This course is part theory and part practical. You will become an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art...
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This course introduces you to both the theory and the practice of photography as a fine art, and how this can influence your work. We will explore the history, concepts and theories behind the position of photography within fine art. We will consider techniques and technologies such as camera types, lighting, traditional and digital printing influencing fine art photography in today's world, and give you guidance on opportunities for exhibiting and publishing work.
What will we cover?
Historical examples of photography as art
Current fine art photography practice and current conceptual approaches
What is published and exhibited in today's art world
Experimenting creatively with technology
Exhibiting or publishing work and what is most appropriate
Describing your work and writing an artist statement
The ‘business’ of fine art photography including agents, museums, galleries, and opportunities
Project reviews and feedback during the class
Showcasing tips and platforms
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Discuss a range of historical examples of art photography
Experiment with technology and formats to realise creative ideas
Understand how technology has affected what is produced in fine art photography
Reflect on your own work and receive comments and feedback
Identify conceptual strands in contemporary photography
Demonstrate awareness of how fine art photography functions as a business
Develop strategies for the publicity and marketing of your own work
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course. It would be useful for you to have a basic knowledge of the manual functions of your camera and to produce images which can be discussed in class. However, the course will also be of interest to those who are not photographers and want an introduction to the subject of contemporary art photography within an historical context.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussions. You should be able to use numbers and be able to undertake simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Illustrated lectures, group discussion and viewing and discussing the work of contemporary artists. You will have opportunities to show your work and receive tutor and peer feedback.
The course also uses Google Classroom (an online teaching resource) for you to share comments with your class, download course material and as appropriate, upload images for group discussion.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring some examples of your own work to take advantage of opportunities for feedback and progression. If you are not a practitioner you will not be expected to bring work but will be invited to participate in the discussion and feedback sessions.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might wish to perfect your digital printing skills, or learn about how to catalogue and tag your images using Adobe Lightroom.
Lorenzo Berni is an experienced and versatile photographer based in London. Graduated in product design he owes to his studies a peculiar structural approach in the realisation of his pictures and projects. He has been a professional photographer since 2010 and his photography experience has made him proficient in fashion, commercial, portraiture and interior photography. Throughout his professional career he realised fashion campaigns, editorials and has seen published portraits and interior photography projects Lorenzo is an art history passionate and his photographic mastery comphrend the use of natural and artificial lighting mostly inspired by the use of these by paintings, poetry and old photography masters. Thanks to a consistent photographic knowledge and techniques he is effective in the visual outcome and able to tailor this according to the task and project. Alongside the lighting proficiency he is highly skilled in Capture One, Photoshop and Lightroom. Following the link you will be able to see Lorenzo's work in fashion and portraiture while on, www.imagesofinteriors.com you can see his interior photography.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/portraits-and-people-photography180862Portraits and people photographyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/c/o/cover_new_cover_berni_course_portraits_and_people.jpg239239GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Photography/Courses/Art & design/Photography/Creative, commercial & documentary photography/Courses/vm/Courses for Making Your Own Art2285113217021704179012285113217021653<p>This course is part theory and part practical. You will become an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art market.</p> <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">The course covers many of the practical aspects of photographic portraiture. You will be introduced to differing approaches to photographing people - from the studio-lit portrait, to street and documentary photography, to capturing fleeting personal moments for the family album. You'll get to grips with lighting, composition and the pose in various contexts, through practical work indoor and outdoors. You will learn to analyse professional photographs as well as your own work, and translate your ideas into visual compositions.</div>25https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/c/h/chris_elgin_1_1_2.jpghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/2/0/2024_citylit_berni_people_and_portrait_course_001.jpeghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/2/0/2024_citylit_berni_people_and_portrait_course_002.jpghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/2/0/2024_citylit_berni_people_and_portrait_course_004_1_1.jpghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/2/0/2024_citylit_berni_people_and_portrait_course_004.jpghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/2/0/2024_citylit_berni_people_and_portrait_course_006.jpeg2456119Portraits and people photography239239https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/c/o/cover_new_cover_berni_course_portraits_and_people_1_18.jpgInStockDaytimeThuKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-03-05T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceMar 2026Art & designVY961239239Portraits and people photography191155239Lorenzo Berniportraits-and-people-photography/vy961-2526<p>This course is part theory and part practical. You will become an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art market.</p>0000-Available|2026-03-05 00:00:00<p>This course introduces you to both the theory and the practice of photography as a fine art, and how this can influence your work. We will explore the history, concepts and theories behind the position of photography within fine art. We will consider techniques and technologies such as camera types, lighting, traditional and digital printing influencing fine art photography in today's world, and give you guidance on opportunities for exhibiting and publishing work.</p><p>This course is part theory and part practical. You will become an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art market.</p><ul><li>Historical examples of photography as art</li><li>Current fine art photography practice and current conceptual approaches</li><li>What is published and exhibited in today's art world</li><li>Experimenting creatively with technology</li><li>Exhibiting or publishing work and what is most appropriate</li><li>Describing your work and writing an artist statement</li><li>The ‘business’ of fine art photography including agents, museums, galleries, and opportunities</li><li>Project reviews and feedback during the class</li><li>Showcasing tips and platforms</li></ul><ul><li>Discuss a range of historical examples of art photography</li><li>Experiment with technology and formats to realise creative ideas</li><li>Understand how technology has affected what is produced in fine art photography</li><li>Reflect on your own work and receive comments and feedback</li><li>Identify conceptual strands in contemporary photography</li><li>Demonstrate awareness of how fine art photography functions as a business</li><li>Develop strategies for the publicity and marketing of your own work</li></ul><p>This is an introductory course. It would be useful for you to have a basic knowledge of the manual functions of your camera and to produce images which can be discussed in class. However, the course will also be of interest to those who are not photographers and want an introduction to the subject of contemporary art photography within an historical context.</p><p> </p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussions. You should be able to use numbers and be able to undertake simple measurements and calculations.</p><p> </p><p>Illustrated lectures, group discussion and viewing and discussing the work of contemporary artists. You will have opportunities to show your work and receive tutor and peer feedback.</p><p>The course also uses Google Classroom (an online teaching resource) for you to share comments with your class, download course material and as appropriate, upload images for group discussion.</p><p>Please bring some examples of your own work to take advantage of opportunities for feedback and progression. If you are not a practitioner you will not be expected to bring work but will be invited to participate in the discussion and feedback sessions.</p><p>You might wish to perfect your digital printing skills, or learn about how to catalogue and tag your images using Adobe Lightroom.</p>PhotographyCreative, commercial & documentary photographyvirtual2456113Portraits and people photography239239https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/c/o/cover_new_cover_berni_course_portraits_and_people_1_19.jpgInStockDaytimeWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-05-13T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceMay 2026Art & designVY624239239Portraits and people photography191155239Lorenzo Berniportraits-and-people-photography/vy624-2526<p>This course is part theory and part practical. You will become an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art market.</p>0000-Available|2026-05-13 00:00:00<p>This course introduces you to both the theory and the practice of photography as a fine art, and how this can influence your work. We will explore the history, concepts and theories behind the position of photography within fine art. We will consider techniques and technologies such as camera types, lighting, traditional and digital printing influencing fine art photography in today's world, and give you guidance on opportunities for exhibiting and publishing work.</p><p>This course is part theory and part practical. You will become an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art market.</p><ul><li>Historical examples of photography as art</li><li>Current fine art photography practice and current conceptual approaches</li><li>What is published and exhibited in today's art world</li><li>Experimenting creatively with technology</li><li>Exhibiting or publishing work and what is most appropriate</li><li>Describing your work and writing an artist statement</li><li>The ‘business’ of fine art photography including agents, museums, galleries, and opportunities</li><li>Project reviews and feedback during the class</li><li>Showcasing tips and platforms</li></ul><ul><li>Discuss a range of historical examples of art photography</li><li>Experiment with technology and formats to realise creative ideas</li><li>Understand how technology has affected what is produced in fine art photography</li><li>Reflect on your own work and receive comments and feedback</li><li>Identify conceptual strands in contemporary photography</li><li>Demonstrate awareness of how fine art photography functions as a business</li><li>Develop strategies for the publicity and marketing of your own work</li></ul><p>This is an introductory course. It would be useful for you to have a basic knowledge of the manual functions of your camera and to produce images which can be discussed in class. However, the course will also be of interest to those who are not photographers and want an introduction to the subject of contemporary art photography within an historical context.</p><p> </p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussions. You should be able to use numbers and be able to undertake simple measurements and calculations.</p><p> </p><p>Illustrated lectures, group discussion and viewing and discussing the work of contemporary artists. You will have opportunities to show your work and receive tutor and peer feedback.</p><p>The course also uses Google Classroom (an online teaching resource) for you to share comments with your class, download course material and as appropriate, upload images for group discussion.</p><p>Please bring some examples of your own work to take advantage of opportunities for feedback and progression. If you are not a practitioner you will not be expected to bring work but will be invited to participate in the discussion and feedback sessions.</p><p>You might wish to perfect your digital printing skills, or learn about how to catalogue and tag your images using Adobe Lightroom.</p>PhotographyCreative, commercial & documentary photographyvirtual191239155VY961,VY624NONEThu,Wed05/03/26 - 02/04/2610:00 - 13:0010:0013:005 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetLorenzo BerniSome experienceAvailable courses2026-03-05T00:00:00+00:00,2026-05-13T00:00:00+00:00Mar 2026,May 2026Art & design239239Portraits and people photographyportraits-and-people-photography/vy961-2526,portraits-and-people-photography/vy624-2526<p>This course is part theory and part practical. You will become an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art market.</p>0000-Available|2026-03-05 00:00:00<p>This course introduces you to both the theory and the practice of photography as a fine art, and how this can influence your work. We will explore the history, concepts and theories behind the position of photography within fine art. We will consider techniques and technologies such as camera types, lighting, traditional and digital printing influencing fine art photography in today's world, and give you guidance on opportunities for exhibiting and publishing work.</p><p>This course is part theory and part practical. You will become an expert in the fine art world of contemporary photography. Learn about the history, concepts and theories behind the art form, and the technology and techniques now influencing it. Develop practical skills to realise your own creative ideas, discuss your photography portfolio with others, and learn about platforms to showcase your work on the commercial fine art market.</p><ul><li>Historical examples of photography as art</li><li>Current fine art photography practice and current conceptual approaches</li><li>What is published and exhibited in today's art world</li><li>Experimenting creatively with technology</li><li>Exhibiting or publishing work and what is most appropriate</li><li>Describing your work and writing an artist statement</li><li>The ‘business’ of fine art photography including agents, museums, galleries, and opportunities</li><li>Project reviews and feedback during the class</li><li>Showcasing tips and platforms</li></ul><ul><li>Discuss a range of historical examples of art photography</li><li>Experiment with technology and formats to realise creative ideas</li><li>Understand how technology has affected what is produced in fine art photography</li><li>Reflect on your own work and receive comments and feedback</li><li>Identify conceptual strands in contemporary photography</li><li>Demonstrate awareness of how fine art photography functions as a business</li><li>Develop strategies for the publicity and marketing of your own work</li></ul><p>This is an introductory course. It would be useful for you to have a basic knowledge of the manual functions of your camera and to produce images which can be discussed in class. However, the course will also be of interest to those who are not photographers and want an introduction to the subject of contemporary art photography within an historical context.</p><p> </p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussions. You should be able to use numbers and be able to undertake simple measurements and calculations.</p><p> </p><p>Illustrated lectures, group discussion and viewing and discussing the work of contemporary artists. You will have opportunities to show your work and receive tutor and peer feedback.</p><p>The course also uses Google Classroom (an online teaching resource) for you to share comments with your class, download course material and as appropriate, upload images for group discussion.</p><p>Please bring some examples of your own work to take advantage of opportunities for feedback and progression. If you are not a practitioner you will not be expected to bring work but will be invited to participate in the discussion and feedback sessions.</p><p>You might wish to perfect your digital printing skills, or learn about how to catalogue and tag your images using Adobe Lightroom.</p>PhotographyCreative, commercial & documentary photographyconfigurable
