Sports San Francisco
The most popular Sports Photography Workshop in America is now in California! Enjoy all the same things you love about the Sports Workshop – an elite faculty of instructors, a multitude of sporting events to photograph, and a slew of learning and networking opportunities – now combined with the sunshine of the west coast.
The nation's top sports photography workshop
2026 Dates TBD | San Francisco, CA
Tuition: $2,195 | Deposit: $600
Deposit due upon registration, full tuition due 120 days before the workshop. Workshop limited to 15 participants.
In this exclusive workshop, you’ll be in smaller groups and will have more one-on-one time with a team of instructors that include Sony Artisans and some of the most prolific sports shooters and editors in the world. In addition to photographing several sports like football, soccer, water polo, basketball and more, you’ll also learn shooting techniques, remote camera installation, portrait lighting, and the business of freelance sports photography. Our Sports workshop is for shooters of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned veterans.
The dates for this workshop are still to be determined, as we are waiting for next year’s schedules. However, we are offering this workshop as part of our holiday sale. If you sign up before January 2nd, you will receive the discount.
We will contact you as soon as our dates are confirmed. If they work for you, we will send a payment link for the deposit. If they do not work for you, you are not required to pay anything.
Boost Your Photography and Network
At Summit’s Sports Photography Workshop in San Francisco, you’ll receive professional instruction on action sports photography, lighting techniques, marketing, and navigating the professional photography market. You’ll also learn how to work effectively with editors while honing your skills across a variety of sports, including football, water polo, soccer, and more. The workshop offers an incredible opportunity to network with industry leaders and fellow photographers, while gaining comfort and expertise in both on- and off-camera lighting. Over several days, you’ll connect with a passionate community of like-minded photographers, all eager to elevate their craft.
At Summit Sports You Will
Master Sports Photography Skills
Learn expert settings and techniques for capturing dynamic sports action. Whether you're shooting fast-paced moments or crafting action portraits, you'll gain the skills needed to elevate your sports photography.
Elevate your photography lighting
Understand the complexities of lighting in sports arenas and how to adapt to challenging environments. You'll learn to manage both natural and artificial lighting to ensure your shots are perfectly exposed every time.
Build a Successful Freelance Business
Dive into the business of freelance sports photography and discover what editors are looking for in top-notch imagery. Get practical advice on building a successful career in the competitive sports photography industry.
Workshop Itinerary
- Check-in 11am
- Sports Photography with Jean Fruth
- Essential gear for shooting sports
- High School Football Shoot
- Basic Lighting Instruction
- Image Critique
- On-location Shooting
- Upload, Edit and Image Critiques
- On-location shooting
- Upload, Edit and Image Critiques
- The Business of Sports Photography
- Portfolio Reviews
- Closing Reception
The final workshop schedule will be provided one month prior to the event. Please keep in mind that the schedule is tentative and may be adjusted as needed during the workshop.
Meet Your Instructors
Suzanna Mitchell
Andy Kuno
Thearon Henderson
Matt Hernandez
Past Student Work
Student Testimonials
Frequently asked questions
No! Summit Workshops is available to any photographer, regardless of what brand of camera you use. We often have camera gear available to borrow, free of charge, but you are not required to use that gear or any specific brand.
No, you do not need to bring your own lighting gear. Our partner, Westcott Lighting, will provide all the gear needed for the workshop.
Tuition includes activity fees, location fees, all instruction, planning and logistics. It does not cover hotels, travel, and most meals.
Our workshop is for shooters of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to seasoned veterans. We all learn from and help one another, that is what makes the Summit Community so special.
Our image critiques are constantly mentioned as being the most important/valuable component of our workshops. It's not only a chance to get your work reviewed, but also to see your peers' images. It is not structured as a competition, but a growth experience. So do not feel it has the be your best of the best or how it might stack up to others. You get to hear the opinions of the faculty and everything you will hear from them is 100% meant to help you. They are also anonymous and meant to be constructive and useful to your professional growth.
We ask each student to submit 3-5 images taken while at the workshop. We typically send the link out the afternoon before the image critique, which gives you the evening to get your images in.
A car isn’t required, but it’s highly recommended. We’ll be driving back and forth from our hotel to the games or shooting events. If you don’t have a car, no worries, we coordinate carpools and will make sure you have a ride for all workshop activities.
Main photo gear:
- Minimum 1 camera body, 2 ideal
- Wide angle lens
- Medium zoom lens
- Telephoto lens
- Tripod
- Camera bag
- Camera bodies
- Camera batteries and chargers
- Laptop or tablet
- Memory card
Highly recommended:
- Adobe Lightroom or PhotoMechanic installed on laptop
- 15 - 20 of your best images downloaded on your laptop for portfolio reviews
Lodging & Classroom
Discounted rates have been secured for students at the Kimpton Alton Hotel. This is where the workshop hotel and where the faculty and staff will be staying! We hope you’ll take advantage of this discount at the workshop hub!
After signing up, please contact Chris at chris@summitworkshops.com to get your booking secured.
