The Portfolio Masterclass
Your work, reviewed by the people
who shape the Paris photography world.
Five days. Ten mentors. Fifteen institutions and galleries
One printed portfolio
The Atelier Pigment Portfolio Masterclass is a five-day artistic and cultural experience, immersing participants into the heart of contemporary photography in Paris.
This masterclass is built around access you cannot buy a ticket to.
You will sit with Harry Gruyaert, one of Magnum's most distinctive voices, in a group of ten. You will work through your portfolio with Agathe Kalfas, who advises photographers on grants, residencies, and positioning. You will walk into the HCB Foundation's archives with their own team, Jeu de Paume, Le Bal and the MEP, with their own curators.
And on the final day, Polka Magazine, which represents photographers and selects work for publication, will review your portfolio as it stands after five days of work.
What you’ll carry home is not inspiration, it will be a decision about where your practice goes next and the confidence on how to connect with people who shape the Paris photography world.
Limited to 10 participants
Language: English
Next session: 2027
This is Atelier Pigment's inaugural program.
The Institutions
Exclusive Access to Paris’s Photography World
Workshops, in-depth conversations with experts, guided visits, and private access. Participants in the Atelier Pigment masterclass will . . .
Talk shop, in an intimate setting, with world renowned Magnum Photos photographer Harry Gruyaert, exploring his creative vision, use of color, and decades of field experience.
Work alongside Agathe Khalfas on portfolio strategy and project positioning. Participants will also benefit from her guidance on grants, residencies, and funding applications.
Visit the most prestigious photographic institutions in Paris—including Magnum Gallery, Jeu de Paume, the MEP, and Le Bal, by the museums’ own curators and directors. At Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation, participants will be given special entry to HCB’s own archives. The master class also includes visits to galleries such as Clémentine de la Feronnière, Galerie des Filles du Calvaire, and Polka.
Visit professional photographer Maxime Riché own studio. There you will discover his fine art prints, observe his production process, and understand how his research and methodology influence the final result of his work.
Jordan Alvès of Atelier EXB — one of the most acclaimed photography book publishers in Europe — will discuss the path from series to published book: what makes a project publishable, how print runs work, and what distribution actually looks like.
Your portfolio review at Polka Magazine, the team that selects work for publication and represents photographers in their gallery, happens on the final day, when your thinking has already shifted.
The Mentors
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Harry Gruyaert
PHOTOGRAPHER
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Clémentine De La Feronnière
GALLERIST
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Clément Cheroux
DIRECTOR, HCB FOUNDATION
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Agathe Kalfas
CONSULTANT, AKWHISPERS
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Tomas Van Houtryve
PHOTOGRAPHER
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Pia Viewing
CURATOR & RESEARCH, JEU DE PAUME
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Jonas Tebib
ART DIRECTOR, COLLECTION CONSULTANT
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Julie Héraut
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, LE BAL
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Maxime Riché
PHOTOGRAPHER
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Jordan Alves
BOOK PUBLISHER, ATELIER EXB
Your host and guide
I’m Albin Millot, a French photographer, born and based in Paris, and the founder of Atelier Pigment. For more than two decades, I’ve built my life around photography, not only as an artist, but also through close collaborations with some of the most influential photographers, curators, and institutions in Paris.
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside such figures as Harry Gruyaert, Martine Franck, Bruno Barbey, Patrick Zachmann,and Thomas Dworzak, many of whom come from the legendary Magnum Photos agency. I’ve also partnered with institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, UNESCO, FoMU Antwerp, Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent, and the Howard Greenberg Gallery in New York.
Paris is more than my home — it is the city where photography has been shaped, debated, and reinvented for nearly two centuries. It is a city of archives, salons, festivals, and galleries, and knowing its fabric means having access not only to its exhibitions but to the people and decisions behind them.
The Atelier Pigment Masterclass was inspired by these connections and specialist knowledge. For a small group of participants, this means stepping into spaces usually closed to the public, engaging with curators and directors who set the tone for the photography world.
I hope you will join us and experience Paris not as a visitor, but as part of the city’s cultural fabric.
5-Day Schedule*
- 09:30 – 12:00 — VIP Visit – Le Bal & Le Bal bookstore
- 14:00 – 15:00 — VIP Visit – Magnum Photos Gallery
- 15:00 – 16:30 — Harry Gruyaert – Masterclass
- 17:00 – 18:30 — Studio Visit – Maxime Riché
- 10:00 – 11:00 — Gallery Visit – Clémentine de la Féronnière
- 11:00 – 12:30 — Agathe Kalfas – Portfolio Guidance
- 13:30 – 15:30 — Agathe Kalfas – Portfolio Development 1/2
- 16:00 – 18:00 — VIP Visit - Jeu de Paume with Pia Viewing
- 18:30 – 20:00 — VIP Event - Jeu de Paume with Jo Radcliffe
- 09:30 – 13:00 — Agathe Kalfas – Portfolio Development 2/2
- 14:30 – 17:30 — VIP Visit – MEP (Maison Européenne de la Photo)
- 19:00 – 21:00 — Gallery openings tour in le Marais district
- 09:30 – 12:30 — VIP Visit – Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson
- 13:30 – 14:30 — Gallery Visit at Polka Galerie
- 14:30 – 18:30 — Portfolio Review at Polka Magazine
- 09:30 – 11:00 — Jonas Tebib – Portfolio for Collectors
- 11:00 – 12:30 — Thomas Van Houtryve – Artist Talk
- 13:30 – 15:00 — EXB – Book Publisher Expertise
- 16:00 – 18:00 — Portfolio finalisation: select your 20 prints with mentor guidance
- 18:30 – 21:30 — Closing Reception – End of Masterclass
*While we may occasionally adapt the schedule to reflect institutional availability, all named activities and mentors represent our committed program.
Two weeks after the program ends, a box arrives at your door.
Inside: 20 prints, 9×14 inches, on archival museum paper, selected during the masterclass. Not a memory of the week. The work itself, reshaped by the most valuable mentors.
A museum-quality print portfolio, 20 archival prints, selected and sequenced by the mentors, arrives at your door two weeks after the program.
What you take home
A printed portfolio of your best pictures
Price and conditions
Private studio visits, institutional access, and a portfolio reviewed by the people who open doors.
The Atelier Pigment
Portfolio Masterclass
10 participants
Early Bird price
2500€
Regular price
3200
Next session: 2027
This is Atelier Pigment's inaugural program.
Register Your Interest Here
Sales Conditions:
Capacity & confirmation: Limited to 10 participants. Registrations are processed in order of receipt and confirmed by
email after payment. A waitlist is maintained once capacity is reached.
Payment: A deposit of 1,500€ is required at the time of registration. The remaining balance must be settled thirty (30) days minimum before the start of the masterclass (Sunday, the 15th of February 2026). Your place is fully confirmed upon receipt of the full payment. Failure to complete the remaining balance minimum 30 days before the start date may result in forfeiture of the place.
“Early Bird” eligibility: The Early Bird price is available only after full payment of deposit + balance until 01/02/2026. If the remaining balance is paid after 01/02/2026, registration will continue under the regular balance rate. The Early Bird price can not be applied retroactively or combined with other offers.
Cancellations by participant: All cancellations must be notified in writing (email).
- More than 30 calendar days before the start date: A fixed administrative cancellation fee of €200 will be retained. The remaining €1,300 of the deposit will be refunded.
- Between 30 and 16 calendar days before the start date: A fixed cancellation fee of €800 will be retained. The remaining €700 of the deposit will be refunded.
- Less than 15 calendar days before the start date: A fixed cancellation fee equal to the full deposit (€1,500) will be retained. No additional amount will be due if the remaining balance has
not yet been paid.
However, if you can no longer attend, you may also request (a) a transfer to a future edition or (b) to nominate a substitute participant. Transfers and substitutions are subject to availability and administrative feasibility.
Cancellations by organizer: Minimum enrollment for this trip is 7 participants, and Atelier Pigment’s decision to run or cancel this trip will be made no later than Monday, the 16th of February 2026. If the masterclass is canceled by Atelier Pigment, all tuition paid will be refunded. No additional compensation may be claimed. Travel, accommodation, and other ancillary expenses are not refundable.
Program changes: The published schedule is provisional. Mentors, partners, and visit logistics may be adjusted if required by institutional availability or circumstances beyond our control.
Equivalent replacements will be provided if necessary.
Full Terms and Conditions here
Included in the tuition :
- All scheduled activities and guided VIP visits.
- Private studio/gallery/institution access where indicated.
- Expert guidance from curators, directors, publishers, and artists.
- Small group format (max. 10 participants).
- Welcome and farewell drinks.
- The museum-quality printed portfolio (20 9x14 inches prints), shipped two weeks after the program.
Not included in the tuition :
- Airfare to Paris, accommodation, local transportation outside scheduled visits.
- Travel insurance, passport/visa fees, personal expenses such as meals and transportation.*
*Concierge services in Paris are available; prices upon request.
FAQ
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Yes. One of the central pillars of the Masterclass is a rigorous portfolio review session conducted in a small group setting. Each participant will present their work and receive detailed, constructive feedback from Agathe Khalfas, a professional photography consultant, picture editors from Polka Gallery, and artists. This is not a formal jury, but a space for honest and in-depth dialogue — aimed at helping you clarify your intentions, structure your projects, and understand how your work resonates with others.
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Indirectly, yes. While the Masterclass is not designed as a platform for promotion, the professionals you’ll meet will get to know your work in depth, in a context of real exchange. But the focus remains on the quality of encounter, not on self-promotion. And the visibility you gain comes through relevance and dialogue, not speed or exposure.
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The Masterclass is carefully curated to make the most of every hour you spend in the city. All visits, meetings, and VIP events are pre-arranged, with private access that eliminates waiting and maximizes depth. Even if your schedule in Paris is tight, you’ll experience the essential highlights of the photography world in a concentrated, insider format — far richer than what you could organize on your own.
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It is highly recommended that you purchase trip cancellation/travel insurance for this trip. Once the trip is confirmed, additional information and travel details will be provided.
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This Masterclass is designed for photographers — whether emerging, semi-professional, or established — who are eager to sharpen their eye and deepen their understanding of contemporary photography. While no institutional background or academic training is required, participants must have a well-developed photographic practice, as a significant part of the program is dedicated to in-depth portfolio reviews. This immersive experience is conceived to challenge your photographic approach, provide critical feedback from leading professionals, and open new perspectives for the development of your work.
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Yes. The Masterclass is built around small-group encounters with dedicated time to talk directly with photographers, curators, gallery directors, and institutional leaders — in an intimate setting designed to encourage real conversation.
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This Masterclass is designed to stimulate critical reflection on your work and creative process. Through in-depth portfolio reviews, collective discussions, and direct encounters with curators, editors, and artists, you’ll gain new perspectives on how your images are received, interpreted, and contextualized. You'll also receive practical guidance on how to present your work, develop coherent series, and position yourself more clearly within the contemporary photography landscape.
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That’s precisely the kind of moment when this Masterclass can be most valuable. The program is designed not to validate finished projects, but to accompany photographers in process — whether you’re developing a new direction, questioning past work, or seeking coherence in a growing archive. You’ll find both critical distance and creative stimulus to navigate that transition with clarity and support.
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