Fine Art Nude Photography Workshop and Lighting Courses-ric woods photog...

"Three hours in one of Ric's courses has been one of the most valuable
investments in my phototography to date. His knack for explaining technical
details in a way that sinks in, and the snippets of information and tips he
gives
throughout the course make the world of difference. I personally
left the course with an enriched enthusiasm and found myself with a whole
new mental approach to my photography. This won't be the last of Ric's
courses I participate in"!

Tony Henderson
Lithium Imagery

maree nichols the studio manager did an amazing job facilitating our recent Fine Art Nude Photography & Lighting Course. All the participants, our subjects Donna & Russell and maree and myself were on an inspirational high after the session. Running the smaller classes created a session where everyone had the opportunity to capture shots of Donna & Russell in solo poses and some wonderful ethereal poses of them both together on a seamless white background.
We discussed how some photographers making images of the human body cross the line by touching the subject without permission, maree and myself shared ways to communicate with the male and female subjects to create trust and move through awkward situations of nudity.


We began with a low light set built from studio props lit with a gridded beauty dish and edge lit with a large soft box finishing with bounced soft boxes and reflectors.Showing participants in practical demonstrations using the theory of the inverse square law of light, how to darken and lighten backgrounds without moving the subject was well received...Its exciting to see subjects faces as they " get it" and proceed to put it into practice.
here is a quick video grab of the session.

Special thanks to our subjects donna and russell and to maree. More information about our courses is available from our 21 page PDF Photography & Lighting Course Booklet
One to Group or One to One tuition is available enquiries@ricwoods.com studio 02 4962 1066

Sophie...Our Tiny Dancer_ric woods photography

Sophie has melted the hearts of all the staff at ric woods photography.
During her portfolio photo shoot she showed all the confidence and poise of a mature adult dancer...and at only 8 years old,she has so much time to polish that presentation.
Sophie and her mum ( who was fantastic with her styling) certainly struggled with her image choice...."so many great shots to choose from". One of my favourite photo shoots of the year thus far.Maree was in heaven applying stage make up to 8year old skin.....

Images with an Edge- ric woods photography

We did a photo shoot with Caitlin the other day.Its great to transform the studio with lighting and structures


Its certainly different to photographing products,corporate head shots,fashion and newborns

The Urban wasteland provided great images and of course gets the creative brain waves flowing..

I wonder if this could be our next profile image...Hmmmm it might scare off a few customers.....and it might win a few as well.

ric, caitlin( the talent) bridie and maree

ric woods photography fashion and lighting course- behind the scenes video

Turn up the volume and take the jump to the "Behind the Scenes" video of our recent Fashion & Beauty Photography & Lighting Course. At ric woods photography we conduct small classes for better one on one time and the latest course (21 page pdf course booklet download) was a blast....All participants get to shoot and take home fantastic portfolio images.

The studio ( location) was buzzing with enthusiastic and creative people and at 6pm it all took off!

We started with some theory like:

• Camera preparation,lens selection...we talked about shutter speed, aperture , ISO and how to balance or eliminate the ambient studio like.We showed how to get clean perfect exposures straight out of the camera.I shot images tethered to two monitors and showed practical differences with light modifiers. I use equipment that people have in their own kits like umbrella's as well as studio gear like gridded beauty dishes and large soft boxes.
• We instructed people how to engage the models.We explain why we NEVER touch models without asking.Composition and camera point of view are covered.We talked about photographic releases explaining that you MUST have a release for every portrait and every wedding shoot. You get the HERO shot you best have a release before you sell that image on the Commercial Scene, OR it could come back at you and you may need pay many $$$$s to clean up the mess.

Special thanks to;

• Maree Nichols my business partner and production manager for pulling it all together.If you need more information about the courses of booking a shoot at the studio, shoot her an email maree@ricwoods.com.

We gave a couple of students their "shot" in a commercial studio.

• Caitlin Nolan-Jones wants to be a creative director. Caitlin was given free reign to design the theme for the shoot.She sourced the clothing and accessories and enlisted the aide of two friends to be the male and female models.She did a great job and exceeded our expectations.She did the work and was rewarded with a great result.She supplied several looks and did well in the 3 hour course.

My tip for up and comers that want their "shot" . Do the work you want to get paid to do....do the work..do the work.

• Piyanuch "Nuu" Hathaipontaluk was our make up artist and did well to collaborate with Caitlin to pull the vision together.She was showing off her skills, doing male and female make up finishing with a Dramatic look on our female model. Also thanks for her patience in my poor attempts to pronounce her Thai Name.
• Odessa our female model was stunning and brought amazing beauty to the photo shoot.
• Liam was the perfect male model, making light when some participants were finding it difficult to shoot and talk at the same time.
• Thanks to Kristie, Debbie,Peter, Zahra, Kaz and Llynda the participants...great work, good listening.

Finally..........

• Eagle Boys Pizza for delivering ON TIME and making GLUTEN FREE Pizzas...

FIVE STAR FAMILY DAY CARE a ric woods,ross carroll and little green frog marketing collaboration

Going through my archives TRYING to make a filing system that other humans can understand I came across this TVC ad.This was lots of fun this shoot. Little Green Frog marketing think tank commissioned me to shoot the stills and then got Ross Carroll a very talented and creative friend to drop an animation over the images. Ross has a wonderful creative mind and is so passionate about his work its inspiring.

Jamie Gilmore the owner of Little Green Frog has a mind that sends out a never ending stream of "What if we.......'s". Its so good working with passionate professionals......Oh yeah it sounds like Ross doing the voice overs....but its not

Five Star Family Day Care TVC from Ross Carroll on Vimeo.

Christmas Portraits created ric woods photography

Our studio looks like the lay by department at David Jones. Maree and Bridie have been working furiously to have all these images matted and framed by the 24th Dec to put in Santa's Sleigh.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank David, Natasha and Zara at Pro Am photography Lab and Karen,Peter and Meg at The Framing Game for their support and flexibility in their working hours.

Last Sunday I got a phone call from the Framing Game double checking on our instructions for a collage to be framed. When did you last get service like that? They use materials of very high quality.
David and Zara at Pro Am have really extended themselves to help us have all our late orders ready. Ive tried other labs as a back up, they have not been able to produce images to the standard we demand.Davids background as a Commercial photographer and Tafe teacher are invaluable.
We have increased our sales of images this year more than 300%, it is directly due to our care and passion for photography and the businesses like Pro Am and The Framing Game.

A huge thanks from ric ,maree and bridie. have a safe Christmas Everyone.


Our 2011 Photography & Lighting Course Booklet download **HERE**

Gambling,Girls and Guns...a mix that often ends badly

What a great mix of talent. Our latest self commissioned photo "shoot" was a "blast".

We compose these shoots because we love making images and it keeps us inspired it also demonstrates to the participants of our photography and lighting courses that fantastic images can be composed in-camera with very little post production Photoshop work.

Jessi and Maree ( right) were the Burlesque show girls in the shoot.Maree, my business partner, let go of her usual roll as studio manager,admin,second photographer and make up artist to be the talent in the shoot.

Jessi bought a great look and vibrance to the session.



Maree and Jimmy were there Friday night...Jimmy seemed on edge and when he is like that his friends know to choose their words carefully...


The usual Friday Night crowd was at the Warehouse

Left: Will,Matt,Brett and Jimmy.


Be careful what you say to these ladies Matt...they hunt in packs.



Friday nights at Brett warehouse are usually start out light hearted...

Usually as the night goes on the mixture of Money, Girls, Booze and Greed ups the stakes ....someone always takes things too far. Matt made a comment about Jimmy's suit....

It only takes a small spark to start a raging fire... Matt didn't see it coming...

The next day it was Mr William O who said to the detectives, Matt said he was going for a long drive.... Matt is still missing....

...thanks to all who helped on the night.
NEWS: If you want to make images like this, sign up for our photography and lighting courses in 2011.**DOWNLOAD 21 page course booklet**

CHRISTMAS PARTY & EXHIBITION ric woods photography studio 2010

ric woods photography's Christmas Exhibition & party went off as a great success, we will move it forward next year so more folk can attend .

Les Porter judged the exhibition of prints submitted by participants of of our Photographic and Lighting Courses we had held through out the year.

Id like to send a thanks to Les Porter Photographics and David Barnes and Natasha from Pro Am Photographic Lab for their generosity in providing gift vouchers for the winners.

It was great to hang out with like minded people who are visual like myself

Mike Mortlock did a great job providing the music, it helped us consume the food and drink in a relaxed manner.

Les PorterPhotographics , ric woods photography and David Barnes of Pro Am

Onlookers all deciding that the correct pose for the evening was a bent right arm

Maree and Bridie did a great joib of the organisation of the night

Michelle takes the award for the BEST ADVANCED PRINT

David and Natsha were there to greet Santa.Santa was recovering from a hard day in the dept store toy section

Santa and Maree enjoy a relaxing Twiggy Salami? I donyt know if they wer lit?

Justine and Mary gave santa a thrashing .Claiming that Santa had not delivered the goods they wanted on Christams Day in 2009

Santa had a little something for those that had been Naughty throug out the year...strangely some got in line for a second go of punishment

Maree launched the draft for the 2011 Photographic & Lighting courses.The 212 page booklet will be available in the next week or so, watch this space !!

It was fun to link up with friends and fellow photographers...Its a change looking at people NOT through a viewfinder.

OUR TEAM, ric woods photography.

Bridie,ric,maree and of Course Santa....Santa , is that lipstick on your cheek???

WINNERS-school cartoon workshop" Draw ric " competition

Well Congratulations to Isabell and Sabrina from St Brigids School Raymond Terrace...Your prizes are on the way !!


These two fantastic artists are our latest winners in the Eddie Spagetti Cartoon workshop "Draw ric" competition. I teach these workshops in schools to open the doors for kids that are visual learners....like I was.


I'm sure everyone can see the almost photographic resemblance to my photograph. Have me come to your school, see more details in the cartoon workshop folder at www.ricwoods.com

Its in the Stars-astrology reports and gift hampers-product shoot-ric woods photography

Elizabeth Ball commissioned ric woods photography to to shoot her hampers.Elizabeth is a very interesting woman and her background is worth a read.

Drop over to It's in the stars and check out her site.Soon to have bright new images.

There is more behind the scenes info posted at our flickr collection

BACK HOME after 5 weeks in Europe

Hello all, well we are back in the studio after a fantastic time in Europe.We flew to Frankfurt via two very interesting days in Abu Dharbi,grabbed a car and drove up through Germany ,Denmark and dropped the car off in Berlin.


Berlin was a great few days then a plane to Rome.After Rome we travelled by train from then on and spent 4-5 days in each place.Florence,Cinque Terra,Venice and Milano.

We completely filled ourselves with art,culture and food.Thanks to all those that kept ric woods photography running whilst we were travelling.







Great to be home and I can't wait to start making images again.Maree has filled the diary whilst we were away, so Ive come back to Portrait shoots, product shoots, corporate and industrial shoot dates in the Diary.
By the way, I dont take my camera gear on holidays, I just use a small point and shoot....hence, some of the images are not to our studio standard.

When in Rome....

Natural Light Photography Course-Next One in November 2010

Maree and myself get a real buzz when participants in our photography course get that fantastic smile as the "penny drops" and the theory and the practical all fall into place.

This what happened for our latest group in our recent Natural Light Photography Course. The standard of their shots immediately improved as they put into place some tips and tricks during the course

Maree is putting together the 2011 courses now.There are some exciting editions that people have been requesting such as Studio Lighting where we will teach you how to get professional results with the minimum of equipment.

More information is available from Maree Nichols maree@ricwoods.com. Don't miss out ,we are only running small groups.BOOK EARLY !!

THis years course booklet is HERE.

By the way we are still interviewing people for our Casual Juniors Postion, so if you know anyone that is KEEN and is interested in working in a full time professional photography studio please send the link to for the job information HERE

maternity and newborn photography workshops

Meela, was the star of our recent workshops on newborn photography, so aware at such a young age. At our course we had several lighting changes.Three lights and how to maximise depth of field and minimising distortion of the subjects through lens and aperture selection.Rim lighting high and low key. One light with reflectors.

mother & child

new family

dad and meela

eye contact and voice recognition

some of the students

Dad was fantastic with Meela, mum looks on

Dad getting ready to change Meela's pose

Small groups are great to teach.

Here I am explaining to one of the group about talking to the subject....I did this with a practical demonstration of pointing the camera at the photographer for 1-2 minutes without speaking and using the shutter...they "got it" and we had fun.One of mothers to be in the background, you will be seeing more of her as her "bump" grows.

Here Maree comforts Meela's under study....the under study wasn't needed at all. Our primary focus is the 1. the comfort of the child 2. the comfort of the parent/s and 3. getting the shot.

Here is the results of images of Amy, one of our previous subjects, using 2 lights

Amy in this shot is illuminated by 3 lights.This creates a whole different feel.

Our workshop "Creating beautiful B&W's" is scheduled to run again in 2011.Maree is compiling lots of new courses for next year.

If you would like more workshop details email maree@ricwoods.com.