For Beginning & Advanced Photographers
Love photography? This is your opportunity to take your skills to the next level. Lenspiration will be running a Photo Class and a Photography Team this year!
As much as we love learning photography online, there’s nothing quite like gaining hands-on experience under the guidance of a professional, experienced photographer. Regardless of your skill level, there’s something for everyone at Convention! What skill level are you?
Both of the options below are taught by James Staddon from Lenspiration. Meet James over at the Speakers & Workshops page!
Love photography? This is your opportunity to take your skills to the next level. Lenspiration will be running a Photo Class and a Photography Team this year!
As much as we love learning photography online, there’s nothing quite like gaining hands-on experience under the guidance of a professional, experienced photographer. Regardless of your skill level, there’s something for everyone at Convention! What skill level are you?
Both of the options below are taught by James Staddon from Lenspiration. Meet James over at the Speakers & Workshops page!
OPTIONS (program descriptions below):
Photo Class: Learning to See Light Includes four interactive sessions (two on Friday, two on Saturday). This class is open to teens age 14+. Any camera and any skill level are welcome!
Photography Team This training for more advanced photographers takes place over two full days, has course prerequisites, and requires students to submit an application. Open to teens age 15-18. Further details below.
Select either of these options for your teen on the Convention Registration form. The Photography Team requires an additional application form (link below).
God has given us a love for art and beautiful things . . . let's hone our photography skills for His glory!
Photo Class: Learning to See Light Includes four interactive sessions (two on Friday, two on Saturday). This class is open to teens age 14+. Any camera and any skill level are welcome!
Photography Team This training for more advanced photographers takes place over two full days, has course prerequisites, and requires students to submit an application. Open to teens age 15-18. Further details below.
Select either of these options for your teen on the Convention Registration form. The Photography Team requires an additional application form (link below).
God has given us a love for art and beautiful things . . . let's hone our photography skills for His glory!
The Photo Class is a series of four interactive classroom sessions designed to teach practical photography skills, regardless of your level of experience or what camera you use.
With the theme of Learning to See Light, topics include making the most of whatever lighting situation you are in, understanding the three major attributes of light, using light to create emotional impact in your photos, taking full advantage of the time of day you are shooting in, and seeing how professional lighting works in a portable studio. As a wrap-up, we'll view photos everyone submitted for Class Assignments and do some live photo coaching and critique.
Friday, July 18, 1:00-2:00pm - Five Tips For Creating Beautiful Photos with Any Camera
Friday, July 18, 2:30-3:30pm - Maximizing Natural Light
Saturday, July 19, 10:30-11:30am - Using Light to Tell A Story In Photography
Saturday, July 19, 2:30-3:30pm - Taking Your Photos to the Next Level
Details for Photo Class:
Two sessions each day: Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19
Ages 14-18
$48/student (all four sessions included!)
What to bring: Any camera you are familiar with using (including mobile devices), a method for taking notes, and a flashlight
With the theme of Learning to See Light, topics include making the most of whatever lighting situation you are in, understanding the three major attributes of light, using light to create emotional impact in your photos, taking full advantage of the time of day you are shooting in, and seeing how professional lighting works in a portable studio. As a wrap-up, we'll view photos everyone submitted for Class Assignments and do some live photo coaching and critique.
Friday, July 18, 1:00-2:00pm - Five Tips For Creating Beautiful Photos with Any Camera
Friday, July 18, 2:30-3:30pm - Maximizing Natural Light
Saturday, July 19, 10:30-11:30am - Using Light to Tell A Story In Photography
Saturday, July 19, 2:30-3:30pm - Taking Your Photos to the Next Level
Details for Photo Class:
Two sessions each day: Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19
Ages 14-18
$48/student (all four sessions included!)
What to bring: Any camera you are familiar with using (including mobile devices), a method for taking notes, and a flashlight
Photography is an art sparked by inspiration, honed by experience, and mastered by critique. Through classroom instruction, self-guided assignments, and professional photo coaching, you will learn how to effectively capture the moment, create consistently bright and sharp images in difficult lighting situations, and expedite the post-processing workflow to meet time-sensitive deadlines. It doesn't get more hands-on than this!
Prerequisites:
Required Equipment/Supplies:
Details for Photography Team:
Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19
The photography team is an all-day commitment for both days, beginning at 8:15 AM at the Lenspiration booth in the Exhibit Hall.
Ages 15-18
$85/student; team size limited to 10 students
To join the Photography Team, follow these steps:
1. Complete the Lenspiration sign-up form.
2. Register for the Convention and select the Photography Team option ($85).
3. Find the email sent to you from Lenspiration and take the steps outlined there to begin preparing for the Photography Team!
Prerequisites:
- Complete Lenspiration's Foundations of Photography Course (or approved equivalent). This is a 36-lesson online course with written and video instruction, quizzes, assignments, and student forums. Please plan enough time to complete the course before the Convention.
- Complete the Preparation protocol outlined on the Lenspiration website: sign releases, submit a personal evaluation, download software. Details will be provided by Lenspiration when you sign up.
Required Equipment/Supplies:
- DSLR or mirrorless camera
- Lenses (wide apertures recommended)
- Camera accessories: batteries, battery charger, memory cards, speedlite (if you have one), camera bag, etc. (do not bring a tripod)
- Laptop computer or tablet/iPad for photo editing (with charger and computer bag)
- Pre-installed photo editing software. The more familiar you are with it, the better. Lightroom is recommended.
- Notepad and pen (for taking notes and for storing paper handouts)
Details for Photography Team:
Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19
The photography team is an all-day commitment for both days, beginning at 8:15 AM at the Lenspiration booth in the Exhibit Hall.
Ages 15-18
$85/student; team size limited to 10 students
To join the Photography Team, follow these steps:
1. Complete the Lenspiration sign-up form.
2. Register for the Convention and select the Photography Team option ($85).
3. Find the email sent to you from Lenspiration and take the steps outlined there to begin preparing for the Photography Team!
FAQ for Photo Class
Do I have to be at a certain photography skill level to attend?
No. You just need to bring a camera that you know how to use.
What kind of camera can I bring?
You may bring a DSLR, mirrorless, “bridge”, point & shoot, or cell phone camera. This class is not intended for GoPro, drone, film cameras, or other mobile device cameras.
Can I rent a camera from Lenspiration?
Lenspiration has equipment available that you can rent for the Photography Class on a first-come, first-served basis. A DSLR camera plus lenses, accessories, and a bag can be rented for $30. Send a request via Lenspiration’s Contact page as soon as possible after you have registered for the event. Payment due on location at first session.
Is there anything I should do to prepare?
The more familiar you are with the camera that you bring, the more you will be able to pick up from this class. Feel free to start learning photography ahead of time at Lenspiration.com
Can I participate in other activities along with the Photography Class?
Yes. See the schedule to verify that anything else you want to do at the convention does not interfere with scheduled Photography Class sessions.
What if more than one person in my family wants to attend, but we only have one camera?
It is ok to share cameras.
May I keep the pictures I take?
Yes. As the photographer, you retain the copyright to all photos you take during the Photography Class. However, you may only use photos taken in the same way you would use photos taken at the Convention if you were not in the Photography Class.
More questions?
Feel free to contact James directly on the Lenspiration Contact page.
FAQ for Photography Team
Do I have to be at a certain photography skill level to attend?
No. However, you must bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a laptop or tablet/iPad with your preferred pre-installed photo editing software, and you must have completed Lenspiration’s online Foundations of Photography Course. With these prerequisites in place, most attendees, including beginners, will be considered at a beyond beginner level and thus ready for the Photography Team.
How do I know if I have a DSLR or mirrorless camera?
The best way to know if you have a DSLR or mirrorless camera is if the lens is interchangeable: the lens can be taken on and off. While many mobile devices provide excellent image quality, they do not fit into the category of photojournalism-specific equipment needed for a Photography Team.
What if I don’t have the required camera?
Lenspiration has equipment available that you can rent for the entire Photography Team on a first come, first served basis. A DSLR camera plus lenses, accessories and a bag can be rented for $30. Send a request via Lenspiration’s Contact page as soon as possible after you have registered for the event. Payment due at Orientation.
Do I need to bring anything more than a camera?
Yes. You must bring a laptop (or a tablet/iPad) with your preferred photo editing software pre-installed. Please refer to the Required Equipment/Supplies list above.
What should I wear?
Business-casual is expected for the role of an event photographer. Modest dress is required—no tight clothing, midriff tops or tank tops, bare shoulders, or mini-skirts. Casual business attire is always appropriate. Knee-length or longer hemlines are recommended for ladies. Wear comfortable shoes, as photographers will be walking a lot.
What photo editing software should I use?
The Photography Team isn’t designed to help you figure out what software to use. It is designed to help you use the software you already have to be more organized and edit your photos more efficiently. Therefore, bring the software that you are most comfortable using. If you currently do not use photo editing software, it would be a good idea to complete Lenspiration’s online Foundations of Photography Course before signing up for the Photography Team. Training will be presented from the platform of Adobe Lightroom.
Is there anything else I should do to prepare?
After registering for the Photography Team through the convention, you will receive a password to Lenspiration’s Photography Team Preparation page. It will provide specific things that you can start doing to prepare. From a broader perspective, do everything you can to become familiar with basic photography stuff through your own personal, self-motivated study, research, and practice. We suggest finding a photographer whose work you want to emulate and follow them virtually on their blog or through courses they offer or recommend.
Can I participate in other activities along with the Photography Team?
It may be difficult to do that. See the schedule to verify that anything else you want to do at the convention does not interfere with scheduled Photography Team activities.
What if more than one person in my family wants to attend, but we only have one camera?
Each photographer must have their own camera. Feel free to rent one from Lenspiration here.
If multiple family members are attending, can they both use the same computer or tablet/iPad?
Yes, photographers can share the laptop or device used to edit their photos. However, it is better if each student is able to bring a way to edit photos on their own without sharing.
May I keep the pictures I take?
As the photographer, you retain the copyright to all photos you take during the Photography Team, but like everyone else, you are under obligation to abide by commercial use publishing laws. To be safe, you will want to get written permission from all recognizable individuals and owners of recognizable property in a photo if you plan to use that photo beyond personal or artistic use.
More questions?
Feel free to contact James directly on the Lenspiration Contact page.
THANK YOU to these sponsors for their support of our Teen Programming!
Young Entrepreneurs & Innovators Sponsor
Teen Program Sponsor
Teen Program Sponsor
