April 15-18, 2027 | $3000.006 Participants
Editorial Fashion in New York City
What to ExpectNew York City is where Mark de Paola’s visual language was formed. It is the city that shaped his eye, launched his career, and continues to inform every image he makes. This is where it began.
Wide Open Art invites six photographers to join Mark for an intensive fashion editorial weekend in New York City — two dedicated editorial shoot days working on location across the streets, neighborhoods, and environments that have long defined the visual identity of American fashion photography.
Each shoot day carries its own distinct creative direction, with references, visual concepts, and editorial frameworks introduced during the program’s opening session on Thursday evening. The work is specific, grounded, and built from the ground up each day. The program is rooted entirely in natural light, emphasizing the ability to read, respond to, and shape the available light of one of the world’s most visually complex cities without reliance on post-production.
Mark’s teaching focuses on pre-visualization, seeing the image before it is made, and guiding each participant toward a more deliberate, authored approach to fashion editorial work. New York is not a backdrop. It is a collaborator.
❋ What To ExpectApril in New York is a season of transition — the city sheds its winter layer and a particular energy of renewal returns to its streets. Days are increasingly warm , though conditions can shift and layers are recommended. Participants should expect to be on their feet throughout each shoot day, moving through the city and working across different locations, and should plan to carry their own camera equipment.
❋ Who Should AttendThis program is intended for photographers with a dedicated interest in portraiture and fashion photography. Participants should arrive ready for two full days of immersive shooting, each centered around a distinct editorial concept. A laptop is required for daily media management and organization. Attendance is limited to 6 participants, accepted by application.
❋ Topics CoveredThe visual language and aesthetics of fashion editorial photography
Creative direction and conceptual development for editorial work
Working with and directing models on location in an urban environment
Natural light as the sole tool across New York City’s varied environments
Shooting at minimum focusing distance with intention
Capturing movement, energy, and narrative within a still image
Collaborating with a full fashion editorial team
Refining a distinct photographic voice
❋ What Is IncludedThursday evening welcome dinner
One curated group meal per shoot day
Model fees and full production coordination for all shoots
Personalized instruction and daily guidance with Mark de Paola
Opening and closing critique sessions
Two on-location editorial fashion shoots across New York City
Strategic insight into developing a distinctive voice within contemporary fashion photography
Schedule Outline
April 15Opening Lecture and Participating Artist Introductions
April 16Editorial Shoot Day
April 17Editorial Shoot Day
April 18
One on One Reviews, Editorial Curation, and Closing Presentation
Meet The Artist
Mark de Paola
Mark de Paola is a New York City-based fine art and fashion photographer and director with many years of experience shooting campaign and fine art commissions for the likes of Vogue Spain, Vogue Mexico, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Prabal Gurung, Aveda, Estee Lauder, Brioni, David Koma, Roksanda, and Saint Laurent. De Paola has directed several hundred television spots in the fashion/beauty sector including those for Giorgio RED Perfume (Bergdorf Goodman windows and MoMA NY), Donna Karan, Ducati, Leica Camera, Sony, Neutrogena, and Ford Motorsports.
De Paola's fine art work is included in public collections such as the Museum of Modern Art, New York, The Getty in Los Angeles, the San Diego Center of Photographic Arts, and the TOP Museum in Tokyo. His photography monographs Recent Work I (2018), Recent Work II (2019), and Five Years and Sixty Seconds (2020) can be found with Leica Camera retailers in major cities worldwide. De Paola's solo exhibitions have traveled around the world including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dali (China), Tokyo, Milan (Triennale Museum), and at home in New York City.
De Paola’s forthcoming feature film A Stab At Heaven stars Ema McKie in a powerful nonfiction narrative, and is currently in development on feature The Final Film and in pre production for feature and limited series betterthandead.
His newest publication A Stab At Heaven in collaboration with McKie is currently being released. De Paola's pictorialist work as a still and motion artist has been driven by his studies of the neurobiology and cognitive psychology of human vision.
https://www.depaolapictures.com/
Instagram: @depaolapictures @markdepaolastudio
MARK DE PAOLA
MARK DE PAOLA
How It Works-
Fill out the application form below and receive notification from Wide Open Art of application status within 7 days of submission.
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Should your application be accepted, receive your confirmation email and registration invoice. Registration is confirmed upon receipt of tuition.
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About 10-14 days before the start of the retreat, receive a welcome letter with itinerary and prep material details
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Immerse yourself in an unforgettable experience in New York City.
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Receive a follow-up email on how to stay in touch with Mark and the Wide Open Art community, along with continued resources from the weekend together.
Apply Now
See differently.
The Fine Print
CANCELLATION POLICY
Wide Open Art experiences are intentionally limited in size to ensure meaningful creative exchange. Because each registration reserves a place within a small cohort and allows us to confirm artists, venues, and production commitments, participants are asked to review the following cancellation policy before registering.
Full tuition is due at the time of registration.
Participant Cancellations
More than 60 days before the experience: Full refund.
30–60 days before the experience: 50% refund.
Less than 30 days before the experience: No refund.
If a participant cancels and Wide Open Art is able to fill the space from the waitlist, Wide Open Art may, at its sole discretion, issue a credit toward a future Wide Open Art experience. Credits are valid only for experiences produced solely by Wide Open Art and may not be applied to partnership experiences.
Experience Cancellation
Should Wide Open Art cancel an experience due to force majeure, artist illness, insufficient enrollment, or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our reasonable control, participants will receive a full refund of all fees paid to Wide Open Art. Wide Open Art is not responsible for airfare, accommodations, travel insurance, or any other expenses incurred outside of the experience fee. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase comprehensive travel insurance.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By registering for a Wide Open Art experience, participants acknowledge that they have read and agree to these Terms & Conditions.
Registration & Payment
Registration is confirmed upon receipt of full payment unless otherwise stated. Enrollment is limited and spaces are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participant Responsibility
Participants are responsible for ensuring they are physically able to participate in the experience and for arriving with the appropriate equipment, documentation, and travel arrangements.
Participants are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism, respect, and consideration for fellow participants, artists, hosts, staff, and local communities. Wide Open Art reserves the right to remove any participant whose conduct is disruptive, unsafe, or inappropriate. No refund will be issued in such cases.
Assumption of Risk
Participation may involve travel, walking, uneven terrain, changing weather conditions, and other activities inherent to cultural and photographic experiences. Participants voluntarily assume all risks associated with their participation.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Wide Open Art, its artists, employees, contractors, partners, hosts, and venues shall not be liable for any injury, illness, accident, theft, loss, damage to personal property, travel delays, cancellations, or other expenses arising from participation in an experience.
Travel
Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for all transportation, accommodations (unless expressly included), passports, visas, travel documentation, and travel insurance.
Experience Changes
Wide Open Art reserves the right to make reasonable changes to artists, schedules, locations, accommodations, or experience content when necessary to ensure the successful delivery of an experience.
Force Majeure
Wide Open Art shall not be responsible for delays, cancellations, or modifications resulting from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, severe weather, governmental restrictions, strikes, pandemics, war, civil unrest, transportation disruptions, venue closures, or artist illness.
Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.