Creative Portrait Photography Workshops
5-week Creative Portrait Photography Workshop for Teens*
A 5-week Creative Portrait Photography Workshop exploring various materials, themes, and creative techniques. By the end of the 5 weeks, students will have discovered new artists, developed collaborative, imaginative, and compositional skills, and built a portfolio of (minimum) five portraits or self-portraits.
The basics
For: Teens 12-16 years old
*If there’s enough interest, I’ll happily run other workshops for younger/older artists, too!
Cost: $100 per session (2 hours) or sign up for the full 5-weeks for $450 and save $50!
Start Date: Wednesday, October 23nd
~ then every Wednesday ~
End Date: Wednesday, November 20th
Time: 5pm-7pm
Max. number of students per session: 4
What to expect
(10 mins approx.) Introductions & ice-breaker games.
(15 mins approx.) Robyn will introduce and lead a discussion of the week’s theme. Students will be introduced to historical and contemporary examples from primarily photo-based portrait artists, while also considering portraiture across other mediums. Demonstrations of any creative techniques being used will also take place during this time.
(80 mins approx.) Students experiment, play, and construct multiple photo portrait variations around the week’s theme.
(15 mins approx.) Debrief & cleanup. What went well? Which techniques or ideas did students like working with the most? We’ll recap everything we learned, and discuss what we might try or do differently next time.
Baked into each session students will be taught and/or reminded about perspective, angles, the rule of thirds, the Golden Ratio, etc, thus encouraging & empowering them to make better photos and portraits.
Workshop Curriculum**
Week 1 - Fabric & Folds
Students will learn about the historical and symbolic significance of drapery/draped fabric in portraiture while exploring the use of fabrics to create rich, bodily portraits and backdrops.
Week 2 - Texture & Materiality
Students will experiment and play with different materials - glue, soap, gels, colored powders/paints - to create unique (self)portraits. We’ll talk about how different textures and materials can affect how a portrait is perceived or read.
Week 3 - Color & Contrast
Students will consider the impact of color when creating images, especially in portraiture. How does color set the mood of a portrait? What happens when you commit to using only one color when making a photographic portrait? How can you create depth and emotion using one color or contrasting colors?
Week 4 - Objects & Symbols
How and why objects are used in portraiture. Students will look at both historical and contemporary examples of symbolic, object-centric portraiture. Which objects hold particular significance to you? How can you interact with these objects in a physical way to emphasize an emotion, message, or perception of self?
Week 5 - Masks & The Hidden Self
Why do we mask our true selves? What are we trying to hide? How do masks allow us to take on different personas? What do our masks allow us to do that we normally wouldn’t? Can we tap into alternate versions of ourselves when we put on masks? Students will look at how and why artists have used masks when taking portraits of themselves or others.
**As this is an all-new workshop series, some curriculum content is subject to change.
About your instructor
Robyn LeRoy-Evans is a visual artist working in photography, installation, and performance. By turning the camera on herself, and through the use of carefully considered materials - such as fabric, clothing, found objects, human hair, clay, and earth - LeRoy-Evans creates imagery and installations that draw inspiration from history, mythology, and her own personal experiences as a mother-artist. In 2012 she achieved a First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art from Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom. She has exhibited nationally and internationally and has work in private collections in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. In 2014 she moved to Bvlbancha (New Orleans) on a whim and remains there to this day with her two children. Robyn works as an entrepreneur, mother-artist, and is Co-Founder and Assistant Director of Camp X Camp, a summer art camp for kids.
FAQs
Will you print the finished portraits?
Yes. All portraits will be printed on professional photo paper at _________ size and will be available for collection on Friday, November 22nd.
How many portraits will be produced at the end of each session?
As with all art forms, each artist works at their own pace. Students will produce at least one portrait per session. I’ll be reminding each young artist that making art can sometimes happen rapidly, and other times more care, thought, and consideration is needed. When it comes to making photos, some artists/photographers take hours, days, weeks or even months to create one image. We’ll be talking about how to be discerning when image-making, and how sometimes it’s necessary to take many, many, many shots before deciding upon which ones make the cut.
Will all materials be provided?
Yes! PLEASE NOTE: For some sessions, e.g. the Color & Contrast workshop and the Objects & Symbols workshop, students have the option of bringing along fabrics & clothing in their favorite color, plus objects that hold significant meaning to them. Prior to these sessions a reminder email will be sent out to all parents & guardians. This is not a requirement, however, and plenty of fabrics, clothing, objects, and other props will be provided.
What should each student bring to class?
Students may want to bring a notebook/sketchbook and pen/pencil to jot down ideas, sketch or outline portrait ideas. Also to take any notes about artists they’re introduced to at the beginning of each session.
Which type of camera/s will you be using for the workshops?
We’ll be using a combination of digital SLR cameras and iPhone cameras. Students are welcome to use their own digital cameras if they have them (not required).
Do you accept students younger than 12?
Yes! If there is enough interest from younger students, I’ll happily run another workshop series specifically for them. (6 years would be the minimum age I would consider.)
Do you accept students older than 16?
Yes! If there is enough interest from older students, including adults of all ages, I’ll happily run another workshop series specifically for them.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancel 48 hours before your child’s scheduled session, you’ll receive a 50% refund.
Cancel less than 48 hours before your child’s scheduled session no refund will be given.
How many students will be in each workshop?
A maximum of 4 students will be attending each session. This ensures that each student is given proper instruction and support as they work individually and in pairs on their (self)portraits.
Where will the workshops be held?
Workshops will be held in Studio 4 at Camp Street Studios, 822 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.
Drop-off/pick-up policy?
Please drop your child off on time to avoid disrupting the sessions. A $20 aftercare fee will be charged if you are more than 15 minutes late to pick up your child.
To sign up for the full 5-week session click the below link:
5-Week Workshop Series (save $50!)
Or, you can sign up for single-week sessions using the below links:
Week 2 Only - Texture & Materiality
Week 3 Only - Color & Contrast
Week 4 Only - Objects & Symbols
Week 5 Only - Masks & The Hidden Self
Please email Robyn if you have any questions:
robynleroyevans@gmail.com