BRISBANE QLD: 1 DAY MEET UP
Portrait Workshop with Rob Heyman

Date                Sunday 24^th May
Time                9am
Cost                 $250pp APS Member  / $350 Non APS Member
Location          Frontier Digital at Sherwood (Train stop nearby)
Presenter        Rob Heyman
Contact           Pia Jessen piajessen@a-p-s.org.au / 0424 375 445

Meaningful Portraiture through Light, Composition and Human Connection

Step away from presets, heavy editing, and AI-driven shortcuts and return to what truly makes a photograph powerful.

This full-day Meet Up workshop is a practical, experience-driven session designed for intermediate to advanced photographers who want to elevate not just their portraits, but their overall photographic vision.

This workshop is portrait-focused, although the principles explored throughout the day apply to all forms of photography... Helping you see more clearly, shoot more intentionally and create images that hold lasting impact.

About Rob Heyman

Rob Heyman began his career in commercial art, a background that shaped his strong eye for light and composition. Influenced by Rembrandt-style lighting, he creates natural, candid portraits using subtractive lighting - working with available light to achieve depth and contrast without heavy reliance on studio setups.

Family and children’s portraiture are central to Rob’s work and reputation. His workshops include live demonstrations, showcasing not only how he reads light, but how he connects with his subjects - an essential element behind his emotive, authentic images.

Rob’s speaking style is variously described as: fast-moving, animated, entertaining and most importantly, informative and educational. Rob has the ability to break down a potentially heavy portrait lighting education session into very absorbing, memorable, bite sized pieces that stick. Rob has been called upon to judge portraiture and wedding images in every level of photographic competition at state and national level.

A Triple Master Photographer with the Australian Institute of Professional Photography, Rob has earned national and international recognition for his portrait and wedding photography. He is a sought-after speaker and respected judge, known for breaking down complex lighting concepts into practical, easy-to-apply insights.

What This Workshop Is About

In a time where post-production often dominates, this workshop brings the focus back to:

• Seeing with intention
• Understanding and shaping natural light
• Creating authentic human connection

You’ll learn how to produce compelling images in-camera, building confidence in your ability to get it right at the moment of capture.

What You’ll Learn

• Seeing Composition Differently
  Train your eye to recognise stronger, more intentional compositions
• Mastering Available & Found Light
  Work with real-world lighting conditions = no studio required
• The Human Element
  Build trust, approach subjects confidently and create genuine connection
• Real-World Posing Techniques
  Move beyond stiff poses. Learn how to guide people naturally
• Environmental Portraiture
  Use location and context to add meaning and narrative
• Getting It Right In-Camera
  Exposure discipline and creating complete files at capture

How the Day Works

Morning (Starts at 9am)

• Theory, discussion and live demonstrations

Afternoon

• Practical, hands-on shooting session in a real-world environment

Who Should Attend

• Intermediate to advanced photographers
• APS members aiming to lift their competition or exhibition work
• Photographers wanting to rely less on editing and more on skill
• Participants must be confident in operating their own camera, including the ability to change settings independently (e.g. aperture, shutter speed, ISO)

What You’ll Walk Away With

By the end of the day, you’ll:

• See and use light with greater clarity and confidence
• Compose more instinctively and effectively
• Direct and pose people with ease
• Create portraits with authenticity and emotional depth
• Depend less on post-production and trust your camera more

Workshop Philosophy

“The quality of a photograph is determined at the moment it is taken, not later on a screen.”

This is not about shortcuts; it’s about understanding why an image works and developing the skills to create it intentionally.

If you’re ready to refine your craft and create photographs that truly resonate, this Meet Up is for you.

What to Bring on the Day

• Notebook and Pen
• Camera and Lens - ideally a longer focal length (e.g. 70–200mm), but feel free to bring whatever you have.
• Empty memory card, fully charged battery plus one fully charged spare battery
• Lunch or money/card to purchase lunch, plus snacks and water

How to get there

• Frontier Digital
  Shop 2/645 Sherwood Road, Sherwood
  Just up the road from the corner of Sherwood and Oxley Rd’s
  A block from Sherwood Train Station