Lynnewood Hall is a 110,000 square foot, 110-room Neoclassical Revival Gilded Age estate that has been left to the elements for decades. Designed by Horace Trumbauer, construction finished in 1900. It was the home of Peter Widener, whose fortune was made from a variety of business endeavors including supplying mutton to the Union Army during the Civil War, building streetcar lines, and being a founding member of U.S. Steel and the American Tobacco Company. Widener is regarded as one of the 100 richest Americans. He passed away at Lynnewood in 1915, and the estate had several different owners in the following decades, including a theological seminary who purchased it in 1952. It was purchased by First Korean Church in 1996, after which the building was mostly vacant and barely maintained.

The nonprofit Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation purchased the building in 2023, with the hopes of restoring the grounds and hall and making them accessible to the public. The majority of the funds from this workshop go towards their efforts to save the property. Over the course of 2024, $51,541 was contributed towards the preservation efforts.

Lynnewood has not been legally accessible for photography for decades, and this is an exclusive first look at a magnificent building. As one person who signed up for the workshop described it, it’s bit of a unicorn – a place that many, many people have wondered about for years. You’re about to see what’s inside – and Matthew can tell you from his own firsthand experience... it's amazing.

Attendees are welcome to stay with Matthew and learn camera settings, how to use a tripod, exposure bracketing, specialized types of photography (like panoramas and infrared), shooting and editing tips, and more for the whole duration. Attendees are also welcome to go at their own pace and explore the building on their own. The event is indoors and will be held rain or shine (except in the case of a weather emergency that would endanger the group's safety).


/   HEALTH & SAFETY
Potential risks include, but are not limited to, uneven terrain/fall hazards and dust/mold exposure. Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring a respirator. We take precautions to ensure everyone's safety, but by registering you are acknowledging that you accept known and unknown risks are present and will not hold any organizations/individuals involved in the workshop liable for any injuries or damages that may occur. Please email us at [email protected] if you have any specific concerns before registering. A comprehensive waiver and more details will be sent via email to all registrants prior to the workshop date.


/   WHAT TO BRING
• Respirator (highly recommended)
• Flashlight
• Bottled water/snacks
• Sturdy boots that protect your feet
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Tripod
• Fully charged cell phone
• Extra batteries, memory cards
• Camera manual (if you're unsure how to change settings)
 

Unique University® is the highly acclaimed education component of Unique Photo®, NJ’s only camera and video superstore. There is over 2000 sq. ft. of learning space, including our state-of-the art, 1000 sq. ft. main presentation hall. Unique University’s mission is to help our visitors “Create Better Pictures” by providing photography education for beginners to pros. With events daily, it is the place where photography groups such as local camera clubs, ASMP, PPA and others meet. We have a full curriculum of classes and seminars from world famous speakers such as Art Wolfe, Rick Sammon, Michael Yamashita, Tyler Stableford, Lindsay Adler, and Will Crockett. We offer photography experiences to such places as the Lakota Wolf Preserve, Wolf Conservation Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rutgers Football, Longwood Gardens, Festival of Ballooning, and much more. Our technical classes include such topics as basic digital photography, lighting techniques, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, macro photography, composition, editing and printing, wedding photography, HDR photography, working with speedlights, how to use social media, digital organization, one-on-one instruction, and much, much more.

Where are classes held? 
Unless stated otherwise, most classes are held in the Unique University classroom within the Unique Photo Superstore (123 US Highway 46 West, Fairfield, NJ 07004). We also hold classes at our Philadelphia, PA location (28 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106). 

What should I bring to class? 
You're encouraged to bring your camera and a notebook and pen to most classes. Some classes will require additional equipment, so please check the class descriptions. 

Will lunch or refreshments be included? 
Lunch and refreshments are not provided for any classes under 6 hours unless noted. 

How do I register for a class? 
You can register online, in-store at the concierge, or by phone at either 973-377-6454 or 973-377-2007. Please note that you will need to provide payment information. 

Can I register at the door? 
For most classes, you're free to register at the concierge desk prior to the start of the class. Please note that there are some classes that offer "Early Bird Special" rates and others that have limited seating, so it would be in your best interest to register early for such classes. 

I wanted to register for ______ class, but it is now sold out. Is there a waiting list? 
Please contact us at 973-377-6454 or [email protected] with the following information: your name, phone number, email address, and the class name and date. 

My question has not been addressed here. Is there someone I can contact? 
Please contact us at 973-377-6454 or [email protected] with any additional inquiries.

Unique University Class Cancellation Policy
- Classes costing less than $99 may be canceled up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund. For classes costing $100 or more, advanced notice of seven days before the class is necessary for a full refund.
- Requests for cancellation made after these deadlines will be awarded store credit in the amount paid for registration towards a future Unique University seminar or workshop.
- Cancellations made within 24 hours of the beginning of a class will not be honored and no refund or credit will be given.
- Cancellations of any class utilizing models will be subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the purchased price (up to $100).
- Cancellations of any class that includes an admission ticket (including, but not limited to: museums, gardens, shows, exhibits, and special events or locations) may be subject to forfeiture of the admission ticket fee.
** Attention American Express cardholders: If you cancel a registration for a class costing $100 or more, there will be a 3% cancellation fee deducted from your refund or store credit.