About this Event
This four-week photography workshop is designed for beginners and emerging photographers who want to gain confidence with their cameras, develop their creative eye, and explore photography as both a technical skill and an artistic form of expression.
Through practical exercises, visual references from art history and photography, and guided image reviews, participants will learn how to control their camera settings, understand composition, work creatively with colour, and explore portraiture in a studio environment.
Each session combines learning, hands-on photographic practice, and image reviews using Adobe Camera Raw, helping participants understand not only how to take photographs, but also how to evaluate and improve their work.
What You'll Learn
By the end of the four weeks, you will:
- Understand your camera's essential settings, including white balance, ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.
- Learn fundamental composition techniques, including the Fibonacci spiral and rule of thirds.
- Explore how colour, framing, and visual elements influence the meaning and atmosphere of a photograph.
- Gain an introduction to portraiture, its artistic history, and its role in contemporary photography.
- Experiment with studio lighting, coloured gels, and directing a subject.
- Develop practical skills in reviewing and adjusting photographs using Adobe Camera Raw.
Limited to 6–8 participants per group.
Our small-group format allows for individual guidance, hands-on practice, and constructive feedback throughout the workshop.
Who This Is For
- Beginners looking to understand and confidently use their cameras.
- Photography enthusiasts interested in developing their technical and creative skills.
- Artists and creators curious about photographic composition, colour, and visual storytelling.
- Anyone looking for a practical introduction to portraiture and studio lighting.
Four-Week Programme
Day 1 – Master Your Camera Settings
Theme: Understanding the Technical Foundations of Photography
Discover how your camera works and learn to take control of its fundamental settings: we will explore white balance and the exposure triangle — ISO, aperture, and shutter speed — to understand how these settings interact to create a balanced exposure.
Participants will put these principles into practice with their cameras, followed by a guided review of their images using Adobe Camera Raw.
Day 2 – Composition: Learning to See
Theme: Exploring Composition Through Art and Photography
Discover how composition influences the way we perceive images, drawing inspiration from architecture, classical painting, and modern photography: we will explore the Fibonacci spiral, the rule of thirds, and how different approaches to framing can guide the viewer's attention and create visual balance.
Participants will apply these principles through practical photographic exercises, followed by image reviews using Adobe Camera Raw.
Day 3 – Colour Composition, Themes & Portraiture
Theme: Understanding Meaning and Visual Expression
Explore the creative relationship between colour, composition, and photographic storytelling: we will introduce portraiture through its historical and artistic context, examining how artists and photographers use visual elements to communicate identity, mood, and meaning.
Participants will explore how colours, subjects, and compositional choices work together to create expressive images, with practical exercises and guided reviews using Adobe Camera Raw.
Day 4 – Portraiture in the Studio
Theme: Exploring Light, Colour and the Subject
Participants will experiment with studio lighting, coloured gels, camera settings, and subject positioning to explore how light and colour can transform a portrait. This hands-on session will encourage creative experimentation and bring together the technical and visual principles explored throughout the workshop.
The session will conclude with a guided review of the photographs using Adobe Camera Raw.
Further Information
This workshop is highly interactive, combining accessible explanations with practical photographic exercises and personalised guidance.
We encourage participants to bring their own camera (DSLR, mirrorless, or advanced compact), a notepad, and any questions they may have. Working with your own equipment will help you become more comfortable using it independently.
The workshop is led by Antonino Pilade, founder of the Contemporary Reflection Art Studio, visual artist, filmmaker, and photographer.
Explore his work at www.antoniopilade.com / www.contemporaryreflection.com
Price and Booking: £120 for the complete four-week workshop.
The fee covers all four sessions. Each workshop builds on the knowledge and skills developed in the previous session, so bookings are available for the full programme rather than individual dates.
For further information, please contact [email protected].
Event venue & nearby stays
Contemporary Reflection Art Studio, 20A, Cornerstone Studios,, London, United Kingdom
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