HANDS-ON INTRODUCTION TO STUDIO PORTRAITURE.

On Tuesday, May 9, my friend Michael and I will be teaching an all-day workshop at my portrait studio in Ashburn, Virginia.  Our class, "Hands-On Introduction to Studio Portraiture," will cover the use of studio equipment to create beautiful portraits, like the one I recently captured of singer Vicki Golding shown above.  

The workshop is part of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) "Super 1-Day Program," in which local professionals teach other photographers (professional or not) some of the tricks of the trade.  

The first part of the class will introduce lighting equipment (monolights and various modifiers), posing aids, light meters, and color calibration targets.  (Touching the equipment is encouraged!)  

The second part of the class will consist of instructor demonstrations of lighting and posing fundamentals, starting with one-light set-ups and progressing to complex multiple-light set-ups.  (Can you tell how many lights were used in Vicki's portrait?)

These demonstrations culminate in an instructor-vs-instructor challenge, in which the students get to observe two live portrait sessions.  Michael and I will compete head-to-head to see who can create the "best" portrait of our model.  

I am a PPA master photographer, and Michael is (excruciatingly) close to earning his master photographer medallion.  So pride is on the line!  

To increase the challenge, we're expecting to photograph someone without professional modeling experience and whom neither of us have photographed before.  (Keeping it real is in our nature!)

The third part of the class will allow the students to practice what they have learned.  Each will have individual time setting up the studio equipment and working with a model (non-professional of course!).  The instructors will provide gentle critiques of the students' efforts and resulting images.   

We have limited the class to 6 students, so it will be a small fun group with plenty of hands-on learning time.  

For additional details and on-line registration, please visit the PPA website:  Virginia Super 1-Day Classes.  

Michael and I hope to see you there!  

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My professional portrait studio is conveniently located in Ashburn, Virginia, just west of Dulles International Airport and north of the Brambleton shopping center.  I look forward to chatting with you about all your professional photography needs, from family portraits to commercial headshots.  Contact me today!