Portraiture is not just about taking a photo of a person... How should you prepare? How do you build a rapport with your subject? How do you compliment their features? How do you acheive the look they and you are going for?

This hands-on portrait photography 6 week course provides students these essentials of portraiture in order to build upon with personal style & creativity through a mix of lecture, hands-on shooting, and image evaluation. Whether you are photographing as a profession or hobby, you will leave this course with more confidence to flatter features and accentuate characteristics!

Included in the Course are 3 lecture sessions, 2 photoshoots with professional models, (one in studio, one on location) as well as a final image critique & Q&A.

Working knowledge of your DSLR camera, manual exposure controls (Shutter Speed, Aperture, & ISO) and white balance settings will be necessary for students to successfully navigate the practical sections of this workshop.

Not sure if you are ready for the Introduction to Portraiture Course? See a listing of our various Introduction to Photography Courses & Workshops HERE.

Looking for a more advanced portraiture program? Click HERE to view our newest addition, Professional Portraiture Course with Katie Huisman.

 

Mary also instructs the following classes with VPW:

Introduction to Digital SLR Photography 10 Week Course

Intermediate Digital SLR Photography 8 Week Course

Photographing Kids

 


 

COURSE AGENDA:

Take-home Studies may be assigned...

Session ONE:

Introductory lecture on contemporary versus traditional portrait styles including the specifics of creating the 5 different portrait lighting styles and posing basics. How do we achieve the appropriate mood using lighting quality and direction?

Session TWO:

Lecture: How to work with Natural & Available Light

Session THREE:

Workshop: Working with Natural & Available Light - Photo session with models. Outdoors (weather permitting)

Session FOUR:

Image Review & Lecture: Critique of images from Session 3. Posing techniques & review of lighting styles & modifiers for studio use.

Session FIVE:

Workshop: Working with Strobe Lights - Photo session with models in Studio or Outdoors (weather permitting).

Session SIX:

Final Image Review: Critique of Student Final Images from Session 5 plus final Q&A.

 

NOTE: Sessions include 1 Weekend Daytime Shooting Session. TBD inclass.

 


Please Note: SLR Camera only

Mary L. G. Jensen is a portrait photographer who has been running her successful studio in Richmond, B.C. since 1986. Through giving presentations (teaching fellow photographers) and exhibiting her work she has earned from the Professional Photographers of Canada, her Master of Photographic Arts (MPA) designation. Further recognition from her peers has allowed her to be conferred with the prestigious F/PPABC, making her a fellow of the Professional Photographers Association of British Columbia.

Mary focuses her talents on creating portraits of children and families and weddings. A true ‘life style’ photographer, she usually makes her portraits and images in carefully chosen locations that are meaningful to her subjects.

“I believe that every picture tells a story, and it’s my job to effectively tell the story of whomever I am commissioned to photograph. What they are doing now, what’s important to them, where they live, and what they look like, of course. Whatever is true about now. That portrait becomes such a treasure as time passes and circumstances change. Children grow up, or move away from home. The portraits are about keeping memories fresh.”

Besides keeping up her busy portrait schedule she also manages to find time to take part in judging photographs in the provincial Salon, and sits on the board of directors for the Professional Photographers Association of British Columbia as well as her local community centre board.

Mary also instructs the following classes with VPW:

Introduction to Digital SLR Photography 10 Week Course

Intermediate Digital SLR Photography 8 Week Course

Photographing Kids

 

 

Pre-Requisites

Level:

Strong Beginner/ Intermediate Level.Working knowledge of your DSLR camera, manual exposure controls (Shutter Speed, Aperture, & ISO) and white balance settings will be necessary for students to successfully navigate the practical sections of this workshop.

Enrollment:

Maximum 12 participants.

What to Bring

Equipment Needed:

Bring your camera (must have manual controls) and at least 1 lens.
Optional: additional lenses

We Provide:

All equipment and professional models when shooting in a professional studio 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

"Great Workshop - Loved the hands-on shooting time where we could apply our knowledge right away. Thanks for a great day."

"Thanks again for the course...tons of very useful info for a newbie like me. Well worth the time and money!!!"

Read more testimonials......

The Portraiture Course is taught by the following instructor:

Mary Jensen of Artisan Photography

Please choose your workshop date from the registration table below.

Aura McKay Photograph
Class Start Date: Time Early-Bird Discount Offer: Location Instructor Registration
Monday Evenings January 20, 2014 7pm - 10pm First 3 People SAVE $45!! VPW Studios Mary Jensen SOLD OUT
6 Sessions TBA N/A TBA VPW Studios Mary Jensen

to be waitlisted email: info@vancouverphotoworkshops.com