CHARLESTON
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 19 July
N Market St., Charleston - 10am - 3 Hours
Dave Gray
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!

Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.

We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
$98       3 places left
Architecture Photography

Architecture Photography

Saturday 02 August
Anson St - 10am - 2 Hours
Dave Gray
Architectural photography can be a great way of exploring and documenting a city, whether it's your home or on holiday. Its about capturing not only the design and accurate representation of a building, but to have the shots be aesthetically pleasing to the viewer's eye. An architectural photographer makes pictures, not takes pictures.

In this session, we will be covering how to better understand Architecture photography and we'll be looking at ways to take some impressive shots and the camera settings to use.
book now
$49      
The City at Night

The City at Night

Saturday 16 August
N Market St., Charleston - 7:30pm - 2 Hours
Dave Gray
Many people don't think about nighttime being a good time to do photography since there's a lack of light. However, armed with knowledge about your camera's settings and the properties of light, nighttime photography can be a lot of fun.

In this meetup, you'll learn about the best camera settings for nighttime photography. We'll also explore the kinds of light available to us and how to use that light to make some awesome photos. As always, there are exercises that will help you put your new knowledge to work.
book now
$49      

Portrait Photography Meetup

Portrait Photography Meetup

Saturday 30 August
Anson St - 10am - 2 Hours
Dave Gray
Whether you wish to up your selfie game or begin developing a portfolio, this workshop will help you learn the basics of portrait photography and push your creativity and technical understanding.

Learn which settings are best to use, how to select the best locations, and what lighting and poses highlight a model's best features. We will also learn how to build rapport to get the best reactions and genuine emotions from a person.
book now
$49      
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 13 September
N Market St., Charleston - 10am - 3 Hours
Dave Gray
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!

Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.

We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
$98      
Black and White Photography

Black and White Photography

Saturday 27 September
Anson St - 10am - 2 Hours
Dave Gray
Introduction to Black and White Photography. What makes a good Black and White shot?

We will look at the contrast and using textures. How does the camera see the image and how do we create Black and White images in a camera or in post-production. We will look for some good examples and set some exercises.

This is a more advanced course and assumes you understand the basics of photography and controlling your camera.
book now
$49      

Long Exposure Photography

Long Exposure Photography

Saturday 11 October
Anson St - 10am - 2 Hours
Dave Gray
Learn the basics of long exposure to capture light trails along with tripod photography.

Long exposure refers to a technique where you keep the shutter open for an unusually long period of time. This results to interesting effects in your photographs.
book now
$49      
Macro Photography Meetup

Macro Photography Meetup

Saturday 25 October
Anson St - 10am - 2 Hours
Dave Gray
Macro photography is a unique form of photography that involves photographing small objects to make them look life-sized or more significant in the photo. The usual subjects include flowers and small insects, which we don't normally get to see up close with the naked eye.

The class will start when the insects are more active. So be ready to explore and capture breathe-taking macro images.
book now
$49      
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 08 November
Anson St - 10am - 3 Hours
Dave Gray
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!

Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.

We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
$98      

Architecture Photography

Architecture Photography

Saturday 22 November
Anson St - 10am - 2 Hours
Dave Gray
Architectural photography can be a great way of exploring and documenting a city, whether it's your home or on holiday. Its about capturing not only the design and accurate representation of a building, but to have the shots be aesthetically pleasing to the viewer's eye. An architectural photographer makes pictures, not takes pictures.

In this session, we will be covering how to better understand Architecture photography and we'll be looking at ways to take some impressive shots and the camera settings to use.
book now
$49      
Street Photography

Street Photography

Saturday 06 December
Anson St - 10am - 2 Hours
Dave Gray
People, cafes, vendors, street merchants, buskers, historic buildings, art installations and much more. The power of observation underpins the art of great street photography. Learning to "see" interesting detail is a practised skill and we introduce you to easy methods that will open your photographer's eye and expose you to a world that is alive with detail. The most rewarding part of the class is learning how to approach interesting people and have them willingly pose for you.

We will also go over settings, focusing techniques and lens choices common to street photography to help us capture those random chance encounters.
book now
$49      
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 20 December
Anson St - 10am - 3 Hours
Dave Gray
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance!

Join us as we break down your camera to help you learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO and how these settings affect your exposure.

We will then put your new knowledge to the test with the guidance of a professional photographer.
book now
$98      

ABOUT CHARLESTON
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP
Come along to our photo sessions to dust off your camera and get snap-happy with a professional photography instructor.

Brush up on your camera skills and learn new photography techniques whilst on a photo walk class with other local keen photographers!

We run two hour photography sessions based on a photography theme/technique/style and they take place in various locations in Charleston .

  • New to photography? We also run a popular 3 hour Beginners Guide to Photography Class once a month. And once in a while we will run special niche 3 hour classes, for example, Astrophotography - so do subscribe to our newsletter to know when the next on is!

  • Who can attend? Open to all skill levels, from beginners to keen amateurs. The photography instructor is there to help you with camera settings and provide any advice you need.

  • What to bring? We recommend bringing a camera that has full manual mode or semi-manual modes (Aperture or Shutter Priority). Compact cameras and smartphones also welcome!

    The meeting point and full details for the day are sent in the booking confirmation email to the email address you provide at time of booking.

    Join the Charleston Photography Group on Facebook to share your photos after the session.

    Got a question? Try our FAQ.
  • REVIEWS
    Dave Gray was an excellent instructor and guide. I really appreciated his facilitation techniques and ability to open my naturalist eye to new concepts in street photography. He was open to meeting the needs of the entire group and ensured every workshop member had a platform.
    5/5
    PATRICK
    2025-07-07
    Instructor good. My humble thoughts: written ?curriculum? emphasized Saul Lighter technique. Like exposing Picasso paintings to a freshman level art class. Luckily not much on Lighter. No discussion on focus field but ok because modern cameras don't need shooters to fiddle much with manual focus dials. I learned i would much rather shoot street window reflections than water or puddles. If i were teaching this I would find two good YouTube videos on street photog and send signees the links prior to meeting. Spend more time on the street. Good street photography takes a little time. I would move away from the market area to less tourist travelled area. They all look alike. No variety in ?people diversity.? Saul Lighter a fabulous street guy but Vivian Meyer and William Shackleton worth looking at. Lighter is Piccaso, the others are like Dutch Masters. . . Easier to understand and replicate
    5/5
    Ken
    2025-07-06
    Truly enjoyed and learned so very much from Sonny. I look forward to taking another class with him in the future!
    5/5
    Jose
    2025-07-06

    Excellent. I was looking to get my mind out of lawyering and into art before a trip to Asia. Great group of folks and great instruction.
    5/5
    Guy
    2025-07-06
    Dave was great. Really explained how everything will go and was super engaged and encouraging. Absolutely will sign up for another class. Left with lots of confidence in photographing Street photography on my own. I enjoyed the group a lot!
    5/5
    Amanda
    2025-07-06
    Very informative. Definitely moved me forward in my photography journey.
    5/5
    Chris
    2025-03-30

    Wonderful instructor.
    5/5
    Epi
    2025-03-11
    Great time walking around downtown on a beautiful day and taking photos..our instructor Kem was knowledgeable and gave lots of great tips on taking architectural pics.. very enjoyable!
    5/5
    Sam
    2024-01-15
    Had a great time. Learned a good bit. Had time to shoot and get feedback, not rushed. Can?t wait to post photos. Need to download card.
    5/5
    Sandy
    2024-01-14

    Enjoyed the event. Liked learning how to deal with models.
    4/5
    Michael
    2023-07-23
    Kem was a great instructor and I learned a lot from the interaction with out students in the class. I am already signed up for more courses!
    5/5
    Matthew
    2023-07-23
    Excellent experience. Kem was knowledgeable and prepared. He made suggestions and commentary as needed. Very personable. Looking forward to more events with him.
    5/5
    Dave Baker
    2023-06-26

    PHOTOGRAPHERS
    Dave Gray
    Hello, I'm Dave. For nearly three decades, I've been committed to teaching and mentoring students who have excelled in roles from leading Audio at Microsoft to game creation for EA Sports, crafting YouTube personalities, and even becoming a professional athlete alongside Sidney Crosby. In the image and creative industries, my journey involves capturing diverse subjects like touring bands, war zones and untouched parts of our planet. I prioritize creative coaching and workshop settings over building traditional portfolios, favoring a pre-photograph work ethic over a 2018let 2019s fix it in post 2019 attitude. My teaching style is fun and flexible, utilizing a wide range of gear from 100-year-old antique lenses to toy phone cameras to modern mirrorless tech. Your learning experience will emphasize imagination and improvisation over rules and tools. I believe your tools do not define your style, your style defines your tools. We will experiment with inventive photography through basic composition ideas that focus on storytelling and emotional connection, helping you uncover your unique style. Your learning environment will have my love for strong communication and passion for history, whether in a online classroom, walking around or jumping out of a airplane. Join me for a visual adventure where we'll unlock the magic of photography together.

    Dave Gray is available for private bookings

    I am available from 11am until 11pm for private bookings. My services include private tutoring, creative coaching, discovering your style and photography for fun events. Whether you're looking to enhance your photography skills or capture special moments, I'm here to provide personalized and professional services tailored to your needs. Let's create beautiful memories together!

    PHOTOS
    Charleston Photography Group
    2024-03-04
    Title or Location: Mouthmill Beach
    I have been wanting to photograph this location for a while and needed to scout the location first to see when the best time to photograph the rock and dogs safely. I took my WCS puppy Pixel as she is the best best trained of our three dogs. She is a bit small and dark in colouring for the type of photo's I was after but she did a wonderful job helping me scout the location.
    Credit: The Darkroom Photography
    Facebook: thedarkroomdevon
    Instagram: the.darkroomphotography

    Charleston Photography Group
    2024-02-11
    Title or Location: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
    Watching bees do their job of pollination on some beautiful flowers.
    Credit: Victoria Collins
    Facebook: Collins Photographs
    Instagram: collins.photographs
    Charleston Photography Group
    2023-12-10
    Title or Location: Charleston, South Carolina
    Sunset over the Wando River: October 2021
    Credit: Grace McCarthy
    Instagram: @gracecmccarthy

    Charleston Photography Group
    2023-08-20
    Title or Location: White Point Gardens, CHS
    Coincidentally, this scene appeared spontaneously as I was walking back to my car from a Charleston Photography Group class on outdoor portraiture in July. I bought a glass of lemonade from this kind adorable little girl and gave her a big tip if I could take her photo. (Mom was there and approved too). I quickly sat in the middle of Battery Street to get the low angle and shallow depth of field with my long lens. I followed up with the mom and sent them a file.
    Credit: Francois Fontaine
    Facebook: FontaineImages
    Instagram: FontaineImages

    Charleston Photography Group
    2023-07-22
    Title or Location: West Ashley
    I was sitting on my back porch enjoying the day when I saw this beauty checking out my flowers. I went inside to grab my camera, fully expecting it to be gone by the time I returned. I was able to get several great shots while it almost seemed to pose for me.
    Credit: Brian Heins
    Facebook: Brian Heins
    Charleston Photography Group
    2023-04-21
    Title or Location: Folly Beach
    This was in May 2021 at Folly Beach as I was just learning how to take pictures of the Milky Way had just gotten my new Nikkor 20mm f1.8 lens was so excited to try to do this I had always liked how other photographers would shine there flashlights into the Milky Way core I wanted to try it for myself my camera was Nikon D750 and20mm lens ISO 1600 at f2.8 25 seconds long edited in Lightroom this year decided try do some edits using Nik Collection Color Efex Pro 4 which gave the image more pop an
    Credit: Jimmy Hartnett
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.hartnett.7?mibextid=ZbWKwL
    Instagram: instagram.com/jimmy.hartnett.7

    Toronto Photography Group
    2025-07-09
    Title or Location: Toronto ON Canada
    The photo was taken on the shore of Lake Ontario at Woodbine Beach Park. Whenever you take a photo of a sunrise or sunset, it is difficult to predict how nature will show you. Sometimes expectations are not met, but sometimes you receive a modest but magnificent gift. There was a small puddle on the shore of the lake from a recent rain and it was in it that the miracle of the sunrise appeared. Shot on a Samsung 21s mobile phone and processed in the phone in the Snapseed program.
    Credit: Yuri Shvarzman

    Lansing Photography Group
    2025-07-09
    Title or Location: Barry County, Michigan
    At first light when the dew point is optimal you can find cob webs laden with droplets that glisten in the sun. This shot was captured in a horse pasture, taking special care to keep the sensor plane parallel with the web pattern.DSLR Nikon - Tamron 90mm 2.8 1:1 lens
    Credit: J Hammond Images
    Winston Salem Photography Group
    2025-07-08
    Title or Location: Moon View
    It could be a clear view or a hazy view, the moon is picture perfect view with many photographic options.
    Credit: Paul Gerst

    Winston Salem Photography Group
    2025-07-08
    Title or Location: Mabry Mill - Blue Ridge Pkwy
    Even though the mill itself is being renovated, the surrounding environment is beautiful.
    Credit: Paul Gerst

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