VIRGINIA
BEACH
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Beginner's Photography I Class

Beginner's Photography I Class

Saturday 10 June
Brock Environmental Center - 9am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
This class will cover the exposure triangle and the part that ISO, aperture, and shutter speed play individually in achieving the perfect exposure. We'll delve into how to choose which setting to prioritize based on the image you want to produce, and how lighting and composition impact those choices. There will be practice activities, and plenty of time for one-on-one coaching. Please bring a camera that can shoot in manual mode, and if you are not familiar with where the settings are on your camera, please also bring the user's manual for your camera.
book now
$76       3 places left
Beginner's Photography II Class (Shooting in Manual Mode)

Beginner's Photography II Class (Shooting in Manual Mode)

Saturday 24 June
Red Wing Park - 9am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
You've taken our Beginner's Photography class, now what's next? This companion course covers composition, the RAW v. JPEG image format debate, editing, file storage, and lots of practice using your manual mode shooting skills. Even if you haven't taken our Beginner's Photography class, as long as you know how to operate your camera and want to improve the quality of your pictures, this class is for you! During our three hours together, we will have several activities to practice what we're learning, and plenty of time for individual and group feedback.
book now
$76       4 places left
Beginner's Photography I Class

Beginner's Photography I Class

Saturday 08 July
Brock Environmental Center - 8:30am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
This class will cover the exposure triangle and the part that ISO, aperture, and shutter speed play individually in achieving the perfect exposure. We'll delve into how to choose which setting to prioritize based on the image you want to produce, and how lighting and composition impact those choices. There will be practice activities, and plenty of time for one-on-one coaching. Please bring a camera that can shoot in manual mode, and if you are not familiar with where the settings are on your camera, please also bring the user's manual for your camera.
book now
$76       5 places left

Nature Photography Meetup

Nature Photography Meetup

Saturday 22 July
First Landing State Park - 8am - 2 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
Join this session for tips on how to use your camera settings to creatively capture nature in a visually interesting way. We will be looking at composition, focus, and colour. Many professional offices and places of business have large prints gracing their wall space of things such as fields of flowers, a butterfly perched on a leaf, and a single dew drop on a rose petal. These beautiful images are all around us in nature. It just takes that special "eye" to not only see it but to capture it in a way that will turn that simple little piece of nature into a beautiful piece of art. We will learn how to use different angles, light and shadows, and settings to make subjects pop.
book now
$39      
Beginner's Photography I Class

Beginner's Photography I Class

Saturday 05 August
Brock Environmental Center - 8:30am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
This class will cover the exposure triangle and the part that ISO, aperture, and shutter speed play individually in achieving the perfect exposure. We'll delve into how to choose which setting to prioritize based on the image you want to produce, and how lighting and composition impact those choices. There will be practice activities, and plenty of time for one-on-one coaching. Please bring a camera that can shoot in manual mode, and if you are not familiar with where the settings are on your camera, please also bring the user's manual for your camera.
book now
$76      
Beginner's Photography II Class (Shooting in Manual Mode)

Beginner's Photography II Class (Shooting in Manual Mode)

Saturday 19 August
Red Wing Park - 8:30am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
You've taken our Beginner's Photography class, now what's next? This companion course covers composition, the RAW v. JPEG image format debate, editing, file storage, and lots of practice using your manual mode shooting skills. Even if you haven't taken our Beginner's Photography class, as long as you know how to operate your camera and want to improve the quality of your pictures, this class is for you! During our three hours together, we will have several activities to practice what we're learning, and plenty of time for individual and group feedback.
book now
$76       4 places left
Beginner's Photography I Class

Beginner's Photography I Class

Saturday 09 September
Brock Environmental Center - 8:30am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
This class will cover the exposure triangle and the part that ISO, aperture, and shutter speed play individually in achieving the perfect exposure. We'll delve into how to choose which setting to prioritize based on the image you want to produce, and how lighting and composition impact those choices. There will be practice activities, and plenty of time for one-on-one coaching. Please bring a camera that can shoot in manual mode, and if you are not familiar with where the settings are on your camera, please also bring the user's manual for your camera.
book now
$76      
Beginner's Photography I Class

Beginner's Photography I Class

Saturday 07 October
Brock Environmental Center - 9am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
This class will cover the exposure triangle and the part that ISO, aperture, and shutter speed play individually in achieving the perfect exposure. We'll delve into how to choose which setting to prioritize based on the image you want to produce, and how lighting and composition impact those choices. There will be practice activities, and plenty of time for one-on-one coaching. Please bring a camera that can shoot in manual mode, and if you are not familiar with where the settings are on your camera, please also bring the user's manual for your camera.
book now
$76      
B&W Photography Walk & Talk Meetup

B&W Photography Walk & Talk Meetup

Sunday 22 October
Elmwood Cemetery - 2:30pm - 2 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
Black & White photography is a study in contrast, shadows, and interesting shapes. Without color to help tell the story, composition and lighting are the stars. This meetup is for all skill levels and any camera type, including cell phones. Scheduled later in the afternoon to take advantage of long shadows, and in a setting that lends itself perfectly to monochromatic images, this two hour meetup is an informative and fun way to explore the role of mood in photography. Elmwood Cemetery was established in 1853 when the city's first municipal cemetery, Cedar Grove (adjacent to Elmwood), ran out of space. It features a tremendous variety of markers, stones, family mausoleums, and free standing sculptures in a park-like setting. Incorporated into Elmwood grounds is West Point Cemetery, which was established in 1875 for African American burials, including 58 Union Army volunteers.
book now
$39      
Beginner's Photography I Class

Beginner's Photography I Class

Saturday 04 November
Brock Environmental Center - 9:30am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
This class will cover the exposure triangle and the part that ISO, aperture, and shutter speed play individually in achieving the perfect exposure. We'll delve into how to choose which setting to prioritize based on the image you want to produce, and how lighting and composition impact those choices. There will be practice activities, and plenty of time for one-on-one coaching. Please bring a camera that can shoot in manual mode, and if you are not familiar with where the settings are on your camera, please also bring the user's manual for your camera.
book now
$76      
Beginner's Photography II Class (Shooting in Manual Mode)

Beginner's Photography II Class (Shooting in Manual Mode)

Saturday 18 November
Red Wing Park - 9:30am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
You've taken our Beginner's Photography class, now what's next? This companion course covers composition, the RAW v. JPEG image format debate, editing, file storage, and lots of practice using your manual mode shooting skills. Even if you haven't taken our Beginner's Photography class, as long as you know how to operate your camera and want to improve the quality of your pictures, this class is for you! During our three hours together, we will have several activities to practice what we're learning, and plenty of time for individual and group feedback.
book now
$76      
Beginner's Photography I Class

Beginner's Photography I Class

Saturday 02 December
Brock Environmental Center - 10am - 3 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
This class will cover the exposure triangle and the part that ISO, aperture, and shutter speed play individually in achieving the perfect exposure. We'll delve into how to choose which setting to prioritize based on the image you want to produce, and how lighting and composition impact those choices. There will be practice activities, and plenty of time for one-on-one coaching. Please bring a camera that can shoot in manual mode, and if you are not familiar with where the settings are on your camera, please also bring the user's manual for your camera.
book now
$76      
Street Photography Meetup

Street Photography Meetup

Saturday 16 December
MacArthur Center Mall - 10am - 2 Hours
Dawn Rykheart
Street photographers are observers by nature. They use photography as a way of connecting with the world and bringing back the moments that stand out. There are hints, feelings, ideas, stories, or questions in their photos that are meant to prompt the viewer to wonder about the rest of the story. This two-hour meetup is for all skill levels and any camera type, including cell phones. We will be exploring downtown Norfolk, looking for the interesting details in everyday life that are often overlooked. After a discussion on what Street Photography is and how to go about it, we will walk around downtown to see what we can find. And what we find will be different for everyone, that's the beauty of Street Photography, pictures are taken from the photographer's viewpoint instead of focusing on the viewer's perspective, leaving every image up to the interpretation of the viewer rather than leading them to it.
book now
$39      

Nearby Photography Groups

Sunset Photography Meetup

Sunset Photography Meetup

Saturday 03 June
Floodwall Walk - 7:30pm - 2 Hours
Richmond Photography Group
Eric Hackler
Learn how to use the proper settings to capture a beautiful sunset. Beyond just being a natural phenomenon, the setting of the sun symbolizes many things to a variety or people and cultures. The setting of the sun represents the completion of a day's work, so it represents the opportunity to rest.
book now
$39      
Nature Photography Meetup

Nature Photography Meetup

Sunday 04 June
Newport News Park - 9am - 2 Hours
Newport News Photography Group
Michael Milner
Join this session for tips on how to use your camera settings to creatively capture nature in a visually interesting way. We will be looking at composition, focus, and colour. Many professional offices and places of business have large prints gracing their wall space of things such as fields of flowers, a butterfly perched on a leaf, and a single dew drop on a rose petal. These beautiful images are all around us in nature. It just takes that special "eye" to not only see it but to capture it in a way that will turn that simple little piece of nature into a beautiful piece of art. We will learn how to use different angles, light and shadows, and settings to make subjects pop.
book now
$39      
Street Photography at Night Meetup

Street Photography at Night Meetup

Saturday 10 June
James Monroe Building - 8:03pm - 2 Hours
Richmond Photography Group
Eric Hackler
Street photography encompasses a wide range of genres, and this week we'll be exploring the centre of Canberra at night. At this meetup, we will practise the basics of shooting in a dark environment as we capture candid images in an urban setting. By the end of this event, you will be more familiar with: - How to adjust camera settings for low light. - Using slow shutter speeds to get brighter images and create light trails. - Capturing RAW images. - Guidelines for shooting other people and their property in the real world.
book now
$39      

Shallow Depth of Field

Shallow Depth of Field

Saturday 17 June
Belle Isle - 11am - 2 Hours
Richmond Photography Group
Eric Hackler
In this workshop, we will explore the art of creating stunning images with a shallow depth of field. Our experienced instructor will guide you through the process of understanding and applying the principles of photography, including aperture, focal length, and distance. We will cover topics such as using a shallow depth of field to create a mood, blurring out distracting backgrounds, and how to use a shallow depth of field to give a bokeh effect behind our subjects to make them pop.
book now
$39      
ABOUT VIRGINIA
BEACH
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP
Come along to our photo sessions to dust off your camera and get snap-happy with a professional photography instructor.

Brush up on your camera skills and learn new photography techniques whilst on a photo walk class with other local keen photographers!

We run two hour photography sessions based on a photography theme/technique/style and they take place in various locations in Virginia Beach .

  • New to photography? We also run a popular 3 hour Beginners Guide to Photography Class once a month. And once in a while we will run special niche 3 hour classes, for example, Astrophotography - so do subscribe to our newsletter to know when the next on is!

  • Who can attend? Open to all skill levels, from beginners to keen amateurs. The photography instructor is there to help you with camera settings and provide any advice you need.

  • What to bring? We recommend bringing a camera that has full manual mode or semi-manual modes (Aperture or Shutter Priority). Compact cameras and smartphones also welcome!

    The meeting point and full details for the day are sent in the booking confirmation email to the email address you provide at time of booking.

    Join the Virginia Beach Photography Group on Facebook to share your photos after the session.

    Got a question? Try our FAQ.
  • REVIEWS
    Thought it was very good. Kudos to Dawn Rhkheart for doing such an excellent job running the event.
    5/5
    Bob
    2023-05-22
    Good class. I definitely learned the basics of my camera. The ISO, f stop and shutter speed.
    5/5
    Stacey
    2023-05-07
    Thoroughly enjoyed the event. The class size allowed Dawn to work with us individually as well as in a group. I'm eager to put what I learned into practice.
    5/5
    Chondra
    2023-05-07
    A very casual yet informative time. Instructor Dawn was very attentive to each attendee. I came away with a few bits of knowledge that now made sense to me after using them in a real-world setting.
    5/5
    David
    2023-04-26
    Event was great, loved the opportunity to connect and spend time photographing with the extra support of Dawns input. I would have liked more 1-1 time to better critique my photos or having more opportunities to share my photos with the group for feedback.
    4/5
    Brian
    2023-04-25
    Dawn was great! The class helped me piece together concepts that I was struggling with! I gained a lot of value through the in person experience.
    5/5
    Marcus
    2023-03-27
    It was helpful.
    5/5
    Esra
    2023-03-26
    It was awesome and perfect for where I am as a new camera owner learning how the camera works and using manual mode.
    5/5
    Amy
    2023-03-26
    Had a great experience! Many things to photograph. Dawn was awesome! ?
    5/5
    Christine
    2023-02-21
    Had a great time at the street meet up.
    5/5
    Jewelz
    2023-02-20
    Excellent event! Dawn provided great context and guided us around what Street Photography is and isn't.
    5/5
    Laura
    2023-02-20
    Was very nice to get out and join others while taking photos. It was a perfect meetup and Dawn is always so helpful and knowledgeable.
    5/5
    Terri
    2023-01-09
    INSTRUCTORS
    Dawn Rykheart
    Dawn Rykheart is a Virginia Beach photographer and owner of Awestruck Photos, LLC. She has lived in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia since 2004 and was drawn there by the abundance of natural areas to explore. She spends her summers taking family portraits on the beach and has worked as an event photographer for the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, CVS Pharmacy, SunTrust Bank, and other local businesses. For several years she was a contributing photographer to the Hampton Roads Health Journal. She has also volunteered her photography services for the VA Heart Gallery, Sentara Hospice Services, and numerous non-profit fundraisers. Her go-to equipment set includes a Nikon D7100, Sigma 18-35mm lens, and Nikkor 28-300mm lens. She enjoys sharing her love of photography with others, and delights in helping people capture their own unique view of the world!
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