My name is Claire Thomas, and I’m a photographer born and raised in St. Marys. I’m passionate about people, community and, of course, taking photos! I love connecting with others and sharing the skills I’ve learned over the past 10 years through professional work, my program at Langara College, and various publications.

After an amazing first workshop (thank you to everyone who joined!), I’m excited to be hosting Workshop #2 with a few thoughtful updates based on the feedback I received.

This workshop is designed as a warm, relaxed, and creative space for beginner photographers who want to feel more confident using their DSLR/mirrorless camera and start capturing images they’re proud of.

To make sure everyone gets support and room to ask questions, the class is capped at 8 students.

​

What’s New This Time?

• Students loved the hands-on time with the cameras, so this workshop will begin with shooting right away before moving into lecture topics.

• If weather permits, we will be stepping outside for an exercise or two, so please be prepared for that!

• Editing will be simplified. Since not everyone has access to the program I use, I’ll ask the group at the start if you'd like to see a short demo or skip it.

• The workshop is now in the afternoon (12pm–4pm) so you can eat before arriving. Coffee and snacks will be provided to keep you energized.

What We’ll Cover

• How to use a DSLR/mirrorless camera and shoot in manual mode

• Composition basics

• Lighting 101 (working with natural light)

• Portrait techniques for photographing people with more confidence

• Optional: A quick introduction to basic editing depending on group interest

• Optional: Simple file management essentials

What’s Included

• Coffee & light snacks

• Two fun hands-on shooting exercises with feedback

• Two lecture-style mini-lessons with slides

• A relaxed, collaborative environment where you just might meet a new photography friend

• A takeaway cheat sheet with the most important concepts

What to Bring

• DSLR/mirrorless camera

• Charged battery

• Memory card with available space

• Notebook + pen or a laptop

• (If you need to borrow a camera, please reach out before booking—there may be 1–2 available.)

This workshop is about learning together, experimenting, and building your confidence behind the camera in a low-pressure environment.

I’m really excited to meet you, shoot together, and continue growing this creative community!

The exact address will be emailed to ticket holders.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out—my email and social links are listed at the bottom of this page.

​

Cancellation Policy:
If you need to cancel, please do so at least 48 hours before the workshop to receive a 50% refund.
If this is a makeup class for a previously missed workshop, please note that there will be no refund or additional rescheduling if you aren’t able to attend this session.