Hi, I’m Nikki! Let’s Capture Something Beautiful Together.
Photography isn’t just about taking pictures—it’s about seeing light, telling stories, and creating images that feel like art. This 6-week beginner-friendly portrait photography course is designed to help you take full control of your camera, understand lighting techniques, and gain the confidence to capture portraits you’re proud of.
We’ll kick things off with a 1.5-hour deep dive into manual mode during our first class, where you’ll learn how to adjust aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to create well-exposed, intentional images. You’ll also get hands-on practice so you can start shooting with confidence right away.
We’ll meet once a week on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, starting February 26th, at the University Club in Durham, NC. Each session will start with a photo critique, where we’ll review the previous week’s assignment in a fun and supportive environment. Then, we’ll jump into that week’s lesson, covering topics such as:
✅ Mastering different portrait lighting styles (Rembrandt, Butterfly, Broad, Short, and more)
✅ Using natural and artificial light to create mood and depth
✅ The power of color theory in photography
✅ Basic editing tools to enhance your images
✅ How to use a flash effectively for portraits
What You’ll Need:
📸 Any digital or mirrorless camera that allows you to shoot in manual mode. If you’re unsure about your gear, I’m happy to provide recommendations for lenses or camera bodies, but any camera that has manual settings will work!
Course Details:
💰 Cost: $390 for all 6 classes
📍 Start Date: Wednesday, February 26th
📍 Location: University Club, Durham, NC
📍 Time: 6:30 PM
By the end of this course, you’ll walk away not just with technical skills, but with an artist’s eye, the confidence to tackle any lighting scenario, and the ability to create portraits that truly feel like art.
🎉 No extra lenses or fancy gear required—just bring your camera and an eagerness to learn. Let’s take your photography to the next level, together!
✨ Spots are limited—sign up now and start creating!
This is an 8 week Beginners Photography course
Your Camera, Your Art
Learn Manual Mode
Ever wondered how your favorite photographers can photograph something and turn out stunning? But, your images while using auto mode are less than par? We will use this time to understand the concepts of f/stop, ISO, and shutter-speed—the trifecta of photography.
Weekly Creative Tasks
Let us see your world
Each week students will have a fun artistic task dealing with the previous class lesson. This is the time for students to really explore and be creative. It’s okay to channel your inner artist for these. At the beginning of each class we will have a critique of each students art, and then start a new lesson.
What You Will Learn
see the light
Students will leave the last day of class having learned how to full photograph on manual mode. Students will also have the knowledge to create photographs in any lighting situation. They will understand tools of the trade, like editing, storage of files, color theory, and portrait studio lighting techniques.
Raving Reviews
“Nikki is down to earth and funny as she is talented. Not only is she approachable, but she’s extremely knowledgeable when it comes to lighting her subjects and making them comfortable. It’s rare to find folks in the photography industry that are open hearted instead of gatekeep-y. She’s exactly the kind of person you WANT to learn from, and I’m really glad I did”
-Jillian C
“Nikki was an excellent teacher, her course refreshed my memory on basic composition and then provided amazing lessons that were easy to understand, fun projects to learn while creating, and insightful, friendly critique”
-Corinne B
Some Additional Items You May Want For Class
In addition to wedding photography
we also offer
Family photography
event photography
along with
branding and headshot photography
