Urban Nighttime Photography
For many photographers, working at night opens up an entirely new creative world—along with a unique set of challenges. While compelling subjects emerge as the sun sets, nighttime photography requires a different approach to camera settings, composition, and location awareness. This three-day, hands-on course is designed to eliminate the uncertainty and hesitation that often come with shooting in low-light and nighttime conditions. This class is ideal for both beginning and intermediate photographers.
Part One: Takes place in the classroom, where students will become familiar with key concepts, shooting modes, composition strategies, and how to properly dial in their camera settings for low-light photography. Wednesday, February 18 from 6 – 8 pm.
Part Two: Will meet on location to downtown Reno, using the Western Lights Festival as the subject. This dynamic event offers a wide range of photographic opportunities within a controlled environment, allowing students to experiment, practice, and interact directly with the instructor. Here is the link to the Western Lights Festival Website to get a better understanding of the event. https://westernlightsfestival.com Thursday, February 19 from 6 – 8 pm
Part Three: Return to the classroom for a group critique of students’ strongest images from the event, along with additional instruction on refining techniques for working in nighttime and low-light conditions. Saturday, February 21 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm.
Wednesday, February 18
6 – 8 pm
Thursday, February 19
6 – 8 pm
Saturday, February 21
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Instructor: MD Welch
Ages: Adult (18+) | All Levels
Supply List:
DSLR or mirrorless camera and lenses
Tripod (optional)
Camera Basics for DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras
This class is designed for beginning to intermediate photographers who have purchased a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera or a mirrorless camera. Course participants will explore the specific features of DSLR or mirrorless cameras, as well as general photographic skills and techniques to make great pictures.
Saturday, January 31
10:30 am – 5:30 pm
Instructor: MD Welch
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply list:
Students are required to bring have a DSLR camera or mirrorless camera as well as their camera’s manual. A fully charged battery and memory card are also necessary for class. Any lenses that they own should also be brought to class.
iPhone Photography: Composition, Lighting & Editing
Learn to take high-quality photographs using your iPhone. This hands-on class covers essential techniques in composition, lighting, editing, and advanced camera settings. Students will participate in guided photo shoots and editing exercises throughout class.
Basic familiarity with iPhone use is required. Perfect for anyone ready to move beyond snapshots and start creating artistic, visually compelling photographs.
Monday, December 15
5 – 8 pm
Instructor: Julie Tracy
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply List:
- iPhone with updated software
iPhone Photography: Composition, Lighting & Editing
Learn to take high-quality photographs using your iPhone. This hands-on class covers essential techniques in composition, lighting, editing, and advanced camera settings. Students will participate in guided photo shoots and editing exercises throughout class.
Basic familiarity with iPhone use is required. Perfect for anyone ready to move beyond snapshots and start creating artistic, visually compelling photographs.
Monday, November 3
5 – 8 pm
Instructor: Julie Tracy
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply List:
- iPhone with updated software
iPhone Photography: Composition, Lighting & Editing
Learn to take high-quality photographs using your iPhone. This hands-on class covers essential techniques in composition, lighting, editing, and advanced camera settings. Students will participate in guided photo shoots and editing exercises throughout class.
Basic familiarity with iPhone use is required. Perfect for anyone ready to move beyond snapshots and start creating artistic, visually compelling photographs.
Monday, October 6
5 – 8 pm
Instructor: Julie Tracy
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply List:
- iPhone with updated software
DSLR / Mirrorless Camera Photography for Beginners and Intermediate Photographers
“Cameras don’t take photos, people do.” This four-week beginner photography course, led by professional commercial photographer Ryan Cleek, focuses on building essential skills that go beyond the camera. Students will learn the fundamentals of camera settings, composition, and lighting through hands-on assignments designed to reflect real-world shooting scenarios, helping you create better photos with confidence.
Note: Ryan Cleek is a photographer and filmmaker with over 20 years of experience.
Wednesdays, July 16 – August 6
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Instructor: Ryan Cleek
Ages: Adult (16+) | Beginners and Intermediate
DSLR / Mirrorless Camera Photography for Beginners & Intermediate Photographers
“Cameras don’t take photos, people do.” This four-week beginner photography course, led by professional commercial photographer Ryan Cleek, focuses on building essential skills that go beyond the camera. Students will learn the fundamentals of camera settings, composition, and lighting through hands-on assignments designed to reflect real-world shooting scenarios, helping you create better photos with confidence.
Note: Ryan Cleek is a photographer and filmmaker with over 20 years of experience.
Wednesdays, May 28 – June 18
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Instructor: Ryan Cleek
Ages: Adult (16+) | Beginners and Intermediate
iPhone Photography: Composition, Lighting & Editing
Learn to take high-quality photographs using your iPhone. This hands-on class covers essential techniques in composition, lighting, editing, and advanced camera settings. Students will participate in guided photo shoots and editing exercises throughout class.
Basic familiarity with iPhone use is required. Perfect for anyone ready to move beyond snapshots and start creating artistic, visually compelling photographs.
Monday, June 9
5 – 8 pm
Instructor: Julie Tracy
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply List:
- iPhone with updated software
The Art of Portrait Photography
Humans love looking at other humans. As a portrait photographer, you have the unique opportunity to bring images of people, their lives, their emotions, their faces, to light for your subjects and for the rest of the world. In this portrait class, we will spend a day talking about, learning about and ultimately photographing portraits in a studio environment in a way that can be applied in other settings.
In six hours, you will learn what technology you need, how to use your camera in a new way, the science of light (and the tricks it plays), how to think through a shoot, set up your light, manage a subject, adjust and get the shot.
The first half of the day will focus on technical theory while the second half will include live models that we interact with and photograph.
Photographers should have a strong understanding of the exposure triangle and settings on their own gear. Owning or planning to own at least one flash, light stand, modifier and a remote trigger system is strongly recommended.
Bring your camera and lighting gear if you have it. The teacher will also create a few lighting stations that people can use. There will be a 1 hour break for lunch.
Saturday, May 31
10 am – 5 pm
Instructor: Mike Higdon
Age: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply List:
- DSLR camera
- Lighting equipment (optional)
iPhone Photography: Composition, Lighting & Editing
Learn to shoot high quality photos using your iPhone. With the fast-growing quality of cell phone cameras photography has become an accessible form of art for everyone. In this class students will learn about composition techniques, lighting, editing and advanced camera features and students will do a brief shoot. This class is perfect for beginners and intermediate photographers who want to elevate their iPhone photography skills.
Monday, May 12
5 – 8 pm
Instructor: Julie Tracy
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels
Supply List:
- iPhone with updated software