Paris Photography Masterclass - Private Photography Lesson

Clara was fantastic! She was knowledgeable and patient and improved my street photography dramatically. We worked on composition and a few techniques like panning and long exposure. I would do this again!

When travelling I always try to book a photography workshop with a local hence on a recent visit to Paris I booked a night photography workshop with Aperture Tours. Communication throughout the process was faultless, I was kept up to date at all times. My guide Clara was on time which was the start of a very information evening. Clara was exactly why I like to book a local, her knowledge of the local area, those small hidden photographic gems was exactly the icing on the cake. Clara was generous with her feedback and was able to assist me with my composition concerns. A great night which I highly recommend.

This was a great way to make sure I got the most out of my trip to Paris. My guide Michiru was very knowledgeable and pointed out lots of shots and opportunities that I wasn't picking up on as a primarily sports/wildlife photographer. I learned cool new techniques for long exposure, and we even happened upon a movie shoot happening on our route which provided some unique opportunities. If I could give a 6th star I would, as we were dealing with the start of the horrible heatwave that France has been dealing with, and Michiru checked in with me and made sure I had opportunities to hydrate and rest given the difficult conditions. Without this tour, I would have taken only the most rote pictures of the major landmarks, so I am glad I spent the money and benefitted from her experience. I would consider using this company again in other cities!

Had an amazing experience — my session was with Clara. Not only did she help me level up and learn more about street photography, she also made the session super engaging and fun. By the time it was over, I had already taken some of my best shots ever and seen photography through a lens I'd never looked through before. Loved it!

The Paris Night Photography Masterclass was a fantastic session; Clara asked what I was interested in and tailored the 3-hour walk to ensure I captured everything on my photo wish list! She helped me with composition and camera settings. It was an enjoyable session - I learned a lot and captured wonderful photos - I highly recommend it!

This was a wonderful 3 hour Night Photography class. At the start, Clara asked what I was interested in and she tailored the walk so that I was able to capture everything on my photo wish list! She helped me with composition and camera settings. I highly recommend this activity if you want to take Paris night photos!

Clara was an excellent guide. She asked good questions and provided lots of help, both technical and aesthetic. She was well prepared, patient, and kind. She did not rush us, and kept checking to make sure we were happy with the photos being taken and the pace of the tour Period.

We had a great session with Carla - she took us through the Marais and Montmartre neighbourhoods. I had my own travel photography experience, Carla (in a kind but direct way) was able to re-introduce me to the telephoto lens, broaden my framing techniques and teach me a new skill of focused-moving-image-but-blurred-background. Most importantly she moved my street photography focus from the buildings and to embrace the people!

My partner and I did a daytime Paris Photo tour with Clara. We had such a fantastic experience! Clara was so kind and full of helpful tips and insights. She did a great job of giving us creative freedom while gently pushing to help us evolve. I feel like my street photography skills and confidence really got a boost, and my partner ended up with some game-changing tips on iPhone photography. I would 100% recommend for those looking to get off the beaten path and improve their street photography.

I spent three hours exploring Paris with Clara. It was the perfect mix of learning some new camera settings, getting suggestions for interesting photos and seeing an insider’s view of Parisian life. I highly recommend this activity whether you are new to Paris, or like me, have been here many times. I think regardless of your photography skills, you will learn something new. Be prepared to walk a lot and take hundreds of pictures!

Wonderful experience, I've been with my two teenagers and my mother in law and Alexander was able to adapt to different knowledge of photography and camera usage. We had a great time visiting AND learning the best way to catch the moment in pictures. I strongly recommend.

Very personal and receptive to your interests and needs. Clara is a delight. Highly recommend this option

Our evening night photography Masterclass with Clara was outstanding and truly exceeded our expectations. Clara is an amazing guide and teacher—she explained nighttime photography in a clear, approachable way while sharing so much valuable knowledge. We came away with a much stronger understanding of composition, lighting, camera settings, and how to confidently set up each shot to capture beautiful images at night. Clara was patient, engaging, and generous with her expertise, making the experience both educational and fun. This Masterclass added tremendous value to our trip, and we left feeling inspired and excited to apply what we learned. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in improving their photography skills.

One of the highlights of my first trip to Paris! I am a photographer by avocation and wanted to see and photograph a side of Paris away from the major attractions. At the point I made the reservation, Aperture Tours reached out to welcome me, to learn about my photographic skillsets and expectations and let me know how they would be communicating with me throughout the time leading up to the morning of my walk. Ultimately, they followed through just as they said they would. On the morning of the walk, Clara met me at the agreed upon location and we set out to commit photography. Clara was the perfect guide and teacher. She showed me the Paris that was her home, not a tourist attraction. Just as important, she showed me a different way to “see” from a street photography perspective, offering insights that will inform my image making going forward! My experience with Aperture Tours was everything I had hoped for and more. Thank you, Clara!

I had a wonderful experience on the Paris Street Photo Tour with Aperture Tours, thanks to my assigned photographer, Clara. She was an amazing instructor — patient, kind, and incredibly encouraging. Clara made me feel confident using my camera, and by the end of the session I was comfortably shooting in manual mode, which felt like a big accomplishment. I learned so much about my camera, composition, and how to truly see moments on the street. She explained everything clearly and at a pace that felt supportive, never rushed. I also loved hearing her story — it added such a personal and inspiring touch to the experience. I highly recommend this tour, especially if you want to grow your skills while exploring Paris in a thoughtful, creative way.

I had an educational (and delightful) evening under the professional instruction of Clara. She knew where to go for terrific shots and what camera settings work would best. (Make sure you have a tripod.) Her humble demeanor and patient pedagogical approach made for a wonderful evening of learning and guidance. (With some terrific photographic souvenirs to take home from Paris!) Highly recommended.

Our excellent guide, Michiru, led us through the Left Bank and helped us capture some amazing memories of our trip. She was especially great at suggesting how to frame the shots and how to capture images that stand out. I can't recommend her highly enough!

Clara tailored the tour to my interests and skill level. She offered helpful advice on composition and taught me a couple new techniques for street photography. The locations and lighting were amazing. Don’t hesitate to book a tour!

Very customized. Guide knew very photographic places that I would never have found. She was available to improve my photography skills.

Died and went to heaven with the experience and learnt so much. Saw a lot of paris which I would not have seen.

My tour of Montmartre with Clara and aperture photo tours in early July was fantastic. Aside from enjoying a beautiful morning in Paris, I learned some new skills, and had the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of an artist, which was a gift. A truly memorable experience, and I am so thankful. If you are considering this - book it now - so worth it.

Clara was an amazing guide/teacher. She took me to areas I wouldn’t have found on my own, and really helped me with my camera. She was great to work with and taught me a lot.

This was a three-hour photography lesson with Michiru in Paris. I am an amateur photographer with a new camera, and I'm trying to learn more about using the manual settings on it. Michiru was a perfect guide, focusing on charming streets and providing tips and tricks on settings and how to use light, among other things, when photographing.

An excellent time! I sent my husband and he really liked the photographer. They found some really epic shots in the city and the photographer taught him how to use his camera and also had to capture some really amazing angles. I highly recommend.

Jean Sebastien was fantastic — flexible with location and happy to focus on the skills I most needed to learn. This was a real highlight of my trip! Thanks.

This was the best tour we took in Paris. We were fortunate to have Karla as our tour guide. She helped us to understand how to look at the area, determine how to utilize the camera, and what to include in the photograph to make it tell a story. The areas she took us too were perfect for what we were looking for. She was very experienced, and helped greatly in my growth as an amateur photographer. Thank you Karla

Clara was a fantastic guide and street photography instructor. Had an amazing time and learned a whole lot. Highly, highly recommend!!!

Roxane is an excellent teacher! Also a good sport as well we did our session while it was lightly raining. Would do this activity again!

I enjoyed every minute roaming Montmartre with Clara as my guide and photography mentor! She listened to my history and feelings about being a hobbyist photographer and took me to many great locations. I would highly recommend Clara and Aperture Tours to my photographer friends!

My instructor was super nice. She was originally from Japan, so there was a bit of a language barrier. I’d say we understood one another about 80% of the time. I was initially concerned because her first question was “where do you want to go?” Based on what I signed up for I expected the itinerary of places that we would visit in Paris was set and that my instructor would tell me where to go. But we eventually ironed that out, and started off. My basic expectation for the class is that I would be paired with someone who would be able to take me on a guided tour of some of the best photographic spots in Paris for night photography, and that expectation was met. I came away with lots of photos that I would’ve never gotten on my own. My instructor was more of a portrait and fine arts photographer. So there was no instruction on advanced techniques for taking night photos like long exposure or bulb mode photography which was disappointing. There was some attention paid toward composition and finding unique and creative compositions, which was certainly helpful is that’s a weak point for me, but I was certainly hoping for more instruction on night/low light photography. Be prepared for a lot of walking. I think we only got on the metro once and pretty much walked everywhere else. I think I did about 16,000 steps during the class.

I had this tour yesterday with my niece. I was looking for someone who could show me different point of view in Paris and who could help my niece with handling and managing settings. We found both in Clara, very prepared technically and logistically,😉, and very patient and kind. She drove us in a different trip around mont Martre and gave us a lot of suggestions and tricks. Thank you very much. Great experience.

Superb! Great class. Great photos. Would do it again. Clara was wonderful! She helped us take some great photos.

Clara was so amazing!! She worked with my husband and daughter to help them further understand their cameras in such a positive way. Less than an hour into our 3 hour session, I already felt we had more than gotten our money’s worth. It was definitely a highlight of our trip.

I very much enjoyed my lesson with Michiru at Paris. She was very attentive to what I want to learn and I learned a lot of new street photography techniques and practices from her. I now view the word differently because of her. Only regret is that I signed up for the photography lesson late in my stay and didn't have opportunity to take a night tour. I would take another tour with Aperture the next time I visit another country.

Excellent! Our guide Clara was very informative and great company. We learned a lot about photographic techniques and enjoyed some beautiful aspects of Paris (Montmartre). Highly recommended.

Michiru is wonderful. Her insight on where to go within Paris to capture the buildings, iconic places, architecture, framing the subject, composition was outstanding. I loved every minute of it. I would definitely recommend her and this tour!

I have taken several Photography Tours in major cities around the world. This tour was the best that I have ever experienced! Clara reviewed the information I provided prior to the tour and further questioned my interests for clarity when we met on Pont Marie. Although my husband accompanied me on the tour, he chose not participate in the photography activities. Clara maintained her focus on me throughout our time together. She was patient and accommodating throughout the 3-1/2 hour tour. Although most of her clients use DSL cameras, I brought my iPhone 15 Pro Max to use on the tour. She showed me how to better use the camera's native app features to create interest in my photos and alter exposure (beyond automatic settings) for maximum benefit in low light settings. I now better know how to incorporate a foreground element when taking a photo of a large building/monument to create visual interest in the shot. I greatly benefited from Clara's expertise and positive, constructive feedback. My photography skills in general and my night photography skills in particular were definitely enhanced as a result of my time spend with Clara.

We booked the 17:00 Paris tour. Clara was right on time and where indicated on our emails. The booking process and information follow up was excellent. We loved it. Clara is a friendly, extremely helpful and knowledgeable person. We are very familiar with our cameras, but still got excellent tips and photos with Clara’s guidance. She ensured she helped the 2 of us individually. She knew the area well, suggested different techniques, and showed us things that we would have missed on our own. She is very generous with sharing her knowledge of photography and of locations. Highly recommended. (We had previously used Aperature Tours in Tokyo, and can also recommend a tour there).

We had a great experience with a very knowledgeable, friendly guide. Lovely night shots with very helpful tips and setting suggestion. Great location shots.

The thought of having a guided tour of Paris at night to see the landmarks, buildings, fountains, some out of the way streets along the Seine River and the  golden hour of sun set. With some tips and tricks thrown in for good measure was to much to resist. Michiru Nakayama arrived on time and seemed more interested in street art and the fact that the big attract attractions were a very long way away. As we walked she pointed out lots of street art opportunities which I'm not really interested in, with no assistance with composure or camera settings and seemed more interested in my wife who was along for the walk, My wife said to Michiru that it was about her husband and his photography and started dropping back to avoid distracting her, but to no avail. Once the light dropped and I asked if I could get my tripod out I was a little happier, it didn't help with lots of the monuments being repaired and a lot of places being fenced off for the Olympics which our guide seemed to have no idea about, the only time see actually got close to me was when a homeless man startled her and she wanted protection. I called no joy with about 20 minutes left to go and offered to walk her the the metro. Worst tour I've ever done in Europe or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

The 3 hour nighttime tour with Clara was a highlight of my time in Paris. She was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful - while still allowing me creative control and being patient as I composed shots. Her knowledge of both Paris and her craft was excellent. I would highly recommend Aperture Tours and if you’re in Paris, ask for Clara! I was so impressed I will be doing another tour this year in Japan. I am a hobby photographer who knows my way around my camera and settings - but I think the tour would be great for any skill level.

My wife and I did a photo tour with Clara on our trip to Paris to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It was a top highlight of our trip. Clara was so kind and helpful. My wife had bought me my first film camera for Christmas about 6 months before the trip, and we had taken it out together a few times in those 6 months. But we really didn't know what we were doing. When we showed our families pictures from the trip, everyone could tell the ones we took before vs after the tour with Clara (lol). Clara started the tour walking us through the basics and a little bit of the let's say intermediates of the Canon AE 1 we brought on the tour. She taught us about how to use shutter speed & aperture in combination to achieve the depth of field we wanted in a picture. She also taught us a little on how to find our style and really enjoy photography. I loved a line she said when I was getting a little frustrated that I couldn't get the exact shot I wanted, "photography involves compromise". Such an amazing experience, and so grateful we got Clara as our guide. Highly highly recommend!

Michi was phenomenal. She first asked several questions about what I wanted to accomplish. I explained that I wanted to take photos that were not the “Usual” tourist photos. She knew just what I meant. Off we went into the back streets of Paris. All of her suggestions were great. She checked my photos occasionally to make sure I was on the right track. Because the culture is different from the US she explained the do’s and don’t of taking photos of people. At all times Michi was professional and an excellent guide and photographer. I highly recommend her. It was the best workshop I have experienced.

We had an amazing tour with Clara from Aperture Tours. She was knowledgeable and a very nice person so it was fun to spend time with her. We started in Montmartre and made our way around the city for street photography. Along the way, Clara gave constuctive and helpful feedback on my photos and helped me learn new manual setting skills. As a result I was able to capture some stunning images. I will not hesitate to book another tour with Aperture Tours!

I really enjoyed the long exposure lessons using the tripod. I was able to get some great effects, and night photography is something that I want to improve.

I had the best evening with Clara, who walked me around Paris for some night shots. I learned a lot from her about how to compose my shots and be more intentional while also being spontaneous. She also helped me understand long exposures better and how to get the best night shots.

I had a wonderful private photography tour with Clara. It was a once in a lifetime experience. Clara is very knowledgeable about photography and a delightful person to spend time with. We spent three hours wandering around Montmarte at sunset. She knows the area well and took me to locations that I would never have found on my own. She also helped to bring out the best in my photography as the terrain and light continued to shift. I feel like I will be able to bring what I learned from Clara to my future photographic endeavors. I highly recommend Clara and Aperture Tours.

Having visited Paris several times before I was looking for a new perspective and my three hours with Clara from Aperture Tours surpassed all expectations. After firstly ascertaining my level of expertise and my objectives, Clara crafted three hours that went by in a flash. She was patient and thoughtful, allowing me to experiment and then helping me to ‘fine tune.’ Her knowledge of the location was a tremendous asset but the best part of the afternoon was Clara herself, a talented young lady who is an excellent communicator as well. She made me feel comfortable right from the outset and I have already started putting her tips into practice and can happily report progress in the right direction! Thank you Clara.

Had a terrific time walking the streets of Paris with Clara! She helped me see places that I would not have seen on my own and pointed out photo compositions that helped my images. Clara’s a brilliant photographer - I walked away with tips and pointers to practice - but most of all she’s a kind, welcoming face in Paris. If you’re a photographer looking for new Parisian scenes or you want to learn from a pro don’t hesitate to book a session with her.