Capture your community's legacy. Join Area of Refuge, Nanlite, and Unique Photo for a guided photo tour of key historical and cultural sites in Bergen-Lafayette and Greenville of Jersey City, NJ. Each stop will have expert-led photography workshops designed to highlight and celebrate its cultural and historical significance.

Please note that these stops are separate meetups, and transportation is not included. Please allow enough time for travel and parking to each stop you register to attend. Exact locations will be emailed closer to the event date. Keep an eye out!


STOP 02  /  Bethune Center Park

1PM - 2:30PM  /  Portraiture with Natural Light & Nanlite
Capture the beauty of our community members. Our people as seen through our own eyes. DUQUANN SWEENY, RICKY SHOEBIO, and JANINE CARATTINI-HATCHER will discuss the importance in capturing the essence of individuals and communities, as well as provide tips and techniques for portrait photography. There will be multiple shooting stations set up in the park, and attendees will split into groups to learn from each photographer. Our subjects will be community activists Erica Walker and Frank Gilmore. Learn how to utilize the light, compose your shots, and capture emotions with the help of our guest photographers and a Nanlite Rep!

5:30PM - 8PM  /  *Optional Meetup*
Attendees of any of the Photo Tour stops are also welcome to join us at the end of the evening in Berry Lane Park. There will be a recap of the whole day's activities and key takeaways, an open discussion, and info on how to stay involved in the program for future events. There will also be a DJ and food trucks, and attendees are encouraged to interact and share their thoughts, experiences, and photographs.

Interested in attending the other stops? Check them out below and register before it's too late!

STOP 01  /  Earl Morgan Branch Library

STOP 03  /  Arlington Park & Berry Lane
 

DUQUANN SWEENY
is a self-taught photographer born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. Sweeney is also the founder of The Royal Men Foundation, a non-profit organization that was founded in 2012. As a photographer, Duquann is a part of a long list of Black photographers that carry a tradition of photographing Black communities showing the dignity and beauty within them. In 2021, Duquann had his first solo exhibition at Hoboken Historical Museum/Upper Gallery.


RICKY SHOEBIO
is a Creative Director, Photographer and Founder of KYD. He has made himself a fixture in the Lifestyle, Footwear, Editorial, Commercial spaces for his and teams visual storytelling. Through the conceptualizing of said pieces, content segments, campaigns, commercials they have laid their stamp on the industry as an agency. Working alongside Nike, Foot Inc, BMW, Revolt, Hulu, Disney, FX, Sony, AT&T, Converse, Adidas, Jordan Brand, Popsugar, Live Nation, Red Bull, FIBA, Eastbay, NCAA, Sony Music, Comic Con, Jack Daniel's, Under Armour, Reebok, Mountain Dew, Oakley, Tesla, Google, The NBA, The Recording Academy (Grammys), HBO, and many others he continues to establish himself as a true visionary and asset. His works with Ciara, Run DMC, Carmelo Anthony, Angus Cloud, Broderick Hunter, Juvenile, Don C, Damien Lillard, Elton John, Eddie Huang, Ryan Penagos, and Visual artist King Saladeen; have garnered him a well respected reputation in a short time. Leading KYD to be a one of the most prominent Black Owned Agencies in New York. And also helping SOCIAL Magazine and SOCIAL TV grow to a 50,000+ print subscription with a 500,000+ UMV, and 255,000+ subscribers with over 100,000,000+ in only two years; Shoebio has made a phenomenal following for himself and the people and organizations he has supported.


JANINE CARATTINI-HATCHER
is a passionate documentary-style film photographer and a lifelong resident of Jersey City, New Jersey. With a keen eye for detail and a genuine love for her craft, Janine skillfully captures the beauty of everyday life, emphasizing the authenticity of authentic moments and the individuals who bring them to life. Her unique cinematic style ensures that her photographs tell compelling stories, unveiling the often-overlooked narratives surrounding us. Janine's journey as a photographer began seven years ago, driven by her desire to capture the essence of her surroundings. Inspired by the words of Elliot Erwitt, she believes that even the most challenging moments in life can possess undeniable beauty. Janine strives to remind people to appreciate the present stage of their lives, connecting with their emotions through her evocative photographs. With a background in tech analysis, she understands the importance of capturing the present moment, as tomorrow may bring change. Through her lens, Janine invites you to see the world as she sees it – a tapestry of emotions, stories, and fleeting moments that deserve to be cherished and remembered.

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.