Find Your Focus: Photography
Foundational Photographic Knowledge
With Aperture of Aperture Studios
Grow your creative skills in photography at City Creative Studios by joining us for this comprehensive course that has been carefully curated for beginners, moderately trained camera users, and semi-pro photographers.
If you want to develop the real-world skills essential to improving your photography, understanding light better, and/or navigating the business side of being a creative, join us!
Sessions are fun, easy to follow, and loaded with the information you’ll need to achieve your creative goals.
This program runs 8 weeks total, featuring 7 in-depth courses plus a wrap party to celebrate what you’ve built and connect with fellow creatives. Topics include camera settings, lighting and visual styles, pre and post-production best practices , and essential business fundamentals to help you turn effort into results and opportunity.
Each session is $100, or you can grab the full course pass and save 15%—essentially getting one class free.
Prefer flexibility? You can also sign up for individual classes that fit your goals and schedule.
City Creative Studios members receive additional discounts based on their membership tier, making it even easier to invest in your growth.
Get access to all 7 courses plus the wrap party and save 15% with the full course pass.
Become a Member & Save up to 20% on Classes
Purchase the course pass and save!
Join The City Creative Today!
FYF: Photography Curriculum
April 15
Session 1:
Photography Building Blocks
Use Your Gear Better. Solidify Your Foundation.
We’ll start this course by establishing a core for well-rounded photographic comprehension by teaching you the ins-and-outs of your specific camera. Then, we’ll help you make sense of the fundamentals of photography. You’ll learn how to move from auto anything to manual everything, better understand composition and visual storytelling, be more familiar with consumer and professional gear options, and make more intentional creative choices instead of shooting based off vibes.
April 22
Session 2:
Studio Lighting Primer
The Art Form of Painting with Light.
Lighting your subject can be intimidating, but this session will have you feeling light as an softbox next time you’re shooting at the studio. After a short presentation, we’ll provide hands-on, in the moment mentorship while experiencing multiple lighting setups, modifiers, backdrops, and planned sets within the studio. You’ll discover how to shape and control light to produce any mood so that you can tell the story of your subject better. We’ll empower you to illuminate people and products in ways that are deliberate and professional.
April 29
Session 3:
The Business of Photography
The Blueprint for An Ethical, Effective Photography Business.
Taking great photos is 5% of the job when you’re a productive professional photographer. This session focuses on the vocation of visual artistry and how it all works. We’ll cover industry best practices for pricing your skills, communicating better with clients, and protecting your IP and livelihood. We’ll break down booking, contracts, forms, lead generation, and licensing. By the end of this session you’ll be building better professional relationships, establishing expectations more effectively, and creating systems and workflows that work for you.
May 6
Session 4:
Pre-Production Best Practices
The Work You Do to Make Sure The Work Gets Done.
Quality results don’t just happen. Low effort in pre-production usually leads to a low-effort visual result and more work in post. In this session, you’ll learn how to truly understand the assignment and prep for projects like a pro. We’ll cover everything from client consultations, treatments, and mood boards to shot lists, talent coaching, and scheduling. When you plan ahead, you reduce stress, avoid common mistakes, mitigate some of the chaos, and walk onto every set ready to confidently create.
May 13
Session 5:
Shooting Specific Styles
Understanding Niches and Defining Your Art.
Not all photography is the same. Portraits, events, products, fashion, and creative concepts all require different approaches. This session explores how to adapt your techniques to different types of shoots. You’ll learn what changes from style to style and how to adjust your mindset, lighting, and workflow to match the job in front of you.
May 23
Session 7:
On-Location Lighting and Logistics
Understanding Visual Storytelling, Technical Info on Camera Usage, Intro to Editing Applications
Photography and video go hand in hand in today’s creative world. This final session introduces the basics of filmmaking and motion content. You’ll learn how to think in terms of movement and storytelling, understand video camera settings, and get a beginner-friendly look at editing tools. It’s a great introduction for photographers who want to expand into video.
May 20
Session 6:
Post-Production Systems
Organization, Editing Processes and Workflow, Intro to Photoshop and Lightroom, Editing Fine Details
Taking the photo is only half the job—the rest happens after the shoot. This class introduces smart editing workflows that save time and improve quality. We’ll go over file organization, basic color correction, retouching fundamentals, and how to use Lightroom and Photoshop more effectively. You’ll learn how to turn good images into finished, professional results.
May 30
Session 8:
Wrap Party and Gallery Showing
Celebrating Your Progress, Showcasing Work, and Connecting with Fellow Creatives
After weeks of learning and creating, it’s time to celebrate what you’ve accomplished. This final gathering brings everyone together to share projects, ask final questions, and reflect on the skills you’ve developed. Enjoy music, light refreshments, and a relaxed creative atmosphere while networking with instructors and classmates.