Portrait Photography Workshops

Portrait & flash photography - One-day workshops

Objectives:

To teach basic portrait and flash photography techniques, photographing a model in a studio and outside on location... and to have fun!!!

Facilitator:

Graham Meadows: Graham is a professional photographer and established international author. He is currently the chief photographer for the Auckland Zoo, and one of the facilitators at the Auckland Zoo Photography Workshops.

Details

Workshop location: Graham’s office and studio, and the surrounding buildings, paddocks, gardens and native bush on his rural property at 1559 State Highway 16, Woodhill (between Kumeu and Helensville). Just 30 minutes drive from the Auckland CBD.

Dates: Workshops are usually run on Saturdays, but can be scheduled for a Sunday by request. The next proposed dates are Saturday September 11th and Saturday September 25th.

If you are interested in attending please contact me as soon as possible. A workshop will go ahead once I have received two registrations, and will close after I have received three. If you can't make one of the above dates, please register your interest for future workshops.

Time: Each workshop runs from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, with a 30-minute break for lunch.

Facilities: The office and studio building is 6m wide x 12m long, so quite compact - hence the restriction on numbers. The studio area is 6m by 6m with seating and bench space/chairs for working on computers. Two computers with Photoshop loaded are available for use if needed. Basic kitchen facilities include hot water, a microwave and fridge. There is a toilet, and a make-up and changing room for models.

Note: I regret that the studio does not have facilities for those with physical disabilities, and many of the outdoor locations are on uneven ground or steep hillsides. If you have any questions about this please contact me.

Locations for shoots: Studio and outdoor – about 3 hours allocated for studio photography, up to 2 hours for outdoor (outdoor weather-dependent, if unavailable the barn or studio is used).

Number of photographers: Minimum of two, maximum of three.

Models: We try to select varieties of hair colour and ethnicity; but which model is used on the day depends on availability.

Make-up artist: Amy Reichenbach, Director of Essential Beauty. As well as making up the model she will teach participants how to apply basic make-up for portrait photography at home. See Amy's profile here

Studio poses: These range from head and shoulders to full-body portraiture, posing with or without simple props. The model will pose naturally and can also be directed. The objective is to keep things simple, concentrating on the creation and control of light and shadow.

Studio Lighting: Techniques range from the simplest use of natural light and a reflector to the use of up to 6 electronic flashes with wireless connection. We teach you how to create, reduce or accentuate shadows, and highlight selected areas of a model's features.

Studio Backdrops: There are 9 different colours of wall-to-floor backdrop (2.7 metre wide x 11 metres long) to choose from, including white and black. There are also two moveable backdrops 2 metres wide and high, onto which various colours of satin, cloth or canvas can be placed.

Outdoor locations: These make use of natural features such as paddocks with long grass and wild flowers, old buildings, gates, fences, trees or gaps through foliage, with or without props. Shots cover from head to full-body.

Outdoor lighting: We show you how to use a mixture of natural light, diffusers, reflectors and on-camera flash to create great portraits.

Programme overview: Each workshop starts with a 15-minute demonstration of basic make-up techniques being applied to a model. This is followed by studio photography of the model, after which the participants photograph her outdoors on location.

Workshop notes: The notes provided are kept simple, and participants are advised to make their own notes as they go through the day.

Bring: Camera equipment and any flash gear. USB stick to transfer images. Note pad. Food and drinks for the day - tea, coffee, milk and bottled water are provided. If you have one, you may wish to bring your laptop.

Fee: $270 including GST, payable upon registration. Download Registration form.

Feedback and Examples

View feedback and some examples of portrait photos taken by past participants.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By registering for the workshop you will agree to the following Terms and Conditions:

• No registration is accepted until the registration fee has been paid.
• Registrations are accepted in order of payment, and any given workshop is closed off once four people have registered.
• If a workshop is cancelled by me the registration fee is refundable. It is not refundable if a registrant later cancels or fails to turn up. The fee paid may be transferred to a later Portrait Workshop on condition that four participants attended the workshop that was missed by the registrant.
• The copyright of each photograph is owned by the photographer.
• Each model and photographer will sign a model release, which includes the terms and conditions listed below.
• Each model may receive copies of her/his photographs as part payment for her/his services.
• Photographs taken of the models may only be used for the photographer’s or model’s personal use and promotion, such as on a web site, Facebook or Flickr. If posted on a web site they must not exceed 500 pixels in width or height, and be clearly identified as being totally restricted for any other use. Do not assign a Creative Commons Licence.
• The photographs may not be used or sold for any commercial purpose, either by the photographer or the model; in the event that such a request eventuates, a new legal agreement and model release must be agreed and signed between the model and the photographer.

Links to photographers' images

Check out Richard's pictures at Flickr

Auckland Zoo Photography Workshops

In conjunction with Claire Vial I also tutor three different workshops at the Auckland Zoo: Know Your Camera; Composition; and Photoshop Basics. Full details.

Also check out the following web site. Full details.