Intermediate Course Image
NEW Course Outline and material for the September 2016 class

VPW popular Intermediate Digital Course has just been completely re-designed, and now features brand new update course material.

In this in-depth and hands-on course you will learn how to take your digital photography skills to the next level!

If you have taken VPW's Introduction to Digital Photography Course or comparable Basic Digital Photography Class, this is the next logical step to advance your skills.

Building on your skills, this intermediate course guides students through mastering their camera functions.

Beyond the introduction to exposure, white balance and composition, discussions about the impact of colour, we take on studio lighting, post-production, lighting styles, direction and quality, and in depth demonstration and exploration of digital workflow from capture to print using Lightroom and Photoshop Elements in a fun and relaxed environment.

We also take you on a fieldtrip to practice event and travel photography and discuss relevant camera and shooting techniques.

Students are invited to do a course project to focus their learning on a subject or technique that most interests them with full critiques offered in class. Professional studio equipment and location make this course a step above!

Class 1

Review essential camera features and functionality. Discuss and hand out assignments.

Class 2

On-camera flash and reflectors. Bending light, adding light, removing light. Especially as it pertains to people.

Class 3

Review of work from previous week. Lighting for people. Simple posing ideas. 5 basic portrait lighting styles. Finding them outdoors. Assignment: Portrait.

Class 4

Event/Travel photography. Meet at VPW for an overview of what to look for. Field trip to VanDusen Gardens, photographing it as an ‘event’.

Class 5

Review VanDusen images. Photoshop Elements/LightRoom. Filing, sorting, retrieving images. Keywording and copyright. Resizing for output to various sources. Assignment: Event/Photojournalist

Class 6

Review event work. Colour as a compositional tool. Colour to affect mood, to drive the eye through the composition. General shoot to revisit composition—especially as it pertains to colour.

Class 7

Simple retouching techniques, using Photoshop Elements, that will give lots of impact to your images.

Class8

Presentation of final project. Making a Wow slideshow to display and share.

Pre-Requisites

Level:

Intermediate. Introduction to Digital SLR Photography Course or equivalent basic photography knowledge required. You must be comfortable shooting in manual mode with a basic understanding of exposure including aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

Enrollment:

Maximum 18 participants.

What to Bring

Equipment Needed:

Bring your camera (must have manual controls) and at least 1 lens. A tripod is also required.
Optional: additional lenses, camera flash, and a laptop.

We Provide:

Detailed course notes in binder.
All lighting equipment and professional models when shooting in a professional studio/location setting as part of this course.

Discounts

Early-Bird Discount:

Most of our courses and workshops offer a 10% discount is applied automatically if you register before the Early-Bird Discount deadline date listed in the registration table below.

Some courses and workshops offer a discount if you're among the first 3 people who register. This discount will replace the 'standard' Early Bird Discount mentioned above, and will be applied automatically during the online registration process (as long as it is available). Check the course/workshop listing page for more details.

Group Discount:

A 5% discount will be appplied if 3 or more people register at the same time for the same workshop. (All 3 tuitions must be paid for by one credit card to be considered a group registration.) Please follow the instructions on the online registration page.

Refunds

In order to provide the best learning environment possible VPW keeps class and tour sizes limited to 10-15 people (depending on the workshop). This is but one reason that we count on you to attend your chosen class or tour, once you have registered for it.

If you must withdraw for any reason please be aware of our refund policy as follows:

For our Local Lectures, Seminars, and Workshops valued at or under $100, VPW is unable to provide a cash refund. Transfers are limited to one transfer to either the same event at a later date, or a different event of equal value. VPW requires 48 hours written notice in order to make such a transfer (email notice is acceptable). The event you are transferring to must occur within 6 months of the original event you registered for. A $15 fee will be applied to all transfers.

For our Local Workshops, 1 to 5 days in length and our Local 4 to 10 Week Courses, VPW requires 30 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. (Email notice is acceptable.)

For our Master Photographer Series workshops, 1 to 5 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the workshop start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

Within 45 days of the Master Photographer Series workshop date all fees paid are non-refundable.

For our Photo Tours (national and international), the following charges will apply:

  • If you cancel up to 3 months before the tour start date and we can fill your space, your reservation (or deposit) fee will be refunded
  • There is no additional cancellation fee up to 8 weeks before the start of your tour
  • From 8 weeks to 4 weeks before the tour: 25% of your balance
  • From 4 weeks to 1 week before the tour: 50% of your balance
  • From 1 week to 72 hours before the tour: 75% of your balance
  • If you cancel within 72 hours of the start of the trip, no refund can be paid
  • Transaction charges incurred on accepting and refunding payments will be deducted from the refund amount
  • In the (unlikely) event that we cancel the Photo Tour, all monies paid will be refunded in full

We highly recommend that you take out travel insurance to guard yourself against monies lost due to unavoidable cancellation by either party.

Transfers (for all events over $100): If you wish to transfer to a different workshop date, VPW requires a minimum of 30 days written (email) notice. All transfers are based on availaibility, and subject to approval by VPW staff. For courses/workshops with tuition above $101, the transfer fee is $35.

Transfer Fees as based on event pricing:
Tuition of $100 and below, the transfer fee is $15
Tuition of $101 and above, the transfer fee is $35

VPW can give no refunds:

If you registered for any event valued at or under $100
If you do not show up for your registered course.
If you register for a course beyond or below your skill or ability level.

Refunds for all events valued at $101 and above (excluding Master Series Workshops):
If a student wishes to cancel their registration for any of VPW's events, and has provided written notice within the appropriate timeframe, a refund less a $50 administration fee will be provided.

Course Cancellation:

Occasionally, we may have to cancel a course due to low enrollment. In this case, we will issue a full refund of all monies paid to VPW up to that time.

Instructor Replacement:

In the event that a listed instructor is unable to participate because of a change in his or her professional schedule, we will replace the instructor with someone of equal or similar credentials. If we cannot find a replacement in due time before the course is about to start, a particular class may have to be rescheduled.

Liability

In the event that we cancel your course, for any reason, the extent of VPW's liability is limited to the return of all monies paid. We will do everything we can to register you in another equivalent course. VPW will not be responsible for reimbursement of travel expenses of any kind.

Please note: An administration charge of $50 applies to all refunds

Read complete refund and liability policy

"This course has been the best photography class I have ever taken - a perfect combination of lectures, hands-on shooting exercises, critiques and technical advice. And the best value in the City as well. Thanks Marc!"

"Thanks for an excellent workshop. I learned lots, and especially enjoyed the studio shooting session with the models you brought in. I will be back to take more of VPW's courses and workshops!"

Read more testimonials......

The Eight Week Intermediate Digital SLR Photography Course is taught by the following instructors:

Ross Den Otter
Marc Koegel
Katie Huisman
Mary Jensen

Please choose your instructor and workshop date from the registration table below.

Class Start Date Time Early-Bird Discount Location Instructor Registration
Wednesday Evenings Sept 22nd, 2015 7PM - 9:30PM N/A Beaumont Studios Ross den Otter SOLD OUT
Monday Evenings January 25, 2016 7PM - 9:30PM N/A Beaumont Studios,
326 West 5th Avenue
Mary Jensen SOLD OUT
Monday Evenings October 8th, 2016 7PM - 9:30PM First 3 Registrations save $45!! Beaumont Studios 326 West 5th Avenue Mary Jensen Click HERE to Register
TBA Winter 2016 TBA Waitlist TBA TBA TBA info@vancouverphotoworkshops.com