Private Holiday Photography Workshop (San Francisco)

Capture Your Signature Style for Year-End Holiday Photos

Advance Preparation to Create Photos to Tell Your Holiday Story in Your Own Way

Every year, as the holiday season comes around, we gather with loved ones and create memories that last a lifetime. But how often have you found yourself unprepared to capture these moments with your own signature style of photographs?

This private, personalized workshop, will demonstrate technical and anecdotal examples for you to learn in order to create images that stand out from generic holiday snaps. It will help prepare you for when the big event takes place.

The instructor will ensure that beginner photographers walk away with valuable knowledge.

Workshop Details

In this 3.5-hour session, our professional instructor will guide you through key photography principles—including camera or cellphone settings, lighting, cropping, angles, shutter speed, panning, and overall composition—all in advance, so you’ll be prepared to capture the holiday spirit when the time comes.

Whether you’re documenting a Christmas feast, a Kwanzaa celebration, or any other special event like a baby shower or quinceañera, this hands-on session will will help you take your personal photos to the next level and apply to all future gatherings.

Specifics can include the location, the people, the meals, the ceremonies, and charming candid moments. These images will tell the story in your own photographic language, whether it’s a year-end catch-up letter or email for family and friends, a slideshow on your computer, a keepsake album of stills, or a memorable image to frame and display on your living room wall forever.

What You’ll Learn:

You have a signature style in words; now learn to create that same storytelling with your images.

• Understanding camera settings for indoor and outdoor holiday lighting.
• Techniques for capturing group portraits, intimate moments, table settings, and candid shots.
• How to enhance your holiday photos with simple adjustments and creative compositions.
• Learn how lighting, cropping, angles, and timing influence the visual impact and emotional tone of your photos. Control how the viewer’s eye moves within the frame, guiding it from the main subject to the supporting elements that capture a nuanced and fully dimensional scene.

Possible Photo Subjects

• Special Effects: Experiment with creative techniques like capturing the glow of holiday lights or photographing snow-covered landscapes.

• The Meal: Learn how to photograph holiday tables and feasts.

• The Ceremonies: Capture the important traditions, from decorating the tree to lighting the menorah.

• Loved Ones: Learn to take dynamic group shots, posed photos, and natural candid photos of loved ones enjoying the festivities.

We can even host the session in your home! Perfect for individuals, couples, or small groups looking to enhance their holiday photography skills.

Important Scheduling Notes:

• Scheduling for private lessons is flexible and subject to the instructor's availability.
• In the rare event the instructor is unavailable during the booked date and time, the instructor will reach out and reschedule you based on your availability. You also have an option for an immediate refund.
• Course locations are TBD and subject to change. Exact locations will be communicated prior to class.
• Please know that the fee does not change if you bring along friends or family members if you want to divide the hourly cost.