Date & Time: Sunday, May 4th | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Looking Glass Photo, 2239 Fifth Street, Berkeley

Class Details:

Capturing people in photographs is about more than just good lighting and composition—it’s about connection, trust, and providing guidance and leadership. How to Photograph People is a hands-on workshop designed for photographers of all levels who want to develop the skills to create compelling, authentic portraits.

Led by Sarah Deragon, an experienced portrait photographer known for her dynamic and inclusive approach, this class will cover technical and creative techniques to help you photograph people with confidence—whether you’re shooting professional headshots, editorial portraits, or candid street photography.

What You’ll Learn:

• Building Trust – How to make people feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera.
• Posing & Direction – Techniques to guide your subject naturally without stiff or forced poses.
• Composition & Framing – The best ways to use angles, backgrounds, and negative space for impact.
• Creative Choices – How to work with color, texture, and movement to bring energy to your portraits.
• Lighting Basics – How to use natural light and simple modifiers to flatter your subject.

Who This Class Is For:

• Anyone new to photographing people and looking for guidance on where to start.
• Those who want to feel more comfortable and confident directing subjects.
• People who struggle with getting natural expressions and poses in portraits.
• Anyone looking to improve their use of light, composition, and background in photos.
• Those who want simple, practical techniques to take better portraits with any camera.

This is a hands-on learning experience, so bring your camera (or smartphone!), an open mind, and a willingness to engage. Let’s capture people in a way that feels real, dynamic, and full of life.

More about Sarah

Sarah Deragon is a self-taught professional portrait photographer residing in the Bay Area. After getting burned out at her day job, she picked up a camera in her 30s, reconnected with her creativity, and launched a business called Portraits To The People. Her passion for photography has always centered around capturing the very best version of people—focusing on portraiture that’s fun and authentic by utilizing natural light, creative locations, and some good jokes. She photographs artists and creatives, entrepreneurs and small business owners, and families. All of her services are built around telling compelling visual stories, with the majority of her work falling into not-so-corporate headshots for individuals, stellar online dating photos, cool custom stock photos for small businesses, and creative portrait sessions. Additionally, she has been teaching iPhoneography for over 10 years, sharing her expertise in capturing and editing stunning photos using just an iPhone. Helping people take better photos with their phones is one of her greatest joys! Check out her IG: @sarahderagon and @portraitstothepeople

Cancellation Policy

A full refund will be granted to those who notify us of registration cancelation at least 72 hours (3 days) prior to the class date.