Photography Basics: A Beginner's Guide

Join Jo-Anne Oucharek for a hands-on workshop is designed for anyone who wants to take better photos, using a camera or phone!

Photography Basics: A Beginner’s Guide | Capture moments, not just pictures

This hands-on workshop is designed for anyone who wants to take better photos — whether you’re using a camera or just your phone.

We’ll break down the fundamentals in simple, everyday language so you can understand how light, composition, and camera settings work together to create amazing images.

You’ll learn:

• How to use the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, ISO) without the jargon
• Simple tricks to compose stronger photos
• Why light is everything in photography
• Easy tips to practice at home or outdoors with any camera

*No experience required! — Just bring your curiosity and your camera (or phone). By the end, you’ll have the confidence to move beyond “auto mode” and start capturing photos that tell your story.

Please Bring:

• A notebook, questions, and curiosity!

Dates:

• Saturday, February 21st | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Tuesday, March 24th | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Sunday, April 12th | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Thursday, June 25th | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Registration Price: $25 + GST | Fees

About the Instructor:

Jo-Anne Oucharek is an award-winning wildlife photographer with a passion for capturing the raw beauty and hidden stories of nature. Photography has always been part of her life, but when she moved to Cochrane in 2014, she brought her camera out of retirement—and discovered a whole new adventure behind the lens.

For Jo-Anne, photography is about more than images—it’s about connection. She shares her work through both photos and the stories that bring them to life, hoping to inspire others to see the beauty, resilience, and importance of the creatures she is privileged to witness in their natural world. Over the past decade, she has also built strong bonds with like-minded photographers who share the belief that nature must always come first.

natureinmybackyard.ca | @natureinmybackyardcochrane