Van Hai | Photo | Video | Design | Music | Amazingworx

WORKSHOPS

Creative Workshop Series for Beginners

From Selfie to Portrait
Saturday, 8 November 2025, and Sunday, 9 November 2025

Introduction to Creative Process

Step away from the mirror and turn your camera toward someone else—let's embark on a delightful journey with "From Selfie to Portrait"! This beginner-friendly workshop invites you to shift your focus from self to others, discovering the joy of capturing a friend or stranger's unique story through your lens and pencil. You’ll learn more about their life, dreams, and quirks, while crafting a meaningful portrait booklet that celebrates them with the same care and attention you’d give yourself. Unleash your creativity, build new bonds, and transform simple moments into lasting creative object—no experience or fancy tools needed, just your mobile phone, a small camera, and free online software!

Teacher

Van Hai

Venue

Sculptures of Space
128 saylom road, Vientiane, Laos
Barn Saylom Loft Apartments

Objective

Guide beginners to create a printed portrait booklet that honors someone else’s life using easy tools and techniques.

Skill Levels

Beginner-friendly (no prerequisites needed).

Total Modules

4 (grouped into 2 sessions).

Total Duration

8 hours (over 1 weekend).

Scheduling

Two 4-hour sessions on Saturday, 8 November 2025, and Sunday, 9 November 2025 (1:00 PM - 5:00 PM each day).

Participation Fee

500,000 LAK (Laotian Kips) for the full series.

Language

conducted in English

Track A: Photography & Digital Workflow

Session 1: Portraits, Editing & Layout

Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Learn to take, edit, and start laying out your partner’s portrait booklet.
Key Topics: – 2 hours: Taking portraits with your mobile phone or small camera (settings, lighting, posing). – 1 hour: Editing photos with free tools like Photopea, GIMP, internal phone apps, or Instagram (adjustments, filters). – 1 hour: Creating a basic layout in Canva or Krita for your booklet.
Activities: Photoshoot with feedback, edit photos, and begin your booklet design.
Tools: Mobile phone or small camera; laptop or tablet with internet (free software provided).

Track B: Drawing & Digital Design

Session 2: Sketching, Coloring & Finalizing

Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Draw, enhance, and complete your partner’s portrait booklet for printing.
Key Topics: – 2 hours: Sketching portraits by hand (outlines, expressions). – 1 hour: Adding colors and editing sketches with Canva or Krita. – 1 hour: Updating your booklet layout and preparing it for printing.
Activities: Sketch with feedback, digitize and color, then finalize and print your booklet.
Tools: Pencil and paper; laptop or tablet with internet (free software provided).

Curriculum Flow

Session 1: Start with photography, edit photos, and create an initial booklet layout for your partner.
Session 2: Add drawings, enhance with color, and finish the booklet for printing.

Logistical Notes

Pricing: 500,000 LAK for the 2-session series.
Resources: Guidance on free tools; bring your mobile phone, camera, pencil, and paper.
Schedule:
- Saturday, 8 November 2025: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Session 1)
- Sunday, 9 November 2025: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Session 2)
Certificates: Optional certificate upon completion.

This beginner-friendly workshop transforms your selfie skills into portrait artistry over one weekend!

JOIN US

Light Exposure in Fashion Photography
Saturdays: 15 November 2025, 22 November 2025, 29 November 2025 and 6 December 2025

Introduction to Creative Process

Step into the spotlight and master the art of light with "Light Exposure in Fashion Photography"! This advanced beginner workshop invites you to elevate your skills by exploring the magic of illumination in fashion photography and work with a model, you’ll learn to enhance posing and presence with lighting techniques. Using camera, reflectors, flashes or continuous lighting, you’ll craft stunning images that celebrate style with passion. Only basic knowledge needed!

Teacher

Van Hai

Venue

Sculptures of Space
128 saylom road, Vientiane, Laos
Barn Saylom Loft Apartments

Objective

Guide advanced beginners to master light exposure techniques for fashion photography.

Skill Levels

Advanced beginner (basic camera knowledge recommended).

Total Modules

4 modules.

Total Duration

17.5 hours (over 4 weekends).

Scheduling

Four sessions on Saturdays: 15 November 2025, 22 November 2025, 29 November 2025, and 6 December 2025 (2:00 PM - 6:30 PM for Sessions 1-3, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM for Session 4).

Participation Fee

All modules: 250,000 LAK each.

Language

conducted in English

Track A: Basics, Natural Light & Reflectors

Session 1: Foundations of Light Exposure

Duration: 4.5 hours
Objective: Build a strong foundation in light exposure for fashion photography using natural light and reflectors.
Key Topics: Explore the basic theory of exposure, delving into how speed, aperture, and ISO work together to achieve the best results in fashion shots, while mastering the use of natural light to capture the perfect moment and employing reflectors to enhance illumination with strategic positioning.
Activities: Theory discussion, hands-on shooting with natural light and reflectors, group critique.
Tools: Mobile phone or camera with manual mode; reflectors (provided); laptop or tablet.
Note: Mandatory for all participants.

Track B: Continuous Light & Cinema Techniques

Session 2: Mastering Continuous Light

Duration: 4.5 hours
Objective: Explore continuous lighting and cinema-style techniques for fashion photography.
Key Topics: Discover the use of continuous lights like LED panels and softboxes in fashion settings, learn to set up diffuser screens and octoboxes for soft, controlled light, and master working with shadows in semi-artificial and enhanced natural conditions.
Activities: Setup demo, hands-on lighting adjustments, shoot with feedback.
Tools: Camera with manual mode; continuous lights and diffusers (provided); laptop or tablet.

Track C: Advanced Flash Techniques

Session 3: Full Control with Flashes

Duration: 4.5 hours
Objective: Master flash photography for complete light control in fashion shoots.
Key Topics: Gain skills in using a single flash with off-camera placement and triggering methods, experiment with multi-flash setups including key light, fill, and hair light for dramatic effects, and learn to overcome sunlight by balancing flash with ambient light.
Activities: Flash setup practice, multi-flash shoot, group critique.
Tools: Camera with manual mode; flash units (provided); laptop or tablet.

Track D: Advanced Editing with Photoshop

Session 4: Pro Editing Techniques

Duration: 4 hours
Objective: Enhance fashion photography with advanced Photoshop editing skills.
Key Topics: Dive into professional retouching techniques such as skin smoothing and blemish removal, master color grading and tonal adjustments for a polished look, and create composite images by blending multiple shots seamlessly.
Activities: Hands-on editing of session photos, peer review, and skill refinement.
Tools: Laptop with Photoshop installed (participants must bring their own).
Note: Optional, for those with a laptop and prior Photoshop experience.

Curriculum Flow

Session 1: Learn exposure basics, natural light, and reflectors to start your fashion photography journey (mandatory).
Session 2: Advance with continuous light and cinema techniques for enhanced shoots (optional).
Session 3: Master flashes for full control and refine your skills (optional).
Session 4: Elevate your work with advanced Photoshop editing (optional).

Logistical Notes

Pricing: All modules: 250,000 LAK each.
Resources: Guidance on techniques; bring your camera, laptop or tablet; lighting equipment provided.
Schedule:
- Saturday, 15 November 2025: 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM (Session 1, Track A)
- Saturday, 22 November 2025: 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM (Session 2, Track B)
- Saturday, 29 November 2025: 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM (Session 3, Track C)
- Saturday, 6 December 2025: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Session 4, Track D)
Certificates: Optional certificate upon completion of any session.