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Training at MindStudio
| Training with MindStudio is unique. It's easy, simple, affordable, great fun and far from stuffy. It is all about great value, fun courses for better photography. |
Our ethos is to offer the best training money can buy in a professional, fun environment. You will not be in a classroom, instead you will be in a real studio where you can soak up the knowledge you need to dramatically improve your photography skills. We will teach you not only how to press the shutter button to take technically perfect images but also how to add drama and interest to your images. Each course is a mix of practical and taught skills.
To book simply click on the 'Book here' link in each section. Courses are going quickly so book now to secure your place. If you have any questions please give us a call on 020 8981 4999. Our dedicated team is happy to help you.
Learn what you need to know
The trainers are not only professional photographers but also experienced trainers who can cover every single aspect of photography. They will guide you through the basics as well as motivate you to get out there and practice your skills. The courses have been designed to be flexible, interactive and above all a great way to become better photographers.
Whether you want to improve your skills for fun or take the step into being a professional photographer there is something for you. What's more we keep the prices at a rate that everyone can afford. We are genuinely passionate about what we do and truly believe that it shouldn't cost the earth to learn.
Our courses are structured to be in bite sized chunks, but we can also do full day group and one to one courses, for which we design the course completely around you.
Understanding your camera |
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Length: 2 hours
Tutor: Ione/Ewa
Requirements: Own DSLR camera
Just got a new DSLR camera or had one for a while but now really would like to learn how to use it like a professional? In this 2 hour introduction session you will get stuck in to using your DSLR the right way to kick off your photography. During the two hours we will cover the basics and get you using your camera in a new way. We cram loads into this session and it's our most popular. After the session there will be time to review each others photos and share information and chat to the trainers.
In this session we will cover
- Square One - the starting point: the very basics of using your camera
- Questions for every photographer
- The thinking behind the image
- Manual and automatic settings on your camera
- Creative control
- What is exposure?
- White balance, Aperture, Shutter speed, ISO
- RAW vs JPEG - what and why?
- What is resolution?
- Basic image composition
- Sharing your photos
- Your gear
Ater the course you will receive the written course material by email for you to easily recap the information and for further studies at your own pace.
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Improving your photography |
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Length: 3 hours
Tutor: Ione
Requirements: Own DSLR camera
In this 3 hour session you will learn how to improve your photography in order to make stunning images from any situation. We will cover the basics on composition and show you various techniques that substantially will improve your images. We cram loads into this session, a great course for anyone who wants to take their photography a step further.
In this session we will cover
- Getting inspiration
- Planning your shoot
- Composition
- Indoor vs outdoor photography
- Shooting in low light conditions
- Using on-camera flash
- Using reflectors
- Shooting landscapes
- Tips for shooting people
- Macro and close-up photography
- Basics for your portfolio
- Showing your work and getting feedback
- Importance of retouching
Ater the course you will receive the written course material by email for you to easily recap the information and for further studies at your own pace.
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Introduction to Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Part 1
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Length: 2 hours
Tutor: Ione
Requirements: Own laptop with Photoshop CS4
In todays digital world, Photography is only half of the process. Retouching is a must if you want your images to stand out. Even images you thought might be ruined can be rescued by knowing how to use Photoshop's tools.
Easily select intricate image content, such as hair, for refinements, compositing, or placing in layout. Remove an image element and see the space fill in almost magically.
Achieve superior results in few steps when you edit your images is non destructive ways. Photoshop will allow you to to an endless list of things.
See samples of our retouching here
Join us and we will teach you how!
In this session we will cover
- Customising workspace and interface
- Setting Preferences
- Viewing modes
- Creating & Viewing a New Document
- Exploring the Toolbox
- Exploring Panels & Menus
- Zooming & Panning an Image
- Histogram explained
- All about the History pallete
- Layers and their functions
- The Background Layer
- Creating, Selecting, Linking & Deleting Layers
- Locking & Merging Layers
- Filling & Grouping Layers
- Adjusting Canvas Size & Canvas Rotation
- Resizing, Cropping & Straightening an Image
- The Image Size window
- Exporting your work
- Resizing for Print & Web
If you do now have a copy of Photoshop CS4 installed you can download a FREE 30-day trial version from Adobe by clicking here. Call 020 8981 4999 for more information.
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Introduction to Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Part 2 |
Length: 2 hours
Tutor: Ione
Requirements: Own laptop with Photoshop CS4
Maximize creative impact, explore fresh possibilities with powerful new tools. Change colours naturally and realistically, warp or stretch graphics, text, or image elements to create unique looks,
remove noise, add grain, create vignettes, correct lens distortions, sharpening, etc.
Basically we will teach you how to get exactly want you want out of your images. (Or get what you dont want in them out)
See samples of our retouching here
In this session we will cover
- Working with Selections
- Selecting with the Elliptical Marquee Tool
- Using the Magic Wand & Free Transform Tool
- Selecting with the Regular & Polygonal Lasso Tools
- Using the Magnetic Lasso Tool
- Using the Refine Edge tool
- Modifying Selections
- Combining Selections
- Using quick mask mode
- Painting with Photoshop
- Using the Brush Tool
- Working with Colors & Swatches
- Using Masks
- The importance of using masks
- Creating and editing masks
- Adjusting masks
- Reusing masks
- Converting masks into selections
- Using masks on grouped layers
If you do now have a copy of Photoshop CS4 installed you can download a FREE 30-day trial version from Adobe by clicking here. Call 020 8981 4999 for more information.
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Lighting for studio photography 1 |
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Length: 2 hours
Tutor: Ione
Requirements: Own DSLR camera and understanding of its settings
Get confidence with lighting to get stunning results! This beginners course in studio lighting will show you how create different styles and moods. Lighting can be made simple but very effective with just a little bit of knowledge and creativity, and that is where this course comes in. We will start with a very basic setup which we build up step by step to create different results in seconds. At the end of the course you have got a lighting foundation that you can use for every indoor setting.
In this session we will cover
- Introduction
- Using Studio equipment
- Health and Safety
- Using a hand held light meter
- Different types of studio lights
- Studio Light settings
- Studio Light controllers
- Basic studio light setups
- Camera settings for studio photography
- Polyboards and reflectors
- Working with gels
- Lighting for people
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Practical Studio Lighting for Fashion
and Beauty photography - Practical course |
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Length: 6 hours
Tutor: Ione
Requirements: Own DSLR camera and understanding of its settings
We will provide a model and you will shoot her!
Get confidence with lighting and directing a model to get stunning results! This beginners course in studio lighting will show you how create different lightings styles and moods in just a few seconds. Lighting can be made simple but very effective with just a little bit of knowledge and creativity, and that is where this course comes in. We will start with a very basic setup which we build up step by step to create different results in seconds. At the end of the course you have got a lighting foundation that you can use for every indoor setting, you will have confidence on how to direct a model, and you will walk away with some images for your portfolio.
In this session we will cover
- Introduction
- Using Studio equipment
- Camera settings for studio photography
- Directing the model
- Different types of studio lights and controllers
- Studio Light settings
- Practise on the model
- Changing the light controlers to achieve different results using Polyboards and reflectors
- Working with gels
- Lighting for Fashion
- Directing models for fashion
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If you have any queries give us a call on 020 8981 4999 or email us at training@mindstudio.co.uk
Here's what one of our clients though of us...
Hi Guys,
Just wanted to make an addition to my comments of Saturday’s course.
Since going home I have had a chance to view the images I took on my computer, I can open the same image 50 times and still be amased at what I achieved.
The day was great and the models supplied were excellent.
Even the input Ewa gave whilst not shooting was a great advantage and valuable, Ione’s Input was clear and direct and I now feel I can go into a studio with confidence and not arrogance ;-) I can say this now as I have completed the course ‘I would have happily paid double the cost’ – and you can quote me.
I still cant believe I was doing the ‘tea pot’ pose just goes to show how away from yourself you go when having a great time.
Thanks a lot guys and I look forward to more lessons with you soon
Best wishes,
Anthony, Photographer
"I spent a half day course with Ian and Ione on the basics of photography, studio lighting and was also given some training with Adobe Bridge. Ian's teachings on the photography was excellent, and he really translated it in a way in which I could understand.
Thanks to that I know so much more now then I did before about photography. I would highly recommend using Adobe Bridge as it is fantastic software package and especially when seeing its true capabilities.
This was Ione's 'bread and butter' and showed me some excellent ways to deal with post production work.
He also taught me some excellent ways in which I can use lighting in a studio environment. Since the course I have been putting the teachings to test with the camera and have actually achieved some amazing shots.
I now have a good idea of what ISO, Shutter speed, and Aperture I should be using when taking a particular shot.
Also thanks to Ione my productivity has increased with quality and quantity just by using Adobe Bridge!! I will be seeing the guys soon for another course"
- Stuart Doyle, photographer
"I highly recommend MindStudio to anyone. The tutor’s passion is inspirational and motivating. I love photography but I have been using my camera in auto and my composition skills are really poor. I attended one course with another organisation prior to going traveling however I found the information given was very technical and too theoretical. I therefore carried on using the camera in auto mode, as I did not have the time to refer to their manual. I wanted to find a good course, which would make a difference, and the training with MindStudio was a very pleasant surprise. The best £25 I have ever spent! MindStudio deliver exactly what they promise, giving you the basics in two hours and changing the relationship you have with your camera. The training is very hands on, straight to the point and very easy to follow. You learn by practice with plenty of examples and by doing this you almost have an immediate feeling that you are learning. The tutor was very down to earth. They come down to your level and make you understand that they were once in the same situation, but look at where they are now! If you are not a technical person things may be confusing and also difficult to remember but the tutor used analogies which are so catchy. An example can be the aperture. When you say that you need a bigger aperture, the "F" number is smaller. For me this has always been so confusing! The tutor’s way of making you understand and remember this is "in music or the charts, the bigger the hit, the smaller the number”. Why didn't I think of this before? This is so stuck into my head now.
The training is very good value, simple in the way it is delivered but very rich in content. Results are easy to get by for immediate motivation."
Monica Del Vecchio- photographer
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