Shaping Light. Framing Space. Capturing Soul

An immersive architectural workshop that blends light, human presence, and spatial awareness to create expressive compositions.

Introduction:

Explore architectural photography through a balance of structure, light, and human presence. In this immersive workshop set within one of Sharjah’s landmark buildings, participants will learn how to frame space with intention. They will shape light and use people within the frame to create expressive and atmospheric images.

Description:

This four hour workshop invites participants to explore how architecture, light, and people combine to form powerful visual narratives. From the first briefing through to final edits, you will connect creative intention with precise technical choices.

First, the session introduces three linked modules: pre production, production, and post production. In the opening module, you will examine creative concepts, composition in architectural spaces, and lighting strategies for both interior and exterior scenes. At this stage, you will start to think about how every choice in lens, angle, and timing influences the mood of the image.

Next, the workshop moves into an intensive hands-on shooting session inside the location. Participants photograph a professional model and work directly with natural light. Then they gradually introduce flash. Throughout this phase, Shoayb will guide you in directing the model, reading changing light, and making deliberate framing decisions that emphasise lines, volumes, and atmosphere. In addition, you will learn how to adapt quickly when conditions shift. You’ll still protect the core idea of the picture.

Finally, the group transitions into a post production module in Photoshop. Here you will work through image selection, tonal control, colour balance, and subtle retouching. The focus stays on refining photographs so that mood, clarity, and narrative all support the original vision. By the end, you will understand how planning, capture, and editing link together in one coherent process.

This workshop suits intermediate and advanced photographers who feel confident with camera settings. They should understand flash and basic lighting setups and already use Photoshop. Motivated participants who want to build a stronger architectural, editorial, or portfolio-driven body of work will gain clear, practical methods to apply immediately.

Modules:

Module 1: Pre production
In the first module, you will receive an introduction to architectural photography with a focus on composition and visual storytelling. Participants are briefed on the location and key architectural features. You will understand the way light, structure, and context influence creative decisions. You will plan the shoot, prepare gear, choose lenses, and consider how human presence will interact with the space before you start to photograph.

Module 2: Production
In the second module, you move into a live shooting session inside the building. The schedule uses late afternoon through sunset for you to work first with natural light and then with building illumination. Participants work with a model and follow guided scenarios that combine natural light and flash. The emphasis is on framing, reading light, directing the subject, and responding to the environment. You must maintain a clear visual intention throughout.

Module 2: Post production
In the final module, you transition directly into an editing session where you refine your images in Photoshop. You will practise basic retouching, local and global light adjustments, and careful colour control. The session then examines how editing choices can enhance the relationship between subject and architecture. It shows how sequence and final presentation can strengthen the narrative quality of the work.

Suitable for:

Intermediate, Advanced, Professional

What Should Students Bring?

Camera, tripod, and a set of two or three lenses covering a range from wide angle to short telephoto.

Closing notes:

This workshop helps photographers move beyond simple documentation of buildings and into thoughtful, expressive image making. By linking planning, capture, and editing in a clear sequence, Shoayb shows how every decision shapes mood and meaning. Participants leave with new images, a stronger approach to working with architecture and light, and practical techniques for integrating human presence into their architectural storytelling.