The Surprising Portrait

An online intensive workshop with Chris Buck

 
 
 
 

In this workshop we'll go through the strategies and pitfalls of executing truly fascinating portraits with celebrities and regular folks alike, focusing on time crunches, shy subjects and organizing for a successful session. There will be some discussion of equipment and technology, but most of our time will go into relationships - with your sitters, their handlers, and most of all with yourself and your fears. Assignments will focus on taking ordinary shooting situations and making intriguing portraits out of them, some indoors, but mostly outside, on-location. It will be exciting and challenging.

SCHEDULE

We’ll meet Wednesdays, Fridays. Sessions will be recorded for viewing on a private channel exclusive to participants so that you can review lessons after the workshop is complete. Please note that you will also need to dedicate time outside of class to work on your assignments each day.

A half-hour-long One-on-One session with Chris is included in this workshop and the schedule will be decided on the first day of class.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Registrants will receive a link to a detailed class syllabus before the class begins.

Required equipment:

Maximum class size: 8 students (we may close registration sooner at our discretion).

Japan residents please select Japan option at check-out (10% consumption tax will be added).

This class is not currently available. To learn more about upcoming courses with Chris Buck, please fill out the form below.

 
 
 

Testimonials

“Thank you so much for making Chris available to do this workshop! The opportunity just to hear one of the best portrait photographers working today talk about his work and how he makes it is so valuable, but his openness with everyone, his support and his drive to make us all better photographers made the experience priceless. It forced me to look deeper at the how and why I shoot, as well as push me to think harder about who the audience for the work is.”

- Miguel

“I can’t stress how valuable the workshop was for me. Hearing Chris speak about his professional history, iconic shoots and early blunders alike is insightful. And he simplifies the most complex ideas like, photographing people in compromising situations, Chris would say ‘you just have to ask’. Genius! Doing the assignments and having Chris give feedback in real time showed me how much harder I could be working. Chris is encouraging, but I would say what’s even more productive is the way he challenged everyone to push themselves harder, to demand more from their work. My advice to any prospective pupils, is do not take this class if you don’t want to be challenged! But if you DO want to be challenged and are prepared to put in hard work, you will feel a major breakthrough in your work.”

-Shelley

“I came into Chris’ workshop looking for insight on not only how a renowned editorial photographer approaches his shoots, but also on how I can grow as an artist through personal projects, and Chris did not disappoint me. He pushed me to develop work that was meaningful, all while shedding light on his professional process and how he works with subjects ranging from strangers on the street to former and current heads of state. If you are willing to give his workshop your all, he will not disappoint you.”

-Jake