Over the past few weeks, I’ve reorganised the Classroom to make the learning pathway clearer and easier to navigate. The community, Absolute Beginners course, Q&A, Image Critique, and the Camera Basics cheat sheets remain free and open to all members. Additional courses — including Foundations, genre and technique deep dives, and the growing cheat sheet collections — now sit inside the paid membership tier. This simply separates:• free orientation and community• structured, in-depth learning for those who want to go further Nothing has been removed — the structure has just been clarified. As always, you’re welcome to stay at the level that suits you.

Here’s a quick Week 5 round-up, so you can see what’s been added (and refined) this week. 📄 New Cheat Sheets Added Core Foundations - Aperture Cheat Sheet: A clear, practical reference focusing on what aperture actually controls and how to use it intentionally. Portrait Photography - Portrait Genre Cheat Sheet: Designed to support the new portrait genre content and help you think beyond settings — into intent, connection, and choices. 🧍 New Genre Post - Portrait Photography — Genre Post This post explores portrait photography as more than just photographing what someone looks like, and begins to unpack how intention, awareness, and decision-making shape stronger portraits. 🛠 Refinement & Polishing While there wasn’t a large content drop this week, time was spent reviewing and refining the Absolute Beginners Course, which was completed last week. That means clearer explanations, smoother flow, and small improvements that make the material easier to return to and use in practice. 🔜 Looking Ahead Over the coming week I’ll be: - Adding further cheat sheets - Continuing to build out genre and deep dive content - Refining existing material where clarity can be improved As always, move at your own pace — these round-ups are here to keep things visible, not to rush you. Thanks for being here 😊

PORTRAITS. This is not a posing exercise. It’s an observation exercise. Photograph one person this week without telling them how to stand, sit, or pose. Before you take a single photo: - spend a minute just watching - notice how they naturally hold themselves - notice what their hands do - notice when their expression softens Only then, lift the camera. How to Shoot It - Use natural light (window light or open shade) - Keep the background simple - Stay close enough to feel present, not intrusive - Take fewer frames than usual — wait for the moment You’re not chasing a look. You’re allowing a moment. Gentle Direction (If Needed) If your subject feels unsure, try one small suggestion: - “Just take a breath.” - “You don’t need to do anything.” - “Look past me, not at the camera.” Then stop directing again. What You’re Looking For - the moment after laughter - a relaxed posture - hands at rest - an expression that isn’t performed These moments often last only a second. That’s why watching matters. Reflection (Optional but Powerful) Afterwards, ask yourself: - When did the portrait shift from posed to natural? - What changed when I stopped directing? - What did I notice that I usually rush past? Reminder A successful image doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be honest. If you’d like, share your image — or share what you noticed instead. Both count.

Here’s the Week 4 Sunday round-up, so you can easily see what’s been added this week. 🎓 Absolute Beginners Course — Now Complete The Absolute Beginners Course has now been completed in full. This course brings together everything covered so far — helping photographers move from uncertainty to making more intentional choices with their camera. It’s designed to be worked through slowly, revisited often, and used as a steady reference point rather than something to rush through. 📄 New Cheat Sheets Added Two new cheat sheets were added this week, both expanding into everyday, accessible genres: - Street & Everyday Life Photography - Still Life Photography These focus on noticing small moments, working with what’s in front of you, and developing stronger visual awareness without needing special locations or gear. 🔍 New Deep Dive Post - Still Life Photography — A Deeper Look This deep dive explores still life as a way to slow down, experiment, and practise seeing light, shape, and composition in a more deliberate way. 🧱 Structural Refinements Some behind-the-scenes structural refinements were also made this week to improve navigation and make content easier to find as the library grows. You may notice things feeling a little clearer and more organised — that’s intentional. 🔜 Looking Ahead Over the coming week I’ll continue to: - Add new cheat sheets - Build out genre and deep dive content - Refine structure as the community evolves As always, move at your own pace — these round-ups are here simply to help you stay oriented. Thanks for being here 😊

You may notice a few new categories appearing here. As the group has grown, I’ve started organising longer posts so they’re easier to find when you need them — especially for those who dip in and out rather than reading everything at once. Here’s a simple guide: - Start Here → a gentle orientation if you’re new or unsure where to begin - Deep Dives → longer posts that explain why things work, not just what to do - Genres → posts exploring different types of photography - General Discussion → everything else (including Saturday prompts and Sunday round-ups) There’s no expectation to keep up, post regularly, or follow a set path.Browse, read, and take what’s useful — at your own pace. Quiet learners are very welcome here. — Helen