LIGHT & LINES PHOTOGRAPHY BOOTCAMP
Learn to "engineer" compelling photographs through the use of directional lighting and geometry-based composition techniques.
Bootcamp registration closes on April 5th
Class limited to 20 students for the April Cohort.
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Learn the process, systems, and algorithms needed to design and craft amazing photos.
If you rely on frameworks to make sense of the chaos and think creatively, you're in the right place. This 5-week accelerated photography Bootcamp was specifically tailored for technical-minded individuals who obsess over the "how" of photography, rather than how it makes you feel. Learn a methodical approach to your photography which will allow you to become comfortable and confident photographing in any situation you encounter.
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Growth minded photographers ready to level up
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Disciplined learners willing to put in the work
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Individuals willing to invest time into learning their craft
Your camera should spark creativity... not confusion.
There are a million ways to take a photo with your camera. If that's overwhelming to you, you're not alone. Learn to sift through the infinite possibilities by recognizing patterns. Patterns of light. Patterns in composition. And patterns in which post-processing techniques make good photos even better.
The best photographers understand light and lines.
I hate to break it to you, but your camera can only take you so far. Great photos are taken by great photographers (not their expensive cameras), but becoming a great photographer isn't as difficult as you may think. It's as simple as learning two things: how to recognize beautiful light and how to combine shapes and lines to create captivating images.
Show others how you see the world.
It's more than just taking pictures. Photography can empower you to immerse yourself in a scene, craft a story based on your unique perspective, and visually communicate it to the world. You just need the correct blueprint to unlock that power. Armed with the tools and techniques, it's time for you to see, understand, and create bold and compelling photographs.
What's Included
A 5-week Bootcamp with lessons, exercises, and assignments that are designed to apply what you've learned in real-time.
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5 Weeks of Focused Learning
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Intimate Learning Environment (20 Students)
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2-Hour Weekly Call via Zoom (recording available)
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Weekly Photography Assignments & Photo Critiques
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Access to Private Slack Channel with Instructor
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Lifetime Access to Call Recordings & Learning Material
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Lifetime Access to Private Online Community
The Process
Learn the process steps required to engineer a good photograph for ideation to post-production. Know the goal of the image, understand the situational constraints in terms of light and space, and develop a plan to execute your vision. Familiarize yourself with tools and techniques for prototyping, testing, and refining your ideas until your final vision is actualized
Learn to See Light
Learn how to recognize all the possible light sources in your environment and understand how to categorize them based on direction, size, quality, and color. Know when and how to manipulate your subject's position and your camera's perspective in relation to the light. Truly understand how to capitalize on the strengths of the natural light around you.
Geometry-based Composition
Learn how to scan your environment for shapes, lines, and textures. Understand the visual framework behind my favorite geometry-based composition techniques. Develop the skills and techniques required to refine your composition and framing into images that strike the perfect balance between visual interest and simplicity.
Practical Editing Workflow
Adopt a mindset that embraces editing as a method for refinement, not transformation. Understand the inner workings of each Lightroom slider, button, and dial. Learn my signature editing process for Adobe Lightroom Classic, CC, and mobile which strikes the perfect balance of speed, practicality, and quality.*
Bart P.
"I felt that I was technically capable of producing OK snapshots, but it was never intentional. I have achieved the ability to produce pictures that I am genuinely proud of. Even though I'm not a native English speaker, I was still able to ask questions due to the easy-going small class size. I'm really surprised by the evolution that I have made in only 5 weeks. I was certain that I would improve over the course of the Bootcamp, but would never have dreamt that the amount of improvement was going to be so huge.
Binh N.
"Before the Bootcamp, I had difficulty determining the quality of light at a location and how to properly compose a photo to draw viewers’ eyes to my subject. My day job takes up a lot of my time so it did conflict with the course. Although difficult, it forced me to plan out my photos as much as I can ahead of time, and make the best of the photography time I had. After going through the Bootcamp, my ability to see light and composition has dramatically improved since I started. I can utilize direct lighting on my subjects. I can see compositional patterns and incorporate them with my subject to create a more engaging photo. I feel empowered to be able to create photos that I envision instead of just taking photos. I feel like a photographer. My wife always tells me that I take horrible pictures of her. Through the process of this Bootcamp, I was able to hear her say “I love this photo.” It feels amazing to be able to make someone, especially my wife, happy through my photos.
From the Instructor
Reggie Ballesteros
I'll be honest: I'm not a creative person.
I excel at doing research, learning the fundamentals, testing my ideas in the real world, and analyzing what actually works and what doesn't. Repeating this cycle over and over again.
After 10 years of pursuing photography -- and shooting professionally for 7 years -- I've been able to develop my own process to create what most people perceive as "good photographs".
I'm not an artist. I'm an engineer. And I've taken my way of thinking into the world of photography.
Over the years, I've been constantly refining my photographic process based on patterns I've observed from my experiences in real-world shooting situations. Patterns in light. Patterns in composition. And patterns in what type of editing will make an already good photograph even better.
Some people are inspired by and thrive by chance, organic moments, moods, and emotions. But I take a different approach.
I plan my shoots for the best possible lighting. I have systems and structures for composing my frames. I have algorithms and decision flows for dealing with less than ideal conditions.
I show up knowing what I'm looking for and am constantly prototyping my ideas until the final photograph manifests into how I designed it in my head.
This approach isn't for everyone. And for the longest time, I kept it a secret just in my head. But after having discussions with fellow creatives, I felt the need to share it for the sake of those who thought, felt, and photographed in the same manner I did. For those who obsess over the "how" of photography as opposed to how it makes you feel.
The Light & Lines Bootcamp is the compilation of what I've learned and mastered in the 10 years of photographing, condensed into an intensive 5-week course. It is designed with lessons, exercises, and assignments to apply what you learn -- so you can truly understand my creative process flow.
You will see what I look for. You will understand why it actually looks good. And you will develop a way of seeing and thinking that leads to consistent photographic results.
This Bootcamp reduces the creative overwhelm by showing you the patterns, teaching you my systems, and walking you through my decision process.
There are natural artists who can feel and see what looks good instinctively. And there are people like you and me who need frameworks to rely on so they can make sense of the chaos and think creatively.
If this sounds like you, I'd be happy to join you on your photography journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When does the course start and finish?
The March cohort begins on Thursday March 4th, 2021. The April cohort beings on Thursday April 15, 2021. Each Bootcamp runs for a total of 5-weeks of instruction time, with a one week break in the middle to catch up on assignments and unanswered questions.
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When are the live calls? What if I'm in a different state, country or time zone?
The live zoom calls will take place weekly on Thursdays at 4pm Pacific Standard Time. For those who cannot make the live call time, each call will be recorded and available the morning after. Additionally, all slides will be available prior to the live lesson, so you can submit questions that can still be addressed during the live instruction despite any time conflicts.
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How long do I have access to the course?
You will get lifetime access to the call recordings and other learning materials.
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I don't have a Fujifilm camera. Can I still take the course?
Light, composition, and the fundamentals of photography transcend any camera brand or gear, so you can still benefit from the Bootcamp no matter what type of camera you own. There are some bonus video materials included for Fujifilm camera operation and settings, but this is outside of the scope of the Bootcamp curriculum.
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*What editing software will be taught?
The editing portions of this course will be centered Adobe Lightroom Classic (with a short lesson on Adobe Lightroom CC for iPad and mobile). Capture One will NOT be covered. I believe only in teaching software and workflows that I am experienced in, and I have zero experience working with Capture One.
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I don't have a computer for Lightroom, will I be missing out?
When it comes to the photo editing lesson, while I will be teaching lessons using Adobe Lightroom Classic for the desktop, the reasoning and how-to for each tool, slider, and workflow will be applicable to both Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC (for iPad and mobile). The only difference is that Lightroom CC may require different inputs based on the tablet/touchscreen interface. Rest assured, I will be including instructions specifically to address which workflow adjustments will need to be made for those editing on tablets and mobile phones.
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What if I'm unhappy with the course? Can I get a refund?
The Light & Lines Photography Bootcamp comes with a 30-day, 100% money-back guarantee. If you're not happy with the results, if in fact you don't understand lighting, composition, don't feel confident in real-world photography situations, and don't feel happy with the photographs you create, then I refuse to keep your money.
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Is this course useful for all skill levels?
This course is designed to be accessible to complete beginners and actionable for hobbyists and amateurs who want to improve. If you are a professional looking for a more systematic approach or more visual consistency, then you may also find value in learning my unique creative process. With that said, this course is designed to be quick, highly actionable, and requires time invested outside of the live calls. Sign-up and enroll if you are ready to dedicate 2-hours per live call (or catching up on the recording) and at least 1-hour to photograph each week for your exercises/projects.
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Can't I learn this for free on my own?
Yes, you definitely can. You can find many resources on the topic taught on YouTube, blogs, articles, etc. With that said, this course has been designed to condense my ten years of photography experience down to a 5-week actionable course -- complete with best practices that I've only learned through shooting as a professional wedding photographer for seven years.