SANTA
CLARA
PHOTOGRAPHY
GROUP

Upcoming Events

Nearby Photography Groups

Nature Photography Meetup

Nature Photography Meetup

Saturday 06 June
Golden Gate Park - 10:30am - 2 Hours
San Francisco Photography Group
Jerry Downs
Join us for a nature photography meetup in one of the largest and most beautiful municipal parks in the world. Golden Gate Park offers an extraordinary range of photographic opportunities—from wooded trails and open meadows to lakes, gardens, and diverse wildlife habitats.

This meetup is suitable for photographers of all levels who want to refine their observational skills while experiencing the remarkable natural diversity of Golden Gate Park.
book now
$49      
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 13 June
Niles Historic District, Fremont - 10am - 3.0 Hours
Fremont Photography Group
Mark
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance! We'll cover basic camera settings, simple composition ideas, and practical shooting exercises with on-the-spot feedback. Suitable for all skill levels.
book now
$98       3 places left
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Sunday 14 June
Grand Lake District - 9am - 2 Hours
Oakland Photography Group
Rocky Laber
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
$49      

The Birds of Lake Merritt

The Birds of Lake Merritt

Sunday 28 June
Oakland, California - 8am - 2 Hours
Oakland Photography Group
Rocky Laber
In this workshop, we'll explore the bird species found near grounds of the Rotary Nature Center. We'll give considerations to camera settings, vantage points, and compositions. This workshop is suitable for beginning to intermediate photographers.
book now
$49      
Beginner's Photography Class

Beginner's Photography Class

Saturday 11 July
Niles Historic District, Fremont - 10am - 3.0 Hours
Fremont Photography Group
Mark
Ready to learn more about your camera and get out of automatic exposure? Now is your chance! We'll cover basic camera settings, simple composition ideas, and practical shooting exercises with on-the-spot feedback. Suitable for all skill levels.
book now
$98      
Uptown Oakland at Night

Uptown Oakland at Night

Saturday 18 July
Uptown Oakland - 6:30pm - 2.0 Hours
Oakland Photography Group
Rocky Laber
Explore the vibrant evening cityscapes of Uptown Oakland with an abundance of neon light. This 2-hour meetup will focus on capturing urban night scenes, reflections, and the energy of the city after dark. Suitable for all skill levels.
book now
$49      

Daylight Motion and Street Photography

Daylight Motion and Street Photography

Sunday 26 July
San Francisco Waterfront - 9am - 2.0 Hours
Oakland Photography Group
Rocky Laber
Practice techniques for blurring and freezing moving objects including people, vehicles, scooters, and bikes along the San Francisco waterfront. Suitable for all skill levels.
book now
$49      
Night Motion on the Embarcadero

Night Motion on the Embarcadero

Saturday 15 August
San Francisco Waterfront - 6:30pm - 2.0 Hours
Oakland Photography Group
Rocky Laber
Capture long exposures on the San Francisco waterfront. Practice night motion techniques including light trails and reflections. Suitable for all skill levels.
book now
$49      
50mm Street Photography

50mm Street Photography

Sunday 13 September
Lake Merritt, Oakland - 9am - 2.0 Hours
Oakland Photography Group
Rocky Laber
Capture the lively area and vibrant activities at Lake Merritt with your 50mm lens. This 2-hour meetup is ideal for practicing street photography in a dynamic urban park setting. Suitable for all skill levels.
book now
$49      

Bayscapes at the Bulb

Bayscapes at the Bulb

Sunday 27 September
Albany Waterfront, Albany - 9am - 2.0 Hours
Oakland Photography Group
Rocky Laber
Explore the concrete remnants and abundant graffiti along the shores of the Bay at the Albany Bulb. This 2-hour meetup focuses on capturing coastal landscapes and urban textures. Suitable for all skill levels.
book now
$49      

Other Nearby Groups

Still Life Watercolor Painting

Still Life Watercolor Painting

Sunday 07 June
Concord - 11am - 2.0 Hours
Concord Watercolor Group
Ashley Robinson
Join us for a relaxing watercolor meetup where we'll explore the art of still life painting. Using everyday objects as our inspiration, we'll practice composition, shading, and color mixing. All skill levels welcome.
book now
$49      
Beginning Watercolor Class - Botanicals

Beginning Watercolor Class - Botanicals

Sunday 14 June
Downtown Lafayette, CA, close to BART - 10am - 3.0 Hours
San Francisco Watercolor Group
Susan Cole
Enjoy cozy outdoor park while learning to paint plants and flowers in a relaxing, no-pressure atmosphere with highly experienced Watercolor Painting Leader. Beginner-friendly; bring own materials
book now
$49.00      
From Sketch to Watercolor Painting

From Sketch to Watercolor Painting

Sunday 14 June
Morcom Rose Garden, Oakland - 11am - 2 Hours
Oakland Watercolor Group
Scott
In this beginner-friendly outdoor workshop, participants will explore continuous drawing techniques and learn how to transform simple sketches into expressive watercolor paintings. Through guided demonstrations, you'll practice watercolor washes, layering color, and using water and texture to bring energy and atmosphere into your work.

The workshop encourages experimentation, observation, and confidence-building while creating a complete artwork from start to finish. Perfect for those ready to move beyond exercises and begin developing their own painting process.
book now
$49      

Drawing Water: Expressive Sketching & Watercolor

Drawing Water: Expressive Sketching & Watercolor

Saturday 27 June
Morcom Rose Garden, Oakland - 12pm - 2 Hours
Oakland Watercolor Group
Scott
This hands-on outdoor workshop focuses on the relationship between drawing, movement, and watercolor. Using continuous line drawing and observational sketching as a starting point, participants will build expressive paintings through layered washes, texture, and intuitive mark-making.

The session encourages working loosely, simplifying forms, and allowing water and pigment to create natural variation and atmosphere within the painting. Designed for beginners and curious creatives alike, the workshop offers a supportive environment for exploring process, experimentation, and personal expression through watercolor.
book now
$49      
Sunset Beach Watercolor Painting

Sunset Beach Watercolor Painting

Sunday 19 July
Concord - 11am - 2.0 Hours
Concord Watercolor Group
Ashley Robinson
Join us for a relaxing watercolor meetup where we'll paint a beautiful sunset over a beach scene. We'll explore techniques for capturing warm colors, reflections, and gentle waves. All skill levels welcome.
book now
$49      
Urban Sketching with Watercolours

Urban Sketching with Watercolours

Sunday 09 August
Morcom Rose Garden, Oakland - 11am - 2.0 Hours
Oakland Watercolor Group
Scott
Join us for an Urban Sketching with Watercolours meetup at Morcom Rose Garden. We'll capture the beauty of urban landscapes with watercolours. All skill levels welcome. Participants bring their own materials.
book now
$49      

Watercolor Illustration

Watercolor Illustration

Sunday 09 August
Concord - 11am - 2.0 Hours
Concord Watercolor Group
Ashley Robinson
Join us for a creative watercolor illustration session at Asad Chai & Company. We'll explore techniques for creating whimsical watercolor illustrations, suitable for all skill levels.
book now
$49.0      
Still Life Watercolor Painting

Still Life Watercolor Painting

Sunday 23 August
Morcom Rose Garden, Oakland - 11am - 2.0 Hours
Oakland Watercolor Group
Scott
Join us for a Still Life Watercolor Painting meetup at Morcom Rose Garden. We will explore composition and color through everyday objects. All skill levels welcome. Participants bring their own materials.
book now
$49      
Painting Fall Nature Colors

Painting Fall Nature Colors

Sunday 06 September
Concord - 11am - 2.0 Hours
Concord Watercolor Group
Ashley Robinson
Join us for a watercolor meetup at Asad Chai & Company where we'll capture the beautiful colors of fall nature. We'll paint autumn leaves, warm tones, and natural scenery, exploring techniques for seasonal watercolor painting. All skill levels welcome.
book now
$49.0      

ABOUT SANTA
CLARA
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 Santa Clara .

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

    Got a question? Try our FAQ.
  • REVIEWS
    It was a lot of fun. The location, Diridon Station, was a good place to practice the technique.
    5/5
    Judith
    2026-04-27
    I enjoyed the event. The location was a good one, and James brought high energy and enthusiasm to it. The group attending was small, which gave it a bit of an intimate feeling and let us get to know each other a little. I enjoyed the workshop and would do another trip with James.
    5/5
    Neal
    2026-04-26
    The class is great and I learned a lot.
    4/5
    Simon
    2026-03-30

    It was great to get some guide from James and meet others in the group.
    5/5
    Gamal
    2026-03-02
    I had fun with this. I liked how James was able to pivot and keep the group focused a few ideas.
    5/5
    Chris
    2026-02-02
    The event was very helpful and enjoyable as well. James was very knowledgeable and professional while making sure the communication was open. The fellow photographers were very friendly and helpful. The entire session was smooth sailing with friendly banter, and exchange of information between participants and James. The event was edifying to me as this is a new genre/style of photography for me.
    5/5
    Sury Maturi
    2026-02-01

    I thought it was very good. We experimented with the purpose of the class and I was very pleased with the results.
    5/5
    Gary
    2026-01-31
    It was a worthwhile event. Instructor was knowledgeable and improvised when needed.
    5/5
    Huve
    2026-01-31
    Had a great time! One of the best parts was learning from each other?s vision. Big thanks to James for sharing not only photography techniques but also insights into a professional photography career.
    5/5
    Michael
    2025-10-20

    It was a good session, we discovered some great compositions during the session
    5/5
    Anshuman
    2025-10-19
    Event is interesting, teacher is very interacting and give good indications to start. Basic knowledge of the camera is needed for shutter, ISO and aperture knobs.
    5/5
    Luc
    2025-10-19
    James is very interesting person , and it was a wonderful lesson
    5/5
    Elena
    2025-10-19

    PHOTOGRAPHERS
    Nithin Kumar
    Nithin Kumar is an up and coming Cinematographer and Colorist from the Bay Area. He started getting interested in cameras at a young age, and has pursued them passionately ever since. He has gone on to DP on many short films, commercials, and music videos. He has also completed the ASC Masterclass and has received a certificate of completion for the course. Nithin has also written and directed several passion projects that have gotten into many festivals, including NFFTY, the biggest film festival for people 24 and under.

    Nithin Kumar is available for private bookings

    Available most days for most types of bookings, events, weddings, etc.

    James Hickey
    James Hickey is a professional photographer whose work spans fashion, music, celebrity portraiture, and street photography. With a career that combines classic photographic craft and innovative approaches 2014including the use of AI tools 2014he strives to capture authentic stories through his images. His travels to nearly 40 countries have shaped his eye for culture, light, and everyday human connection, all of which influence his perspective behind the camera.

    Passionate about both the art and practice of photography, James enjoys teaching and mentoring new photographers. His classes emphasize not only the technical foundations of camera work, lighting, and composition, but also the importance of developing a personal vision and creative confidence.
    PHOTOS
    Santa Clara Photography Group
    2026-04-15
    Title or Location: San Jose Ca
    This photo was captured on the Sunday before the Super Bowl as the Patriots were coming in to land at San Jose International Airport. I was a a local park filming wildlife and just happened to look up and spot a plane coming into land at the airport and noticed it had some interesting colors so I pointed my telephoto lens to the sky and was presently suppressed to see it was the Patriots. This custom Boeing 767 airplane is called "AirKraft" after the owner of the Patriots Robert Kraft.
    Credit: John Bronner
    Facebook: johnbronner
    Instagram: bronnerjohn

    Santa Clara Photography Group
    2026-01-16
    Title or Location: North Lynn Canal, approximately 17 miles south of Haines, Alaska.
    Completed in 1906, it is the oldest original lighthouse still standing in Alaska. The lighthouse was constructed following several shipwrecks in the area during the 1898 Gold Rush, serving as a crucial maritime safety measure.
    Credit: Amanda Holt
    Facebook: Holt Photography
    Instagram: Holtphotography13
    Santa Clara Photography Group
    2026-01-16
    Title or Location: Sequoia National Park
    We went to the location a day before and it was clear sky, next day a storm came in, we drove back same location near the visitor center and it started snowing. The landscape changed in minutes, I was lucky to get this shot as after a few seconds a blizzard started and nothing was visible,
    Credit: Anshuman Mukherjee
    Instagram: _nomadansh

    Santa Clara Photography Group
    2026-01-09
    Title or Location: Yosemite National Park
    We woke up around 3:00 am and then headed to Tunnel Viewsome roads were closed due to the snow and icy surfaces, we had to wait 30mins....then we still arrived in time! the Sunrise magical color over the Tunnel... the Half Dome under a beautiful blanket of snow! The heavy rain brought winter weather to Yosemite National Park, with snow-covered trees &127794 in the valley, below Half Dome.Photo was taken on January 3, 2022Shot by Nikon D6, 70-200mm f/2.8G lens
    Credit: Thanh Trinh Photography - ProWedding.online
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thanhntit/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thanhtrinhphotography/

    Santa Clara Photography Group
    2025-08-18
    Title or Location: St. Peter and Paul Church, San Francisco.
    Date: July 11 2025 4pmCamera: EOS M6II ISO:125 f4.5 1/1000s
    Credit: AH UI
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kc.hui1
    Santa Clara Photography Group
    2025-05-05
    Title or Location: Near Pinnacles National Park, California
    My first attempt at Star Trails went well. I found this old barn near Pinnacles National Park and it was facing North. The set up was pretty simple. Two VJIM LED lights sitting about 75-100 feet away from the barn at a 10 level to light paint the front of the barn . They were at a 45 degree angle to the barn. I took about 11 shots at 180 seconds each and the last shot I walked into the barn and light painting the insides with a red lens LED light.Shot with a Nikon Z6II & Z 20mm f/1.8 len
    Credit: Brad Iwafuchi
    Instagram: bradiwafuchi

    Miami Photography Group
    2026-06-03
    Title or Location: Taken from 1000 Venetian Causeway.
    Fourth of July over The Magic City!
    Credit: Rick Bravo
    Instagram: rick_bravo1

    Central Coast Photography Group
    2026-06-03
    Title or Location: Avoca Beach
    A dramatic sunrise over Avoca Beach's rocky shoreline on 24 May 2026, with powerful surf breaking beneath stormy golden skies.
    Credit: Kylee Wilton
    Facebook: Kylee Wilton Photography
    Instagram: kyleewiltonphotography
    Bellevue Photography Group
    2026-06-03
    Title or Location: In Lynnwood by the parking lot of my apartment
    I was soaking in the sun on a beautiful day with my camera and zoom lens when i spotted the dragon fly on the antenna of a car parked car close to my apartment. The vivid colors and the beauty of the moment was no lost on me and i immediately zoomed in with my Tamron 70-300mm lens. I was glad the dragonfly was in no hurry to fly away. I was all smiles when i looked at the end result. The bokeh effect and beauty of the dragonfly. My camera settings were SON
    Credit: Jimmy Washiko

    Brighton Photography Group
    2026-06-03
    Title or Location: Pencils
    This picture was taken by a large window, three pencils (RGB coloured) were laid on white card which was curved up in the distance, but the curve cannot be discerned due to the very shallow depth of field and even light, giving the impression of infinity into the distance ...
    Credit: Arthur Li
    Facebook: Arthur Li
    Instagram: art_k_li

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