A0970 - Creative Essentials: taking better photos in the studio (beginners)

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Start Date: 05/11/2026      End Date: 03/12/2026        Start Time: 14:30      End Time: 16:30        Hours per Week: 2.00      No of Weeks: 5
Fees:      £80.00 (tuition)     £140.00 (overseas)     £33.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Rick Cordell        No of Places: 12
Shadwell Centre

Course Overview

Course Overview
Do you take lots of photos but rarely feel you’ve captured what you meant — the moment, or the mood, or the person as you see them?
This Creative Essentials course will help you take better photos using the camera you already have, without getting lost in technical jargon. You’ll build confidence through simple creative choices — noticing light, background, timing and viewpoint — so your photos start to look more deliberate and more “you”.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Make simple, deliberate creative choices (light, background, viewpoint or timing) to visibly improve at least one photograph.
* Produce a short set of 5–7 photos of a familiar place or person, then select your strongest images based on clear visual differences.
* Show how one intentional change can improve a photo by creating a clear before/after comparison.
* Select your best 2–3 images from a small set and explain what you changed and why it worked.
* Use your smartphone or digital camera confidently to take photos that look considered rather than accidental.
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for the course, other than a willingness and enthusiasm to learn basic photography skills.
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Equipment required

Equipment required
A digital camera, preferably with the ability to connect to an external flash, i.e. hot shoe. Or a reasonable quality phone with camera.
A Memory stick. Pen and notebook.
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How will you know you are making progress?

How will you know you are making progress?
You will have an ‘Individual Learning Plan’ where the course learning outcomes are shown and where you can set your own learning goals and monitor your own progress.

You will need to evaluate your own progress and manage your time.

Your tutor will give ongoing feedback and will keep you informed of your progress.
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You will complete a self-assessment at the beginning, middle and end of the course.
Your tutor will carry out informal assessment to check your understanding, there is no exam.

Your tutor will let you know how you are getting on throughout the course with continuous feedback and how to make imprvements.

At the end of the course you will receive written feedback.
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Progress opportunities - your next steps

Progress opportunities - your next steps
You can progress onto, Learn Creative Digital Photography course, Fun with Photography in the Studio course, Cameraless Photography course, or other photography courses at Idea Store Learning as discussed with your tutor. Alternatively you may wish to use your skills on the Using WordPress and Instagram Course.
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Other info

Other info
To maximise your chances of benefiting from the course fully we expect you to attend all scheduled sessions and that you do so punctually and are ready to start learning at the start of the class.
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Extra Support

Extra Support
If you have declared a learning difficulty, disability or support need whilst enrolling and you require support/assistance in class or to complete your course, please discuss your needs with your tutor at the first lesson.
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