TACOMA
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Photography for Everyone: Capture Stunning Images With Your iPhone and Android Devices

Photography for Everyone: Capture Stunning Images With Your iPhone and Android Devices

Saturday 22 March
Silver Cloud Hotel at Point Ruston Waterfront - 10am - 3 Hours
Peter Swanzy
Learn all the fundamentals of composition, focus, action, selection, and editing with your phone! The best camera is whatever you have with you, and in this session we'll learn to make the most of your device's camera while improving your techniques and skills with photography. This workshop is great for all levels, for all ages, and for anyone that wants to use their phone to have an impact. Prepare to have fun, get wild, and even grow your business with great images!
book now
$92       3 places left
Urban Photography Workshop

Urban Photography Workshop

Saturday 29 March
Museum District, Tacoma - 10am - 2 Hours
Anthony Culanag
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
$47      
B&W Street Photography

B&W Street Photography

Saturday 05 April
Museum District - 11am - 2 Hours
Anthony Culanag
Black and White Street Photography - 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
$47      

Nearby Photography Groups

UW Quad Cherry Blossoms Landscape Photography

UW Quad Cherry Blossoms Landscape Photography

Saturday 29 March
University of Washington - 6:30am - 2 Hours
Seattle Photography Group
Kevin Murphy
Capture the stunning cherry blossoms in full bloom at the University of Washington Quad. This sunrise landscape photography session will focus on composition, lighting, and settings to make the most of the golden morning light. With fewer people around, you'll have the best opportunity to frame your shots without distractions. Whether you're a beginner or experienced photographer, this event will help you refine your skills in a beautiful seasonal setting.
book now
$47      
Street Photography Meetup

Street Photography Meetup

Saturday 12 April
Pike Place Market - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Photography Group
Kevin Murphy
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
$47      
Sunset Photography Meetup

Sunset Photography Meetup

Saturday 19 April
Roozengaarde - 5:30pm - 2 Hours
Seattle Photography Group
Kevin Murphy
Learn how to use the proper settings to capture a beautiful sunset.

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival offers an incredible opportunity to photograph endless fields of vibrant tulips at both golden hour moments, sunrise and sunset. This session will focus on capturing the depth, color, and patterns of the flowers with proper exposure techniques, composition tricks, and lens choices to enhance your images. Join us for one or both sessions and create stunning springtime photographs.
book now
$47      

Other Nearby Groups

Exploring Abstract Art

Exploring Abstract Art

Saturday 29 March
Capitol Hill - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Art Circle
Rebekha Laughlin
Dive into the world of colors, shapes, and endless creativity! In this hands-on class, you'll explore the beauty of abstract art, learning fun techniques to express yourself without limits. No rules, no pressure - just you, your imagination, and a canvas waiting to come alive. Perfect for beginners and seasoned creatives alike, this is your chance to experiment, play, and create a masterpiece that's uniquely you!
book now
$47      
Beginner's Drawing Class

Beginner's Drawing Class

Saturday 19 April
Capitol Hill - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Art Circle
Rebekha Laughlin
Ready to unleash your creativity? Join us for a fun-filled beginners' drawing class where we'll explore the exciting world of art! In Part 1, we'll dive into the essentials of drawing, covering lines, shapes, values, and perspective, giving you the foundation to confidently sketch anything you imagine. This class will be focused on giving you the essential tools required for studying images and creating your own compositions. You are free to draw whatever you please, but for tutorial purposes a series of objects for you to study will be provided .
book now
$47      
Portrait Drawing Basics

Portrait Drawing Basics

Saturday 10 May
Capitol Hill - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Art Circle
Rebekha Laughlin
Ready to turn blank pages into stunning faces? This fun and beginner-friendly class will guide you through the basics of portrait drawing, from proportions to shading techniques. Whether you're sketching a friend, family member, or just making up a face, you'll learn how to capture personality and detail like a pro. Grab your pencils and let's bring your portraits to life - one stroke at a time!
book now
$47      

Beginner's Drawing Class

Beginner's Drawing Class

Saturday 31 May
Capitol Hill - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Art Circle
Rebekha Laughlin
Ready to unleash your creativity? Join us for a fun-filled beginners' drawing class where we'll explore the exciting world of art! In Part 1, we'll dive into the essentials of drawing, covering lines, shapes, values, and perspective, giving you the foundation to confidently sketch anything you imagine. This class will be focused on giving you the essential tools required for studying images and creating your own compositions. You are free to draw whatever you please, but for tutorial purposes a series of objects for you to study will be provided .
book now
$47      
Introduction to Oil Painting

Introduction to Oil Painting

Saturday 21 June
Capitol Hill - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Art Circle
Rebekha Laughlin
Step into the world of rich colors and timeless techniques with this fun and beginner-friendly oil painting class! Learn how to mix, layer, and bring your ideas to life on canvas. Whether you're dreaming of vibrant landscapes or classic still-life masterpieces, this class will give you the tools to make it happen. No experience? No problem! Let's get messy, creative, and inspired together!
book now
$47      
Beginner's Drawing Class

Beginner's Drawing Class

Saturday 12 July
Capitol Hill - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Art Circle
Rebekha Laughlin
Ready to unleash your creativity? Join us for a fun-filled beginners' drawing class where we'll explore the exciting world of art! In Part 1, we'll dive into the essentials of drawing, covering lines, shapes, values, and perspective, giving you the foundation to confidently sketch anything you imagine. This class will be focused on giving you the essential tools required for studying images and creating your own compositions. You are free to draw whatever you please, but for tutorial purposes a series of objects for you to study will be provided .
book now
$47      

Tonal Drawing

Tonal Drawing

Saturday 02 August
Capitol Hill - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Art Circle
Rebekha Laughlin
In this workshop, we will explore the art of creating depth and dimension in your drawings through the use of shadow and tone.

Our experienced instructor will guide you through the process of understanding and applying the principles of tonal drawing, including the use of value, contrast, and composition. We will cover topics such as creating a tonal range, building contrast, and simplifying composition to create a clean and striking image.
book now
$47      
Beginner's Drawing Class

Beginner's Drawing Class

Saturday 23 August
Capitol Hill - 10am - 2 Hours
Seattle Art Circle
Rebekha Laughlin
Ready to unleash your creativity? Join us for a fun-filled beginners' drawing class where we'll explore the exciting world of art! In Part 1, we'll dive into the essentials of drawing, covering lines, shapes, values, and perspective, giving you the foundation to confidently sketch anything you imagine. This class will be focused on giving you the essential tools required for studying images and creating your own compositions. You are free to draw whatever you please, but for tutorial purposes a series of objects for you to study will be provided .
book now
$47      
ABOUT TACOMA
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 Tacoma.

  • 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 Tacoma Photography Group on Facebook to share your photos after the session.

    Got a question? Try our FAQ.
  • REVIEWS
    This was a super helpful class. It helped fill in some basic techniques and settings. Peter was a great teacher! We had a lot of objects at the location to choose from.
    5/5
    Jennifer
    2025-03-12
    LOVED this event. Would really benefit from taking it again so I remember what I learned.
    5/5
    Deborah
    2025-03-10
    Fun class and Peter is a good instructor. Probably a better class for people who do not know much about shooting in manual as opposed to someone like me who is familiar with doing it. But I did learn some things and it definitely encouraged me to use the "M" on the dial more often and experiment more. Bonus was getting to hangout with some like-minded photographers for a couple of hours. Made me want to do meet-ups other photographers just to chat and take pictures.
    5/5
    Barry
    2025-03-09

    I enjoyed it. It was nice to learn a bit more about the camera I use and get some experience shooting with some more manual modes.
    5/5
    JJ
    2025-01-30
    I appreciated the knowledge shared and being able to ask questions and get individual help as needed
    5/5
    Diane
    2024-07-14
    We braved the cold for some nighttime photography fundamentals with Sama. Sama provided us with good explanations on settings for night pictures and gave us some challenging scenes to photograph. Definitely more of a challenge than a bright sunny day but I did learn some more about my camera settings and how to deal with low light.
    5/5
    Tom
    2024-04-08

    I thought Sama did a great job of teaching the intro class. He broke down the three elements of the exposure triangle into manageable pieces and had us apply them in different situations. He always provided clear instructions and was patient with our novice questions. I would recommend his class to others who want to learn some basics.
    5/5
    Tom
    2024-03-31
    Leader was very enthusiastic and helpful. Very nice experience.
    5/5
    MARK
    2024-03-11
    Fun walkabout; shame the weather wasn't warmer, but our guide rolled with it (we stopped for a warm-up about halfway through). Would like to do it again in warmer weather
    5/5
    Sharon
    2024-01-16

    Fun evening. Very relaxed. Knowledgeable instructor and it was fun to see what others came up with.
    5/5
    Linda
    2023-09-15
    Really helpful material and it was fun to take pictures at night.
    5/5
    Angelie
    2023-09-13
    I loved it. Jessica was a great instructor. Will be coming to future events.
    5/5
    Jean
    2023-09-11

    PHOTOGRAPHERS
    Peter Swanzy
    My passion for photography is rooted in the notion that every artist can succeed if they are confident. Confidence inspires originality, and photography is a uniquely accessible platform of expression that is available to everyone!

    I hold a BFA in music and performing arts, as well as a BASc in applied business and information technology. In addition to this background, I have a profound love of technology and have taught media and tech for nearly 20 years. Additionally, I worked in Hawai'i as a professional wedding and perfoming arts photographer since 2012. Leading workshops for college classes, teen groups, and darkroom photographers have allowed me to build a repertoire of experience to help my students understand their voice and vision, and develop and confident approach to their work.

    Peter Swanzy is available for private bookings

    Private lessons are minimum 3 hours, and are available W, Th, Fr from 9am - 4pm.

    Private lessons for real estate and architecture, performing arts, landscape, portraits, lighting/studio, and weddings (including engagements and elopement sessions). Additional information about branding, building your business, developing contracts, and attracting clients is also a feature of private lessons.

    Anthony Culanag
    Anthony Culanag is an independent producer and photographer in the Tacoma/ Seattle area. He teaches digital photography at the local college and works in landscape and experimental photography. Anthony is a producer of independent films and uses photography to frame scenes in the film production along with capturing behind the scenes development with the camera for photo narratives.

    Anthony Culanag is available for private bookings

    Available on Saturdays from 12pm to 3pm for photo tutoring in the camera manual settings and working with photo composition.

    PHOTOS
    Tacoma Photography Group
    2024-05-31
    Title or Location: Los Angeles
    This photo was taken from a cruise ship. As we were leaving Los Angeles.
    Credit: Justin Gaspaire
    Facebook: Justin Gaspaire
    Instagram: @opulensphotobygaspaire

    Tacoma Photography Group
    2024-05-24
    Title or Location: Port of Tacoma Observation Tower
    Candid weekend photo prompt. Your never know who might drop by when you're at the Port of Tacoma Observation Tower!It was a perfect afternoon and there were plenty of harbor seals baking in the sun on the floating platforms to keep me company. No one else was there!
    Credit: Dana Sawin
    Tacoma Photography Group
    2024-05-19
    Title or Location: Puyallup
    I wasn't planning to take Aurora borealis photos until my friends started sending me pictures of it taken with their phone. I figured I could do better, so I took my Canon EOS R5 and a tripod and setup in the backyard. The result is amazing!
    Credit: Jerico Cruz

    Tacoma Photography Group
    2024-05-10
    Title or Location: Multnomah Falls
    I was visiting Portland for the first time and decided to go out and look for a place to take pictures. Multnomah Falls happened to be along the route I was driving, so I stopped, got some hot chocolate, then walked up the stairs to take pictures. Thanks to the rain and fog, all the pictures I took that day have a very ethereal quality that makes me mad I didn?t take more.
    Credit: Jordan Paulin

    Tacoma Photography Group
    2024-05-10
    Title or Location: Owens Beach
    Took my 3 year old to Owens Beach to enjoy the sunset and take some pictures, I know I'll be able to see Mt Rainier from there wanted to get a good shot. Waited for the ferry to dock for a perfect picture!
    Credit: Jerico
    Instagram: jcruzmediaworks
    Tacoma Photography Group
    2024-05-03
    Title or Location: Multnomah Falls
    This was taken at The iconic Multnomah Falls one of the tallest falls in the USA. After i had taken the photo my partner and I hiked to the top to see the amazing views.
    Credit: Kirrily Steele
    Facebook: Ylirrik Enna
    Instagram: Kirrilyas

    Fort Worth Photography Group
    2025-03-20
    Title or Location: Amboseli National Park, Kenya
    This is Craig, a Big Tusker?a term used to describe elephants with exceptionally long tusks. Craig is believed to be the oldest living Big Tusker in Kenya, boasting the longest tusks in the country. At approximately 52 years old, he is a true giant of Amboseli National Park.I was with a group of photographers exploring Amboseli National Park in Kenya when our driver and guide informed us that Craig and his fellow Tusker, Mike, had ventured outside the park and were now in a nearby game prese
    Credit: Chris Lokey
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.lokey.77
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrislokeyphotography/

    Fort Worth Photography Group
    2025-03-20
    Title or Location: Photo was taken ar the Will Rogers tower in the cultural district of Fort Worth, TX.
    I wanted to shoot the lunar eclipse but at the same time incorporate some quintessential Fort Worth icons into the image for context. I knew I would need to use a very long telephoto to get a large moon but in doing so knew that the rest of the image would need to be some distance from me due to the tunnel vision of the telephoto. I used Photopills and The Photographer?s Ephemeris to plan the shot which was taken with Fuji X system mirrorless equipment.
    Credit: Anthony Crowley
    Instagram: @anthonycrowleyphoto
    Toronto Photography Group
    2025-03-19
    Title or Location: downtown toronto
    showing today's toronto, with tall buildings everywhere, showing the development of a big city.
    Credit: jackson bigkwok

    Brighton Photography Group
    2025-03-19
    Title or Location: Shoreham Power Station, Southwick ,Brighton, United Kingdom
    Using light and shade to capture the beauty in the harshness of urban industrial architecture. Rekindling a love of black and white photography, I took this photograph whilst on a Brighton Photography Group 'Urban Architecture in Black & White Photography' study event led by Tobias Slater-Hunt. Having spent a winter of dark clouds, rain and dull skies, it was an opportunity to make the most of the year's new beautiful March sunshine.
    Credit: 'Beachside Beauty in Brighton'

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