Pictures of people can evoke some extraordinary emotions and stories - from the shadow that falls across a woman’s face, to the mystery behind a man’s eyes. As well as the technical skills, portrait photography requires a certain amount of trust between the person in front of the camera, and the person holding it.

In this intensive two-day bootcamp with photographer and tutor Nigel Wilson, you will learn how to develop both your technical skills and your approaches as a photographer, to capture striking images of human subjects.

Drawing inspiration from some of the most important and groundbreaking photographers throughout history, such as Martin Parr, Jane Bown, Steve McCurry and more, you will discover how photography doesn’t only tell us about the subject, but that it reveals much about the person behind the camera too. Under Nigel’s expert guidance, you will be taken through the recipe that makes great photographs, with every single ingredient explained clearly and thoroughly.

By the end of this interactive weekend bootcamp, you will be able to confidently approach potential subjects, and use your DLSR or mirrorless camera to tell fascinating stories.

Course content

Technical considerations
Equipment, including essential lenses
Exploring light: natural v artificial
Inspirational portraiture styles. Learning from the greats
Considering context

Tutor profile

Nigel Wilson is an experienced teacher who leads classes at many institutions, including New York University, Photofusion and London’s famous Camera Club. He has also lectured at the Victoria & Albert Museum and is a tutor for the Royal Photographic Society.

Course Details

Date: Saturday 28 May - Sunday 29 May 2022
Time: 2pm-5pm BST

2pm BST | 3pm CEST | 6am PDT | 9am EDT

This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

You will be sent a link to the webinar two hours before the start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you have not received the access link within one hour of the scheduled start time.

All Guardian Masterclasses are fully accessible but please contact us at masterclasses@theguardian.com if you have any queries or concerns.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website

Portrait photography: A weekend bootcamp with Nigel Wilson