PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography classes at the Center introduce students to the basics of photography, both digital and developing in the darkroom. Multi-week classes and one or two day workshops are available for both beginner and advanced students. Offsite photography workshops at locations around the Valley are also a great way to gain outdoor/on location photography experience.
Note: Click the “Sign Up” button at the bottom of a class description to register through the Center’s Mindbody registration platform. A Mindbody account is required to register for classes at the Center. Questions about registration or financial aid? Call (602) 254-3100 or email contacts@phoenixcenterforthearts.org to speak to a Patron Services Associate.
Prior to arriving for in-person classes, students are required to digitally sign our Student Agreement.
Creative Documentation for Artists
Date: March 19, 2026 7:00 pm - April 16, 2026 8:30 pm
Location: Phoenix Center For The Arts
Available Slots: 5/6
Description: Document Your Work With Ease is a four-week, hands-on course designed to help artists capture, organize, and share their creative work with clarity and confidence. Participants will learn approachable photo and video techniques, simple systems for organizing media, and beginner-friendly editing and sharing workflows. The course includes dedicated time for editing, refinement, and supportive peer feedback, allowing artists to leave with finished, shareable documentation for portfolios, grants, archives, and promotion — along with a sustainable practice they can continue using long after the class ends.
Materials: smartphone and any materials they use to create and store content (phone, laptop, camera, etc)
Prerequisite: No Experience Required/ No Se Require Experiencia
Duration: 4 weeks
Days Off: 4/1/2026
Ages: 16+
Cost: $100.00
Raising the Bar with your Photography (Thunderbird)
Date: March 26, 2026 6:00 pm - April 16, 2026 8:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 9/9
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Bill Guy (He/Him)
Description: If you have already advance past the Auto Setting on your camera and are looking to be more creative with your images then this class is for you. This 3 week class will help you improve on your photographic vision and work. Knowing the difference between Auto and Priority settings is the first step. Now let's understand how a lens choice can completely change the look of your image. Add to this understanding the rules of composition and when to break them. This course also includes using some basic Lightroom and Photoshop tips to enhance your images. Plus Bill encourages you to bring in your images for review and comment (no ridicule just positive critiques and suggestions) and, with your permission, he will do an edit in real time. You should have a good understanding of your camera for this class.
Topics
Long vs Wide angle
Time of day
Mood vs feeling
Color vs Black and White
What is at the edge of your image
What are the rules of Composition and when to break them
Materials: Camera or Cell Phone
Prerequisite: Should have some basic understanding of your Digital camera and settings
Duration: 4 weeks
Ages: 16+
Cost: $100.00
Please arrive 15 minutes before class begins.
Amateur to Artist: Digital Photography (6 weeks)
Date: April 07, 2026 5:30 pm - May 12, 2026 7:30 pm
Location: Phoenix Center For The Arts
Available Slots: 0/6
Description: This isn't a traditional photography course - it's a hands-on, fast-paced adventure designed to smash the barrier between "I just take pictures" and "I create art with intention and purpose." We're learning to go beyond auto mode, figuring out how light works, learning how to conceptualize a project, and building your first genuine portfolio. If you’re dedicated to learning photography and ready to stop guessing and start creating, this course is for you!
Materials: "First day:
A camera capable of ""manual mode"" (KEH.com recommended if purchasing)
Camera batteries/charger
Memory cards for camera
A memory card reader to upload photos
Something to take notes with
+ For the course:
A computer with internet access
Basic editing software (free version is fine but lightroom classic is recommended)
Estimate cost of materials: $50-500 depending on if camera is owned and which camera is purchased
Prerequisite: No Experience Required
Duration: 6 weeks
Ages: 18+
Cost: $145.00
Rediscovering Pinhole Photography
Date: April 18, 2026 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Phoenix Center For The Arts
Available Slots: 12/12
Registration ends 2 days prior to the first class.
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Kirby Soderberg (He/Him)
Description: A hands-on workshop that explores the early pinhole method of photography prior to the addition of a lens. During this workshop, students will turn a paint can into a camera. They will make black & white negatives and prints with darkroom printing paper and chemistry.
Materials: All materials included
Duration: 4 hours
Prerequisites: No experience required
Ages: 18+
Cost: $50.00
Please arrive 15 minutes before class begins.
Getting a Grip on your Digital Camera (Thunderbird)
Date: April 21, 2026 6:00 pm - May 05, 2026 7:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 7/9
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Description: If your digital camera has been the bane of your creative expression or you just want to start taking better images, then this class is for you. Bill will help you understand both the creative settings of your camera and show you how to create better images. You are encouraged to bring a camera to class and Bill will help in getting your camera set up for getting the shots you want. This class will also help you get better photos even with your cell phone.
Materials: Should have a camera or cell phone for photos
Prerequisite: None
Duration: 3 weeks
Ages: 16+
Cost: $55.00
Please arrive 15 minutes before class begins.
Capturing the Human Form: Figure Photography
Date: May 09, 2026 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Phoenix Center For The Arts
Available Slots: 11/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Kirby Soderberg (He/Him)
Description: Beginners and Advanced students are welcome to attend. This workshop focuses on the human form and how to create interesting shapes and lines utilizing the form. All will learn the basics of 3-point lighting and other light positioning to create different moods. Each student will have the opportunity to collaborate with the models and discover the poses that best fit ones style. Students walk away from this workshop with photos of the models and the knowledge and confidence to create interesting images of the human form.
Materials: Bring your own camera (digital or film) and be ready to shoot!
Duration: 4 Hours
Prerequisites: No experience required
Ages: 18+
Cost: $50.00
Arrival Time: Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of class to check in.