Capital Photography Center is a photography school founded by Marie Joabar, offering a wide variety of classes taught by skilled and passionate instructors. With single-session classes and small class sizes, the school provides a flexible and enjoyable learning experience for photographers of all skill levels.
Take control of your camera and capture stunning photographs with Photo Basics: Getting Off Auto. Learn how to choose the appropriate settings for the look you want, freeze or blur motion, and control the depth of field. Join us at Capital Photography Center and unlock the full potential of your DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Next start date:
Saturday, May 11th, 9:30am–1:30pm Eastern Time
Capture the breathtaking beauty of the Great Falls of the Potomac River at dawn. Join Corey Hilz on a photography adventure where you'll learn how to shoot in low light, capture flowing water, and compose stunning waterscapes. Don't miss this opportunity to create stunning images of this natural wonder in the DC area.
Next start date:
Saturday, Apr 20th, 5:30–8:30am Eastern Time
Discover the art of iPhone photography at the National Gallery of Art, where you'll learn how to capture stunning images and transform them into artistic expressions through the use of editing apps. Unleash your creativity and master the techniques of exposure, composition, and focus for optimal results. Don't miss this opportunity to explore endless photographic possibilities with your iPhone camera.
Next start date:
Sunday, May 19th, 10:30am–2:30pm Eastern Time
Master the power of Lightroom and take control of your digital workflow. Learn how to organize, adjust, and export your images with ease in this comprehensive course at Capital Photography Center. Don't miss out on the extensive PDF handout filled with practical tips and tricks to enhance your Lightroom skills.
Next start date:
Sunday, Apr 21st, 9am–5pm Eastern Time
Discover the art of capturing stunning portraits in the heart of Capitol Hill's iconic scenery. Learn the secrets of natural light photography alongside a professional model, as you master the art of framing and posing under expert guidance.
Next start date:
Saturday, Apr 20th, 10am–12:30pm Eastern Time
Master the art of Photoshop and unlock its full potential for photographers in this hands-on training. Learn the essential techniques, from layers and masks to retouching tools and composites, to confidently enhance your images. Discover tips and tricks that will save you time and simplify your Photoshop workflow.
Next start date:
Saturday, May 4th, 9am–5pm Eastern Time
Uncover the captivating world of small subjects in this technical and creative macro photography course. Discover essential skills such as precise focusing techniques, maximizing depth of field, and modifying light with diffusers and reflectors. Get ready to explore the art of up-close photography at Capital Photography Center.
Next start date:
Sunday, May 5th, 10am–1:30pm Eastern Time
Learn the secrets to professional portrait editing in this hands-on course led by professional headshot photographer Laura Hatcher. Discover the powerful editing tools in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop that will take your portrait editing to the next level. Enhance your skills and create stunning portraits with confidence.
Next start date:
Sunday, May 19th, 1–4:30pm Eastern Time
Master the art of selective adjustments with advanced masking techniques in Lightroom. Unlock the full potential of your photos by targeting specific features, adjusting skies, and fine-tuning masks with precision. Explore the power of linear and radial gradient masks, color range masks, and more.
Next start date:
Saturday, May 11th, 2:30–5:30pm Eastern Time
Enhance your photography skills with hands-on fieldwork around the Capitol, capturing diverse subjects and perfecting exposure settings to create stunning images. Join us for a practical session reinforcing camera controls, motion control, composition techniques, and more in a picturesque setting.
Next start date:
Saturday, May 11th, 6–8:30pm Eastern Time
Are you ready to excel in the dynamic field of Real Estate Photography? Join our comprehensive class at Capital Photography Center and learn essential lighting techniques, composition theory, and more. Enroll now and take your skills to the next level!
Next start date:
Sunday, May 19th, 1–4:30pm Eastern Time
Unlock the secrets of compelling street photography in this hands-on class at Capital Photography Center. Join renowned photographer Michael Koren as he guides you through pro-level techniques and explores the ethical considerations of shooting in public spaces. Discover the artistry of capturing captivating images that go beyond the ordinary snapshot.
Next start date:
Saturday, May 18th, 2:30–6:30pm Eastern Time
Capture the stunning beauty of the Capitol Columns at the National Arboretum as the full moon rises, in this exclusive photography class. Don't miss your chance to frame the moon among the columns and witness the magical colors of the sunset sky. Recommended equipment includes a digital SLR or mirrorless camera with manual exposure controls and a zoom lens in the range of 18-200mm.
Next start date:
Wednesday, May 22nd, 6:45–9:15pm Eastern Time
Capture stunning nighttime images of DC's iconic monuments and memorials in this unique photography class. Learn the art of long exposures, framing compositions, and street photography at night. Don't miss your chance to capture postcard-worthy photos of Washington's beautiful landmarks!
Next start date:
Saturday, May 18th, 8–10:30pm Eastern Time
Learn how to capture stunning long exposure photos with Marie Joabar at various iconic locations in Washington, D.C. Discover techniques for blurring water, clouds, and moving subjects, as well as creative camera movements for abstract shots. Enhance your photography skills and create unique images in this hands-on workshop.
Next start date:
Sunday, Jun 2nd, 6–9am Eastern Time
Learn how to create stunning portraits in this hands-on class at Capital Photography Center. Join instructor Laura Hatcher in her Old Town, Alexandria studio as she guides you through the process of controlling and shaping light to achieve the desired results. Enhance your photography skills and come away with a solid foundation for creating your studio lighting setup.
Next start date:
Sunday, Jun 23rd, 1–4:30pm Eastern Time
Discover the techniques for lighting, posing, and interacting with headshot clients in this photography class at the Capital Photography Center. Join Laura Hatcher in her studio and master the skills to capture stunning and professional headshots that leave a lasting impression on your clients. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your headshot photography skills!
Next start date:
Sunday, Jul 14th, 1–4:30pm Eastern Time
Learn the essential skills and techniques to create professional portraits in this comprehensive course offered by Capital Photography Center. Develop your ability to control lighting, composition, and posing to capture stunning and meaningful images of your loved ones. Take your portraiture skills to the next level and express your unique style through this immersive learning experience.
Next start date:
Saturday, Jun 8th, 9:30am–12:30pm Eastern Time
Unlock the hidden beauty within everyday scenes with our Abstract Photography course. Discover innovative techniques to transform familiar subjects into captivating, unrecognizable images, fostering a fresh perspective and boundless creative possibilities.
Next start date:
Saturday, Jun 8th, 1:30–5pm Eastern Time
Discover the hidden beauty of the Capitol's fountains and gardens in this immersive photography course, where you'll master techniques to capture stunning images amidst colorful flowers, flowing fountains, and iconic statues. Unleash your creativity and learn to frame the Capitol building in unique and captivating ways.
Next start date:
Sunday, Jun 9th, 9am–12pm Eastern Time
Capital Photography Center was created by Marie Joabar who for more than a decade was the Education Programs Manager and Corporate Trainer at Penn Camera, one of Washington D.C.’s long standing photography retailers. Marie developed that company’s educational program growing it from three topics in 2003 to almost 50 in 2011, and earned it the reputation of having the area’s largest selection of classes with the widest variety of topics.
When Penn Camera closed in January 2012, it was a logical choice to open Capital Photography Center to continue offering amateurs, hobbyists and professionals the opportunity to continue learning and grow their photography.
Who We Are
Our instructor list boasts some of the area’s best instructors; founder of the popular Washington Photo Safari, E. David Luria, renowned photographer and educator, Corey Hilz, the talented travel, landscape and portrait photographer, Roy Sewall, award winning wildlife and bird photographer, Emily Carter Mitchell, pro sports shooter, Mitchell Layton, and the popular food photographer, Renee Comet, just to name a few. All of our instructors are Professional Photographers but more important than that is their skill at communicating and teaching.
Our Classes
With busy schedules and family demands, our classes are the perfect fit! No need to clear the calendar for a 6 week session or commit to a class that runs on 3 different dates. Our classes are single sessions so it’s easy to schedule a single day or an early morning or afternoon class.
Most of our classes are taught on the weekends although from time to time we offer a weekday evening or early morning class.
Our classes are small enough so no matter where you are with your photography or your camera, we can work with each person at their individual level. Most are limited to just 10 to 12 students which allows plenty of individual attention and makes learning an enjoyable experience.
Our instructors are truly passionate about sharing their knowledge but also strive to make learning fun. No matter what your skill level is, you’ll enjoy our classes and find we attract a great group of like-minded people.
Our classroom classes are offered in Falls Church and in DC. Our In-The-Field classes are offered throughout the area from as far away as Waterford, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland and as near as the U.S. Capitol.
Where To Start
If you are new to photography, we suggest learning exposure basics and getting off of the Auto mode. Our DSLR class is perfect for this and lays a solid foundation in the basics.
If you’re good with the basics there’s no better place to continue learning than an In-The-Field- Shooting class. Just choose the ones that excite you the most or cover the topics you want to learn more about.
For editing skills consider one of the Lightroom or Photoshop classes. From there, the learning continues with our Printing, Digital Art, Seeing in Black and White and other post processing classes.
Lighting can take your photography to new levels and set you apart from the pack. We’ve got that covered in our Flash Photography and Small Studio classes.
Notes:
Mailing address:PO Box 855 Alexandria, VA 22313
Reviews of Capital Photography Center
(5.0-star rating across
10 reviews)
iPhone Photography - Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
Reviewed by Joan R. on 10/22/2023
Michael presented a great class. Lots of information explained fully and with humor. I've already recommended it to friends.
Creative Smartphone Photography Field Shoot
Reviewed by Kathy S. on 5/1/2022
Excellent instructor and class, I really enjoyed it, learned a lot and plan to check out more classes
Photo Basics – Getting Off Auto
Reviewed by David M. on 2/28/2022
Outstanding! Exactly what I was looking for. Valuable guidance presented in an effective manner.
Waterfalls of the Potomac
Reviewed by Jim Z. on 11/16/2021
Thus is an excellent class for beginners and medium experienced photographers. Corey did a very thorough job of explaining settings and what to look for. He moved around to give each person in the class some individual attention. He answered questions and gave suggestions. It was a very positive experience.
Photo Basics – Getting Off Auto
Anonymous review on 1/27/2020
Great beginner class for anyone looking to get into photography. Helps that it is an in-person class where you get to see hands on what each concept means and as a bonus you get to see various types of cameras - if you haven’t yet decided on buying/upgrading to one.
iPhone Photography - Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
Reviewed by Rocio S. on 2/4/2024
iPhone Photography - Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
Anonymous review on 1/10/2023
Photo Basics – Getting Off Auto
Reviewed by Jim Z. on 11/15/2021
Photo Basics – Getting Off Auto
Reviewed by Chavilah B. on 11/15/2021
Photography Basics and Exposure Control
Reviewed by Graham H. on 2/1/2021
Review Summary by CourseHorse
The classes at Capital Photography Center have received positive feedback from students, who found them informative, enjoyable, and helpful in improving their photography skills. Students appreciated the instructors' thorough explanations and guidance, as well as their ability to provide individual attention to each participant. The classes were deemed suitable for both beginners and medium-experienced photographers. By attending in-person classes, students had the opportunity to understand concepts hands-on and observe different types of cameras, which was beneficial for those who were considering purchasing or upgrading their equipment.
Direct quotes:
- "Lots of information explained fully and with humor. I've already recommended it to friends."
- "Excellent instructor and class, I really enjoyed it, learned a lot and plan to check out more classes."
- "Great beginner class for anyone looking to get into photography. Helps that it is an in-person class where you get to see hands-on what each concept means."
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