Photocourse 2 - The Portrait - 6 Tuesday evenings + workshop, running in March-April 2026. Booking now.  6 places only.

Photocourse 2 - The Portrait

• 6 Tuesday evening classes, 5.30pm-7.30pm.
• Running March-April, 2026 (dates t.b.a.)
• Workshop and tutorial times to be organised during the course
• Only 6 places are available, and a deposit of $120.00 will confirm your place on this course (see below).
• Payment info is available by email - please contact us directly.
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Introduction to Photocourse 2

Once you've learned the basic of camera control and composition, tacking the portrait is a good next project. We've all taken portraits many times already, but what's the difference between a portrait and a snapshot, or a portrait and a good likeness? In this course we look at what some of the great photographers have brought to the art of the portrait and take a cue from them.

On the final evening of the course we would like you to present and discuss prints of select portraits you've made during the course.

Portraiture is challenging for all photographers, from beginners to seasoned pros. You have your camera to think about, the importance of lighting to consider, and you subject demands your attention through all of it.

Worth noting: this course is not about lighting and posing models (the Studio Lighting Workshop goes more into that), it's a deeper dive into what portraiture is about and how to create meaningful photographs of people that will have value in the future. For this, we will ask you to find your own subjects to photograph, generally working outside of class time (though the studio will be available for you to work in if you want). 

This part-time course, run from our studios in Courtenay Place, is suitable for beginning to intermediate level photographers.
With a small class (limit of 6) and and experienced professional photographer as a tutor, we can offer you plenty of individual attention, as well as the benefits of meeting and working with a like-minded group of photographers.

Tutor: James Gilberd - see tutor page

Suitable cameras for Photocourse 2:
- DSLR - digital single lens reflex -  Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sony, et al
- Mirrorless interchangeable lens, (Fuji X series, Olympus, Lumix, et al)
- 'Bridge' camera (between a compact and DSLR)
- 35mm SLR film camera, or medium-format camera (You'll need to pay for your own film and processing. You may want to use the darkroom here as well). The main thing is the camera must allow manual setting of all of the main creative controls; shutter speed, f-stop, ISO, white balance.
If you have a Speedlite-type on-camera flash, bring it along (not essential but useful).

Above: some recent portrait photos of Jeremy C. at 91, taken while I was photographing the interior of his house. (The 3rd photo is a cropped-in version of the 2nd.)

Topics covered include:

• The environmental portrait
  
• Lighting for portraiture
  
• The self-portrait
  
• Printing your best photos
• Colour and Black & White
• Camera techniques and control
• Aesthetics, composition, etc
  
• Overview/basics of Adobe Lightroom 

Barry Saunders, Oriental Bay, June 2025. Photo: James Gilberd

Photocourse 2 course fee

Course fee: $480.00 including GST
To reserve a place, a deposit of $120.00 is required - see conditions & payment.
(Limit of 6 places on this course.)

The course fee does not include print processing for the assignment work. You may want to make some 10x15cm test prints and a few larger prints, but this is available for little expense from various outlets. If you choose to shoot film, you will have to purchase and develop your own film.

Drummer/technician Bruce King at 78, Auckland. Photo J. Gilberd

Example of black & white portrait lighting. Model: Vivian.

Outdoor photo of Blair. Photo: j.Gilberd

(Apologies for the lack of suitable example photos on this page. It's a new course and I'm short of photos that I can post publicly.)