New England School of Photography

Our studio and lighting courses provide hands-on instruction on the manipulation and utilization of light for the production of professional quality images. Both in the studio and on location, students photograph people and products, creating bodies of work that reflect contemporary styles and trends.

Workshops range from basic to advanced, enabling you to choose a level that matches your experience and interests. You will have full access to NESOP's black and white darkrooms, color printing rooms, and digital imaging lab (access to the digital imaging facility is restricted to students taking or who have taken other coureses in our digital imaging classrooms or lab). Facilities are available to workshop students after 5 p.m., Monday–Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Access to these facilities is based on your workshop status and your compliance with the policies and procedures regarding use of our facilities.

Click here to view the current workshop schedule.

Click here to view all current workshop enrollment forms.

Enroll Now:  Please note that enrollment forms are course-specific and may be accessed directly above the course description by clicking on the "click here" link.  
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Studio & Lighting Course Descriptions

The following is a list of workshops that we currently offer at NESOP and have offered in the past.  If there's a workshop in which you are particularly interested, please let us know!

• Classical Contemporary Portraiture
• Modern Portraiture  [ Offered Summer 2009 ]
• Art of Studio  [ Offered Summer 2009 ]
• Advanced Studio Lighting
• Creative Lighting  [ Offered Summer 2009 ]
• Advanced Creative Lighting  [ Offered Summer 2009 ]
• Creative Lighting Projects
• Fashion  [ Offered Summer 2009 ]
• Beauty and Glamour

[ Classical Contemporary Portraiture ]
This workshop is for people who already have basic photographic skills and are at a stage where they want to acquire more specialized skills in the art of photographic portraiture. It will cover the basics of photographic portraiture including camera equipment and accessories, lighting, posing, camera room organization and psychology, and postproduction and business practices. Both traditional and non-traditional styles will be included as well as indoor and outdoor portraiture. Students in this class should already be comfortable with digital or film SLR camera operation.

[ Modern Portraiture ]

To download printable enrollment forms for Modern Portraiture, click here.

This course will cover the fundamental technical and artistic skills used in today’s contemporary portraiture. Designed for students who already have basic photographic skills, the class will teach specialized skills in the art of photographic portraiture. Students will learn to utilize existing light, TTL (through the lens) flash, & studio strobes to create stunning portraits. The course will also cover current trends in portraiture, composition, posing, lighting, postproduction and business practices. Class will be taking place both in the studio and on location. Students in this class should already be comfortable with digital or film SLR camera operation.

[ Art of Studio Photography ]

To download printable enrollment forms for Art of Studio, click here.

Art of Studio is a course designed for people who wish to learn to use studio lighting and digital capture or for people who just wish to practice and augment the skills they already have in these areas. Commercial studio techniques will be the theme of the course with ample opportunity for creativity. Students will work in teams to learn digital capture tethered to a computer while learning the finer points of studio strobes, hot lights, grid spots, color gels, gobos and soft boxes. Techniques covered include digital camera operation, software settings for capturing tethered, shooting RAW, background gradation and styling. Subjects included are: fashion and portraiture, lighting high tech products like computer screens and still life. All lighting equipment and computers are provided by the school.

Required Equipment: Digital SLR camera and lens with ability to tether to a computer and “PC to Household” cord. If the student plans to use their own computer they will need the proper digital capture software for their camera.

Recommended Equipment: “Safe sync” and a portable hard drive.

Prerequisite: Basic digital camera skills (Beginning Digital Camera). Fundamental knowledge of and access to Adobe CS2 or above. Knowledge of Adobe Lightroom or Apple’s Aperture is recommended but not required.

[ Advanced Studio Lighting ]
An advanced class in studio lighting, the goal of this workshop is for students to perfect their lighting skills, giving them the confidence to take on any photo assignment. A strong emphasis will be placed on pre-visualization of lighting, composition and execution of the final image. Through a series of three types of photography shoots, the instructor will demonstrate the process of moving from concept to final image and how a professional photographer addresses each step in that process. These sessions will cover small table top still life, large set photo illustration and corporate portraits in the studio. Through these demonstrations, students will witness the professional photographer solving a multitude of technical and aesthetic issues. To refine their skills, students will be assigned photographs to reproduce.

Prerequisite: Art of Studio and experience in Photoshop CS or CS2

[ Creative Lighting: Utilizing Natural Light, Ambient Light ]

To download printable enrollment forms for Creative Lighting, click here.

A comprehensive course teaching practical skills for the better use of light in photography. Topics include: seeing and using the direction and quality of existing light; the use of reflectors and light modifiers; thorough instruction and demonstration of the on-camera flash as an effective lighting tool and strategies to obtain predictable results in dramatic lighting situations. Assignments provide hands-on application and visual results of the techniques taught in the class. Some equipment purchases may be required for full participation in the class assignments.

Prerequisite: Beginning Camera or equivalent

Equipment required: SLR camera with manual controls, separate electronic flash, accessory cord for off-camera flash.

[ Advanced Creative Lighting ]

To download printable enrollment forms for Adv Creative Lighting, click here.

Explore the full potential of batterypowered flash with advanced lighting tools and techniques. Classroom demonstrations utilize TTL electronic flash technology and also introduce the student to “moonlight” and “box and cable” flash systems. Emphasis is on portability, versatility and a fluid creativity in creating photographic lighting, on location or in a small studio setting. This course is ideal for the advanced amateur and the emerging professional photographer desiring to expand their lighting skills.

Topics include: bounce flash techniques, rear curtain synchronization for motion effects, high-speed synchronization, off-camera flash, remote flash, wireless TTL flash, “slaves,” utilizing light stands, umbrellas, reflectors and softboxes, multiple flash set-ups, portrait patterns of lighting, “painting with light,” night photos with flash and assembling a professional quality lighting kit.

Prerequisite: “Creative Lighting” or equivalent flash experience. SLR camera with manual controls. Portable or “studio” flash, with off-camera firing capability. Students may elect to purchase lighting equipment (additional flash, light stand, softbox, etc.) to fully participate in course assignments.

[ Creative Lighting Projects ]
A portfolio class. Students will declare a project, direction and/or area of specialty involving the use of controlled lighting; and produce new images weekly towards the project. Weekly in-class image review, image critique, suggestions for improvement, relevant lighting demonstrations as required and reference to other photographer’s works will assist and support the student in mastery and growth within his/her personal direction. Concentration continues on the Canon and Nikon Wireless TTL Speedlights as lighting tools. This class is also open to students working with any light sources from window light to traditional studio flashes. Students may declare projects dealing with portrait, model/fashion, still life, close up, art, architecture, studio and/or location subjects. Students will produce an edited, cohesive presentation for the final evening of the class.

Prerequisite: Advanced Creative Lighting or equivalent experience

Required Equipment: Each student will be required to have lighting equipment appropriate for his/her project (ex., 2 Speedlight kit or equivalent, hot lights, studio flash, etc.)

[ Fashion Photography ]

To download printable enrollment forms for Fashion Photography, click here.

This workshop introduces students to the basics of fashion photography. It will give students the opportunity to photograph professional models in the studio while learning the basics of studio lighting. Class time will be spent discussing the fashion idea, the basics of styling and makeup, working with model agencies, photo design and marketing, shooting in the studio and on location, the history of fashion photography and putting together a fashion portfolio. Shooting assignments and critiques are designed to guide students through a series of lighting situations and to develop a personal sense of vision and creativity.

[ Beauty & Glamour]

This workshop introduces students to the highly stylized world of beauty and glamour photography. Regular photo shoots will expose students to the basics of studio and location lighting. Assignments will cover hair, cosmetic and perfume product segments as well as workout, lingerie and swimwear. Lectures will focus on a greater understanding of the genre with an emphasis on the importance of styling. Digital workflow will be discussed as well as Photoshop tips and techniques designed to enhance image quality. Critiques will focus on each student’s vision and technical execution.

Prerequisite: Basic camera knowledge