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Still Life Photography with Polina Plotnikova

Learn How to Create Still Life Fine Art Photographs

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Still Life Photography course with Polina Plotnikova

Still Life Photography is a very special course for those who love fine art photography and are fascinated by Old Masters paintings. It is a rare opportunity to learn from a true master of still life photography Polina Plotnikova FRPS EFIAP.

Polina has won numerous national and international awards for her photographs, and during the workshop, Polina will showcase her impressive portfolio and share the methods, settings and techniques she uses to obtain the pictures.

In Polina’s words, Still Life Photography is great for a perfectionist – no one fidgets or makes faces, no sudden gust of wind or some other quirk of ever-changing weather can spoil your shot.

But, by the same token, you cannot count on something interesting that just happens all of a sudden – it is all up to you; the choices are infinite, and the final result is entirely in your own hands.

Modern technology equips you with some amazing tools that the artists of the past could not even dream of – but the main task is essentially the same: to draw the viewer in, so that they can share your vision and tune into the emotions that you are trying to convey.

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Course key facts

Course level 2 Intermediate Studio Photography
Group size 4 students optimal tutor attention
Duration 1 day 10:00am – 4:00pm
Location London
DSLR Photography Courses
Wimbledon Art Studios
10 Riverside Road
London SW17 0BB

Learn Still Life Studio Fine Art Photography

The Still Life photography course is a stimulating combination of presentations, practice and discussions.

During the first part of the course, Polina will showcase her portfolio and cover the technical aspects of studio still life photography.

Next will be an introduction to studio lighting equipment, guided practice, image revision and time for individual feedback.

Still Life course in more detail:

  • Overview of the methods, camera settings and technical aspects of fine art still life photography.
  • Introduction to studio lighting equipment including continuous lights, flash lights, light controllers, softboxes and reflectors.
  • Tips on choosing your props for still life set-up.
  • Pre-visualising your still life image and working towards creating it.
  • Polina’s favourite lighting setups and techniques.
  • The best camera settings for studio still life photography.
  • Advice on setting up a home studio.
  • Practical lens guide and how to achieve the desired creative effect.
  • An introduction to Lensbaby lenses for still life and flowers
  • The art of composition for fine art still life images
  • Learn the focus stacking technique and Helicon Focus software
  • Get tips on how to edit your images in Adobe Photoshop.

At the end of the day not only you will gain confidence for shooting in a studio environment, but you will also walk away with fantastic images for your still life portfolio.

Polina Plotnikova explaining techniques during the Still Life photography course at the Wimbledon Art Studios in London

Still Life Photography is a very special course for those who love fine art photography and are fascinated by Old Masters paintings. It is a rare opportunity to learn from a true master of still life photography Polina Plotnikova FRPS EFIAP.

Polina is a Russian-born UK-based photographer, whose distinctive and much-admired photographic style developed through her love and knowledge of art.

Her view is that modern technology equips you with some amazing tools that the artists of the past could never have dreamed of.

Polina worked in Image Libraries for over 10 years, dealing with images produced by the most successful commercial and fine art photographers. One of her favourite subjects is still life fine art photography.

https://www.polinaplotnikova.com/still-life

Polina Plotnikova - portrait of an award winning photographer and tutor

The Still Life Photography course is a very unique workshop and a must for anyone who loves fine art and feels inspired by Polina’s photography. This workshop is run in our main studio.

During the workshop we will discuss and, of course, practice, some different aspects and approaches to still life photography.

We normally start at 10am with Polina’s presentation and an introduction to studio lights.
Next is guided practice of various lighting setups and Polina’s favourite creative techniques. Also, introduction to  Lensbaby lenses, focus stacking, tip son choosing props, backgrounds and more…
There will be one short tea break and one 30mins break for lunch.
After the course, you will be sent a list of equipment used on the day, as well as tips from Polina.

It is assumed that those attending will have a basic knowledge of photography and have an understanding of aperture, shutter speeds, ISO, or have already attended our Beginners DSLR or Intensive Beginner courses.

We recommend bringing macro lenses, as well as prime and zooms, plus any creative manual lenses like Lensbaby.  If you have a range of lenses please email us after making a booking and we will recommend the best lenses for this course.

All DSLR cameras, mirrorless and bridge systems from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax etc are very welcome. Generally, any digital camera that allows manual exposure should be suitable for the Still Life Photography workshop.

If you’d like to double-check your camera suitability before making a booking or have questions about the course please call us on 020 8947 8118, or email [email protected]

Creative, Inspiring, Enjoyable

Our Still Life Photography courses already helped hundreds of photography enthusiasts, here’s what some of them had to say!

London photography courses satisfied students

“Thank you so much for organising the workshop. The teaching by Polina, the techniques, the help and guidance, the suggestions and advice - it was excellent! I’ve got some brilliant pictures and learned some great new ways of photographing flowers.”

PaulNikon 810

“Thank you for the superb workshop and sending the follow-up notes. I very much enjoyed the day with Polina and felt I learnt a lot. Please could you thank Polina for a fantastic day. I hope that I will be able to come back for another session at some point.”

AmandaPanasonic Lumix G9

“I just would like to say how much I enjoyed your course and Polina's teachning. It gave me some great ideas to try out in the near future as well as becoming more familiar with some of my little used camera settings. Would highly recommend!”

AdrianFujifilm X-T3

🥳  Backed by Hundreds of Five-Star Reviews  🤩

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Start Learning Today!

With groups no larger than 4 students we can guarantee that everyone will get a high level of attention and some personal tips.

Date Day Time Course Places Price
21 Apr 2024 Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm only 2 left £195.00 Book now

One to One Tuition

One to One photography tuition with an experienced photographer is the best way to learn about your camera and how to use it to its full potential.

Your 1to1 session will be 100% tailored towards your photographic needs and your camera gear.

You will get plenty of hands-on practice, instant feedback on your pictures, and lots of tips.

One to One tuition is available on weekdays and weekends.

Please feel free to get in touch with questions.

1to1 Tuition

Gift Vouchers

Photography Courses Gift Vouchers make perfect presents to celebrate a Birthday, Fathers Day, Christmas or any other occasion

Group Course

£ 195

6 hours class
  • In-person tuition
  • Up to 4 participants
  • Try Lensbaby lenses
  • Professional tuition
Buy Now

One to One Tuition

£ 450

6 hours tuition
  • In-person tuition
  • Your own private tutor
  • Many dates available
  • 100% tailored to your needs
Buy Now still life photography course gift voucher

How do the gift vouchers work?

To redeem a gift voucher, its recipient must visit our website, choose a suitable date, and register on the course. We will send a welcome reply email with the booking confirmation, course outline and directions to the studio.

If you have a voucher for a 1to1 tuition – please get in touch. We will arrange everything to suit your calendar and your photography needs.

All our photography gift vouchers are valid for 12 months – giving recipients plenty of time to redeem their gifts.

What happens after I buy a voucher?

It is very important that you provide us with the full name of the gift voucher recipient. If you haven’t done so during the checkout process, please email us. Without that information, we can not print and send the voucher.

Along with the glossy voucher, you will receive a beautiful handmade card, a copy of the course outline and information on how to use the voucher.

There is plenty of space inside the card for your personal message or Christmas wishes.

Have a Question?

No problem! To get started, select a tab on the left.

I booked the Still Life Photography course, what now?

First of all – thank you for booking a class with us!

If you booked a group course, you will shortly receive a confirmation email with the course outline, meeting place and all the joining instructions.

If you booked one-to-one or online tuition, we will email you soon to arrange this training for you.

How can I pay for the Still Life photography course?

Paying for the course is straightforward, secure and only takes a second. After completing the registration process you will be taken to the Order Summary page where you can choose to pay with PayPal using any credit or debit card.

You can also pay by bank money transfer – please email us for details: [email protected].

If you have a gift voucher and would like to use it as part or full payment for the course, please get in touch with your voucher number and we will make a reservation for you.

What should I bring to the course?

All you need to bring for this workshop is your digital camera, a lens, a fully charged battery, and please make sure that you have some free space on the memory card.

But generally, you are welcome to bring as much or as little gear as you like!

If you have a selection of lenses, please get in touch, and we will recommend which lenses will be the most suitable for this class.

Tripods are required, but if you don’t have one, please get in touch. We have three in the studio and can reserve one for you.

Do you offer free camera hire?

Yes, we offer a free camera hire for the duration of all our photography workshops.

This is a popular option as you can learn about all the different camera functions before buying one.

We have Nikon and Canon cameras available.

What happens if I’m late or miss a course?

We start classes promptly and keep to stated hours. Please try to arrive 10 minutes earlier to prepare your camera and all the gear that you have.

If you are running late or can not find us, please let us know so that we can help you with directions. Our studio phone no is 020 8947 8118.

If you find out that you can not make it on the day, we would appreciate it if you notify us as soon as possible. We can try to make some alternative arrangements for you.

If you would like to cancel your attendance and will give us enough notice, we can offer you a full or partial refund. Please visit our FAQ page and read the relevant answers about our refunds and cancellation policy.

Contact us

If you can not find what you are looking for please submit a question to us. We aim to reply within a few hours.

Alternatively, just call us on 020 8947 8118.
Our business hours are Monday to Friday 10:00 am-4:00 pm.

You can also contact us by email[email protected].

Contact Us