Teen Academy - Creating Handmade Photo Books

In this week-long, in-person summer program, students will create handmade, multimedia photo books with an opportunity to showcase their works at ICP’s Photobook Fest in October 2025. Students will experiment with a range of techniques for designing, modifying, and binding books, expanding upon their definition of what a book can be. Some of the techniques and materials students will explore include: accordion books for notetaking and sketching, zines made with found photographs, darkroom experimentation with negatives and photograms, and photo transfers with polaroids. We encourage students who are intermediate photography students to sign up for this class. Students will access ICP’s expansive library collection and discuss the work of historical and contemporary photographers. During field trips and guest artist visits, students will expand their understanding of the technical and aesthetic possibilities of photography and bookmaking. The course will culminate in an opportunity to present and share about their books at Photobook Fest. 

Need-based scholarships are available for all Teen Academy classes. To apply, please visit: https://www.icp.org/school/teen-academy.

Course Level/Prerequisite: Intermediate: You are familiar with a camera, whether film or digital. You understand aperture, shutter speed, exposure, white balance, histograms, and how to control focus. You are comfortable editing and processing your images. You may want to learn how to utilize your camera in a more thoughtful and articulate way, or learn more about lighting or how to utilize theoretical concepts in relation to your portfolio of work.

Note: Students will need access to a manual focus SLR film camera in order to complete assignments. If they do not have their own device, a camera can be signed out from ICP. Please reach out to Teen Academy staff at [email protected] after registering if you would like to sign out a camera for the duration of the course.

Program Description: ICP’s Teen Academy program welcomes teenagers ages 14–19 from across the country and around the world to develop their skills as leaders and visual storytellers in a range of in-person and online classes. All curricula are youth-centered and include: photographic and writing assignments, open lab time, visual presentations, discussions, critiques, a guest artist visit, a field trip, and a culminating presentation for family and friends celebrating the students’ achievements.

Fee Breakdown