Portraiture 101
DURATION: 4 Hours Of Instruction
FORMAT: 1-Day Weekend Workshop
PREREQUISITES: Photo 101 or equivalent
Showing Beauty, Style & Emotions
A portrait can capture style, emotions, memories and much more! Natural light, real life settings and relaxed posing are all characteristics of good Lifestyle portraiture. This hands-on workshop will cover shooting locations, what times of day offer the best lighting, using natural lighting and tips for using a reflector.
“I am so grateful to have found GTA!!! I now feel so much more comfortable with my camera, not at all daunted by it, and am enjoying putting my newly learned skills to the test with gratifying results, and understanding where things can be improved. The quality of teaching, content, and so on was stellar.”
– A. H. Rubenstein
Course Summary
- Compositional tips for portraiture
- Natural lighting techniques and how to use a reflector
- Candid photography
- Relaxed posing for natural looking shots
- Current trends and how to work with tricky subjects/scenarios
- Equipment considerations (lenses, reflectors, etc.)
Indoor & Outdoor Lighting
Lighting is the key to any great shot and in this course we’ll focus on lighting techniques for both indoor and outdoor photos. Learn how to look for natural daylight and how to modify it to best suit your subject and your own creative vision.
Posing
When shooting portraits you have to be able to make your subjects comfortable while giving them clear direction. Our portraiture instructors have lots of shooting experience and will give you their expertise advice based on their experience. They’ll make sure you make your subjects look their very best!
Tricky Subjects & Scenarios
Photographing little kids, shooting big groups of people or photographing a back lit subject are just some of the tricky conditions you might be faced with. We’ll give you all the tips you need to make your photo shoot fun for you and your subject while resulting in really stunning images.
Shooting Time
This course will cover a lot of great info and to make sure you get a really solid understanding of the material, we’ve integrated demo and practice time into the workshop. This will be a chance for you to only practice what you’re learning but to also ask the instructor any extra questions you might have.
How early do I need to register?
Registration is open right up until the day the session begins. Please note however, that some of our classes sell out well in advance. In order to guarantee enrolment, we recommend registering as soon as you know your schedule.
What are your class and cancellation policies?
Policies:
- Prepayment is required to confirm your registration and spot in the class / camp / workshop.
- All sessions begin promptly at the stated time. Any missed material is forgone by the student.
- Register early: If you wait until the last minute, the class might be filled or cancelled due to insufficient enrolment.
Cancellation by Student:
- CLASS/WORKSHOP: Cancellations are non-refundable whether the student cancels or fails to show up for class; however, if we are notified within 7 days prior to the scheduled session, we will reschedule you to another session but a $50 administration fee will apply*.
- PRIVATE LESSONS: Cancellations are non-refundable whether the student cancels or fails to show up for the lesson; however, if we are notified 48 hours prior to the scheduled session, we will reschedule your session, but a  $50 administration fee will apply.
Class Cancellation:
- GTA Photography Classes reserves the right to cancel or postpone any class if there is inadequate enrolment. In the event that a class must be cancelled, you will be notified by email in advance (please be sure to register using the email address where you can best be reached). You may then either reschedule for another session or receive reimbursement of class fees.
*Exclusions: Travel Photography purchased as a Photo 101 add on is non-refundable and non-transferable prior to or post your scheduled session.
Do you offer certificates?
We offer a certificate of completion to students upon request. Please contact us through email or by phone to speak with an instructor to receive your certificate if you require one. Certificates will be delivered through email. There will be a $25 admin fee if you would like a physical certificate mailed to you.
What equipment should I bring to class?
• DSLR Camera or point & shoot camera that can shoot in manual mode
• Memory Card
• Fully Charged Battery Pack
• Class notes (you’ll be able to download these in your confirmation email)
What type of payment do you accept?
Most of our registration is done ONLINE using MC and VISA. We do however, except CASH / CHEQUES in person at the studio. (Note: We do not accept Debit) Please phone ahead to make an appointment to register if paying by cash, as we may be in session or out on assignment.
Cheques can also be mailed to our studio. Please make them payable to GTA Photography Classes.
Mailing Address:
25 Toronto St.
Suite #200
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5C 2R1
Do I need prior training or experience?
For the introductory courses (Photo 101) and photo tours, no prior training is required. More advanced courses such as Photo 201 and our workshops, do require prior experience as they build on basic techniques taught in Photo 101. If you have some prior knowledge or experience and not sure if you need some of the prerequisites, give us a call and talk to an instructor today!
Do I get more instruction in the in-class Weekend Boot Camp or the 4 week program?
All of our programs include the exact same lecture / workshop material.  You will not get any more or less in any of the sessions. We design our courses and workshops so that we equip all our students with the knowledge they need! You just select the class type that works best for your schedule.  Leave everything else with us!
Where are you located? Is there parking?
For all of our classes in Toronto, they are located at 25 Toronto Street, Suite #200. Parking is available on Toronto St and at several other paid-parking lots around the area.
For all information about our location, contact and map with parking options, please visit our Contact Page for more details.
