Join us for the final 'Mindful Nature Photography' workshop of the year at Petone Beach, designed for kids aged 8-18. This 2-hour session invites young photographers to connect with nature, observe their surroundings, and capture moments through their lens. We'll bring Christmas-themed elements and festive figurines for them to photograph if they choose – perfect for creating a unique family Christmas gift!
Thanks to the amazing support from the Hutt City Council Arts & Culture grants, this workshop is free for all participants.
All kids using our cameras will receive the photos they take, and the best shots will be added to their personalised portfolio on our website gallery. Don't miss this last opportunity of the year to engage with nature through photography!
Participants will learn about various camera settings, composition techniques, and experiment with creative filters and different lenses.
It's a friendly, hands-on workshop designed to help young photographers better understand their cameras, learn more about photography, and use their equipment to capture the beauty around them.
Don't miss this opportunity to spark a passion for photography and nature in young minds!
Next workshop
On the day
Participants are required to bring their own DSLR cameras.
However, thanks to our generous supporters, we do have eight spare cameras available for use, which will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Students will need to bring their own lunch and arrange drop off and pick up.
What’s involved?
We start by introducing the fundamentals of working with DSLR camera and understanding what different setting mean and how they can affect the final shot. We then explore what is involved in photographing large trees vs tiny plants, what are the key settings, and what tools kids can use to create stunning photographs, as well as the key concepts of visual storytelling.
After a bit of theory, we introduce practice and students implement the learnings to create the photographs they envisioned while working on exciting and fun assignments.
About us
We are a group of professional and experienced photographers, passionate about helping young photographers grow, create powerful visual stories, and forge lifelong connections with like-minded peers.
After the workshop, every participant will be provided with high-resolution digital copies of their photographs. This not only allows them to start building their very own portfolio but also gives them the opportunity to showcase their work at our year-end exhibition.
Inspired learners
"Thank you so much for the awesome experience of taking your photography course! It taught me a lot that I didn’t know about cameras and photography before coming!" Loren W.
“[Our daughter] learnt a lot and enjoyed the experience so we’ve signed her up again for the next session.” May L.
“Chris enjoyed the course and said he learnt a lot of things like the golden ratio. He does art at school and these skills will be useful there.” Chaucey E.
Our tutors
All our tutors have undergone criminal-background checks and are fully vaccinated to ensure a safe and secure learning environment.
Ana Lyubich, Excio
Ana is a lifestyle and nature photographer and is a founder of Excio Photo Community. She believes that each photograph is unique and reflects an individual’s personality.
Ana usually talks about the essentials of photography and works with students to develop their own style and build their first public photo portfolios.
Ann Kilpatrick
Ann is a dedicated street, people, and nature photographer and visual storyteller based in Wellington. She lives there with her family and is a strong advocate for nurturing young talent. Alongside guiding kids with their cameras, Ann takes high-quality photos of children at workshops, which we then share with their parents.
Zhanna Yasinetskaya
Zhanna is a family and kids photographer from Upper Hutt, dedicated to fostering a love for photography in young children. She is often found behind her camera or phone, recording videos of our workshops.
Joy Tracey
Joy is an experienced Wellington-based photographer. She loves nature, macro, and insect photography, and she's a great storyteller too. Join us on one of our Percy Reserve workshops, where Joy will be your special guide in the Weta Cave!