Individual, Practical Photography Lessons in Portland, Oregon
Are you looking to turn your passion for photography into a profession or simply take your skills to the next level? Whether you're an amateur photographer aiming to capture better images or someone aspiring to become a professional, you're in the right place to achieve your goals.
Let’s get straight to the details with a helpful FAQ to answer your initial questions:
FAQ
1. Are the lessons individual or group-based?
All lessons are individual and focused on your specific needs. You can bring one friend who is equally serious about learning, but no group lessons are offered.
Why individual? Through experience, We’ve found that one-on-one sessions allow students to stay focused, ask more questions, and feel confident in a personalized environment. Group settings can sometimes lead to uneven learning experiences, but individual lessons ensure all attention is on you.
2. Are the lessons theoretical or practical?
The lessons include both theory and practice.
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The first lesson typically focuses on theory to assess your experience, goals, and interests while covering fundamental concepts.
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Subsequent lessons blend theory with hands on practice based on the photography genre you want to explore and master
3. Who teaches the lessons?
The lessons are taught by Hrach Hovhannisyan, a professional photographer with over 15 years of experience in various photography fields.
With a career spanning real estate, eCommerce, headshots, and landscapes, Hrach has worked with hundreds of clients across diverse industries. His journey in photography began with a deep passion for landscapes and nature, which continues to inspire his work to this day.
More details can be found in the Bio section.
4. What types of photography lessons are available?
Currently, the following types of photography lessons are offered:
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Portraits & Headshots (Outdoor and In-Studio) Classes
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Landscape Photography & Workshops
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Automotive, Transportation and Car Photography Classes
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The Business of Photography (Marketing, Pricing, and Client Relations)
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Wildlife/Birds Photography Workshops
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Real Estate & Architecture Photography (Interior/Exterior) Classes
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Product Photography Classes
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Drone/Aerial Photography Classes
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Aircraft / Aviation Photography Classes Possible Upon Request
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Industrial / Commercial Photography Classes Possible Upon Request
Additionally, there’s an option for Basic Photo Editing (using Adobe Photoshop/Lightroom). For editing sessions, students will need to bring their own laptop with the required software installed. These sessions are designed to teach essential techniques that will enhance your photos and streamline your workflow.
5. What equipment should I bring?
Each photography genre requires different types of equipment. Some gear can be used across many genres, while other equipment is much more specialized.
For example, real estate and architecture photography usually require a wide angle lens such as a 16-35mm, while bird and wildlife photography often require telephoto lenses like a 100-400mm or even 600mm.
More versatile lenses such as a 24-70mm can be used in many genres including portraits, landscapes, product photography, and more. Many types of photography also benefit from using a tripod, filters, or other accessories.
The good news is that you do not need to buy everything at once. During the lessons, we will go through your goals, interests, and budget to better understand what equipment makes the most sense for your photography journey.
Want to better understand photography gear, lenses, filters, and other equipment? Check out our Blog section for additional photography tips and educational articles.
6. Where do the lessons take place?
Lessons are held in flexible locations depending on a few different factors, mentioned below.
Since the classes are generally separated into theoretical and practical sessions, the locations can vary quite a bit.
The first lessons which are focused on fundamentals and theory, can often be held in quieter indoor spaces such as coffee shops with comfortable seating and enough room to review camera settings, composition, exposure, editing basics, and more.
Practical lessons are location based and depend on the photography genre you want to explore. For example, portrait and headshot lessons can take place in various Portland area locations, while landscape photography includes multiple workshop style locations ranging from the Columbia Gorge and Mt. Hood to the Oregon Coast and Bend area.
Weather, lighting conditions, travel distance, and your personal goals are always taken into consideration when planning each lesson.
What Clients Say
Practical lesson day - learning portrait photography with natural light, in non-ideal light and location (intentionally chosen)
Directing your model, especially if they are not a Pro, is crucial for portrait photography!
Teaching and assisting a beginner photographer how to get nicer results for outdoor portraits using only natural light and a reflector!
7. Are Workshops included?
While the term “workshop” can technically apply to many photography genres such as portrait, automotive, or commercial photography, in our case we mostly use terms like practical classes and trainings for those types of lessons.
Workshops are not included within the regular lessons and are considered a separate type of photography experience. However, they are often a natural continuation after the initial theoretical or practical classes, especially for students who want more real world shooting experience and guided outdoor training. In many cases, students who complete an initial class can also receive discounted pricing for their first workshop or future practical sessions.
The Workshop section on our website primarily refers to landscape photography experiences and outdoor photography adventures designed for nature and travel photography enthusiasts.
These workshops usually involve trips outside Portland and can range from a short sunrise or sunset session at locations such as the Columbia Gorge or Cannon Beach, to longer full day or multi day photography experiences across Oregon and beyond.
Unlike regular one on one lessons, workshops can include a small group of participants, usually up to 3 or 4 people, creating a more social and adventure focused experience.
Currently, only a few workshop examples are showcased on our website, while additional programs and new locations are still being developed and added over time.
We are also in contact with guides and tourism professionals in several well known nature destinations and National Park areas, with plans to combine guided experiences, outdoor exploration, and photography learning into future workshop opportunities.
And of course, custom designed workshops for individual clients are always possible based on personal interests, skill level, preferred locations, and travel goals.
If you have more questions or need additional information, feel free to contact us. After completing your first lesson, you will likely feel inspired to dive even deeper into the exciting world of photography. Let’s make it happen together!
No time to learn and prefer to hire a photographer instead? No problems, we got you covered! Check out our Photography Services and contact us with your needs and ideas, and we’ll take care of the rest!