Welcome to Photocourse NZ at Photospace, 37 Courtenay Place, Wellington, New Zealand.

Booking now:

• Photocourse 1 - Introduction to creative photography - 3 weeks, basic
• Shooting Film - basics workshop on colour and B&W film & film camera 
• Darkroom 1 weekend workshop - shoot & develop & print your own black & white photos in our darkroom 
• Darkroom 1 course - as above but over four Monday evenings
• Darkroom 2 weekend workshop - finer points of darkroom printing
• Studio Lighting Intro Saturday workshop - how to work in a professional photo studio environment - practical workshop
• Photocourse 3 - The Photo Series - Documentary and Environmental (intermediate-advanced course)
• Photocourse 4 - Long Project (self-directed, small group, mentored course)
• Photocourse 2 - The Portrait - a deep dive into photographic portraiture (running in 2027 - expressions of interest welcome now).

Introduction

Cameras and photo-processing software continue to improve, making it seem easier to take professional-looking photos, and this is even more evident with the latest cellphones. "You press the button, we do the rest" was Kodak's tagline in 1888, and that vision has continued to develop with new technology and take over. Automated snaps are a good stepping-off point, but there is far, far more about photography that is open for you to explore.

Aside from the major question of what to photograph (something we address in depth in our intermediate-advanced level courses) there are these considerations:

• What do all the controls do and how are they important creatively?
• How do I compose a photo well?
• Am I shooting from the best possible viewpoint?
• How can I shoot better landscapes/portraits/documentary photos?
• How do I understand light quality, and control and capture it?
• Once I've taken some good photos, what should I do with them?
  
• Is the history of photography important? What/who should I know about?
• How can I begin to use the language of photography to express my personal viewpoint and concerns in my photographs?
  

In our real-time, small-group photography classes, we answer these questions and more, and help you on the journey to becoming a photographer.

Our photography courses and workshops will help you find your own balance between the technical and creative sides of photography - the science and the art - and show you how to develop your photographic eye so you can capture and create images that are visually strong, technically sound, impressive, personal, and uniquely your own vision and expression.

We've been teaching photography here since 1999. Our beginners', intermediate and advanced photography courses and workshops are based on practical assignments and hands-on experience to help you understand both the aesthetic and technical sides of photography. And we even teach film-based photography and darkroom processes - how to shoot on film and also developing and printing your own black and white photos.

Benefits of Photocourse NZ photography courses and workshops:

• Experienced, knowledgeable, professional tutors
• Constructive in-person feedback on your photography
• Central Wellington location as a permanent base
• Photographic art gallery, darkrooms & professional photo studio on site
• Group limits of 8 or fewer. This ensures our courses and workshops are interactive, social and fun - unlike sitting at home alone in front of a screen.
• Beginner, intermediate & advanced courses and workshops are offered for longer term creative development and progression, including group and solo exhibition projects
  
• New Zealand's most established specialist photography gallery - Photospace Gallery - and Courtenay Studios - a professional photo studio are right here on site.

We've held group and solo photography exhibitions at Photospace Gallery as a result of our intermediate-advanced courses - PC3 and PC4 -  and some of these students have gone on to have solo exhibitions at other galleries and venues.

Our courses are popular and group sizes are limited, so please book early or you may miss out. We prefer to hear from you and reply in person rather than going through some anonymous online booking process. We are happy to discuss your requirements and offer advice before you book. Deposits are required to confirm places on all our courses and workshops. 

Darkroom 1 Course - Black & white film and darkroom, 4x Monday evenings -5.30pm to 7.30pm. 4 places only per course.

Studio lighting intro workshop . Running Sat. 18th July, 2026. 4 places only per workshop. Booking now.

Workshop: Shooting Film - all the basics and more. Runs over two Saturdays. Limit 8 people.

Darkroom 1 - Film & Darkroom Weekend Workshop. 4 places only. Photo: John Williams

Photocourse 3: The Photographic Series. Booking now. Limited to 6 places

Photocourse 1 - Intro to Creative Photography. Limit of 6 people.

Darkroom 2 - Black & White Printing weekend workshop running Winter 2026, expressions of interest now. 4 places only. Photo: James Gilberd

Photocourse 4 - mentored long photographic project, beginning in November, 2026, running into mid-2027. Booking now. Limit 6 places. (Photo by J.Gilberd.)

Photocourse 2 - Intro to Portraiture. running again in 2027. Expressions of interest welcome now. 6 places only. (Photo of drummer Bruce King by J. Gilberd.)