PORTSMOUTH
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Beyond the Ordinary: Innovative Approaches to Street Photography

Beyond the Ordinary: Innovative Approaches to Street Photography

Saturday 19 April
Guildhall Square, Portsmouth - 10am - 2 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
In this meetup we will capture compelling images that tell stories about daily life. The area has a mix of modern street art and classic architecture and this will be both a subject and backdrop for candid shooting. The session will be suitable for all levels of experience and a smartphone will serve just as well as a digital camera. Topics covered will include -

- Developing an eye for interesting subjects and scenes in urban settings.
- Master the use of light, composition, and timing in street photography.
- Exploring creative techniques to add a unique touch to your street photographs.
- Gaining confidence in shooting candidly in public spaces.
book now
£26       4 places left
Capturing the Beauty of Nature Meetup

Capturing the Beauty of Nature Meetup

Saturday 26 April
Stansted Park - 10am - 2 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
In this meetup we'll use a range of techniques to capture nature at the beautiful setting of Stansted Park. The colours of spring will provide a stunning backdrop for landscape, nature and even macro photography. The season permitting, I'l lead the group to a secluded area with a carpet of stunning bluebells.
book now
£26       0 places left
Countryside Photography : A Practical Workshop for Capturing Landscapes & Nature

Countryside Photography : A Practical Workshop for Capturing Landscapes & Nature

Sunday 04 May
Havant - 10am - 2 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
Explore the art of countryside photography in a breathtaking lakeside setting. In this meetup a the rolling parkland of Staunton I'll guide you through essential techniques for photographing tranquil waters, elegant swans, and the diverse colours and textures of trees and plants. You'll learn to frame scenes with creativity and confidence while enjoying the natural beauty of the beautiful landscape of this unique location . A perfect escape for anyone who loves nature and wants to capture its magic through their lens or with a smartphone.
book now
£26      

Visual Storytelling Effective Documentary Photography Meetup

Visual Storytelling Effective Documentary Photography Meetup

Saturday 10 May
Havant - 11am - 2 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
In this session we well explore how to create compelling visual stories through candid moments, scene setting, and impactful imagery. The end result will be a photo essay depicting the location in a series of images using different photographic techniques and styles. Photographic equipment isn't essential and a smartphone will serve just as well as a digital camera for this session.
book now
£26      
Visual Storytelling: Effective Documentary Photography Meetup

Visual Storytelling: Effective Documentary Photography Meetup

Saturday 17 May
Broad St, Old Portsmouth - 10am - 2 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
In this session we well explore how to create compelling visual stories through candid moments, scene setting, and impactful imagery. The end result will be a photo essay depicting the location in a series of images using different photographic techniques and styles. Photographic equipment isn't essential and a smartphone will serve just as well as a digital camera for this session.
book now
£26      
Beginners Photography Class

Beginners Photography Class

Sunday 01 June
Southsea, Portsmouth - 10am - 3 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance! Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
£67      

The Art of Pride: Street Photography in Motion

The Art of Pride: Street Photography in Motion

Saturday 07 June
Southsea, Portsmouth - 12pm - 2 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
Portsmouth is host to this fantastic event again in 2025. A parade led by drummers starts at 11.30 along the Seafront so we can capture the party atmosphere and follow along to Castle Field where the main event takes place. The costumes, flags, and decorations will provide a colourful palette and the relaxed and inclusive atmosphere will allow us to capture genuine moments of connection and emotion. With its dynamic energy and diverse stories, a Pride march offers endless opportunities for creative and impactful street photography.
book now
£26      
Capturing Time: Photography in Historic Settings

Capturing Time: Photography in Historic Settings

Saturday 14 June
Fort Nelson - 10am - 2 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
In this meetup we'll capture the history and atmosphere of this unique historic location. We'll explore striking compositions featuring cannons, historic weapons, and rugged architectural details. Under Jon's guidance, you'll learn black-and-white photography skills and refine your documentary-style techniques, creating compelling visual narratives that echo the past.
book now
£26      
Stansted Summer Festival 2025 3-Hour Meetup

Stansted Summer Festival 2025 3-Hour Meetup

Saturday 19 July
Stansted - 10am - 3 Hours
Jon Mainwaring
Step into the lively and quintessentially English atmosphere of Stansted Summer Festival 2025 with your camera in hand! This festival offers an incredible mix of historic re-enactments, vintage cars, a charming dog show, and vibrant summer stalls, a dream setting for any photographer.

Entry Fee: This meetup requires a separate ticket purchase for the festival. Tickets are NOT included in the meetup price. Please book your ticket in advance via the official festival website: https://www.stanstedpark.co.uk/stanstedsummerfestival2025

Bring a DSLR, mirrorless, or high-quality smartphone camera. A zoom lens is recommended for capturing distant details.

Wear comfortable shoes as we'll be walking around a lot.
Arrive 10 minutes early to check in with the group and discuss shooting strategies.
book now
£72      

Nearby Photography Groups

Natural Light Portraits

Natural Light Portraits

Saturday 19 April
Sturt Road, Frimley Green - 10am - 2 Hours
Farnborough Photography Group
Nikita Piven
This meet-up will explore how we can take beautiful portraits using natural light and backgrounds. We will explore how to recognise flattering light and how to manipulate it whilst shooting in a less controlled environment than a studio. We will explore how we can work collaboratively with our subject to achieve a portrait that captures their personality and style. We will also look at posing and setting your subject at ease. Technical learning points will include accurate focusing and metering for skin tones.
book now
£26      
Beginner's Photography Class Wild Spaces In Urban Places

Beginner's Photography Class Wild Spaces In Urban Places

Saturday 26 April
Poole Park - 2pm - 3 Hours
Bournemouth Photography Group
Anna Kenny
Ready to take your photography to the next level? In this photography class we will unlock those camera settings and practice playing with light in beautiful Poole park. This urban green space has a range of subjects to practice photographing from birds to garden plants, water habitats to woodland. There is something of interest for everyone to photograph in this class. With a camera in hand, reconnect with the great outdoors in a fun, social environment.
book now
£67      
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 03 May
Sturt Road, Frimley Green - 10am - 3 Hours
Farnborough Photography Group
Nikita Piven
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!

Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.

We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
£67      

Beginner's Photography Class Photographing Nature scapes

Beginner's Photography Class Photographing Nature scapes

Saturday 10 May
Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve - 10am - 3 Hours
Bournemouth Photography Group
Anna Kenny
A camera is your tool to help you see the world. In this beginners class, we will photograph the beautiful Stanpit Marsh nature reserve, which has a variety of wildlife, habitats and views over Christchurch. Here, we will learn to photograph nature from open landscapes to individual species, showcasing the stunning ecosystems and nature-scapes around us.
book now
£67      
Beginners Photography Class

Beginners Photography Class

Saturday 10 May
Palmerston Rd, Southampton - 2pm - 3 Hours
Southampton Photography Group
Nikki Wileman
Whether you are photographing people or plants, making memories or making art knowing how to use your camera is key.The class will give you the knowledge you need to expose, to compose and to create the images you have always wanted to. Learn the basics of photography including using manual camera settings for perfect exposure and tips for good composition. The session will look at ways to improve composition using light, colour and perspective.
book now
£67      
Macro Photography Meetup

Macro Photography Meetup

Saturday 17 May
Godalming - 10am - 2 Hours
Farnborough Photography Group
Nikita Piven
Macro photography is a unique form of photography that involves photographing small objects to make them look life-sized or more significant in the photo. The usual subjects include flowers and small insects, which we don't normally get to see up close with the naked eye.

The class will start when the insects are more active. So be ready to explore and capture breathe-taking macro images.
book now
£28      

Colours of Spring Photography Meetup

Colours of Spring Photography Meetup

Saturday 24 May
Lower Gardens - 12pm - 2 Hours
Bournemouth Photography Group
Anna Kenny
Spring photography is a beautiful way to capture the renewal of life that comes with the arrival of spring. Join this session for tips on how to use your camera settings to creatively capture nature in a visually interesting way. We'll be looking at composition, focus and colour in this Spring season!
book now
£26      
Black and White Photography

Black and White Photography

Saturday 31 May
Guildford GU4 8PZ, UK - 10am - 2 Hours
Farnborough Photography Group
Nikita Piven
Introduction to Black and White Photography. What makes a good Black and White shot?

We will look at the contrast and using textures. How does the camera see the image and how do we create Black and White images in a camera or in post-production. We will look for some good examples and set some exercises.

This is a more advanced course and assumes you understand the basics of photography and controlling your camera.
book now
£26      
Walk with Camera

Walk with Camera

Saturday 31 May
Lepe, Southampton SO45 1AD - 2pm - 2 Hours
Southampton Photography Group
Nikki Wileman
Sometimes the best photography sessions are unplanned and spontaneous. This meetup will be a fun and relaxed walk with our cameras with the opportunity to photograph a variety of topics including seascape, nature, wildlife, details and abstracts.
book now
£26      

Seascapes Photography Meetup

Seascapes Photography Meetup

Saturday 07 June
Hengistbury Head - 3pm - 2 Hours
Bournemouth Photography Group
Anna Kenny
There's something grounding about photographing the sea, the movement, the light, the way the landscape shifts even in stillness. For this Seascapes Photography Meetup, we'll explore how to capture that atmosphere. It's not about perfection, it's about presence, noticing the details, experimenting with perspective, and letting the coast inspire your frame.
book now
£26      
Long Exposure Photography

Long Exposure Photography

Saturday 14 June
Godalming - 7pm - 2 Hours
Farnborough Photography Group
Nikita Piven
Learn the basics of long exposure to capture light trails along with tripod photography.

Long exposure refers to a technique where you keep the shutter open for an unusually long period of time. This results to interesting effects in your photographs.
book now
£26      
Street Photography Meetup

Street Photography Meetup

Saturday 21 June
Bournemouth Town Centre and Pier - 1pm - 2 Hours
Bournemouth Photography Group
Anna Kenny
People, cafes, vendors, street merchants, buskers, historic buildings, art installations and much more. The power of observation underpins the art of great street photography. Learning to "see" interesting detail is a practised skill and we introduce you to easy methods that will open your photographer's eye and expose you to a world that is alive with detail. The most rewarding part of the class is learning how to approach interesting people and have them willingly pose for you.

We will also go over settings, focusing techniques and lens choices common to street photography to help us capture those random chance encounters.
book now
£26      

Other Nearby Groups

Beginner's Crochet Class

Beginner's Crochet Class

Saturday 19 April
The Polygon - 10am - 3 Hours
Southampton Crochet Club
Radhika Taneja
If you are brand new to crochet, haven't picked up a hook in years, or simply want a little more guidance on those all important basic stitches this is the class for you. We will start with techniques for holding the yarn before moving onto forming the stitches that make up a traditional granny square.

Crochet materials are included as well as a free tea or coffee.
book now
£50       0 places left
Pastel Painting Meetup Oil or Dry Pastel Medium

Pastel Painting Meetup Oil or Dry Pastel Medium

Saturday 26 April
Southsea - 10am - 2 Hours
Portsmouth Art Group
Fakiha Khan
Unleash your creativity at our Pastel Painting Meetup, where you'll explore pastel colours in an open medium setting. This event welcomes artists of all levels to experiment with oil and dry pastels and create stunning artworks. Join us for an engaging session filled with inspiration, guidance, and the joy of pastel painting.Note Bring your supplies. Materials are not provided.
book now
£26      
Architectural Drawing and Painting

Architectural Drawing and Painting

Saturday 03 May
Chapel Rd - 10am - 2 Hours
Southampton Art Group
Fakiha Khan
In this session, we will learn architectural drawing and painting with the study of perspective and it's types.
book now
£26      

Elaborate with Your Imagination: Abstract Painting Workshop

Elaborate with Your Imagination: Abstract Painting Workshop

Saturday 03 May
Ensbury Avenue, Bournemouth - 11am - 2 Hours
Bournemouth Art Group
Ahana Byregowda
This workshop is about stepping beyond the rules and letting your creativity take charge. Using a huge canvas, broad brushstrokes, and fluid acrylic paints, you'll explore the raw, expressive power of abstract painting. Whether you want to create something soft and ethereal or bold and dramatic, this session is all about movement, intuition, and translating emotion into colour and form.
book now
£26       4 places left
Amigurumi 101

Amigurumi 101

Saturday 10 May
The Polygon - 10am - 3 Hours
Southampton Crochet Club
Radhika Taneja
Perfect for those who've already done our popular Beginners Class! Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting small, cute creatures. You will learn the basics of Amigurumi and start on an easy amigurumi heart project during the class.

All our classes include crochet materials and instruction as well as a non-alcoholic drink during the class.
book now
£46      
Flower Painting Meetup  Acrylic

Flower Painting Meetup Acrylic

Saturday 10 May
Southsea - 10am - 2 Hours
Portsmouth Art Group
Fakiha Khan
Exploring a delightful afternoon of creativity and camaraderie. Surrounded by fresh flowers, you'll have plenty of inspiration to create your masterpiece. Study of flowers creating details through color and brush stocks.
book now
£26      

Life Sketching

Life Sketching

Saturday 17 May
Commercial Road, Portsmouth City Center - 10am - 2 Hours
Portsmouth Art Group
Fakiha Khan
Life sketching, with a focus on quick sketching, is a dynamic and essential art session that centers on capturing the essence of a subject in rapid strokes. Participants learn to observe and interpret the world around them with speed and spontaneity. Through live models or dynamic scenes, artists train their eyes and hands to work in harmony, translating the fluidity of life onto paper.This session encourages artists to embrace imperfections, emphasizing gesture, movement, and emotion over intricate details.Quick sketching not only improves artistic skills but also sharpens one's ability to perceive and respond to the world, making it a vital exercise for any aspiring artist.
book now
£26      
Seascape at the Beach: Mixed Media Meetup

Seascape at the Beach: Mixed Media Meetup

Saturday 17 May
Ensbury Avenue, Bournemouth - 11am - 2 Hours
Bournemouth Art Group
Ahana Byregowda
In this hands-on workshop, we'll be bringing the beauty of the sea to the canvas, using a combination of acrylics, palette knives, and textured elements to create a realistic shoreline. From the deep blues of the ocean to the frothy waves and golden sands, you'll explore how to blend colours, build texture, and use different tools to achieve that perfect coastal feel.
book now
£26      
Beginners Acrylic Class

Beginners Acrylic Class

Saturday 24 May
Southsea - 10am - 2 Hours
Portsmouth Art Group
Fakiha Khan
Join our Beginners Acrylic Class and explore the vibrant world of acrylic painting with step-by-step guidance. Perfect for all skill levels, this fun and relaxed session will help you unleash your creativity on canvas!
book now
£26      

Life Sketching

Life Sketching

Saturday 31 May
Bernard St - 10am - 2 Hours
Southampton Art Group
Fakiha Khan
Life sketching, with a focus on quick sketching, is a dynamic and essential art session that centers on capturing the essence of a subject in rapid strokes. Participants learn to observe and interpret the world around them with speed and spontaneity. Through live models or dynamic scenes, artists train their eyes and hands to work in harmony, translating the fluidity of life onto paper.This session encourages artists to embrace imperfections, emphasizing gesture, movement, and emotion over intricate details.Quick sketching not only improves artistic skills but also sharpens one's ability to perceive and respond to the world, making it a vital exercise for any aspiring artist.
book now
£26      
Seascape Painting with Acrylic

Seascape Painting with Acrylic

Saturday 14 June
Old Portsmouth - 10am - 2 Hours
Portsmouth Art Group
Fakiha Khan
Immerse yourself in the art of seascape painting with acrylics, capturing the beauty of waves and horizons. This meetup welcomes all skill levels to explore techniques, colors, and creativity inspired by the ocean.
book now
£26      
Flower Painting Meetup  (Acrylic)

Flower Painting Meetup (Acrylic)

Saturday 28 June
Palmerston Rd - 10am - 2 Hours
Southampton Art Group
Fakiha Khan
Exploring a delightful afternoon of creativity and camaraderie. Surrounded by fresh flowers, you'll have plenty of inspiration to create your masterpiece. Study of flowers creating details through color and brush stocks.
book now
£26      

ABOUT PORTSMOUTH
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 Portsmouth .

  • 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 Portsmouth Photography Group on Facebook to share your photos after the session.

    Got a question? Try our FAQ.
  • REVIEWS
    Very good Jon knows his stuff
    5/5
    ken
    2025-04-14
    Great event, well organised
    5/5
    Tracey
    2025-03-17
    Good explanation of the exposure triangle with time to put in to practice to see the effects that different camera settings can achieve. Section on composure assisted with understanding how to take better photographs and gets you away from just point and shoot. Now think of what is in frame and how it relates to what you want to show.
    5/5
    Ray
    2025-03-11

    Jon?s wealth of knowledge and his ability to interact across all experience levels makes the course enjoyable and interactive. Another excellent morning out learning photography and how to get amazing shots.
    5/5
    Neil
    2025-02-24
    Very informative yet informal and friendly
    5/5
    Nicola
    2025-02-24
    Jon facilitated great morning knowing exactly where to find all the best photo opportunities and angles. It was also helpful that he asked everyone to introduce themselves. Also a great group of people who were helpful and generous with their advice. Every day is a school day even at my age !
    5/5
    Stephen
    2025-02-17

    It was good I just felt we didn?t cover much of an area with much variety . John was fantastic though and very talented. A great host
    4/5
    Richard
    2025-02-17
    Another enjoyable session with some great tips.
    5/5
    Nigel
    2025-02-11
    Another really enjoyable event.
    5/5
    Julie
    2025-01-23

    A very enjoyable and informative workshop. John is a great tutor.
    5/5
    Helen
    2025-01-13
    Great photography session. Jon as always is helpful and knowledgeable. Enjoyed meeting new people & catching up with others that have joined previous sessions.
    5/5
    Anita Edney
    2024-12-17
    Great event as usual
    5/5
    Tracey
    2024-12-10

    PHOTOGRAPHERS
    Jon Mainwaring
    Jon discovered his passion for taking pictures over thirty years ago using a borrowed Praktica 35mm film camera. Photography has come a long way since! He studied the subject at Berkshire College of Art before starting work as assistant to a wedding photographer in Portsmouth.
    Jon continues to work as a professional photographer on a part-time basis, specialising in environmental portraits and sports. He also enjoys landscape and travel photography and makes the most of the stunning locations in and around Portsmouth.

    Jon Mainwaring is available for private bookings

    Available most Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 6pm. Based in Portsmouth and can suggest locations depending on subject of interest. My main areas of expertise are landscapes, sports & action, portraits, documentary and black & white photography.

    PHOTOS
    Portsmouth Photography Group
    2024-08-13
    Title or Location: Southsea Marina, Portsmouth
    This photo was taken a few weeks ago at the Southsea Marina in Portsmouth during sunrise. I used my canon R50 with an RF 50mm F1.8 STM lens. Settings wise I decided to use a 1/250 shutter speed, an aperture of F6 and an ISO of 200.
    Credit: Adam Bridgeland
    Facebook: adam_bridgeland_
    Instagram: adam_bridgeland_

    Portsmouth Photography Group
    2024-08-05
    Title or Location: Tiefi marsh
    A gorgeous male kingfisher looking over the pond at tiefi marsh.
    Credit: S,Owens photography
    Portsmouth Photography Group
    2024-07-29
    Title or Location: Stansted park, Hampshire
    I know this country estate very well and found a great location to take some shots of my daughter's labrador, Penny, on a Summer evening. We made it a fun session for her and I'm really pleased with the result as it captures the joy of Penny running through the flowers!
    Credit: Jon Mainwaring

    Portsmouth Photography Group
    2024-07-29
    Title or Location: Portsmouth Harbour
    Clipper Round The World Yachts, At Gunwharf
    Credit: Dave Aird
    Facebook: Portsmouth Aerial Media
    Instagram: portsmouth_aerial_media

    Portsmouth Photography Group
    2024-07-15
    Title or Location: Titchfield Haven Harbour. Hampshire UK
    This harbour is only a ten minute drive from my home. It was a very still evening with hardly a ripple on the water. The name of the nearest boat made me smile. (Its a reference to the eternal argument over whether jam or cream should be first on a scone) Fujifilm xt5 27mm f8 ISO 400 1/200
    Credit: Paul Lavin
    Portsmouth Photography Group
    2024-06-18
    Title or Location: Southsea
    Red arrow display for the 80 tribute to the fallen.
    Credit: ian gray
    Facebook: Ian Gray Promotional filming and photography
    Instagram: iangrayimages

    Ottawa Photography Group
    2025-04-16
    Title or Location: Lanark County, Ontario
    This October image of a chipmunk was taken on my Lanark County property, I prefer to photograph small wildlife such as this fellow in a natural rustic setting. I always take my images of wildlife big or small early morning or late afternoon?not only are creatures more active but the low angle of light provides better modeling of the subject. When I frame my subjects, I look for angles that provide uncluttered backgrounds, I leave negative space in the framing to allow for text to be added if nee
    Credit: Kevin Tulett

    Oshawa Photography Group
    2025-04-16
    Title or Location: Oshawa Lakeview Park
    Mother Nature's masterpiece &127774
    Credit: Lakeview
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/leahjonesmyphotography/
    Instagram: @Leah.Jones.ca
    Tucson Photography Group
    2025-04-16
    Title or Location: Tanque Verde Valley
    I recently acquired an older exotic lens, probably circa 1980s. It is a Nikon 400mm f2.8 AI-S which is a completely manual lens with no VR. I paired it with my Nikon D850 to see if I could learn to tackle manual focus. The hummingbirds are congregating on the front of my property where agave plants are flowering at this time of year. This makes it easier for me to practice. This Broad-Billed Hummingbird landed on a stick. The camera settings were 1/3200s at f2.8, auto ISO-320. This lens is old,
    Credit: Kristina Brooks
    Facebook: kristina.brooks96

    Hobart Photography Group
    2025-04-16
    Title or Location: This photo was taken at Couta Rocks on the north west coast of Tasmania
    This is one of my favourite places in Tassie, the north west coast. Couta Rocks are in the distance, as is a blanket of stars and a full Moon. It is such a beautiful and powerful place up there, a different world, one filled with spectacular scenery and the power of nature, not to mention the cleanest air on Earth. I long to go back to this amazing place, to share more of it's splendour though my photographic eye.
    Credit: Keith Pemberton
    Instagram: keithpemberton777

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