Photography
Class

The course is built around one distinction. A good picture is technically correct: sharp subject, proper exposure, natural colour. A great picture goes further: it uses light, composition, framing, and perspective to tell a story or create impact.

The first half of the course builds your technical foundation. The second half teaches you to see and compose with intention. By the end, you understand both layers and can move between them fluently.

Every technically correct photograph depends on five settings you need to understand and control.

Supporting theory covers the exposure triangle, how cameras meter light (18% grey), exposure compensation, RAW vs. JPEG file formats, and understanding your camera body and lenses: focal length, aperture, prime vs. zoom, sensor size, and lens mounts.

Once your technical control is solid, you move into the creative layer. These skills separate a photograph that records a scene from one that shapes how it is seen.

• Depth of Field and Background Separation — controlled by five factors: aperture, camera-to-subject distance, subject-to-background distance, focal length, and sensor size
• Motion Blur and Freeze Action — creative application of shutter speed beyond correct exposure
• Light — five aspects you learn to read and use: source, quantity, quality, direction, and colour temperature
• Composition — rule of thirds, leading lines, balance, symmetry, negative space, and knowing when to break the rules
• Framing — what to include and what to exclude; framing vs. cropping; the limb-chop rules that protect your compositions
• Perspective — camera position changes perspective; zooming does not. Moving vs. zooming is one of the most misunderstood concepts in photography

By the end of the course, you can expose manually, control focus, understand light, compose intentionally, shoot portraits and field exercises, and select your strongest images for editing.

These images were made by students of the July 2026 class, on the final assignment, after five days of training. Every one was shot in and around Malindi.

Stanley Kubo
Boy on the Beach

Benson Kenga
Woman on the Beach

Robert Njeru
Father and Daughter

Every topic follows the same pattern: a short introduction and the theory behind it, then straight into practice until the result is right. You photograph real subjects in real light from day one.

You work with a Panasonic Lumix S5 — a professional full-frame mirrorless camera with a 24-megapixel sensor. The same system used on IMARA Film productions.

No prior gear required. Cameras and lenses are provided for the duration of the course. If you bring your own camera, you are welcome to shoot with it alongside the course kit.

Experience: film production, portrait photography, events, documentary, and commercial work.

Equipment: professional full-frame cameras, prime and zoom lenses, and studio lighting.

No experience needed. The course starts from zero and builds systematically. It is designed for anyone who wants to move beyond snapshots and learn photography as a deliberate craft.

This course is also a mandatory prerequisite for the Videography Class. Exposure, light, and composition are learned once here and applied in both crafts.

Course fee: KES 9,000 / USD 70 for 5 training days (KES 1,800 / USD 14 per training day). Mineral water and lunch are included.

Next available dates: Tuesday, 25 August – Saturday, 29 August 2026. Tuesday, 24 November – Saturday, 28 November 2026.

Payment is required before the course starts to confirm your place. Course places are limited because we work in small groups.

Students who cannot cover the course fee may be eligible for the IMARA Talent Programme — learn the craft and commit to 24 volunteer days afterward.

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