Great photography can help level-up a business, grow your social media presence and tell stories powerfully.

Learn how to capture your work or others' with Hacker Lab's studio-grade equipment, lighting and techniques.

This hands-on, 1-on-1 session is great for anyone looking to create high-quality studio images or members looking to capture their work (not a member yet? Explore a free tour).

How It Works

Schedule your 1-on-1 session to learn how to use our equipment. If you are a member, this class gives you unlimited access to the photo studio.

Open to all, sign up for your own one-on-one session with Hacker Lab instructor Cody to cover all things photography. When selecting your ticket, simply choose which class you'd like to cover.

Please be aware: if you have not taken Hacker Lab photo classes before you must start with Photo 101.

Cody can teach you:

• Photo 101: Intro to Studio Photography & Lighting - start here
• Photo 102: Product & Still-life Studio Lighting - Photo 101 is a pre-requisite
• Photo 103: Portraiture and Modeling Studio Lighting - Photo 101 is a pre-requisite

New in May: Double Trouble Twosome-Tickets! We've added tickets for twosomes! Parent + child (15yo+), partners, couples, or BFFs that just live together. Sign up for a Twosome-Ticket if you and someone in your bubble want to take the class together. Please, no unaccompanied minors.

Please be aware: due to the nature of the 1-on-1 sessions, we have a 48 hour cut-off for scheduling - you must schedule your session at least 48 hours ahead of the session. Our normal cancellation policy of 48 hours advanced notice also applies.

See below for the overviews of what each class covers:

Photo 101: Intro to Studio Photography & Lighting

If this will be your first Hacker Lab photography class, start here

In this class, we will focus on the ability to create high quality studio product images. Learn about the different types of strobes, hot lights, reflectors, and materials.

This course is an orientation to the Hacker Lab photo studio, and an introduction to studio lighting. The main goal of this lecture and demonstration class is for you to become familiar with the equipment available to you in the Hacker Lab photo studio. In addition to an overview of the equipment you will be given an introduction to the basic functions of a DSLR camera as well as studio lighting. A basic understanding of your camera is recommended.

We will cover:

• Studio Overview:
  • An overview of what equipment is available
  • Safety precautions for working with studio lighting
  • Studio usage procedures (logging in and reserving studio time)
• Lighting Concepts:
  • Quality of light, discussion, and demonstration
  • Studio lighting exposure techniques for strobe and continuous tone lights
  • How to control shading and contrast
• Product Lighting:
  • Basic techniques to light small products
  • Basic techniques to light flat art
• Portrait Lighting:
  • Lighting ratios
  • Head positioning

What to bring

• A pen and notebook
• No camera required, however you may bring a DSLR if you have one
• This class is both a lecture and a demonstration

Photo 102: Product & Still-life Studio Lighting

Pre-requisite:Photo 101: Intro to Studio Photography & Lighting

This course focuses on lighting skills for products and Still Life Photography. The goal is to teach students lighting tools available to members at the Hacker Lab. Bring a product or object with you and if time allows, the instructor will explore options for photographing your object. This class will be part lecture and part demonstration.

We'll Cover:

• Essential Equipment
• Lighting Equipment
• Exposure Techniques
• Controlling Light
• Using Backgrounds, Sets and Props
• Supplies
• Composition
• Techniques for Reflective Products
• Techniques for General Products

What to bring

• A pen and notebook
• No camera required, however you may bring a DSLR if you have one
• This class is both a lecture and a demonstration

Photo 103: Portraiture and Modeling Studio Lighting

Pre-requisite:Photo 101: Intro to Studio Photography & Lighting

This course will provide an understanding of lighting techniques for portraiture and modeling regarding the positioning of lights and the model.

We'll Cover:

• Lighting & Camera Concepts
• Hard Light vs Soft Light
• Controlling shadows and contrast
• Positioning of the model
• Head shots (Butterfly, Rembrandt etc.)
• Half shots
• Three-quarter shots
• Full length shots
• Light and Model Positioning
• Positioning to avoid asymmetry and unflattering head and body shapes

What to bring

• A pen and notebook
• No camera required, however you may bring a DSLR if you have one
• This class is both a lecture and a demonstration

Important information for all classes:

• Please make sure to arrive 10-15 minutes early and sign our general release of liability agreement.
• Masks must be worn correctly while inside the facility.
• Do not come into the Lab if you have a cough, fever, or feel sick in the past 14 days.
• If you sign up for and show up to the 102 or 103 classes but have not taken the 101 class, the instructor may teach you the 101 class instead, at their discretion.