Up Your Game: Photographing People

Learn to capture authentic, lively, and character-filled people photographs with master storyteller, Jim Richardson.

Build Images with Purpose and Story

January 28, 2026 | $39.99

One 90-minute session online. It will begin at 8 PM EST. Tuition is non-refundable.

Photographing people: it can be daunting.

For many photographers, people pictures are the hardest nut to crack, their weakest link. More than a few revert to simple frontal portraits, devoid of both life and character.

But people pictures, whether they be portraits or live action, can be brimming with life and revealing character — and become some of the richest and most rewarding photographic experiences ever. This class will teach how to inhabit the places where people gather and capture their infectious life. “My methods depend upon engaging with subjects, making both the subjects and the photographer feel comfortable, before the photography begins. This alone can dispel much of the awkwardness and discomfort many photographers feel. There is nothing else like honest, respectful engagement.”

Jim is renowned for his people pictures, images that carried him through over fifty stories for National Geographic. Whether his early black and white documentary pictures or his later color work, Jim’s pictures were both intimate and authentic.

“If you can add one skill to your photographic toolkit I think people photography is the most valuable,” says Jim. “Here’s the good news: this is something you can learn, you can up your game and feel good about photographing people.”

(Note: this class is not about street photography.)

Turn Subjects into Stories

In this workshop, Jim Richardson will teach you practical, hands-on techniques to elevate your people photography. You’ll learn how to:

Engage with subjects to create comfort and authentic expression
Capture personality and life in both portraits and action shots
Overcome awkwardness and gain confidence photographing people
See and tell stories through your images, just like a professional photojournalist
Build a toolkit of techniques that you can apply immediately in any situation

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have the skills and confidence to create people photographs that are vivid, expressive, and truly memorable.