Stefan Rappo: a photo masterclass in Paris 12 on our vintage grand plateau
Published on 2 October 2026 – by the L'Atelier & Beyond team, photo & video studio in Paris 12.
In brief
Stefan Rappo is a photographer based in Paris. A former first assistant to Peter Lindbergh for eight years, published by teNeues and in German Vogue as well as British Vogue, he teaches his photo masterclasses at our place, in Paris 12, and shoots some of his personal series there.
Who – Stefan Rappo, a Swiss photographer based in Paris since 2004. → his Instagram · stefan-rappo.com
Where – our vintage grand plateau in Paris 12, 5 minutes from Gare de Lyon.
What – group masterclasses and private sessions: a screening, an exchange, then hands-on practice on set, in the atmosphere of your choice.
Book – by the half-day or the full day, 7 days a week, whether for a masterclass or a simple rental. Get in touch through our contact page.
We rent out a photo and video studio in Paris 12, between Gare de Lyon and Bercy. Our grand plateau has an atypical vintage setting; right next to it, our white studio offers a smaller, neutral and simple space. That's where Stefan Rappo works today: his personal series on one side, his masterclasses and private sessions on the other.
This is not just another biographical profile. It's about what his work changes when he sets up his lights at our place – and what you come looking for when you type "photographer Paris 12" or "photo course Paris" and don't want to land on a catalogue of recipes.
From Switzerland to our plateau: Stefan Rappo's journey
At 30, Stefan Rappo left Switzerland and his job as a designer-builder of heavy forestry machinery. Photography was calling: he went to study in Toulouse, at the École de la Photographie et Game Design, and graduated in 2004.
On his mentor's advice, he moved up to Paris the same year and joined PIN UP Studios as a studio assistant. That's where he learned the trade from the ground up: commercial production, logistics, lighting, the pace of a set, managing a client's constraints. Three years in the field before stepping to the other side of the set.
In 2007, he worked for renowned photographers, notably Camilla Akrans and Bruno Aveillan. Then came the encounter that shaped everything else: from 2012 to 2019, he spent eight years as the first assistant to Peter Lindbergh. Eight years of fashion sets, portraits and films, in direct contact with a way of directing a model and composing an image. His "About" page puts it simply: their relationship was built on respect, trust, loyalty and a shared passion for creation. A deep friendship has remained from it.
One detail speaks to us, as people who rent out a plateau: before directing, he did everything. Setting up, taking down, adjusting, tidying, keeping to deadlines. That background comes through when he explains a light to an intern.
A photographic language: cinematic storytelling, nude and portrait
His approach comes down to one idea: telling a story rather than making things pretty. Stefan Rappo builds his images like film shots – a narrative, a mood, a character stepping into the frame. Portrait and nude are his natural territory. Black and white as well as colour serve as his tools: sharpness and reverie coexist within the same series, depending on what the scene calls for. It's intuitive for him, and it shows in the way he lets a shoot breathe.
The point that matters for a photographer who is learning: he doesn't impose a standard of beauty. His models aren't there to illustrate a canon, but to inhabit a story – his protagonists express themselves with complete freedom. And all of it rests on a demanding method: respect for the model, respect for the creative process, respect for the client.
Hence the singular position of his work: he lives on the border between commercial photography and auteur photography, without choosing a side. He can move from a campaign to a personal series in the same week, with the same rigour about light. For a plateau like ours, that's exactly the ideal profile: someone who knows how to hold a brief and also knows what an auteur image is.
His books and publications: from Visage de la Photo to Free Spirit
Four books mark his work:
Visage de la Photo – self-published, 2008.
Nude – published by teNeues in 2019, by the German fine-art book publisher.
Tezz – published by La Belle Étoile in 2024.
Free Spirit – self-published in 2025.
Alongside the books, his photographs have appeared in the international press: CR Magazine, German Vogue, British Vogue, W-Magazine, MAX Magazine and GQ France. He also works with international clients, across several continents.
His work also travels onto walls and into festivals: in April 2027, he will lead an "Intimate Portraits" workshop at the Venezia Photo Festival (registration). In other words, passing on knowledge isn't a sideline of his profession, it's part of it.
Photo masterclass Paris: what happens on our plateau
The two formats
A group masterclass, and one-to-one private sessions. In both cases, we provide what's needed on site: a screen and a projector for the screening and analysis sessions, then hands-on practice on set, in the atmosphere of your choice – the vintage grand plateau or the neutral white studio. So you don't have to move a studio to come and work.
What we work on
Three things come up systematically, and they're the same ones Stefan Rappo applies to his own series.
Writing a series, not an image. A good standalone photo, anyone can take one. A series that holds together, with a narrative thread, a mood and a rhythm of shots, is something else. That's where cinematic storytelling becomes a concrete tool.
Directing a model. How to create a framework of trust, how to guide without directing in the other person's place, how to keep the model free. It's the heart of his work, and it's learned by watching him do it.
Light and black and white. Simple, well-placed lighting rather than six stacked sources, and a shift to black and white thought through from the moment of the shot.
Who it's for
For photographers who are already technically comfortable and want to move up a level: advanced amateurs, semi-professionals, professionals in transition towards more personal work. It's also a concrete answer if you're looking for a photo workshop Paris focused on portrait, nude and auteur imagery rather than on basic settings.
How to book
Dates are arranged directly with Stefan Rappo, according to his production schedule. On our side, we block the plateau, prepare the sets and the equipment, and confirm the slots with you. The simplest way: write to us from our contact page specifying group or private session, the period you'd like and the type of work you're aiming for. Groups are deliberately small – that's what makes hands-on practice on set genuinely possible.
The venue: a vintage plateau in Paris 12, 5 minutes from Gare de Lyon
Our studio is in Paris 12, right next to Gare de Lyon, easily accessible by metro, RER and bus – handy when you're arriving with equipment or when your guests are coming in from out of town.
What you'll find there:
A grand plateau with an atypical vintage setting, next to a smaller neutral white studio: two atmospheres under one roof.
A modular space of 80 m² in total, with a 50 m² cyclorama studio complemented by 20 m² for make-up and 10 m² for catering, 3 metres of ceiling height.
Professional lighting included: flash heads, continuous lights, photo stands, modifiers, reflectors and small accessories, plus a variety of paper and fabric backdrops.
Slots by the half-day or the full day, 7 days a week.
Many studios host shoots. This one also welcomes photographers who come looking for something slower: light you take the time to adjust, a setting that hasn't been repainted in industrial white, a room where you can work on a series for six hours without someone pushing the door open.
Our take on Stefan's work
We're not judges of auteur photography, we rent out a plateau. But we see a lot of photographers pass through, and one thing is rare: someone who comes for the image and not for the immediate result. Stefan Rappo is one of those who will happily lose an hour to gain the right light.
That's also why we talk about him. A studio that hosts masterclasses isn't a studio that's content to rent out square metres: it becomes a place of transmission, and that changes the way we prepare the plateaus, the way we store the equipment, the way we welcome participants. We've gained in rigour from it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you book a photo masterclass at your studio? Yes. We host Stefan Rappo's masterclasses, both group and private sessions, with a screen, a projector and hands-on practice on set as you prefer. Write to us from our contact page: we'll get back to you about available slots and prepare the plateau with you.
Do you need to bring your own equipment? The studio is equipped: flash heads, continuous lights, modifiers, reflectors, stands and paper or fabric backdrops are all on site. Come with your camera, your cards and your laptop for the review and screening sessions.
Where is the studio and how do you get there? We're in Paris 12, near Gare de Lyon, accessible by metro, RER and bus. It's handy if you're coming from out of town or from the other side of Paris with equipment. Just allow time to unload.
Can you rent the plateau without a masterclass, for a shoot or a photo course Paris? Of course. Our vintage grand plateau and our white studio can be rented on their own, by the half-day or the full day, 7 days a week: portrait, fashion, e-commerce, video, podcast, book, personal series. And if you're organising a photo course Paris yourself, the screen, the projector and a small group are all welcome.
Book your masterclass or your private session
If you're looking for a photo masterclass Paris that isn't limited to slides, the idea is simple: work on a real plateau, with someone who spent eight years alongside Peter Lindbergh.
Two ways to start:
You want to join a group masterclass – tell us the type of work you want to push forward (portrait, nude, personal series) and we'll suggest the next dates.
You want a private session or to rent the plateau – give us the date, the duration and the atmosphere you'd like, vintage grand plateau or white studio.
One single path for both: our contact page. Reply in a few lines, and we'll take care of the rest – the lights are already there.
Article published on 2 October 2026 by the L'Atelier & Beyond team, photo & video studio in Paris 12.
Sources
Stefan Rappo, "About" page (background, training, Peter Lindbergh, books, publications): stefan-rappo.com/about
Stefan Rappo, official website and portfolio: stefan-rappo.com
Stefan Rappo, Instagram account: instagram.com/stefanrappo
"Intimate Portraits" workshop, Venezia Photo Festival, 15–18 April 2027: veneziaphoto.org/products/stefan-rappo
Peter Lindbergh Foundation, a foundation dedicated to the photographer's work: peterlindbergh.foundation
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