Cinematic portrait workshop
“Workshop about photographing people, atmosphere and presence”
presence over poses
“People I work with are seen, not just photographed.”
This is a two or three-day workshop on photographing people — not as subjects, but as presences. We spend the days together in Berlin, working slowly, looking carefully, and making portraits the way I make them in my own practice. Small group, mixed experience, a lot of time inside the frame.
three days
in rhythm
Seeing
Theory & Foundations: we’ll talk about visual language, working with people, light and location, artistic direction, and building your positioning as a photographer on social media.
Making
Practice & Shooting Experience: a live shooting session with a model, directing in real time, hands-on practice, and feedback throughout the process.
Editing
Optional Portfolio Review & Feedback Session: after the workshop we’ll review your images together, discuss your results and visual choices, and go through individual feedback and next steps.
Online session
- Visual language
- Working with people
- Atmosphere & presence
- Open discussion
Shooting day
- Live shooting session
- Direction & observation
- Individual feedback
- Group review
Review session
Extended option only
- Portfolio review
- Image selection
- Feedback on edited work
- Personal recommendations
tariffs
The two-day workshop covers the conversation and the shooting. The three-day workshop adds a final review session focused on editing, image selection, and personal feedback — the stage where photographs become a series rather than individual frames.
Two days
Two days inside the frame — seeing and making.
The core of the workshop: a day of seeing and a full day of making portraits, with one professional model and group review.
- Day 01 — Seeing
- Day 02 — Making
- Curated locations in Mitte
- Photographing people with intention
- Atmosphere, presence & visual storytelling
- Direction, observation & connection
For photographers who want a hands-on shooting experience.
Join the Two days workshopThree days
The full arc — from the first frame to the long edit.
Everything in the short intake plus the third day: the long edit, where a body of work is sequenced.
- Day 01 — Seeing
- Day 02 — Making
- Day 03 — Editing
- Additional review session after the workshop
- Personal feedback on your final image selection
- Portfolio review and development guidance
- Individual recommendations based on your work
For photographers who want feedback, portfolio guidance, and a deeper learning experience.
Join the Three days workshopthe kind of
work we make
before
you ask
What language is it in?
Conducted in Russian. English is fine in conversation — Maria speaks both. Some written materials are available in both languages.
I'm not a professional photographer.
Welcome. The group is mixed by experience on purpose — what matters is how you look, not how long you have been looking. There is no portfolio bar.
Can two of us share a seat?
No. Each seat is one person — the group is small enough that each chair matters.
What if I have to cancel?
Full refund up to 30 days before the workshop. After that, the seat moves to the next intake and you keep your place there.
Will we shoot on film?
Bring whatever you already work with. The teaching is about seeing, not gear.
Four seats. One of them is yours?
I read every application personally. Tell me a few words about yourself, the work you make, and why you want to come. There is no portfolio bar.
- When
- 14 — 16 August 2026
- Where
- Mitte, Berlin
- Group
- 4 seats
- Price
- 350 € & 490 €