Following feedback from past students we are now running a dedicated Portrait Photography & Home Studio Course.

Students are increasingly asking how to take portraits using home studio flash kits with white & black backgrounds so we are adding this to the course itinerary. There will also be the chance to try out various professional flash techniques using bounced & direct flash. We will also show you how to set up a low cost home studio so you can achieved professional looking results easily at home.

Portrait Course - Sun 13th May 2018

During this photography course you will learn how to:

• Set up a low cost Home Photography Studio
• Shoot portraits outside without flash
• Shoot portraits outside with fill in flash
• Using reflectors with portraits
• Shoot portraits indoors without flash
• Shoot portraits indoors with flash
• Shoot portraits indoors with off camera flash
• Shoot portraits indoors using bounce flash
• Shoot portraits indoors by window light
• Shoot a moody low key portrait with a black background
• Shoot a light high key portrait with a white background
• Shoot a studio flash portrait with a white background
• Shoot a studio flash portrait with a black background

This course will show you how to create Low and High Key Portraits plus there will also be a demonstration on how to use a single speedlight flash to create several creative portrait lighting styles.

There is an option to save money by paying for a Beginners Photography Course followed by a Portrait Photography Course in advance. Individual courses are £135 but two courses cost £250 which is a saving of £20.

Most Saturday Beginners Photography courses are followed by a Level Two course the following day. This is helpful for people who may be travelling some distance or who would like to attend both courses during the same weekend. You can, of course attend on a later date if you prefer.

Book a Portrait Course - Sun 13th May 2018

Portrait Photography Course

Sun 13th May -Portrait Course . £135.00 GBP Portrait Photography 221 Tuition Per Couple . £398.00 GBP Portrait Photography 221 Tuition Per Person . £199.00 GBP Portrait Photography 121 Private Tuition . £325.00 GBP

Special Instructions

Attendees name / Comments

High & Low Key Portrait Photography Session

This session will show you how to take well lit and attractive portrait photographs by available light and flash indoors. We will show you how to create a home studio setup using inexpensive accessories for that professional look. You will be advised on which lens to use, the best camera settings and have the opportunity to try additional flashguns. We'll even show you how to add character to a portrait or produce that romantic soft lighting look. The portrait session blends into the low light course with the chance to take photographs by candlelight.

Who can attend?

This intensive course is mainly aimed at students who have attended one of our previous beginners courses but novices can also join.

Many photographers tend to use their camera on the full auto setting and want to learn how to get much better pictures from their new camera by using the other settings.

All the courses start off with the absolute basics and progress, step by step, through to some of the more technical aspects. Each theoretical lesson is followed by a demonstration then a practical session.

Flash photography with the built in flash
The flash built into amateur cameras is of very low power so I have also suggested suitable flashguns which can be purchased when funds allow. These units all have swivel heads which will allow you to bounce the light off a ceiling or wall for a softer light. This subject is covered in great depth on the Portrait Photography Course

FAQ- Which is the Best Length Portrait Lens to Buy?

Private Tuition Option £325

If you would like to learn how to use studio flash lighting to a semi-professional standard we suggest a One to One Private Tuition day for £325. This tuition includes many more studio lighting techniques plus Photoshop tuition on background clean up for that super bright white background look. This is also available as a 221 "Bring a Friend" option for £450. Please call or email for details.

Separate Bounce Head Flashgun 

A separate flashgun with a flash extension lead is a really useful accessory for this course but not essential as we will be able to demonstrate using our equipment. I also recommend a tripod and remote cable release if possible. See MyMemory for details.

Try doing a search for flash extension cord on eBay or visit a your local camera store.

Which is the best Nikon flash gun to buy?

I'm only going to comment on the dedicated Nikon flashguns as I have never used the other brands.

Nikon SB700 Speedlite About About £230.00
This Speedlite uses Nikons latest i-TTL metering technology for spot on exposures, It's a powerful but sensible priced main flash for general photography. The SB-700 also offers fully automatic exposure control when used in groups with other SB-700 Speedlites, controlled either by a Master SB-800 or the new Commander function of the new DSLRs like the D300, D700,D7000, D90 and D3s.

NIKON SB900 Speedlite
About: £325
The powerful and versatile Nikon SB900 Speedlite is a professional i-TTL Speedlite compatible with the Nikon Creative Lighting System (NCLS). These means it can be used in a multiple flash set up with other SB900s or SB600 to allow for several creative lighting scenarios for portrait or product photography. The power output and exposure can be controlled through the pop up flash and CLS menu on the Nikon D300 and D700 or by another SB900 or transmitter on the D3s.

Which is the best Canon flash gun to buy?

I'm only going to comment on the dedicated Canon flashguns as I have never used the other brands.

CANON Speedlite 580EX II about £375.00
This professional level speedlite is powerful and versatile with a bounce head and the ability to be a master or slave flash in a multiple lighting set-up. It's the ideal companion to any of the enthusiast through to pro cameras.

The Canon Speedlite 430EX II £199.99 is the baby brother to the 580 EX and as such is slightly less powerful. It can be used as a slave unit when used in conjunction with a 580 EXll or a transmitter. This flash would be a good choice for one of the amateur systems.

Can I use these flashguns remotely?

The speedlite can be used with a remote wireless transmitter which will fire several flash guns. This is useful for multiple flash lighting set-ups for portraits and product photography.

Please Contact Us If You Have Any Questions

email - glen@digitalphotographycourses.co.uk or call 0116 279 6906

Student Testimonials

Another tremendous day. Glen’s courses never cease to amaze and inspire me. It’s fun and easy learning but at a high level. The sense of achievement and WOW factor is there all day long. My future models will be delighted I’m sure. Thanks Glen.
Denise Reid.

Brilliant day! Learned lots and laughed lots too. Great teaching as usual from Glen. Thank you. I really enjoyed the split lighting photos and I’m going to practice this. Helen Bason

Such a good course. I had so many light bulb moments during the day and I can’t wait to try them all out. I finally feel able to get the more interesting portraits that I wanted to.
Sharon Harris

Great course again. The mystic of portrait photography explained in the most simplistic terms that everyone can understand.
Martin Ayling.

A great course covering the topics I was interested in and how to set up a studio without breaking the bank. I got to take portraits I didn’t think were possible at home. Suresh Thalange.

For me this is the best course I’ve done so far. I’ve learnt so much and had a great day. I just need to put it into practice. Paul Yates.

I really enjoyed this course and feel I got a huge amount from the day. I can’t wait to put it all into practice. A brilliant day and my favourite course so far. Debbie Cherry.

Everything is the opposite to what I had thought. I know to use a longer lens instead of a short one and I double my knowledge every time I come. One becomes two, two becomes four and I reckon I’m up to sixteen now. Thanks for a good course. Dave Allen.

An excellent fun course. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about all the different lighting techniques and I now feel confident in taking portrait photographs. Toby Maloy.

I’m Looking Forward to taking lots of photographs of my children that aren’t blurry, shadowy and poorly lit as before. Laura Griffiths

Glen covered everything I needed to know about setting up a studio at home and how to take portraits with confidence. Thank you. Nicola Blakeway

Excellent Day. I learnt more in 6 hours than in the last 3 months about how to use the flash and settings on my camera. I’m sure this new knowledge will enhance my photographs a great deal. Kev S.

Picture by Ian Price

The Portrait Course provided a good balance between theory and practice. We were shown how to select the correct camera settings to take good portraits in different environments and given advice on how to set up a home studio. Yet another excellent course in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I’m looking forward to my next one.
Kamila Marshall

As with the Beginners Course there were several lights on moments as both the theory and practical fell into place. You can’t possibly fail to learn a huge amount on these courses. Excellent!
David Griffin

This course was as insightful as ever. Having attended both the small group courses and now the one to one courses I can highly recommend the private tuition option for anyone wanting to take their portrait photography to the next level. Ian Price.

A fantastic addition to the standard photography course.
I wanted to know which settings to use for portraits photography and this course covered everything I needed.
Jill Porter

Brilliant Course as usual. I just need to go home and practice. Thanks to Jacqui for another lovely lunch. It’s also great to put faces to the names on the DPC Facebook Group. Elaine Argent.

A very good portrait photography course. I've learnt such a lot and had the chance to put it all in to practice today. Glen's courses are very well put together and I would certainly recommend them. - Thank you!
Rebecca Tompkins