Discover portrait photography with professional photographer Darren Rigo. In this 3-hour workshop, you'll learn simple, practical techniques to create more compelling portraits. From choosing great locations to working with natural and artificial light, you'll also learn how to guide your subject so they feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera.

Designed for all skill levels, this workshop is perfect whether you're photographing with your phone, just getting started with a camera, or already have experience and want to refine your portrait photography skills with new techniques and creative approaches.

What you’ll learn
- How to plan a relaxed, successful portrait session
- Easy ways to find interesting backgrounds in Benson Park
- How to use natural and artificial light to make your subject shine
- Tips for posing, directing, and helping people feel at ease in front of the camera

What to bring
Bring whatever camera you're most comfortable using: a smartphone, point-and-shoot, mirrorless, or DSLR. If you have an external flash, feel free to bring it along. The workshop focuses on creativity and technique, not camera gear.

Bring a friend (optional)
If you'd like, bring a friend or family member to be your portrait subject. Don't worry if you come on your own, you'll have the opportunity to work with other participants during the workshop!

This workshop is free for all participants. Registration required.

Interested in the workshop but don't have a camera or phone you'd like to use? No problem! We have a limited number of cameras available to borrow through our free camera loan program. To learn more or reserve a camera, please contact Sarah, Programs Manager, at [email protected].


Meet Darren! Darren s a Toronto-based photographer working commercially across art, advertising, editorial and artwork documentation. His award-winning work has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Azure, esse, Macleans, and Fashion. Starting from photography, his artistic practice has gradually expanded to include textiles, ceramics, and audience-engaged performance. He received a BFA from OCAD University, where he majored in photography and recently completed residencies at AIAV (Japan), Leveld Kunstnartun (Norway) and Annandale Artist Residency (Canada).

Policies and Waivers - We've included these as part of the registration process (thank you for your patience!) to save some paperwork on your end and get straight to creating when we are in person!

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: County Arts makes every effort to ensure that all community members, including those who (or have family members who) are more medically vulnerable feel that they can safely teach and learn at the County Arts Lab. We also want to ensure that those who are unable to wear masks have access to our programming. 

We recently moved to masking on a class by class basis. Please select the option below that best describes your comfort level with regard to masking. (Please note, if anyone in the class selects the third option, we will ask that everyone who is able to do so wear a mask.) If you have any questions, please reach out to Programs Assistant Heather McCorquodale at [email protected].

Almost done. Where should we send the confirmation?

RegFox Event Registration Software
Event Registration Software by RegFox