Want to join our next Photography for Parents Fundamentals?

Here is everything you need to know about it! 

1. What is the Fundamentals of Photography for Parents course?

The Fundamentals of Photography for Parents is a 6 week course designed to help you learn how to work with your camera and how to capture your families in a natural environment.

We built it up to cover not just the camera skills ( knowing what the buttons do, without understanding why and how you might use them is pointless) but also all the other elements that come together to help you capture a beautiful moment skilfully - understanding composition, understanding visual storytelling and understanding light. Between these 4, you have the fundamentals of photography covered.

2. Who is if for?

Any parent out there who wants to learn to take better photos of their kids! But specifically, level wise, it's suitable for levels from complete beginner ( 'I've never used a camera other than on auto' or 'I only just got my first camera') to intermediate ('I've dabbled a bit and self taught myself stuff but it seems patchy' or 'I've done a short course that taught me the camera basics but don't feel confident when capturing my kids).

And yes, we do have courses that cater for those that are more advanced, and if you're not sure which level you are, here is a handy questionnaire that can help. Just so you know, Our Advanced course is currently available at 20% Off and will open in March 2023. Learn more about it here

3. How does it work?

The reasons our courses work so well is a combination of well designed instruction materials ( you may have got a glimpse of that through this bootcamp ) and a ton of support available for you. Here is how the course works: 

The course consists of 5 core modules, plus a bonus, idea-bank module. It's spread over 6 weeks, including a break week after the first 3 weeks. And here are the key components: 

4. What do you need?

A camera. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy, but you do need to be able to use manual and semi manual modes - usually marked with letter such as A or AV, S or TV, M and P. If in doubt, ask us! 

5. Who are our Instructors?

We have some amazing instructors waiting for you! Michaela Strivens, Alannah Hebbert, Alex Tandy - they are all seasoned pros specialising in photographing children and families with years of experience under their belt. They are very skilled at capturing children in their natural environment, being their authentic selves, showing their true personalities. There is a wealth of knowledge gained both in their professional lives and as photo parents themselves! But as well as being amazing photographers, they are also fabulous teachers - understanding, patient, encouraging and able to make complex concepts easy to understand. 

When? How?

Next Fundamentals course starts on Monday 16th January - genuinely THE best way to start off the year! 

I hear you have questions?

EVERYTHING YOU LEARN 

IN OUR FUNDAMENTALS COURSE

Module 1 - Step 1 to mastering your camera: on FOCUS, SPACE and LIGHT

• The importance of focus and what it does to our brain and how it informs the way we 'read' a photograph
• Taking control of your focus - understanding what focus settings should be used for different types of images to make sure you can capture still or moving subjects sharp
• Mastering focus formula - a process to help you determine what settings to use for each occasion to make sure you can always capture your kids sharp, whether they're on the go or ( less likely) sitting calmly down
• Understanding how your choice of lens and zoom influences how much of the space in front of you your camera sees - we started you off on this in this bootcamp but there is a lot more to this! 
• choosing the right kind of lens or zoom level for different situations - portraits, wider scenes, action sequences, capturing these little fingers and toes...
• what lens / zoom level is an absolute no-no for a great portrait - and why most selfies look bad! 
• learning how your camera sees the light and how to make it better, especially with tricky light
• learning how to shoot against the light - like a bright window and NOT end up with the person looking all dark

Module 2 - Getting to grips with exposure and aperture

• understanding the mechanics of your camera - how does a photo actually happen inside
• taking your camera firmly OFF the Auto settings - now you're in control. Learning the key factors ( aperture, shutter speed and ISO) and how they interact with one another
• Learning to control your aperture - the how and the why
• taking control of what in your image will be sharp and what will be blurry - hello full control over blurry backgrounds, blurry foregrounds and pin sharp subjects in between. We started you off on it in this bootcamp but we go deeper into it  in the course
• How to capture portraits and those precious detail shots beautifully 

Module 3 - Capturing movement

• Learning to control your shutter speed and mastering MOVEMENT
• learning how to capture moving things SHARP - yes, that includes those fast moving baby arms and legs
• learning how to capture moving things BLURRY - and why would you want to do it?
• learning how to highlight action and energy and speed  in your images and how to help yourself with composition - for your little bundles of energy and sporting superstars
• creative techniques like night time light trails or panning or creative blur
• how to use your focus settings on top of your shutter settings to help capture things sharp

Module 4 - LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT

• It's not just about how much light you have but also what kind of light you have and why the way you treat light will be the difference between an AAAH photo and MEH photo
• discovering how to find good light in your home and outside
• learning what kind of light might be best for moody portraits and light and airy baby shots - and how to find it!
• learning to see the light - really see where it comes from, how it affects your child and how to bend it to your will
• learning how sometimes just turning around will make the hugest difference to the way your image looks

Module 5 - Photo composition

• understanding how we 'read' photographs and how to compose so that the magic YOU see translates into what the others see when they pick up that photo
• fundamental rules of photo composition - we started you off with the rule of thirds but there is MORE
• storytelling through your photographs - how to make your images mean something and show something real, beyond 'my child looks cute here'
• getting creative and expressing yourself through photographs 
• learning to go beyond your usual compositions and discovering different styles

BONUS Module 6 - Photographing children - Idea Bank

• Photographing different ages - what to look out for, what milestones to capture, useful hints and techniques for each stage
• Overcoming objections from your subjects - the dreaded Photographer's Child Syndrome and how to bring your kids back on board
• next steps for you - the emerging photographer