Travel Photography by Steve Davey. This is a beautifully-photographed and clearly written book which provides clear and comprehensible tips and advice for anyone interested in making the most of their camera on holiday. He has business advice for professional photographers, but also simple tips for the beginner. Each topic is dealt with on different levels, with separate advice aimed at users of simple compact digital cameras, those with intermediate ‘bridge’ cameras, and those with advanced DSLR cameras. I found the book very simple and clear to follow. You can dip in and out, and come away with really practical tips. He deals with realistic problems, such as how to get decent photos despite poor weather and how to approach locals you wish to photograph. I’ve found it a really excellent companion – I only wish it came in two formats: a coffee-table size to admire the photographs and a portable version to fit in my hand-luggage.

> Travel Photography Footprint Travel Guides (Amazon.co.uk)

On this site

Photography holiday in the Abruzzo

Italy itineraries

Italian airports

Useful links

Hotels in Italy

Frui