Capital Photography Center
Classes in Washington, D.C.
Capital Photography Center is a photography school founded by Marie Joabar, offering a wide variety of classes taught by skilled and passionate instructors. With single-session classes and small class sizes, the school provides a flexible and enjoyable learning experience for photographers of all skill levels.
12 classes with availability
Art and Architecture - Creative Captures
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 4th & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC
Learn architectural photography during a guided session inside the National Gallery of Art, surrounded by striking design details and sculptural works. You will train your eye on lines, shapes, textures, and patterns, and turn them into memorable images. Open to photographers of every level.
Sat. Nov 14th, 10:15am–12:45pm ET
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
iPhone Photography: Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 4th & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC
Discover the craft of iPhone photography at the National Gallery of Art, where you'll learn how to capture stunning images and turn them into artistic expressions through the use of editing apps. Tap into your creativity and build the techniques of exposure, composition, and focus for optimal results. Don't miss this chance to explore endless photographic possibilities with your iPhone camera.
Sun. Nov 15th, 10:30am–2:30pm ET
(4 hours)
Framing the Festive: Holiday Market Photo Walk
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 7th St NW & F St NW, Washington, DC
Capture the magic of the holiday season through vibrant street photography at a bustling festive market. Learn to navigate low-light conditions, refine your composition, and photograph vendors, street performers, reflections, and glowing holiday lights. Discover creative techniques for capturing dreamy bokeh and atmospheric details while strengthening your camera skills in a lively seasonal setting.
Sat. Dec 5th, 3:30–6pm ET
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Getting Started in Real Estate Photography
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC
Step into the world of real estate photography with expert-led instruction on composition, lighting, and camera technique. Learn to photograph interiors and exteriors that showcase a property's best features, handle complex lighting situations, and maintain color accuracy. Build hands-on experience and practical insight to ground your work in this dynamic field.
Sun. Nov 1st, 9:30am–1pm ET
(3 hours & 30 minutes)
Fieldwork: Photo Basics at U.S. Botanic Gardens
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC
Step into the beauty of the U.S. Botanic Gardens and put your photography skills into practice. Explore exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and composition while capturing the conservatory’s holiday displays. With guided support, you’ll refine your technique and gain confidence in creating striking, well-balanced images you’ll be proud to share.
Sat. Dec 5th, 10am–12:30pm ET
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Holiday Field Shoot at the Library of Congress
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 10 First Street SE, Washington, DC
Capture the magic of the season at one of Washington’s most stunning landmarks. Explore the Library of Congress through your lens, from its grand architecture and glittering holiday tree to its hidden interior gems. Learn to compose, frame, and expose creative shots that bring this iconic space to life—inside and out.
Thu. Dec 3rd, 3–6pm ET
(3 hours)
Holiday Photos Around the U.S. Capitol
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC
Capture the magic of the season as you photograph the U.S. Capitol and its glittering Christmas tree from golden hour through twilight and into the night. Learn to master low-light techniques, creative framing, and camera motion for stunning holiday shots. Perfect for photographers of all levels seeking to elevate their night photography skills.
Sat. Dec 12th, 4:30–7pm ET
(2 hours & 30 minutes)
Holiday Magic Through Your Smartphone
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 4th & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC
Discover new ways to capture the holiday season using nothing more than your smartphone and a creative eye. Explore festive displays while experimenting with composition, focus, exposure, and perspective to create expressive, eye-catching images. Through hands-on practice and constructive feedback, learn to turn everyday holiday moments into memorable photographs with a personal touch.
Sun. Dec 13th, 10:30am–1:30pm ET
(3 hours)
Lightroom Classic in a Day
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC
Get faster and more confident in Lightroom Classic using its most powerful organizing and editing tools. Build a complete digital workflow covering importing, organizing, and precise color, tone, detail, and retouching adjustments. Practice masking, black-and-white conversions, noise reduction, sharpening, and clean exports.
Sun. Dec 13th, 9am–5pm ET
(8 hours)
Photo Basics: Getting Off Auto
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC
Take full control of your camera and elevate your photography with this hands-on class. Learn to adjust settings for stunning results, freeze or blur motion intentionally, and create beautifully soft backgrounds. Covering essential techniques including manual modes, focus settings, and composition, this course will give you the confidence to move beyond Auto mode and start capturing truly captivating images. Bring your camera and get ready to see the difference.
Nov 1st
2–6pm ET
$109
6 Seats Left
Nov 15th
9:30am–1:30pm ET
$109
4 Seats Left
Dec 6th
9:30am–1:30pm ET
$109
10 Seats Left
Dec 12th
9:30am–1:30pm ET
$109
10 Seats Left
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Sun. Nov 1st, 2–6pm ET
(4 hours)
Creating Holiday Photo Art
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 8130 Porter Rd, Falls Church, VA
Transform festive decorations into creative holiday photo art that reflects your personal style. Experiment with composition, lighting, exposure, white balance, and depth of field while photographing ornaments, wrapped gifts, seasonal greenery, and other holiday treasures. Turn your images into personalized greeting cards, thoughtful gifts, or festive wall art using a camera or smartphone.
Sun. Dec 6th, 2:30–5:30pm ET
(3 hours)
Beyond the Basics
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 8130 Porter Rd, Falls Church, VA
Take your photography skills further by exploring advanced camera techniques that enhance both creativity and technical precision. Learn how to use tools like exposure bracketing, histograms, metering modes, and specialty filters to create more intentional and visually compelling images. Designed for photographers comfortable with manual settings, this class helps refine your workflow and deepen your understanding of light, sharpness, and exposure control.
Sat. Oct 24th, 1:30–5pm ET
(3 hours & 30 minutes)
More classes to explore
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Exploring Street Photography
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 1616 H St NW, Washington, DC
Capture the energy of city life while learning the craft and ethics of street photography. Develop techniques that take you beyond simple snapshots and toward images that tell a real story. Guided outdoor practice helps you sharpen your skills and express your personal vision with confidence.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$99
Getting Started in Studio Lighting
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC
Take control of your lighting and build confidence creating polished studio portraits. Learn to set up and operate off-camera lighting, shape light with modifiers, and achieve precise exposures through hands-on practice. Experiment with environmental and seamless-background setups while developing practical skills you can apply to a wide range of portrait photography.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$195
Photoshop for Photographers
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC
Build the craft of Photoshop and unlock its full potential for photographers in this hands-on training. Learn the essential techniques, from layers and masks to retouching tools and composites, to confidently lift your images. Discover tips and tricks that save you time and streamline your Photoshop workflow.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$175
Autumn in the Shenandoah
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ TBD, Virginia, VA
Capture the vibrant beauty of fall foliage in a hands-on landscape photography workshop set in the heart of Shenandoah. From sweeping mountain vistas to quiet forest scenes, you'll explore a range of stunning locations at sunrise and sunset. Learn new techniques in the field while building a portfolio of breathtaking autumn images.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
Fieldwork: Photo Basics at Union Station
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC
Refine your photography skills with hands-on practice in a dynamic urban setting. Reinforce key techniques like exposure control, shutter speed, aperture, and composition while capturing striking images on location. With expert guidance, you'll gain confidence in using manual settings and develop a sharper eye for creative framing.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$84
Light Painting as a Photo Art Form
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 8130 Porter Rd, Falls Church, VA
Enter the world of light painting and learn to use moving lights and long camera exposures to produce surreal, in-camera images. Guided demonstrations and hands-on practice walk students through the essential tools and methods for creating striking, otherworldly photographs that push the limits of conventional photography.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$159
Sunset and Milky Way Stargazing in the Shenandoah
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school
Capture stunning nightscapes with expert guidance in the Shenandoah, where you’ll photograph the Milky Way and a breathtaking sunset. Learn essential techniques for long-exposure shots, light painting, and star trails, then enhance your images with advanced editing tips. Join us for a unique opportunity to perfect your astrophotography skills and create remarkable visual memories.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$250
Luxury Interiors Photography Workshop
Capital Photography Center See all classes by this school @ 1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC
Step into a world of elegance and creativity as you photograph a luxury model home, where each room is a masterpiece of design. Join us for a presentation on composition and lighting techniques, followed by hands-on guidance to capture stunning images. Refine your interior photography skills and elevate your portfolio while exploring the essence of luxury and style. Recommended gear includes a DSLR or mirrorless camera, sturdy tripod, and optional off-camera flash.
This class isn’t on the schedule at the moment, but save it to your Wish List to find out when it comes back!
$285
Reviews of Capital Photography Center
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Photo Basics: Getting Off Auto
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Lightroom Classic in a Day
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Photo Basics: Getting Off Auto
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External Flash Made Easy
Very helpful class if you’ve never worked with an external flash. Corey is great in coming up with hands on exercises. -
Photo Basics Part Two: Practicum
Helpful class for new photographers with lots of demonstratives and practice stations. -
Early Morning Flower and Garden Photography
This was a decent class. Lots of suggestions and one on one review of photos with the instructor. I would recommend this class. -
Fieldwork Photo Basics: Late Afternoon On The Mall
Great class with lots of one on one instructions. Lots of great suggestions on composition. Fun class. -
Light Painting as a Photo Art Form
I think everyone that showed to the class can we agree that we loved it. Is such a unique photography class. The instructions were easy to follow. The class was structured as follows: 1.) Instructor had a PowerPoint where you explained the technique, the props that can be used and how to build them. 2.) We took light painting pictures together with her in a big set. 3.) We followed that with pictures in a table top set. 4.) Lastly we were split in groups were we let our imagination run wild. -
Fieldwork: Photo Basics at American Art Museum
I enjoyed this class a lot. I learned some new techniques and got feedback on my photos. It was also great to practice taking photos with others. I recommend this class -
Photo Basics: Getting Off Auto
My son and I attended this course. The instructor had a good presentation with lots of examples and best of all, he would stop by every single person each time he taught a camera function on technique. So many times if the instructor stays at the front of the classroom, it’s hard to know if you actually understand what’s being taught. Excellent course for beginners. -
iPhone Photography: Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
The class was terrific — nice balance of didactic and practice. A great deal of information for 4 hours — an additional hour would not have been wasted. I will recommend enthusiastically to friends — and I’ll be back! -
Photo Basics: Getting Off Auto
This was a very good intro class. Well explained and easy to understand. We got done about 40 minutes only suggestion I can think of is maybe put us through some more exercises if the class gets done early. -
iPhone Photography: Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
Learned so many useful tips for taking better photos. Highly Recommend. -
iPhone Photography: Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
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iPhone Photography: Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
I thought the class was wonderful. It was informative, interesting and exactly what I had hoped for. The instructor was great and obviously organized and competent. He used great examples and had a good sense of humor. He took the time to learn and remember names and he kept to a structure and time limits that were impressive. We started and ended on time! I learned so much in a way I understood. It truly was an excellent class. The only thing that I did not like about the class was the student he/you allowed to attend who was an Android user and was new to her phone. She monopolized his time, monopolized the space so it was often hard to take a shot you might want to take, and took time and attention away from the other students. I am curious about why she was allowed to take an I Phone class when she had an Android. I honestly think the instructor should have set some boundaries with her instead of giving her private instruction. This is the only criticism I have and it can be easily addressed by adhering to the class description that this is for IPhone users. Thank you. -
iPhone Photography: Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
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iPhone Photography: Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
Michael presented a great class. Lots of information explained fully and with humor. I've already recommended it to friends. -
iPhone Photography: Getting Started at the National Gallery of Art
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National Air & Space Museum Smartphone Photo Walk
Excellent instructor and class, I really enjoyed it, learned a lot and plan to check out more classes -
Photo Basics: Getting Off Auto
Outstanding! Exactly what I was looking for. Valuable guidance presented in an effective manner.
