Skip to main content

Medway Adult Education

Portrait - digital photography and studio lighting  

Visual of the course

Course summary

Code: Q000103A  

Location: Rochester Adult Education Centre  

Cost: £63.75 to £85.00 

Starting: Wednesday 11 June 2025 

Duration: 5 sessions over 5 week(s)

Time: 19:00 


By continuing you confirm that you are 19 or over on 31 August and have agreed to the the Terms and conditions

 

Course Information Sheet

Description

This course is suitable for learners with some experience of using their camera.

Using a mixture of theory and practical exercises, this course will teach you the basics of your camera, help you understand the different modes and become familiar with terms such as Shutter Speed, ISO and Aperture.
Get hands on practice of setting up and shooting different studio lighting scenarios, including the standard “one light” set ups such as: Rembrandt, Loop, Butterfly, Broad and Split lighting.

You will also receive practical tips on composition and how to achieve the best Family portraits in a variety of situations. Including different ways of posing and positioning the subject, including headshots and full-length shots.

You will also discuss when it is best to use these effects and how they can be applied to your everyday life and routine with your family photographs to create interesting and exciting photographs.
  

What will I learn on this course?
learners will 1. Look at exposure, ISO, Aperture, Shutter speeds & white balance 2. Photograph & create at least 2 portraits 3. Consider different ways of posing and positioning portraits 4. Understand and set up a studio light system You will work on creating a short portfolio of photos to be presented at the end of the course. The tutor will help you work on specific aims based on your own ideas and preferences. Throughout the course sample images will be shown and discussed, revealing their photographic components such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO and light source used. This class also gives the opportunity for students to bring along an image they would like to learn how to replicate.

Is there anything I need to know about the course?
Please bring to the first session: - Preferably a digital SLR camera (the course may be suitable for those with compact digital cameras, however, they must have manual exposure controls and a lens with an optical zoom covering wide-angle to telephoto focal lengths. - Your camera needs a hot shoe adapter - Tripod - Note pad

Will there be additional costs?
Please note the following costs are not included in the course fee: Digital printing and paper costs Some activities may require travel to locations, usually local

What could I go on to do after this course?
You may wish to try one of our other photography courses: Creative digital photography stage 3, Still Life Photography and Landscape photography. There are many other arts and craft courses on offer at Medway Adult Education. You may wish to concentrate or develop your skills with a particular medium such as painting in oils, pottery, stained glass or advanced watercolour for example. We also have a BTEC Art and Design Skills course that you could progress towards. Medway Adult Education works with many partners locally such as Mid Kent Medway School of Art and the University of Kent; information about their courses can be found in our studios, café and on Moodle. Medway has an exciting and wide-range of events, exhibitions, and activities to inspire and help you make further progress - please see the community noticeboards in the Rochester Centre and again on Moodle. Your tutor will be able to talk through with your individual progression options. Your tutor will be happy to advise you about progression courses, including those offered by other providers. If you wish to explore your learning, work, or career options, you can speak to a fully trained careers advisor on 0800 100 900. https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk If you need further advice, please telephone 01634 338400.

Attendance Policy
In order to get the most out of your course you will need to attend as many sessions as possible. We recommend at least 85%. If you do have a holiday booked during term time please let the tutor know in advance so that we can help you catch up on missed sessions and ensure that you still achieve the course outcomes. If you are unavoidably ill or unable to attend, please contact 01634 338400 so that we can let your tutor know, and so they can send you any work you may have missed

How are digital skills used and enhanced on this course
Flickr will be used to show the class your photographs you created during your practical tasks. Online Prezi presentations will be used during the lesson, which can be viewed later at home if you miss a lesson or need refreshing about camera settings.

Health and Safety
You understand that this is a practical photography activity, and you will need to be suitably dressed. MAE is not responsible for damage to items or person. The creators, owners and distributors of this site and the material available MAE are not responsible for any injuries you may experience as a result of your use of this site and the material contained here on. By remaining on this site and/or accessing and / or using any material, you are accepting that you have read, understood and agreed to follow these basic instructions.

 

Location

Rochester Adult Education Centre  
Rochester Community Hub  
Eastgate
Rochester  
ME1 1EW  

Find us here