SUMMER INTENSIVE
June 20, 2023 - July 28, 2023
Missoula, Montana
Our Summer Intensive program has been running strong since 1989, and there's a reason students enroll year after year. We care about our students. And our goal? It's simple: to help you become the best photographer you can be.
Immerse yourself in five core areas of study, enhance your knowledge of everything photography, and leave feeling confident and inspired to take stunning photographs and creatively express yourself through your images.
Are you ready for the photography experience of a lifetime?
Looking to start a career in photography? Summer Intensive is a good starting point, but we highly recommend checking out Professional Intensive!
Tuition
$4,950
-
Deposit$500
-
Early Registration Discount-$500if registered before 1/1/2023
A Different Kind of Education
What we offer at RMSP is so unique that some of our students have described it as "unreal." For six full weeks, you'll eat, breathe, sleep and dream photography. Our classes are practical and hands-on; there's no dabbling in abstract theory or irrelevant course work. Unlike trying to teach yourself from books or online videos, our talented instructors will meet you where you are, teach you, and help you achieve your personal, creative vision. No matter your skill level, everyone develops the same solid foundation by the end of our program. Nowhere else can you walk in with limited (or no) photographic knowledge, dive headlong into an immersive, six-week curriculum, and emerge with the confidence and know-how of a well-rounded photographer. There's no substitute for pursuing what you love in an inspired community of other budding artists, and you'll learn as much about yourself in this program as you will about photography. You simply can't get an education like this and walk away unchanged.
THE SI EXPERIENCE
© Jessica Brown
At RMSP, you can count on learning more than you ever thought possible - about cameras, equipment, and crafting images - from some of the world's most thoughtful and dedicated instructors. What you might not realize is that an RMSP education is about more than just photography. Summer Intensive students frequently tell us that the program blew their expectations out of the water. That's because the SI experience isn't just about capturing the best images of your life — it's about undertaking the communal journey of becoming a photographer and forming the kinds of friendships that last a lifetime.
Going to school can be intimidating, especially in an intensive art program. Not at RMSP. We are a supportive community that encourages you to take risks and try something new. We're not about competition here. We're about becoming part of a family, the kind where everyone pushes one another to grow, collaborate, and succeed.
WHO COMES TO SI?
Diversity is the key to creativity and learning, which is why everyone is welcome at RMSP. One of the highlights of our Summer Intensive is meeting people of different ages, skill levels and backgrounds. Some students come to us out of high school because they're looking to build a photographic foundation. Others have entered retirement and are eager to finally pursue their passion. Some students have never picked up a camera until day one, while others are eager to expand their existing skill set. We've had students who are veterans, mid-career professionals seeking a change, and everything in between. Over 2600 students in the past 32 years have traveled to Missoula from all over the U.S., England, Scotland, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the Bahamas, Poland, Thailand, and elsewhere. It's unconventional, and we repeatedly hear from our alums that this variety is what truly makes and shapes the program. One thing that all of our students do have in common is a sense that life can't wait — that it's time to get off the couch and explore your photography calling.
© Kim Langley
What will SI graduates actually know?
Throughout six weeks, there is a lot of time for lectures, assignments, shoots, homework, fun, learning and community, but what specifically will you leave Summer Intensive knowing? Click below to see the Summer Intensive Exit Competencies for a list of what Summer Intensive students will have learned upon graduation. It must also be noted that this lists only the advanced topics. The basic skills a student needs to understand these advanced concepts will also be covered thoroughly.
SUMMER INTENSIVE CURRICULUM
Composition & Color
F-stops, ISO, & Shutter Speeds
Histograms
Digital Capture
Shooting Action
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Advanced Exposure
Zone System
Night/Astrophotography
Nature Photography
HDR & Panoramas
Outsource Printing
Portraiture
Visual Language
Understanding Light
Contemporary Trends
Augmenting Natural Lighting
Image Storage & Editing
Retouching Techniques
Photo Equipment
Portfolio Websites
Digital Lab Sessions
by the numbers
MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT CAP
54
9 OR 18
STUDENTS PER GROUP
NUMBER OF HOURS OF CLASSROOM/LAB/FIELD-HELP TIME
150+
9+
INSTRUCTORS THAT TEACH IN SUMMER INTENSIVE
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE YOU NEED TO ATTEND
ZERO
$10,000
AVERAGE COST OF OTHER SIX WEEK-LONG WORKSHOPS
DURATION OF SUMMER INTENSIVE
39 DAYS
Course Descriptions
Camera
Camera begins with fundamentals. Learn how to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera and how shutter speeds, f-stops, ISO and color balance affect your images. Then you'll head out on field shoots with RMSP instructors, where you'll get to tinker with your exciting new gear and understand how to make the most of your photographic toolkit.
Creative
Creative is all about perception. You'll explore composition, design, color, and perspective. You'll grow adept at identifying the qualities of extraordinary images and engage in interactive critiques with your peers. Most importantly, you'll pursue your own unique vision and discover how best to express it.
Edit
Edit is where we bring the magic of photography to life. Our instructors will teach you how to turn a good image into an exceptional one. Using the latest version of Adobe Lightroom, you'll learn how to crop, sharpen, vignette, remove lens distortion, make corrections, bring out detail in your shadows and highlights, and many additional skills. Through follow-along instruction and one-on-one lab time, you'll master techniques for capturing, processing, and maximizing every image. Last but not least, you'll learn proper storage and workflow techniques so that photo editing doesn't become a major time drain.
Light
Light is elemental. Being a good photographer is all about mastering light in its variations and forms. This course teaches you everything you need to know, from the fundamentals of seeing light to understanding the differences between natural and artificial lighting. You'll learn how to maximize light, shoot in low light, and augment natural light with modifiers. In no time, you'll understand how to create polished, captivating photos.
Output
Output is a crucial skill for photographers. You'll learn how to get your photos from your hard drive to their next destination. Color management, prepping images for print, using a print lab, and an introduction to social media and portfolio websites.
Instructors
Forest Chaput de Saintonge directs Rocky Mountain School of Photography with his wife, Sarah. He has been immersed in photography since he was born. He grew up in Missoula and began taking photos with an SLR when he was seven years old. He started working for Rocky Mountain School of Photography at age 13. During his free time, he likes to become a master at new things, build stuff, hike, photograph, and be an astrophotographer. Forest has a degree in Astrophysics, just because. He really enjoys teaching and loves to help students understand concepts thoroughly. Forest has vast experience working with and teaching Adobe Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, and Astrophotography
His astrophotography can be found here: FoFoAstro
Forest and Sarah also own an aerial media company: Altitude Media
Neil Chaput de Saintonge, a former junior high science teacher,
has taught photography for almost 50 years, to over 20,000 students. In that time, he has taught
classes and workshops in the United States, Canada and New
Zealand. He is well-known for his enthusiasm, technical knowledge and love of teaching.
In 1973, Neil studied under Ansel Adams. In Professional Intensive, Summer Intensive
and Workshops, Neil lectures, critiques student work, and meets one-on-one with students
to talk about cameras and lenses, and - most importantly - he helps them find their
own path in photography. Neil’s photography interests include ballet,
documentary, people, landscape and fine art. In 1979, Neil founded the Southeastern
Center for the Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, a two-year school that trained students
for careers in graphic arts and photography. After vacationing in Montana in 1988,
Neil and his wife Jeanne moved to Missoula and started Rocky Mountain School of Photography.
Neil has also been a licensed massage therapist for 30 years, is a Reiki Master and teaches
healing work.
Sarah Chaput de Saintonge directs Rocky Mountain School of Photography with her husband, Forest. She has a BA in photojournalism and enjoys experimenting with many kinds of photography, but her primary interest is portraiture. She attended RMSP's Career Training program in 2011, ran a business in consumer portraiture for a while, then started working as an instructor and teaching assistant. She successfully completed one 365 project (take a photo a day for a year) and once made it to 155 consecutive days of making self portraits. She is now documenting ten years of her life with a daily photo of a person, place, or thing. She loves people, image editing, composition, film, her cats, and Forest.
Rob Gappert is a landscape and nature photographer. He grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota but now calls Missoula home. Rob enjoys the outdoors and has been shooting landscapes for the better part of 15 years. He loves to travel with his family and is a self-proclaimed “National Park Junkie”. Rob is a 2015 Summer Intensive graduate and loves to share his passion for the art.
Julia Gremaux is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Montana. Since attending the Professional Intensive program at RMSP, she has gone through many wedding seasons and countless hours of editing photos. She loves meeting new people and telling their stories through her photographs.
As a Montana native, a lot of her photography work reflects her fondness for the outdoors, but she also loves producing professional studio headshots, indoor family sessions, and even the occasional product photo work.
Julia has logged over 100+ hours editing photos in Photoshop and Lightroom; these programs are now her second language. After hours of editing, she loves to go on walks with her adopted doggie, Roz, who is also her adventure partner.
Her weekends are filled with weddings and portraits, while she spends her weekdays as a full-time content creator and instructor at Rocky Mountain School of Photography.
Quinn Hegwood is one of RMSP's core instructors, specializing in printing and social media. She enjoys photographing people in their natural habitat, primarily mothers and children, and she is on a constant search for light. Quinn is passionate about helping students to discover the artist within themselves.
Marcy James is a fine art documentary photographer who began teaching for RMSP during the old wet processing days when her passion was building pinhole cameras and working with antiquarian photo processes. Today, she has merged antiquarian methods with digital technology and has a special love for exploring the importance and potential with how our images live in the world regardless of whether we are presenting our work through the web or with exhibitions.
Marcy received her MFA from the University of Montana in 2005 and has taught for both the University of Montana’s School of Art as well as Rocky Mountain School of Photography where her focus has involved working with wet processes, visual studies, working in long projects and portfolio development. Marcy developed her photography through a myriad of jobs including working for CBS News and Television in London and Los Angeles, freelancing as an architectural photographer and photojournalist and owning a successful portrait studio.
In addition to teaching for RMSP, Marcy served the school as their Director of Education for seven years where she designed curriculum and coordinated classes for both our Career Training Program as well as our Workshops. As an artist, Marcy has exhibited nationally and her work has been featured in several publications over the years. Today, if she’s not out walking the hills of Missoula with her family, you will find her photographing in her favorite fictional landscape, No Mans Land.
Doug Johnson is a Colorado native now living in Missoula, Montana. Before a life-changing pursuit of photographic art, he was an outdoor educator for more than 20 years, passionately teaching people backcountry skills in navigation, mountaineering, avalanche awareness and wilderness first aid. Since graduating from RMSP’s Summer Intensive program in 1996, Doug’s work has covered many diverse projects in the documentary, commercial, fine art and educational fields. Assignments have taken him from coyote shooting in Wyoming to the last stages of a woman’s life to the graffiti-covered alleys and abandoned buildings of Denver. He is currently involved in an ongoing project called Art Music, which fuses the art of photography with live musical performance. His educational philosophy is fun, intuitive and full of creative persistence. No matter where you are in your photographic journey, Doug’s balance of the aesthetic with the technical can help you further express your unique vision.
Jessica Rix is all about balance: passion with practicality, simplicity with thoroughness, creativity with strategy. She even balanced a degree in business administration with one in public administration. Jessica has worked with small nonprofits, universities, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. Through most of her career, she’s developed and managed programs for college students, adult learners, retirees, and alumni. (Speaking of alumni, she’s also a graduate of RMSP’s Summer Intensive.) Jessica is currently the Program Director at RMSP where she manages the Professional Intensive and Summer Intensive programs, balancing the big-picture curriculum with logistical details. She teaches business planning and management courses in Professional Intensive, and she loves bringing new ideas, helpful insights, and a boost of energy to aspiring entrepreneurs. Jessica’s love of teaching is second only to her love of nature; in addition to business courses, she also teaches wildlife, nature, and abstract photography.
Details
Tuition
Tuition for the 2023 Summer Intensive program is $4950. A $500 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is due upon enrollment. This deposit amount ($500) is applied to the tuition for the program. The balance of tuition ($4450) may be paid in two installments. A minimum first payment of $2500 is due to RMSP 90 days before the start of the program. The final balance of $1950 is due to RMSP 45 days before the start of the program.
Don't miss the Early Registration discounts! If you register by December 31st of the year before the program begins, you'll receive $500 off your tuition. If you register before March 31st of the year the program begins, you'll receive $250 off your tuition!
Save money by paying with a check!
Due to the large tuition amount of Summer Intensive, credit card processing fees can really add up. We always prefer students to pay by check when possible, but we understand that can make things difficult. That’s why we’re offering $50 off of your tuition if you make your first and second payment with a check. And yes, this can be combined with the other SI discounts that we offer.
Here's how it works when you pay by check:
- Apply and Register online by paying your $500 deposit with a credit card (or call).
- When the first payment is due (90 days prior to the start date), make a check out to RMSP for $2,500.
- When second payment is due (45 days prior to the start date), make a check out to RMSP for $1,900 ($1,950 - $50).
- That’s all there is to it. You save $50!
Cancellation and Withdrawal Policy for SI 2023
- A full refund of all money paid will be made to any applicant who cancels his or her enrollment within 72 hours (until midnight of the third day, excluding weekends and legal holidays) of enrolling in the SI program, provided that the program has not yet begun.
- A full refund of all money paid, less the tuition deposit, will be made to any applicant who cancels enrollment before May 22, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. MDT.
- For cancellations received after May 22, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. MDT, RMSP retains full tuition and no refunds are issued.
- For no-shows: RMSP retains full tuition.
- Refunds will be processed within 30 days after our office receives notice of cancellation.
Housing
There are several options for finding housing in Missoula. RMSP recommends The Sawyer Student Living complex, just about four miles from the school. The Sawyer offers SI students a special 6-week (all-utilities included) rate for a fully-furnished room in their apartment building. As supply of apartments in the Sawyer is limited, please make arrangements as soon as possible if you are interested.
RMSP also recommends that students also check with Craigslist, Airbnb, and Vrbo for listings of available housing opportunities.
In the spring of 2023, RMSP will make available any housing leads we are given from the community and post them on the RMSP Community which is accessible by enrolled students.
Another option for lodging is Staybridge Suites Missoula, conveniently located a couple of blocks from RMSP. They offer studios, as well as one and two bedroom suites. If you are interested in Staybridge Suites, please contact Bob McGowan, RMSP's Admission Counselor, at bobm@rmsp.com, to be connected with the hotel sales manager.
Application
To apply for Summer Intensive (SI) click the "Apply Now" button above and follow the online instructions. We accept applications for our Summer Intensive program up to the start of the program if space is available. However, due to limited enrollment, we suggest you apply early. In the event that the program is full, you will be notified and your name will be placed on a waiting list. There is no application fee.
During the application process you will be asked to:
1. Give us some
information
about yourself
2. Write a short essay about your photographic goals
Enrollment
Once your application is reviewed, RMSP will send an email to you indicating acceptance or denial. If you are accepted into the program, you will be asked to return to this website to enroll. To complete the enrollment process, you must read and agree to the Enrollment Agreement. If you are younger than 18 years old at the time of enrollment, a parent or guardian must read and agree to the Enrollment Agreement.
Entrance Requirements
No prior photographic experience is necessary for enrollment in Summer Intensive. You must be a U.S. citizen, and you must be a high school graduate or have a General Educational Development (GED) certificate by the time of our program orientation. Exceptions to the high school graduation requirement are made at the sole discretion of the School Directors.
Financial Aid
Clearwater Credit Union Summer Intensive Loan
Any
student
interested in Summer Intensive is welcome to apply for a student loan
through the
Clearwater Credit Union in Missoula. This loan option is open to any
student
accepted
into the program, regardless of their current bank or where they
currently
reside.
Some qualifications of this loan are:
- Student must be accepted into SI to qualify
- Must be 18+ to apply
- Must provide a letter of acceptance into the program
- Payment will be made to RMSP on your behalf
- Maximum loan amount is $4000
For the full details of this loan option including payment terms and interest rate, please contact Katelyn Bykari at Clearwater Credit Union via email at Katelyn.Bykari@clearwatercreditunion.org.
Equipment & Supplies
Photographic and computer equipment is constantly changing, evolving, and being updated. For this reason, we strongly recommend waiting until only a couple of months before Summer Intensive to purchase any gear on this list that you don’t already own. We update our equipment recommendations in March and September so make sure you download the latest version before making a purchase.
Looking for some of the products we recommend for Summer Intensive? Check out this list over at B&H!
What you need to bring to the program
- Digital SLR or Mirrorless interchangeable-lens digital camera body (contact us in the spring of 2023 for a camera recommendation)
- One normal lens
- Laptop computer
- Equipment manual(s)
- Three empty portable external hard drives (between 1TB and 5TB)
- Memory card for your camera
- Memory card reader (or slot on your laptop)
- Monitor calibration tool
- Adobe Lightroom Classic
- Tripod legs
- Tripod head
What we recommend you purchase after you arrive
- Camera bag
- Additional lenses
- Filters
- Sensor cleaning supplies
- Cable release or intervalometer
If you are looking for more help on choosing equipment for Summer Intensive feel free to contact us!
To learn more about the equipment we require for Summer Intensive, click here.
To download our equipment recommendations, click here (this document is updated in September and March).
Schedule
What does the SI schedule look like?
- Classes generally run between 9 a.m. and 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
- There are some evening field shoots (summer evening light is gorgeous in Montana) and some optional classes.
- There may be optional field shoots or classes over the weekend, but no required classes are scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays (one exception: there could be make-up classes from any unforeseen circumstances but this is incredibly rare).
- There are no classes on July 3rd and 4th.
A detailed schedule will be provided on Day 1 during Orientation, but here's an overview of what you'll be learning each week:
Week 1: Getting to know the school, your camera, Lightroom, and how to take correct exposures; we start with the technical and build from there.
Week 2: More exposure and technical concepts, more Lightroom, creativity and composition, color management, and your first critiques (we promise they're not scary!).
Week 3: More creativity and composition, more Lightroom, Zone System, and an intro to output -- plus some genres to start exploring.
Week 4: You've learned all the basics, now it's time to advance your technical, compositional, and editing skills!
Week 5: This week is your chance to focus on more specific genres that pique your interest, plus you'll get more critiques (you'll love them by now!).
Week 6: During the last week you'll get 1-on-1 critiques on your final project and have a chance to explore some additional genres and topics. There are definitely some other fun surprises that week, too.
When does the 2023 SI course run?
The program begins on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, and ends on Friday, July 28, 2023. This course is offered as an in-person program only. There will be no classes scheduled on July 3rd and 4th.
What is the cutoff date for enrollment?
We accept applications on a first come, first served basis until the program is full. We recommend that students enroll early due to our enrollment limit. We will accept enrollment up to the start of classes if space is available.
Are there any entrance requirements for the Summer Intensive program?
No prior photographic experience is necessary for enrollment. You must be a high school graduate (or have GED equivalency) to attend SI. We will on occasion accept high school students into the program, however this decision is made on a case-by-case basis.
Are there any tuition discounts for SI?
Yes! We offer early registration discounts: $500 off if registering before December 31st or $250 off if registering between January 1 and March 31st before the program starts. Besides these, the cost of tuition is the same for everyone and there are no exceptions.
What is included in the tuition?
The Summer Intensive tuition amount covers all the fees to RMSP for the duration of the program. There are no hidden fees, printing fees, administrative fees, book fees, etc. In addition to the tuition, incoming students should anticipate additional costs of housing, food, transportation, and required equipment, which are not included. For information on making these decisions, further information is provided in these FAQs, and we would be happy to answer any questions at 406-543-0171.
What level photographer should attend SI?
Summer Intensive is designed for photographers who are looking to improve their technical skills while immersing themselves in the creative process. You do not need prior photographic experience to enroll. We start with the basics (f-stops, shutter speeds, ISO, equipment) and proceed quickly to more advanced topics (creative processes, digital image-editing, lighting). Student ages generally range from 18 to over 70. Students come from all over the country and world. Interests include nature, portraiture, fine art, and everything in between.
What level of prior computer expertise is needed to succeed in the program?
Image management and editing is an important component of the Summer Intensive curriculum, therefore, intermediate computer navigation skills are required. If you have limited experience using computers, we highly recommend that you enroll in a computer basics course in your local community as preparation for the program.
What if I have to miss classes?
Attending classes is necessary to succeed in RMSP's intense environment. Attendance is taken in all required classes. Students are marked as present, tardy or absent.
Where do I live during SI?
RMSP primarily recommends the Sawyer Student Living complex, located about four miles from the school. The Sawyer offers SI students a special 6-week (all-utilities included) rate for a fully-furnished room in their apartment building. RMSP also recommends that students also check with Craigslist, Airbnb, and Vrbo for listings of available housing opportunities.
In the spring of 2023, RMSP will make available any housing leads we are given from the community and post them on the RMSP Community which is accessible by enrolled students.
Another option for lodging is Staybridge Suites Missoula, conveniently located a couple of blocks from RMSP. They offer studios, as well as one and two bedroom suites. If you are interested in Staybridge Suites, please contact Bob McGowan, RMSP’s Admission Counselor, at bobm@rmsp.com, for the best pricing available.
Do I need a car for the summer?
Missoula is a bike-friendly city with good public bus lines. However, RMSP is located on the edge of town, so a car makes transportation much easier. You will also need to have or arrange transportation to field shoots. Additionally, one of the great pleasures of the summer is being able to explore the beautiful state of Montana and shoot. A car will be necessary to be able to do that. Often, students with cars will offer to carpool to optional faraway shoots with students who don’t have cars.
What kind of equipment and supplies do I need?
Do I need to bring my computer?
Yes. We require students to bring laptops and use them when working in our digital labs as well as during Edit classes.
Please feel free to contact us either by phone or email with any further questions you
may have.
We look forward to welcoming you to RMSP Summer Intensive!
Cancellation Policy
- A full refund of all money paid will be made to any applicant who cancels his or her enrollment within 72 hours (until midnight of the third day, excluding weekends and legal holidays) of enrolling in the SI program, provided that the program has not yet begun.
- A full refund of all money paid, less the tuition deposit, will be made to any applicant who cancels enrollment before May 22, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. MDT.
- For cancellations received after May 22, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. MDT, RMSP retains full tuition and no refunds are issued.
- For no-shows: RMSP retains full tuition.
- Refunds will be processed within 30 days after our office receives notice of cancellation.
In the case of a cancellation resulting from a student’s prolonged illness or an injury or death in the student’s immediate family, RMSP, at its sole discretion, will make a settlement that it considers reasonable and fair to both parties. The school will propose a settlement within 30 days of the official date of withdrawal.
Perks of Registering
EDU Advantage Program
By registering and completing any course with us, you will automatically be eligible for EDU status with B&H Photo. EDU members can save money on select items sold by B&H.
Creative Cloud Subscription
The software you use in your workflow is almost as crucial as your camera. Register for any RMSP course and you will receive a code to save 15% on a Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for the first year.
What Gear Do You Need?
Want a specific lens for a workshop? Need some extra gear for your next shoot? Renting gear from Lens Pro To Go allows you to try before you buy! Upon registering for a course, you will receive a discount code for 10% off your next rental.