Learning Your Lenses

Learning Your Lenses

CREATIVE ARTS CLASS WITH ONLINE AND ONSITE COMPONENTS
A camera on a tripod pointed at flowers.
Bill Hill

Dates & Prices

January 13–27, 2027


Fee: $179

Fee for Members and Innovators: $161


Fee includes all-day admission to the Gardens on the day the class is onsite.

This class is intended as an adult learning experience.  Find out more about our Family Learning experiences.

Registrations may be cancelled up to two weeks before the event, and your registration fee, less a $30 processing fee, will be refunded.

To notify us of your cancellation, email us or call 610-388-5454.

Register by January 7, 2027

Registration Opens Soon

Members and Innovators save on Continuing Education Courses

A 10% discount on classes will be applied automatically at the time of checkout. 

In this hands-on photography class, discover the unique characteristics and creative possibilities of a variety of lenses, from wide-angle to telephoto and beyond. Learn how focal length, perspective, depth of field, and compression affect your images, and practice choosing the right lens for different subjects and situations. Through guided instruction and photography exercises, build confidence in working with your lenses and develop a more intentional approach to creating compelling images.

Course Schedule

Online Orientation
Wednesday, January 13, 6:00–7:00 pm

Onsite Session
Saturday, Januar 16, 7:00–10:00 am

Online Review
Wednesday, Januar 27, 6:00–8:00 pm

Full course content includes both the online and the onsite components.

Location

Onsite at Longwood Gardens with additional online sessions.

This program will take place partially or entirely outdoors. Please dress for the weather and wear footwear suited for walking on uneven paths and through wet areas.

Instructor

Valerie Hoffman

Based out of southeast Pennsylvania, Valerie Hoffman is an avid landscape, wildlife, floral, and architectural/real estate photographer and photography instructor. She cannot remember a time when photography was not a passion. This led her to pursue a degree in photography. After more than 25 years photographing a variety of events and selling photographic equipment, Hoffman embarked on a career teaching private photography lesson, group classes, and workshops. She loves sharing her photographic knowledge and inspiring people to take their photography skills to deeper and more creative levels.

Additional Info

Photos taken during photography classes at Longwood may not be sold for commercial uses.