This course is a guided path from first click to confident image-making, turning technical controls into creative choices and helping you tell stories with light.
Who is this course for?
Beginners and enthusiasts who want to move beyond auto mode and build a solid foundation in camera control, composition, and visual storytelling.
What you’ll need
A DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls, a kit lens (or 35mm/50mm), a memory card, and a simple way to edit (preferably on a laptop).
Course Details
Course Format
6 modules, each with a concise lesson + hands-on exercise.
Weekly photo assignments with practical briefs and feedback.
Short critiques focused on clarity, intent, and progression.
Resource pack: checklists, cheat sheets, and starter presets.
Module outline
Meet Your DSLR: Controls, menus, and custom setups that matter.
Exposure in Practice: Manual mode made intuitive; meter vs. histogram.
Focus & Optics: Depth of field, tracking, and choosing the right lens.
Compose the Story: Framing, layering, and subject-background relationships.
Light & Colour: Reading light, shaping contrast, and honest color.
From Shoot to Share: Edit lightly, export smartly, present coherently.
Assignments you’ll complete
Over the duration of course, the participants will have the opportunity to practice their art through a series of assignments. The subject matter will vary depending upon gear, time and weather conditions.
The Three Apertures
One subject, three apertures - compare mood and focus.
Shutter Tells Time
Motion freeze vs. motion blur—add energy or calm.
Focal Length Study
Same scene, different lenses—watch space transform.
Light Journal
5 frames at different times of day—note how stories shift.
Portrait in Place
Environmental portrait that honors context.
Final Project
A cohesive 6–10 image series with title and statement.
Photographer - Educator
Rajeev Nedumaran
Rajeev is a a photographer, podcaster and a creative technologist, based in Takanini, Auckland. He is a regular instructor at Rutherford College of Community Education and runs a digital content creation business.
Learn more about him on https://www.studior.co.nz/about/
Register for the course
Fill out this form and we will let you know before the course stats.
