Please also see PPGBA's calendar page
for other programs held during the year

For course info, click on the individual classes below.

June 22-25 offerings:
at Mills College in Oakland, CA

The GGS week will begin with a picnic on Sunday evening 6/22
(fee required for non-dorm students)

Bob Davis
People on Location
(all levels) Bob Davis believes that the power of photojournalism lies in its ability to tell a story, by documenting moments in time and reflecting them back to the viewer. His passion has taken him around the globe, pursuing meaningful storytelling opportunities that cross cultural barriers and show others how we live, work, celebrate and worship.

John Paulson & Eliot Khunher
Pro Photography Fundamentals
(entry level) Designed for those just starting out or considering a career in professional photography. Includes an introduction to professional studio portraiture and wedding photography. Practical applications of digital for first-timers to get on track
and intermediate users to fine-tune their knowledge.

Andre Costantini
Professional Lighting Techniques
(all levels) Learn simple techniques to take the mystery out of lighting any object or subject. Topics include: using your environment as a modifier, studio lighting, flash fill, portable flash, reflectors, balancing flash and ambient. New York-based, Andre has photographed all over the world, for clients including American Repertory Theatre, Dynalite, and L'oreal.

Juli Cialone
Marketing & Sales
(All Levels) Juli knows if you don't know business and marketing, you won't earn a living! You need to have plans set in place, products designed and the internet mastered. Learn intensive studio marketing from Website to Product, from Referral to Charitable. What works and what doesn't. See the latest innovative ideas and how to market to different client personalities. She will help you rethink what you currently do while having fun! From Rochester, NY, Juli is currently
one of only six PPA Diamond Photographers of the Year.

Paul F. Gero
Weddings
(all levels) Paul will share his secrets to capturing great moments and working simply and quickly. His wide-ranging photojournalism experiences acquired over more than two decades of work have become distilled into his unique approach to wedding photography that values the beauty of natural moments, simple and effective portraiture on the wedding day and the use of on-camera flash to create light that looks natural and inviting. Please join us for his engaging teaching style and an exciting two and half days that will include discussions, shooting exercises and his perceptive critiques that help students grow their skills. Be prepared to see the wedding and portrait world in an entirely new way after this seminar.

Dave Newman
Mastering Portraiture
(entry level - intermediate) If you're looking to refine your posing and lighting techniques, this class is for you! Your survival and success in professional portraiture is Dave's goal. A top U.S. instructor, his fast moving, information-packed and high-spirited posing and lighting course will include: passion of lighting, masterful posing the human form, essentials of outdoor and camera room lighting, digital exposure and histogram, JPEG/RAW advantages, and much more! Each student will be armed with a triggering device, for individual hands-on capture of each set-up.

Kimberly Sayre
Album Design/Photoshop
(all levels) A PPA Album Maker of the Year, Kimberly will teach how to choose images with the most impact, special Photoshop retouching techniques, and a bonus: lightning-fast Adobe Lightroom workflow tips. All stages of album design and production, also pricing for profit strategies. Whether you sell wedding or portrait albums, you'll take home solid skills to showcase your images with design ideas that are timeless, creative, uncluttered, and easy. *Computer and latest version of Photoshop requred.*

Jennifer Wilson
Children/Family Portraiture
One of the Los Angeles area's most sought-after photographers, Jennifer will show you how to create a children/family portrait business that fits into - rather than takes over - your life, Featuring live, on-location demonstrations where you'll see how she interacts with children, how to find the light and utilize your surroundings, tips and tricks for creating fun, natural, portraits. Low cost/no cost ways of building a client base, generating fantastic word of mouth, creating storytelling portraits, finding your own style, how to design and sell the latest popular products, and in-person vs. online sales.