The Phoenix Bird represents something growing from the ashes of what was before… and that is what is happening to Project 52. A rebirth. A new beginning. A movement toward excellence for photographers who want to thrive!

We begin the journey June 1, 2024… watch for more.

I ASKED STUDENTS WHAT THEIR FAVORITE ASSIGNMENT WAS: THESE ARE A FEW OF THEIR ANSWERS

James Kern:
That’s a tough one, but I think it would have to be the very first assignment – don’t remember exactly what it was called but it was about defining your vision and creating a vision statement. It forced me to really think about the what and why of my photography and even though I didn’t really understand it fully at the time what

I came up with is something that still defines my photography today – it was “Taking the ordinary and making it Extraordinary.” That is, in a way, what I believe you hammer into us all the time – show me something ordinary but in a way, I have not seen it. To me, that is taking the ordinary and making it extra-ordinary.

Rose Nunez Smith
I’ve had a lot of fun with almost all of them, of course. There are so many assignments where we can be creative and act as art directors as well as photographers, meeting the “client” specifications in whatever way suits our own style. I love that!

But the assignment from which I learned the most left little room for creative interpretation. The final image had to conform to tight specs: A two-page magazine spread with three bottles of wine on the right, grapes in the foreground near the bottles, a glass of wine on the left, and space down the middle for the magazine gutter.

Because the final image had to fit a blueprint, I could pay great attention to the technical details, with less thought having to go into the set and the layout (although I did spend time searching for the backdrop fabric). Even though I enjoy art-directing probably as much as actually shooting, as a new studio photographer with almost no lighting experience, this project helped me climb a big chunk of a learning curve.

Rainie Mills
That’s so hard to choose. I loved the portrait assignments because I shoot people, the most challenging for me was all the ones where I had to come up with a creative concept. But my favorite would be either the perfume assignment or the pour assignment.

Barbara Sherman
The 2 I enjoyed the most were the Incredible Egg and the Creative assignments. I have learned something from all but these 2 stand out because they forced me out of my normal shooting style and made me focus on light and how to modify it. The creative one with its time limitation also got me out of my head so I wasn’t overthinking every single composition.

João Alexandre Paulo 
So far, my favorite assignment has been the portrait of a musician one, I was not a big fan of portrait shots but I really had a blast during that session.

Sam Breach
I think the vision statement ones, definitely are the epitome for me. I also enjoyed chocolate and red balloon and the roots one. I like the ones where you are given a scenario in which the images will be used, including size/media specs), but where you have room to be creative so you can shoot in your own style. For example – I liked it when I could work a portrait into my product shots.

Benjamin Anderson
I most enjoyed the Musician w/magazine overlay… got me to think outside of my ‘things and places’ mindset I was stuck in at that time…it forced me to get outside the confines I’d established and in the end it ended up allowing my subject to be noticed on a level which in turn got him the ongoing gig he is supporting his family with. Most impact I think any one of my images has made, that I know of.

Anne Stephenson
I like the assignments shooting to layout, especially the Halloween and perfume. Also, the flash assignment of Brussels sprouts was a lot of fun. Loved seeing all the inspiration, especially Karen Green‘s shoes.

Bernard Harewood
I liked the red balloon, showing air, picnic, how we roll. Those assignments as soon as I read them I had an idea of what I wanted to do immediately.

Chad Lue Choy
Stranger, mundane electronic plug strip, and killer sandwich!

Tammy Bøgestrand
That’s a difficult question. Any image that got me out of my comfort zone. Sam mentioned the Vision Statement assignment. That is one of my favorites because it made me think about my own photography.

Karen Green
I enjoyed most of the projects, the main ones were The Pour, setting up the water and splash shots with HSS. How could I forget the CD cover that brought out the dark side? For me, It was the journey, that was the assignment which revealed I’m not a product photographer. Don’t know what I am, but then that is another journey / Assignment finding out.

Wendy Jo-Eddins Hill
The wine assignment and the pour shot were probably my favorite. They were fun to work out the lighting on and they resulted in images that I absolutely love.

Ryan McGehee
The chocolate one…because of uhm, chocolate

Sarita Rampersad
Halloween, Chocolate (as traumatizing as it was eating it all after:), Entrepreneur – I think those took me outside of how I would usually think to shoot and the lighting on them was a real challenge.

Neville Palmer
The pour shot. I don’t drink. After each attempt, I dipped a straw into the glass and drained half the glass so as not to disturb the set and do the next pour. Consequently, I got pretty hammered on a Wednesday afternoon. Plus it was a fun challenge of course.

Alex Baker
The pet product one was fun, as was the wheels one – super difficult layout to fit the image onto. Also the choose a decade portrait one was fun too. The stranger one was like sticking a fork in my eye at the time, but in hindsight was so great and has really helped me when shooting portraits since especially if I don’t know the person or shooting space. My portfolio shoot of environmental portraits was basically that assignment on steroids!

John McAllister
I enjoyed the assignments that made me think hard in order to create a unique image – ah ha, that will be all 52 of them then LOL!

I detested the stranger assignment and the resulting images showed it. However, it kicked me out of my comfort zone and made me realize I had better start learning if I ever want to earn a living as a photographer who can create the imagery my future client need – it won’t just happen without putting in the work week-on-week.

I most enjoyed those assignments that gave me a wide-ranging scope and extremely open to interpretation such as ‘Three Angles’, ‘Hot’, ‘Shooting for an unfinished article on…’ and ‘Ingredients for a recipe’.

Bret Doss
So many that I really liked. I think it would be between Chocolate, Sandwich, and Timepiece. If pressed to pick one for this purpose, I’d say Timepiece: I spent 11 hours shooting my first watch, tweaking to get all the lighting in one shot and learned (& cursed) a lot. The second one I did took 3-4 hours, and the third one took about 90 minutes. A few months later a client needed me to shoot a used watch on location (along with 30 other items), so I saved the watch to the end, got it shot in 19 minutes. I remember that because I had 19 minutes before I had to break down the set and loadout. If not for the assignment, I’d likely have had to skip the watch (it was an option), but getting the watch done made the Client extra happy and impressed.

I’d also have to mention the editorial portrait assignment. Having done that allowed me to succeed on an unexpected editorial portrait gig a week ago.

Gloria McDonald
My favorite was the perfume bottle in the layout. Proper lighting on the bottle and making sure all 3 images flowed together was challenging and fun. I had to redo that assignment because I wasn’t happy with it the first time I saw my growth as I did it again, too. And I ended up with new perfume to boot!

Craig Ferguson
It’s tough to think of just one. Some were a real mental challenge, some were a technical challenge, and some were a time challenge. The CD cover springs to mind as it really got me thinking outside the box, as did the red balloon.

Katherine Gooding
Sandwich.

magichappensOUR ELEVENTH YEAR. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY

About Project 52 Pro System

Our community is a subscription model and all members have full access to everything on the site. Most important are the 500+ hours of image critiques and previous assignments that are available to all members.

Project 52 PRO edition is something that started as a simple idea and has become an amazing place for learning, teaching, and sharing. It fills the gap between becoming a photographer and becoming a professional.

This is the goal of Project 52 PRO – to teach you about that experience through experience.

This will be the twelfth (12) Project 52 PRO group that we have created and they just keep getting better and better. We have had many success stories, and incredible photography, and made many friends on this journey. You will get a chance to interact with members from all former classes in the exclusive Project 52 Pro Facebook Group. This group may be worth the price of entry alone.

Project 52 grew from a desire to fill the experiential gap that is missing for too many photographers.

The original path that so many followed is gone:
Working as a photographer’s assistant has always been the best way to learn all the little, inside tips and tricks that are not taught in art and photography schools. The kind of stuff that is learned on the job is invaluable for all photographers.

Those opportunities are lost for many photographers in smaller markets, or currently working jobs that would make assisting full-time nearly impossible.

Project 52’s stated goal is to fill that void for photographers the world over.


REGISTRATION WILL OPEN UP ON JANUARY 7, 2023
LAST SUMMER WE FILLED UP FAST.

I ONLY TAKE A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS FOR EACH ENROLLMENT.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GET TO KNOW EACH ONE OF YOU AND WORK TO DELIVER THE BEST EDUCATION I CAN.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT 52 PRO SYSTEM

This is you making a big commitment. 
A commitment of time and energy.
A commitment of working for excellence every time you shoot.
A commitment to becoming more professional in your image making.

Whether you want to go full-time pro or not, this class will bring an amazing level of improvement to your photography.

Lighting? Yeah, we cover that and more… much more.

How to shoot to a layout.
Shooting catalog work.
Creating editorial portraits.
Food from farm to table to prepared.
Product and still life.
Corporate and industrial.
Finding your style.
Finding your purpose.
Learning to ‘see’ the shot before you take it.
Developing professional habits that will raise your value.
Working in a studio or on location.
Natural light / strobes / continuous… light is light.
How to shoot “deliberately”.
Making creative choices that make sense.
The business side of commercial photography.
Preparing a bid.
Finding clients.
Building a portfolio that rocks.

And a heck of a lot more.

  • Included In Project 52 Pro 2021  • Weekly assignments based on real-world commercial photography.
  • Weekly Webinars critiquing the assigned work.
  • Weekly Video presentations of the assignments with examples.
  • Lighting discussions.
  • Business discussions.
  • “Open Office” for discussions that may be related to your growth
  • My exclusive “Business Book” – 318-page workbook to guide you through the murky waters of pro photography.
  • “Flash” assignments for fun
  • •Access to the best private FB group in the world. Great people, no trolls and no ‘know-it-alls” in this group.

If you are thinking about becoming a professional photographer, or a semi-professional, this is the best training to consider. You can read more on why I created this workshop at the website. Please visit if you have interest.

WHY PROJECT 52 IS DIFFERENT THAN MOST WEEKLY PROJECT CHALLENGES

Our “REAL WORLD” approach to assignments means that the photographer gets a comprehensive look into how assignment photography works, and how to bid, produce and bill for them.

Assignment from the year include:

  • Shooting to layouts.
    (Furnished PSD files allow the images to be inserted into the layout to judge the shoot’s effectiveness.)
  • Shooting food, and learning how different food genres work
  • Shooting architecture and interior design
  • Environmental portraiture, with an emphasis on editorial and advertising portraiture
  • Catalog work: Shooting products to show them off… and fitting them to layouts
  • Bidding small, local jobs for fictitious small companies
  • Bidding a large assignment for a fictitious national agency
  • How to find work in your area (yes, there is a real method. Not a secret, but a solid work plan)
  • Shooting a magazine cover (both furnished layout and creative)
  • Conceptual imagery (how to find ideas)
  • Shooting shiny objects to modern styles
  • Preparing an estimate
  • Working with an Art Director / Designer
  • Finding your style
  • Building a strong portfolio
  • … and many more real life challenges commercial and editorial shooters face every day

We have a shooting assignment each week, with a two-week time frame to produce it. There is education on each assignment, and we bring a total 365-degree approach to the work. From bidding and getting the job, sketching and preparing the shoot, to the nuts and bolts of producing it, each assignment is a rich learning experience with LIVE feedback.

We view the images in a live webinar, discussing all aspects of their creation and critique them, and put that recorded video into the private area for continued viewing. Critiques are empowering and focused on having you grow. We do not do “tear down” critiques. (I suggest you never involve yourself in that sort of worthless endeavor.)

THE CURRENT FEE FOR PROJECT 52 PRO SYSTEM IS $1250.

THIS IS A REAL WORLD LOOK AT PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The Full Business Workbook

1. The Business Book:
This is a very large manual designed to be a “continued work” piece for the photographer wishing to go full-time as a photographer or be as professional as possible in their part-time work. From worksheets to marketing strategies, the business book has received incredible reviews from those who are using it. It will be delivered in its entirety to you at the beginning of the class. It is very extensive and VERY powerful. The book comes with this class. 318 PAGES. It will be shipped to you when you register for the class. It is not available for purchase anywhere else.

Business discussions will accompany the workbook, but you will have the opportunity to go at your own pace.

Weekly Live Webinars:

We use ZOOM for our live discussions. These are recorded and placed on Youtube (unlisted) and linked to this site for your continued viewing. You will always have access to these videos, even after the class has ended. This is an opportunity every week to see what others are doing, learn from them, and contribute to the process in ways that are immeasurable to your learning. Every webinar is recorded and archived for you to watch whenever you want to. You do not lose access to these videos when the class is over.

Office Hours

New this year, “Office Hours” are open meetings every Saturday for those of you with specific questions about the assignments, or to discuss the business book. There are ample times for connecting with me live for Q&A or help with a particular challenge. You will meet photographers from a wide spectrum of levels: from those just making the plunge to professional to working professionals seeking advice on a bid or proposal, to lighting challenges explained.

PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP

One of the most vibrant, welcoming, and exciting groups on Facebook, the Project 52 Pro group has a very high level of interaction and education. No trolls, no “know it alls”… this group is warm, welcoming and full of wonderful photographers waiting to help you succeed. It is exclusive to Project 52 members and once you are a member, you are in forever.when the class is over. This group has all of the members from the years we have done this group. Once in, you are in forever. I think this FB group is the best thing about FB by the way, and I spend considerable time there.

Meet Other Photographers

Whether you are in a big city or a rural town, knowing others who are doing what you love to do and finding solutions to the very same challenges you have can bring your spirits (and resources) a much-needed boost. From FB buds to meetups all over the world, the Project 52 group is full of enthusiastic, helpful, and creative photographers who love what they do, and love doing it whenever possible.

We even try to have a meetup once per year: More on this when and if the pandemic is over.

WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING:

“Don has an ability to give constructive criticism to one’s work so that you evolve and still have the desire and the commitment still to be developed. I have learned loads in a short time and now feel ready to take the step to photograph artwork on payment for other craftsmen.” — Anne-Sophie Enberg


“Don shares his wealth of knowledge and encourages me to do my best work as I learn the secrets of Commercial Photography. He has opened up a whole new world for me as I do the work!” — Terrill Bodner


“For me, Don is a great inspiration, when he gives feedback on images he always gives it from the level the photographer is at. The critique is always constructive and is given to build up and make the photographer better. The “real-life assignments” are built to push you to the next level.” — Tomas Jansson


“Don’s hands-on approach to teaching the business of photography has been essential to my success. His approach is broken down into logical, attainable steps that let you quickly cut through the noise and lock on to your final goal. Finding my voice, niche, and direction in an overcrowded market like New York City seemed an insurmountable task; with Don’s guidance – both in classes and throughout the years beyond – I have built a successful photography business that only continues to grow.” — Rob Davidson


“There are a lot of great teachers in photography out there and I took a lot of online workshops and video courses. Great stuff, really! But in rare cases, you’ll find an exceptional teacher and personality (which goes hand in hand, I think). A teacher who not only teaches you how to tweak your lighting. A teacher who has such a broad and deep understanding of photography not only as a technical craft but also as an art and last but not least as a business. A real master I would say. Don Giannatti is one of these masters. Having him as a teacher was and still is a game-changer for me. His teaching style is well structured, down-to-earth, applicable, and appreciative. He’s 100% committed to his students.” — Thomas Pöhler


“One can’t make a living as a photographer for 40 years and NOT know how the industry works. Don distills that lifetime of experience into easy-to-digest information THAT MAKES SENSE! You still have to walk the walk, and it may not be easy, but his building block approach helps you see the path on which to trod and helps nullify some of the self-imposed obstacles we as creative folks tend to…well, create. If you don’t have your “next steps” laid out when you finish this course, then you weren’t paying attention.” Bob Knill


“Don Giannatti leads his students through the creative and business side of photography in a way that makes you understand what a client will actually expect of you as a commercial photographer. Using real-world photo assignments, live, online critiques and realistic “no BS” business learning modules, I have a much clearer insight into what I need to focus on so I can be successful as a commercial photographer.” Tammy Bogestrand


“Don’s teachings have made it possible for me to make a good living as a full time commercial photographer. Using a basic approach of doing the work, Don teaches the steps. Doing the work is up to you!” — Catherine Vibert


It seems so simple when Don Giannatti talks about reflective light, bending it to my desired result is becoming second nature through his instruction. Don is bringing a whole new level of clarity to what I have learned to see and in the work I have been creating.” — Tonja Peterson-Wendt


“Don is a natural-born mentor — it’s in his DNA.  His style is persistently positive, honest & fair, and the value of critique sessions with him cannot be overstated. Don teaches real-world methods of successful commercial photography, from image-making to finding and keeping clients. If you want to get better at everything you need to know to be a successful commercial photographer, look no further: you’ve found the right teacher.” — Bret Doss


“Taking the courses I have with Don over the past 5 years has taken so much of the mystery out of what I see in other online courses and videos. Don gives you the opportunity to learn what it’s like to have real-world assignments thrown at you and how to tackle it when it happens. I fully stand behind any and all courses he crafts together.” — Tucker Joenz


“Don Giannatti teaches the hard truths of Commercial Photography. With his guidance and using his methods my Business has successfully launched and is starting to grow.” — Sam Breach


“Don brings a no non-sense approach to his teaching that is refreshing and revitalizing. No matter your level and knowledge his photography teaching and business mentoring will yield the results you want at the speed you desire. Don always exceeds the effort you put into it. Now it’s up to you to match it!” — Bryan Lawler


“Expect no hype, no big words, no fast track no babysitting. Instead, count on blood, tears and hard work. But boy,oh boy, how this is going to pay off later. Trust me, I know as it does for me. Don has changed my life back in 2010, and I am proud to be a photographer, working photographer.” — Maciej Blaszczuk


 “Don teaches solid no bs methods that are adaptable to many situations and places. Even on the other side of the world.” — Jorge Rodriguez


“Donald Giannatti’s teachings have helped me understand what it takes to run a photography business. I find Don’s approach challenges me to think about the whole process which has been instrumental in transforming my passion for photography.  The value and meaning of my work has changed for the better. Don has helped me to understand exactly what I enjoy about making images and enabled me to actually achieve it. With the knowledge Don has shared, I feel confident that I could go on to be a successful commercial photographer, safe in the knowledge that I am prepared for the many aspects of running such a business. Furthermore, the group of photographers Don has gathered as students form an invaluable support network, spanning the globe. They provide a wealth of information and freely share their real-life business experiences and knowledge. Joining this group has fuelled and supported my passion and I am well on the path to recognizing the nuances that make one image stand out amongst others, and that’s exciting.” — John McAllister


“It has been a great experience to work with Don Giannatti, he is teaching photography and the business of photography from the ground up until one achieves the highest level possible. His style of teaching is such that every student feels special attention is given to him or her and group activities go on well past the actual workshop term. Don, truly gives of himself, he loves teaching and you can feel it, my experience with his workshop can only be described as superior to any other!” — Alfred Kypta


“Don is great. He doesn’t bullshit, has a heart and even his jokes are decent! Every minute that I have talked with him, read his writings, or listened to anything he has to say, has been very much worth my time. He is unlike “the majority” and sets the bar quite high for photography educators. ” — Jessica Edler


“Don teaches photography in a straightforward, no-hype approach. These are manageable steps that, if you work, will bring you much success.” — Mike Moore


“In the last year Don’s courses have been exactly what I needed to finally make the jump to becoming a full-time, professional photographer. His style of teaching is very positive and keeps pushing me to get better. He’s extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of photography. I can’t begin to explain how much I’ve learned and l look forward to much more.” — Bryan Miller


“Don’s style of teaching photography business is straightforward, to the point and realistic. There are no gimmicks: just honest, solid information, that leads to step-by-step evolution of real skills and progression on every level of the photography business.” — Anna Gunn


“I’ve been working with Don for almost 4 years – his advice and guidance is solid gold and has taken my photography to places I’ve never expected.   Don doesn’t teach tricks.  He teaches real-world techniques that work if you follow through and do the work.” — Paula Puffer


“Don Giannatti’s method of teaching photography helps you to see and develop your own style of photography by exposing you to many different techniques of experienced Masters of Photography (including himself). It is rewarding as Don guides you to Imitate, Assimilate, Innovate.” — Marjorie Decker


“Before I began receiving instruction from Don on how to approach my commercial photography work, I was virtually in the dark. I thought erroneously, “If I build it, they will come.” Just as I seized control of my creative process years ago by learning to get my camera off of auto and into manual, Don is teaching me how to seize control of my business process by becoming proactive in knowing my own best work, my target market, how to market to that target, and smartly going about making that happen. It has made a tremendous difference in the amount of work I’m getting.” — Mike Chapman


“Don teaches in a very honest, informative and no bs way which step by step leads you closer to finding commercial clients.  I have never experienced a better teacher and his methods really work.” — Anders Eriksson


“Don offers easy to understand, actionable steps you can implement with resources available to you right now. This works without having to wade through tons of fluff, and my photography business continues to grow because of it.” — James Eisele


There is no substitution for knowledgeable and focused training, using real-world assignments, taught by a master in his field. Don teaches you how to produce high-quality work at your own pace, and has the ability to treat everyone like a respected professional while being able to point out where work could be stronger.
My only regret is that I didn’t take his courses earlier! — Sarita Rampersand


“Don’s style of teaching starts with a firm foundation and builds a structure of learning that is solid and vast. His effective critiques and no-nonsense, real-world business savvy is interlaced with generosity and good humor. It is my good fortune to be on the receiving end of his guidance and expertise.” — Carol Liscovitz


“Don has a way of teaching that makes you feel like you are on his team, he is your coach you are a part of something big. As your cheerleader and mentor, you want him to be proud of you. You really strive to do all the work knowing, in the end, there is a big reward. The reward is called being able to fully function in your market as a professional.” — Cathy Nance


“Don offers a genuine, direct, proven plan of action to those who are willing to take the necessary steps to reach their goals. This is invaluable real-world business information that you won’t find anywhere else.” Em Thomas


“There are teachers and then there is Don Giannatti. In the short time I’ve been on the P52 course not only has my technique and creativity flourished, I also have a clear path to follow to turn my photography into a viable business. Don tells it as it is: there is no magic bullet, but what there is a time-tested method that he’s devised from a 40-year career of actually doing it. I’m continually amazed at his energy, his patience, and his passion for turning talent into something more tangible, that can be relied upon to deliver the goods under pressure when it matters most. Don is truly more than just a teacher, he is a phenomenal educator, a mentor and when needed, that cool voice in the back of your head that asks you if that is really the best you can do which kicks you to take the hundredth shot in order to get it right or make the extra effort to contact the thousandth potential client.” — Alex Baker


“I love Don’s no-nonsense style of teaching. The real-life scenarios in his class will take you out of your comfort zone, teach you and prepare your way to success. Thanks, Don for conveying your wealth of knowledge to us.” — Cotita Solaines


Don’s mentoring and coaching takes his 40 years of experience as a working commercial photographer and creative director and puts you on the path to your own commercial career. He gives you the tools you need, it’s up to you to use them.” — Craig Ferguson

A FEW OF THE WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM PROJECT 52

Stefanie Spencer, Tucson, AZ

Amy Roth NJ, NYC

Sam Breach Oakland, CA

Catherine Vibert Denver and Colorado

Rob Davidson New York City, NY

Eric Muetterties Bay Area, CA

Hiram Chee Santa Cruz, CA

 

Angie Webb Atlanta

Ryan McGehee Colorado

Irene Liebler Connecticut

Paola Thomas Seattle, WA

John Mcallister Buckinghamshire, UK

Alex Baker Spain, Europe

Mark Lunn Columbus, OH

Mike Moore San Diego, CA

Adi Talwar New York City, NY

SJ Collins Photography Fredericksburg, VA

Paula Puffer Houston, Texas

Kyle David Jones Denver, CO

 

Carla McMahon, South Africa

Bret Doss Seattle, WA

Nick Giron Central Valley, CA

Dennis Mong Phoenix, AZ

James Eisele Palm Beach, FL

McGunn Media Porto, Portugal

 

QUESTIONS? 

CALL ME ANYTIME (602 814 1468 - LEAVE CALL BACK TIMES) - EMAIL TO DON.GIANNATTI@GMAIL.COM

 

Project 52 Pros FAQ's

 

Project 52 PRO FAQ’s

There have been several questions asked regarding P52, the commitment required, and gear needed. This FAQ should serve as a guide for these questions.

1. Commitment.

It is a year long workshop. You wont find too many of those out there, and the reason is simple. Lots of people want it fast, they want it easy and they want it to be a quick hit. Project 52 PRO is none of those. The goal of this course is to introduce you to more than just the shooting styles and genres of the professional photographer, but to the understandings of what goes into making a photograph to the standards demanded by clients.

Please work with us for the full year. Your work will see rapid improvement by mid year, and by the end of this in AUGUST 2016, you will have a stronger, more professional approach to your work as well as a much better portfolio than you have now.


2. What happens if I miss an assignment?

I understand that real life gets in the way… happens all the time to even the most prepared of us. If you have to miss a class or two, it is fine. We archive each assignment, and video record each critique. You will still be able to be involved in the learning. Just hang in there and find the moments you need to create.


3. Am I qualified to do this workshop, or is it over my head?

If you are familiar with your camera, and understand the basics of shooting (aperture/shutter speed/ISO) you are welcome in. The best thing about Project 52 is you are measured ONLY against you. Your effort and work is what we are looking at, and your starting point can vary widely from others in the workshop. Your personal growth is all that matters… and for that you only have to be willing to do the work.


4. How long do I have to do the assignments?

You have two weeks to do each assignment. We start out with that length, and stay with it for the duration. Workshop Assignments are posted on Tuesday mornings two weeks out from the first critique, and are posted on that day and time for the full year.


5. Are the assignments/critiques archived?

Yes. We use GoToWebinar for our critique sessions, and all of them are posted on YouTube for easy access. The videos are unlisted, so only those with the URL can find them. Additional videos are posted on YouTube and a few on Vimeo – but they are always in the archive, and you have access to the archive for as long as I’m around – plus a year.


6. Do I need any special gear for this workshop?

Camera, wide angle, normal, telephoto lenses. A light source of some kind… and natural light is fine for many assignments – ESPECIALLY if that is your style of working. We will also be working with flash, continuous light and studio strobes as well, but they are not required. A speedlight or single strobe would be beneficial, as well as a medium umbrella and medium softbox.

SPECIFIC IDEAS FOR GEAR:

Two Lights. (Speedlights / Strobes / Continuous Lighting)
Triggers to fire the strobes/speedlights
Modifiers: Softbox, Umbrella (convertible), Grid
Stands... twice as many as lights.
One Boom arm (small for speedlights, bigger for studio strobes)
Tripod
5-in-One Reflector
Fome Core boards, A-clamps, gaffers tape, a tiny tin of bees wax,
A light meter is highly recommended although not mandatory.

During the workshop we will be crafting a few lights, scrims, boxes and more. It will be an inexpensive way to add to your lighting kit.

Do not worry if you do not have all of this gear at this moment... you can add as you get started. I have a page on the site with links to popular items in the lower budget and higher budget areas. This does NOT have to cost you a fortune, but in order to this kind of work we need some basics.


7. Do I need any special software for this workshop?

You will need a way of working with your files to present them on the critiques. Lightroom or Aperture is fine. So is the native Canon and Nikon conversion software.

For our layout assignments, you will need Photoshop or the open-source freeware GIMP to add the layers needed for the layout/mockups.

As far as PC/Mac – not important as long as you understand the way the computer works. The entire year will be adding specific post processing ideas and tips as well as full tutorials when appropriate.