Istituto italiano
Di fotografia
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The center of professional photography
Educating, producing, spreading knowledge
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exhibitions
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Our school
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia (IIF), has been training professional photographers for 30 years. IIF is a multifunctional school, an avant-garde and experimental place where photography is seen as a stylish and innovative expressive.
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia is a school but also a “university of photography”: IIF is able to provide its students with the technical skills and artistic sensitivity they need to find their own way to capture reality and convey its meaning. From basic photography courses to complete photography courses, our curricula are designed to meet any need, embracing our philosophy and following our functional study and training plans.
Our mission
Our mission is to provide students with real, solid, complete and modern education, so that they can use photography as a language to convey style and innovation.
The main goal of Istituto Italiano di Fotografia is not only to help students learn all they need about technique and photo equipment, but also to support them in developing the artistic sensitivity and critical vision needed to enter the photography market in the most expressive and dynamic way.
Our teaching approach
The subjects we teach in our courses (from beginners to advanced courses, you can have a look at them here) are chosen to provide all students from all levels with an extensive and avant-garde training in the classroom and on set. The goal is for students to gain familiarity with professional photographic equipment, to feel supported in carrying out projects, to create a portfolio that helps them introducing themselves with confidence as professional photographers. This is why we can meet the needs of both those who are searching “beginner photography classed” and “photography masters”, offering each student the type of course that suits them the most.
An all-round training that includes all photographic languages, going from portrait to landscape, from fashion to reportage, and to food photography, always keeping part of the focus on technique and visual communication. We offer an active training based on hands-on experience and creative projects, and we work with publishers and companies to create publications and exhibitions.
Hands-ontraining helps students learn more quickly and dive into their future profession.
To learn more about Istituto Italiano di Fotografia and the projects carried out over the years, have a look at the following presentation:
Our story
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia was founded in 1992 in Milan by Director Maurizio Cavalli, who wanted to create a contemporary and innovative school of photography that could prepare students for the job market through many hours of practice in studio and on location. After managing the photography department ad IED Rome and after founding Istituto Superiore di Fotografia in Rome, Maurizio Cavalli went back to his beloved Milan to open the school that would have become the reference point for photography education. The school opening was discussed in the news.
The first IIF headquarters were in via Forcella 13, at Superstudio13. In 1994 they were then moved to via Bugatti 3, in the Tortona neighbourhood. Due to an increase in the number of students and therefore the need of having more space to shoot, in 2010 Istituto moved to the current headquarters in via Enrico Caviglia 3, in the Corvetto neighbourhood. The new space is a 700 sq.m., two-storey building with 5 studios and a computer room.
In 2017 on the occasion of IIF 25 anniversary, the historical logo of Istituto Italiano di Fotografia was restyled to make it more contemporary.
A school that fits its students
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia is a school that fits its students, a photo lab where anyone is supported from an educational, professional and personal point of view, no matter the level they start from. This is why IIF is both a “photography school” and a “photography university”: it can adapt to the student’s needs.
A place where you can develop your knowledge and expressive and creative skills within a personalised growth path, where you will have the chance to discuss with your teachers and your colleagues.
A welcoming and “homey” environment that facilitates learning the skills needed to become knowledgeable professional photographers that are able to express theit creativity through a unique, personal and original style.
Three sections to achieve one goal: training professionals
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia consists of three sections, three realities in one that complete each other and work for each other:
- SCHOOL: the actual photography school that deals with didactics and professional training;
- ARTSIDE: organizes photographic exhibitions and cultural events to showcase the talents of the Professional Biennial Photography Course and of the annual evening courses;
- PRODUCTION: a photography agency, it’s the meeting point between companies and young photographers.
Thanks to the joint work of these three sections, IIF students can learn the best photography techniques, exhibit their work, get known and find commissions.
An innovative method to show the youth the way into the photography world, while providing technical skills and offering the chance to shine and get noticed by important actors of the photography world and more.
Focus on photography: a teaching choice
Istituto Italiano di Fotografia is different from other schools or “photography universities” for his teaching choices as well. IIF has chosen to focus on photography as its only educational goal from the very beginning.
This choice marks the high quality of courses and IIF desire to keep up with a particularly dynamic and continuously evolving sector. A teaching approach that shows the professional photography world from the beginning through hands-on experience, This way, students learn faster and they can start working with self-confidence and energy.
Thus, who is looking for a more generic “photography course for beginners” or “masters photography” can find the right course at IIF.
From basic photography courses to different types of complete photography courses, anyone can find the education they are looking for.
TEACHERS
Professionalism and passion
These are the main features that characterize the teachers chosen by Istituto Italiano di Fotografia.
Professional photographers specialized in different sectors of image and visual communication. Different personalities, different curricula, different work experiences. A well-informed choice. Because differences and original approaches enrich students’ education.
And when you deal with important image professionals, the most enriching part is that you can learn from “the masters”.
Sanni Agostinelli
Photoediting
Emanuele Amighetti
Reportage
Erminio Annunzi
Technique and landscape photography
Guido Bartoli
Colour theory
Leonello Bertolucci
Photoediting, style exercises, reportage and music and theatre photography
Successful alumni
Let us introduce you to some of the photographers that studied at IIF
In over 30 years of activity many students that attended the Professional Biennial Photography Course or the annual evening courses Full and Full advanced have become brilliant photographers. Their work fields are diverse: from fashion to still life, from reportage to events, from sports to music. Many others chose to dedicate themselves to fine-art photography, and won national and international awards, took part in festivals and important exhibitions.
Here you can find a small selection that focuses on alumni who graduated in the last few years, so that you can get an idea of the work opportunities offered by IIF.
Our didactic office, that knows the skills and specialisations of our alumni, manages the call for photographers that we receive from many partners, and helps students starting their careers. Exhibitions, meetings and events are crucial networking and sharing moments for students, alumni and teachers. They all have the chance to discuss and participate in a fruitful professional exchange.
Carolina Amoretti
Fashion photography and portrait
Matteo Bellomo
Still life and corporate photography
Virginia Bettoja
Music photography and portraits
Federica Calzi
Wedding and landscape photography
Carlotta Cardana
Portrait and reportage
Gaetano Cartone
Fashion photography
