Outdoor Portraiture sponsored by Nikon

Do you wonder why your snapshots don’t have the pop of professional portraits? Do you freeze up when it comes time to pose your family for a group photo? Do your subjects look stiff in the photos you take? In this class, we’ll be sharing the secrets to taking better portraits of individuals, couples and groups and giving you the opportunity to practice in a park setting. While this workshop is sponsored by Nikon, all camera makes and models are welcomed.

You will learn:

• Posing basics for individuals, couples, and groups
• How to identify good locations outdoors
• Techniques to create authentic emotions during portraits
• Methods for creating visually appealing group portraits
• How lens choice affects your photographs

The first class, on Friday, Aug. 21, from 5:30-7:30pm will be held at the classroom at the Camera Company on Odana Road. We’ll dive into the basics of posing individuals, couples and groups. We’ll discuss both traditional posing and the things you can look for to make your photos feel more natural, and we’ll talk about techniques for more candid images as well.

Then, on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 10:00am -1:00pm we’ll meet at the entrance to Picnic Point, 2004 University Bay Dr, Madison, WI 53705. While there, we will explore how to scout for good locations and then you’ll have a chance to pose other photographers and practice your skills. Your instructor will help guide you to identify key problems in a scene and how to correct them.

Nikon will have a supply of camera bodies and portrait lenses for you to use!

We will return to the Camera Company classroom on Tuesday, August 25, at 5:30 to 7:30 pm to review your images and discuss questions you have after making photos.

This class is limited to 12 participants.

Cost $149.00 plus Eventbrite online processing fee

What you should bring:

A camera that has a lens with focal length between 35mm and 105mm (but you can simply use your phone camera if you choose or use the Nikon gear) and a desire to learn

Your Instructor

Steve Daubs, CPP, has taken photographs for hundreds of families, seniors, and couples over the past 12 years. With a background in photojournalism as well as advanced training in multiple genres of portrait photography, he brings a deep understanding of what makes a photograph compelling. He not only shows you how to capture the images you want to capture, but he explains why a photograph works or doesn’t.