Photography programme: 28 September 2026–30 May 2027¶
Reset on 23 September 2026. 35 weeks, Monday–Sunday, with the final review due Sunday 30 May 2027. Week 1 begins Monday 28 September 2026. Hands-on practice begins in Week 1, with essential theory taught alongside it. Seasonal family shoots are integrated into the weekly workload. This seasonal revision supersedes the earlier three-week theory-only start.
Start Week 1 · Progress · Resource review and study map · Seasonal shoot calendar · Previous programme archive
Purpose and workload¶
Build reliable portraits of ordinary and camera-shy adults, with particular attention to mature adults and fuller-figured men; then extend those skills to children, families, couples and simulated wedding coverage. Lighting, subject comfort, clear direction and restrained editing matter more than collecting techniques.
Retain the existing eight-hour weekly target: approximately 280 hours across 35 weeks. This is a planning ceiling, not a requirement to fill every hour. Week 13 contains a short Christmas family session; Week 14 is a lighter editing/recovery week. - From Week 1: two hours study, three hours session preparation/photography, two hours culling/editing, one hour review. Workflow and editing weeks can transfer shooting time to existing-image work. - Selective course viewing fits inside these allocations. Owned lesson runtimes are unknown: stop at the time limit and carry forward the exact stopping point. - Three-hour fallback: 30 minutes study, 75 minutes photography, 45 minutes editing, 30 minutes review. Make three final images and one meaningful comparison. Mark the reduced assignment honestly.
Use the owned Jerry Ghionis courses as the foundation. The study map links every resource family used below. No new purchase is required.
Phases¶
| Weeks | Dates | Phase | Completion milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 28 Sep–18 Oct 2026 | Foundations, outdoor rehearsal and golden autumn | Week 1 baseline and an autumn family mini-gallery |
| 4–6 | 19 Oct–8 Nov | Natural light and adult direction; autumn fallback | Matched comparisons and 8–10-image mini-gallery |
| 7–10 | 9 Nov–6 Dec | Simple flash, toddler rehearsal and pre-Christmas family shoot | Predictable light and 8–12-image pre-Christmas gallery |
| 11–18 | 7 Dec–31 Jan 2027 | Adult priorities, extended-family Christmas and flexible snow shoot | Christmas/snow galleries; adult Gallery 1 by Week 18 |
| 19–21 | 1 Feb–21 Feb | Retouching, monochrome; workflow introduced earlier | Consistent natural edits and repeatable delivery |
| 22–25 | 22 Feb–21 Mar | Children and families | Gallery 2 |
| 26–30 | 22 Mar–25 Apr | Couples and wedding preparation/rehearsal | Gallery 3 and coverage plan |
| 31–35 | 26 Apr–30 May | Independent work, reshoots and final portfolio | Final portfolio and evidence of improvement |
Natural light starts before the darker winter period; winter practice can be indoors. Outdoor sessions always have a window-light or indoor alternative. Spring family/couple work depends on actual weather and available people.
Weekly plan¶
| Week | Dates (Monday–Sunday) | Focus | Evidence to produce | Main study source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Sept 2026–04 Oct 2026 | Foundations and a simple baseline | Five basic edited window-light portraits; one matched light-direction pair; short notes and verified backup. | Wedding: Light Part 1, Window Light, Exposure Theory; Week 1 |
| 2 | 05 Oct 2026–11 Oct 2026 | Outdoor rehearsal and autumn scouting | Scout two nearby locations; practise adult/toddler interaction in open shade; five portraits and autumn brief. | Wedding: Open Shade; Tamara Lackey child direction; selected toddler walkthrough |
| 3 | 12 Oct 2026–18 Oct 2026 | Golden-autumn family shoot | Main target 12–18 October; 8–12-image family story with colour, wider setting, close portraits and interaction. | Seasonal brief; Wedding: Open Shade, Families; toddler resources |
| 4 | 19 Oct 2026–25 Oct 2026 | Autumn reserve and natural-light comparison | If autumn already captured, repeat two Week 1 frames and compare window/shade; otherwise use autumn reserve and finish its gallery. | Wedding: Window Light; Portrait: Cowboy in a Barn |
| 5 | 26 Oct 2026–01 Nov 2026 | Open shade and backgrounds | Five portraits and two matched window/shade or background comparisons; record why one setup works. | Wedding: Open Shade + Reflectors; Scott Robert Lim |
| 6 | 02 Nov 2026–08 Nov 2026 | Camera-shy adult session and first review | A coherent 8–10-image mini-gallery, exact directions that helped, subject feedback and Week 1 comparison. | Orwig; Wedding: How to Evoke Emotion; review template |
| 7 | 09 Nov 2026–15 Nov 2026 | Bounce flash | Compare direct, ceiling and side/rear bounce with similar face brightness; deliver five portraits. | Wedding: On-Camera Flash Indoors; Neil van Niekerk bounce workshop |
| 8 | 16 Nov 2026–22 Nov 2026 | One off-camera light | Repeat one reliable setup; record light position, distance and power; deliver five portraits. | Wedding: Off-Camera Flash; selected Strobist Lighting 101 |
| 9 | 23 Nov 2026–29 Nov 2026 | Pre-Christmas rehearsal: wife and toddler | Test one simple indoor setup, adult-and-child focus and tree-light balance; five tests; optional festive-light portrait. | Wedding: Families, On-Camera Flash Indoors; selected child-direction video |
| 10 | 30 Nov 2026–06 Dec 2026 | Pre-Christmas shoot with wife and toddler son | Main target 30 Nov–6 Dec; 8–12 final images including the three of you if help/remote is available; finish selections for cards. | Seasonal brief; reliable Week 9 setup |
| 11 | 07 Dec 2026–13 Dec 2026 | Mature adults and adult posing; Christmas reserve | Comfort-led mature-adult session with seated hands, lighting/fill comparisons and five portraits. Reserve 7–13 Dec for delayed pre-Christmas shoot; defer this adult session to Week 17 if needed. | Wedding: Sitting Down, Posing Hands; Adler mature-lighting; Dewis |
| 12 | 14 Dec 2026–20 Dec 2026 | Extended-family preparation and group rehearsal | Agree essential family combinations; test even light and sufficient depth of field with available adults; make a short capture plan. | Wedding: Families, Group Portraits; Celentano and Elena Blair |
| 13 | 21 Dec 2026–27 Dec 2026 | Christmas with extended family | Photograph during the gathering on 24–26 Dec if that matches your plans; whole group, generations, smaller families and candid story; 12–18 images. | Christmas brief; dependable bounce/window light |
| 14 | 28 Dec 2026–03 Jan 2027 | Christmas editing, recovery and snow preparation | Finish Christmas gallery by 3 Jan; document backup/cull/basic edit/export; prepare a nearby winter location and simple shot list. | Retouching: Workspace, Anna Basic Corrections; snow brief |
| 15 | 04 Jan 2027–10 Jan 2027 | Fuller-figured men / first snow opportunity | Five portraits and matched posture/camera-position comparisons. If suitable snow arrives, swap in the family snow shoot and reschedule this adult session to Week 16 or 18. | Wedding: Corrective Posing; Andre Brown; snow brief |
| 16 | 11 Jan 2027–17 Jan 2027 | Family portraits in snow — provisional target | Primary target 11–17 Jan; use the first suitable date in 4–31 Jan instead. Deliver 8–12 images. If no snow, do the fuller-figure preference session. | Snow brief; natural light and toddler engagement |
| 17 | 18 Jan 2027–24 Jan 2027 | Adult portrait consolidation / snow flexibility | Complete mature-adult work if displaced; consolidate adult portraits. Snow may replace this week's session; finish Gallery 1 by Week 18. | Wedding: Pose + Emotion; mature-adult references |
| 18 | 25 Jan 2027–31 Jan 2027 | Snow reserve, fuller-figure session and adult gallery completion | Use only the outstanding priority: snow if still available, deferred fuller-figure session, or adult consolidation. Complete Gallery 1 (10–15 images); if snow displaces adult work, use Week 22 for the deferred session. | Corrective Posing; existing-image workflow; seasonal swap rules |
| 19 | 01 Feb 2027–07 Feb 2027 | Restrained mature-skin retouching | Three before/after pairs with natural texture; written decisions agreed with the subject. | PHLEARN mature skin; selected Anna/Cheryl cleanup lessons |
| 20 | 08 Feb 2027–14 Feb 2027 | Hair, masks and tonal shaping; optional winter couple portrait | Three edited portraits. Optional quiet couple shoot replaces part of editing/practice time only if core work is on track. | Retouching: Nathalia Hair/Masking; Skye tonal work; couple direction |
| 21 | 15 Feb 2027–21 Feb 2027 | Black and white and gallery consistency | One image in colour and monochrome with rationale; finish a consistent 10-image edit; mid-programme review. | Owned B&W courses if accessible; Tim Grey fallback; Jerry Review lessons |
| 22 | 22 Feb 2027–28 Feb 2027 | Children and movement / recovery slot | Parent-present session; six play-based portraits. If January displaced an adult priority, complete it here and use Week 23 for child practice. | Child-direction catalogue; deferred adult resources if needed |
| 23 | 01 Mar 2027–07 Mar 2027 | Toddlers or supported parent-and-baby portraits | Six images in a simple clear space; prioritise interaction and comfort; no specialist newborn posing required. | Stacey Potter or Szilvia Bodi; Kelly Brown safety/workflow for baby option |
| 24 | 08 Mar 2027–14 Mar 2027 | Families and groups | Six group variations with visible faces and relationships; check even light and depth of field. | Wedding: Families, Group Portraits; Celentano and Elena Blair |
| 25 | 15 Mar 2027–21 Mar 2027 | Family storytelling and early-spring opportunity | Gallery 2: 12–18 images from one family session, or refine a complete Christmas/snow gallery; optional early-spring outing if conditions suit. | Jason Vinson; Building a Wedding Story; seasonal calendar |
| 26 | 22 Mar 2027–28 Mar 2027 | Couples: base positions and connection | Eight distinct portraits from two or three comfortable positions in one location. | Wedding: Pose Part 1; local Posing Couples and Directing Real Couples |
| 27 | 29 Mar 2027–04 Apr 2027 | Couples and early-spring environmental story | Ten-image sequence with context and genuine reactions; choose fresh greenery if present, or a sheltered urban/window setting. | Wedding: Walking + Emotion; local storytelling/directing articles |
| 28 | 05 Apr 2027–11 Apr 2027 | Wedding planning and scouting | Fictional client brief, feasible timeline, essential family list and location/rain plan; no real wedding required. | Local coverage plan, consultation and scouting articles |
| 29 | 12 Apr 2027–18 Apr 2027 | Preparation, ceremony and anticipation rehearsal | Movement map plus 12–15-frame simulated preparation/ceremony sequence; assess missing moments. | Local natural-light and ceremony articles; John Branch IV selected chapters |
| 30 | 19 Apr 2027–25 Apr 2027 | Reception and timed wedding rehearsal | Gallery 3: 20–30-image simulated event story including portraits, groups, reactions and low light. | Local one-light, reception bounce and dance-floor articles; Wedding Post Productions Workflow |
| 31 | 26 Apr 2027–02 May 2027 | Independent adult portrait / blossom opportunity | Plan and deliver a 10-image adult session; use spring blossoms if available and compare to Week 1. Keep mature/fuller-figure priorities. | Targeted owned lessons; seasonal calendar |
| 32 | 03 May 2027–09 May 2027 | Spring family shoot with wife and son | Plan, photograph and finish a 12–18-image family gallery; include mother-and-son and all-three portraits; compare with autumn or Christmas. | Family/couple resources; spring brief |
| 33 | 10 May 2027–16 May 2027 | Reshoots, missed work or optional advanced light | Fix the main remaining weakness. If foundations are reliable, try one controlled mixed-light or two-light study. | Strobist 102/103; John Gress or SLR Lounge advanced reference only if ready |
| 34 | 17 May 2027–23 May 2027 | Portfolio editing and final corrections | Select 20–25 distinct strongest images; finalise all three galleries; check sequence, colour and exports. | Adam Marelli optional; review rubric and original Week 1 baseline |
| 35 | 24 May 2027–30 May 2027 | Final review and delivery | By Sunday 30 May: portfolio, three galleries, baseline comparisons, workflow and next-stage learning priorities. | Final standard |
First three weeks: learn enough to use autumn¶
Week 1: two hours essential theory, then a short window-light adult baseline with basic editing. Follow Week 1. Save the original files for final comparison.
Week 2: scout two nearby outdoor locations, choose an indoor/rain alternative and practise simple adult-and-child interaction. Study Open Shade and selected child-direction resources before the rehearsal. Look at local foliage during this week; if colour peaks early, bring the autumn shoot forward.
Week 3: golden-autumn family session, provisionally 12–18 October. Use open shade or gentle directional daylight, simple prompts and a familiar nearby location. The flexible window is 5–25 October, based on the user's expectation of autumn colour in about three weeks, not a foliage forecast. Week 4 is a reserve.
The seasonal calendar gives preparation, short shot lists, editing deadlines and fallbacks. Seasonal shoots replace the week's practical assignment; do not add a second full session to catch up.
The older articles mention a Sony ZV-E10, Sigma 18–50 mm and 56 mm lenses, Godox AD300Pro, two TT685II flashes and 60/120 cm modifiers. Treat that as a historical kit reference, not a fresh confirmation of availability or compatibility. Use equipment you actually have.
Progression and adaptation¶
Review at Weeks 3, 6, 10, 18, 21, 25, 30 and 35. Use monthly review notes; review more frequently when a problem repeats.
Before each seasonal session, identify one exposure/focus priority, one reliable light setup and a short session brief. Theory continues alongside practice. Before introducing a second light, make sharp, consistently exposed portraits with one light and explain what changes when distance, direction or fill changes. Before independent projects, complete the capture–backup–cull–edit–export loop without losing originals.
Calendar position does not prove competence or completion. If a milestone is missed, repeat the weakest exercise in a buffer week; remove optional advanced viewing first. Keep the 30 May finish fixed and record any unmet aims rather than manufacturing completed work. Week 14, flexible Week 18, Week 22 when needed, and Week 33 provide recovery space. A snow opportunity may swap with an adult session in Weeks 15–18; preserve adult work in the next available slot. See the seasonal swap rules. No participant available: use self-portraits or an adult stand-in for light/position work; record that this does not demonstrate child or couple direction.
For children, work with a parent/guardian present and adapt the session to the child's comfort. Newborn study is optional; specialist newborn poses require appropriate supervised training and are not programme deliverables. Mature age and body size are separate considerations. Ask each subject about comfort, portrayal and editing preferences rather than imposing a standard correction.
Final deliverables and review¶
By 30 May 2027: - 20–25 portfolio images, selected for quality and variety rather than to fill a quota. - Three coherent galleries: adult portraits (10–15 images), family story (12–18), simulated wedding/event story (20–30). These are learning-project galleries, not full commercial wedding deliveries. Portfolio images may also appear in galleries. - At least three comparable before/after learning pairs from Week 1 and later sessions, identifying changes in light, direction or composition. Preserve any older baseline separately if it exists. - A written capture, backup, culling, editing, export and delivery workflow; verify that backed-up originals and exported images open. - Subject feedback, final critique and three next learning priorities.
Score five representative images 0–2 in each category: technical quality, light, posing/expression, composition and editing. 0 = needs work, 1 = partly successful, 2 = achieved. For each gallery also check consistency, variety and narrative completeness. Record evidence rather than relying only on a total score. Compare five successful and up to five instructive weaker frames where available.
Completion is evidence of progress; it does not alone establish readiness to lead an unrepeatable wedding.
Programme records¶
The pre-reset library, old Weeks 1–3 (including the missing Week 2 placeholder), old progress and handoff are preserved in the GitHub archive. No prior completed work is assumed. Only the new Week 1 has a full issued assignment at reset; later weeks are the roadmap and should be tailored to reported progress.
The existing Monday 09:00 Europe/Vilnius assignment automation has been updated to this programme and verified; it remains in the original task. Its status is recorded in the internal handoff.