Working in natural light is one of the key elements of being a portrait photographer. Once you've mastered shooting in the various lighting scenarios that you could come across, the rest of photography becomes a lot less daunting and a lot easier to deal with.

By the end of this course, taught by Sophia Carey, you’ll have the confidence to recognize and adapt to a variety of natural lighting situations, create portraits that feel intentional and dynamic, and refine your images using professional editing tools in Adobe Lightroom. You’ll learn how to master direct sunlight, overcast skies, and backlighting, while also troubleshooting challenges like harsh shadows and unwanted color casts. This class will cover: * Exposure, what it is and top tips * Shooting in midday light * Shooting in overcast scenarios * Backlighting, and how to use it * Key tools in Adobe Lightroom * Fixing underexposed and overexposed film scans, in Adobe Lightroom This practical, hands-on approach will give you the skills to take beautiful portraits no matter the weather or time of day. This course is designed for beginner to intermediate portrait photographers who want to deepen their understanding of natural light. If you already know the basics of camera operation and exposure, you’ll be well prepared to succeed. To be successful in this course, you should have a working knowledge of the exposure triangle and basic camera settings. What makes this class unique is the combination of theory, on-location demonstrations, and Lightroom walkthroughs. You won’t just learn the “rules” of natural light—you’ll see them applied in real-world shoots and discover how to bring out the best in your photos through thoughtful editing. Instructor bio: Hi guys, I'm Sophia! I'm a photographer, videographer and graphic designer, specialising mostly in fashion and event photography, and I'm taking to Skillshare to share what I've learned throughout my freelance career so far, including tips on photography, design and creative business skills. I've been working as a photographer for the past six years, working with clients across fashion, music and lifestyle! I work with both film and digital photography and have been honoured to work with some amazing faces, teams and clients, from global companies such as Vodafone and Red Bull, to amazing individuals like Leigh-Anne Pinnock of Little Mix and Georgia Stanway and Mary Earpes, two Lionesses.

This course, taught by Soraya Zaman, is about diving deeper and beyond classic portraiture. By working with your subjects with a more open, creative approach, you can create imagery that represents and articulates them and their essence in a captivating way. 

You will learn how to work with your subjects to create a shoot concept that is driven by who they are and what they are passionate about. This approach is about a collaboration rather than the photographer creating a vision for the subject.  You will learn to work together to flesh out a creative idea and discuss what themes you are working towards.   Who is this class for?  The class is for those who want to explore photographing people in a more creative and conceptual manner.  It will require beginner to intermediate camera knowledge and a sense of adventure, experimentation, exploration and fun! This course is useful in helping you get more artistic and creative with your photography and to experiment with ideas in the representation of an individual outside of straight/classic portraiture.  This will help you become a better photographer overall as you exercise the “think outside of the box” muscle. You will need:  * Smartphone or DSLR Camera * Photo Editing Software: I use Capture One and Adobe Photoshop, but any editing software you have will suffice  * A subject for your photo shoot * Props, objects or equipment that will enable your creative process for the shoot So join me, grab your gear and let's get started! Instructor bio: Hello, I'm Soraya. I'm a photographer living in NYC and upstate New York. I'm of the firm belief that photography should be collaborative, thought provoking, emotional and most importantly a fun process of connection. I am the photographer of the AMERICAN BOYS book (@americanboysproject) published by Daylight Books.