Digital Photography (DSLR) Advanced - Beauty, Portraiture and Post Production Techniques)

The course is aimed at people who own their own DSLR camera. This course should been seen as a progression from the ‘DSLR – Beginners’ course also offered at Blackburn College. Students will relevant experience may also be accepted, contact us before booking if you have not completed the beginners course.

Students should own (or have access to) a Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera (DSLR). However, an advanced ‘bridge’ camera or a mirror-less compact such as an Olympus ‘four thirds’ model may be suitable. Students must bring their own equipment to the sessions.

About the Tutor - Sam Johnson

When not working at Blackburn College Sam continues his freelance photography specialising in beauty, portraiture and fashion.

His work has been published in a number of magazines including Elegant, Dreamingless, Ondine, Scorpio Jin Magazine, Source and Metro. In 2013 he won the Canon UK Fashion Photo Competition and has numerous awards from the BIPP including achieving a licentiateship whilst still a BA student.

He has a first class honours degree in Contemporary Photographic Arts and a Masters from the University of Leeds in Photography and Cinema. His work can be seen at www.samjohnsonimages.co.uk. Some of the famous people Sam is proud to have worked with include:

• Mark Radcliffe: BBC Radio Presenter
• Jessica Workman: Britain’s Next Top Model Runner-Up
• Clint Mansell: English musician, composer, and former lead singer of the band Pop Will Eat Itself. He has written film scores for Pi, The Fountain, Moon, Smokin' Aces, Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, Doom, Black Swan, High-Rise and Ghost in the Shell

Students will firstly define what beauty photography is and where opportunities lie commercially.

Projects will be set to challenge the students in producing effective and creative beauty portraiture. You will no longer need to rely on Instagram filters!

You will get the opportunity to use studio equipment including flash lights and an array of modifiers and you will be shown how to post process your images to a professional standard.

A professional model will be available for one session in order for you to receive feedback as you shoot and to enhance your own portfolio.

Students work reviewed by a specialist photography tutor and advice will be offered on how to further improve the images. This will be via group discussion where you will receive detailed, verbal feedback, throughout the course.

Course Includes:

• What is Beauty Photography?
• Effective Camera Control and Techniques for shooting Beauty
• Photography
• Lighting demonstrations and an explanation of what different modifiers can do
• Posing techniques and achieving the correct angles
• How to shoot using a macro lens
• Techniques for Marketing and Presentation
• Group critique and professional feedback

The course will also cover using software for image management and post-production Adobe Photoshop including importing/exporting, managing of digital files, basic image adjustments, using and creating custom pre-sets, commercial tips for editing and preparation of imagery for printing and web based uses.

Students should own (or have access to) a Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera (DSLR). However, an advanced ‘bridge’ camera or a mirror-less compact such as an Olympus ‘four thirds’ model may be suitable. Students must bring their own equipment to the sessions.

This is an advanced course, therefore students should have ideally already have completed the Beginners course. If you have not completed the beginners course but wish to attend, please contact us before booking for an informal discussion.

Group critique and professional feedback.

For more information about this course, contact our specialist team on 01254 292500 or email business@blackburn.ac.uk.