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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Natural Light Portraits
Saturday 19 April
Sturt Road, Frimley Green - 10am - 2 Hours
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.
Beginner's Photography Class Wild Spaces In Urban Places
Saturday 26 April
Poole Park - 2pm - 3 Hours
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.
Beginner's Photography Class
Saturday 03 May
Sturt Road, Frimley Green - 10am - 3 Hours
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.
Beginner's Photography Class Photographing Nature scapes
Saturday 10 May
Stanpit Marsh Nature Reserve - 10am - 3 Hours
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.
Beginners Photography Class
Saturday 10 May
Palmerston Rd, Southampton - 2pm - 3 Hours
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.
Macro Photography Meetup
Saturday 17 May
Godalming - 10am - 2 Hours
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.
Colours of Spring Photography Meetup
Saturday 24 May
Lower Gardens - 12pm - 2 Hours
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!
Black and White Photography
Saturday 31 May
Guildford GU4 8PZ, UK - 10am - 2 Hours
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.
Walk with Camera
Saturday 31 May
Lepe, Southampton SO45 1AD - 2pm - 2 Hours
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.
Seascapes Photography Meetup
Saturday 07 June
Hengistbury Head - 3pm - 2 Hours
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.
Long Exposure Photography
Saturday 14 June
Godalming - 7pm - 2 Hours
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.
Street Photography Meetup
Saturday 21 June
Bournemouth Town Centre and Pier - 1pm - 2 Hours
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.
Beginner's Crochet Class
Saturday 19 April
The Polygon - 10am - 3 Hours
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.
Pastel Painting Meetup Oil or Dry Pastel Medium
Saturday 26 April
Southsea - 10am - 2 Hours
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.
Architectural Drawing and Painting
Saturday 03 May
Chapel Rd - 10am - 2 Hours
Fakiha Khan
In this session, we will learn architectural drawing and painting with the study of perspective and it's types.
Elaborate with Your Imagination: Abstract Painting Workshop
Saturday 03 May
Ensbury Avenue, Bournemouth - 11am - 2 Hours
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.
Amigurumi 101
Saturday 10 May
The Polygon - 10am - 3 Hours
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.
Flower Painting Meetup Acrylic
Saturday 10 May
Southsea - 10am - 2 Hours
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.
Life Sketching
Saturday 17 May
Commercial Road, Portsmouth City Center - 10am - 2 Hours
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.
Seascape at the Beach: Mixed Media Meetup
Saturday 17 May
Ensbury Avenue, Bournemouth - 11am - 2 Hours
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.
Beginners Acrylic Class
Saturday 24 May
Southsea - 10am - 2 Hours
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!
Life Sketching
Saturday 31 May
Bernard St - 10am - 2 Hours
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.
Seascape Painting with Acrylic
Saturday 14 June
Old Portsmouth - 10am - 2 Hours
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.
Flower Painting Meetup (Acrylic)
Saturday 28 June
Palmerston Rd - 10am - 2 Hours
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.