EXPO: Deconstructing Low-light Portraiture with Mike Zawadzki
While everyone can take a nice picture with a perfect sunset, wedding and portrait photographers are often challenged with tricky low lighting situations. Many struggle, but it doesn't have to be that way!
Join wedding and portrait photographer Mike Zawadzki as he guides you through the basics of creating bold, dramatic, and interesting night portraits. With an elevated understanding of flash, white balance, ambient vs. flash exposure, and more, Mike aims to create unique images for all of his wedding couples - rain or shine. You'll see some of his most impressive night portraits and learn his tips on lighting, modifiers/gels, locations, posing, editing, compositions, and how he works through different challenging low-light scenarios.
Mike has been photographing weddings for 10+ years and enjoys a technically challenging low-light situation as much as he does a stunning once in a lifetime sunset + sky. He typically starts with traditional poses that will make older members of families smile. Then, based on the rapport he builds with clients, he mixes in more personalized and creative shots of couples based on their preferences, and vibe. Mike enjoys meeting new couples, and learning about their unique love stories, which helps his subjects feel comfortable in front of his camera no matter how shy or introverted they may feel.
In a society where we are bombarded with negative self-image content on social media, with algorithms that help create false narratives about how we should look, Mike's philosophy in photography and life is to reject this status quo. He firmly believes everyone deserves to have beautiful photographs of themselves no matter what their age, size, race, gender, religion (or lack thereof), or sexual orientation may be. When not photographing weddings, Mike can be found seeking out the best hidden gems of New Jersey pizzerias, and spending quality time cooking delicious impromptu meals with his fiance Melanie.
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.
FAQ UNIVERSITY
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.
Creators Challenge Contest Entry Form
How to Submit
1. Select the Choose Your Challenge dropdown in the form below to view each open contest.
2. Fill out the required information.
3. Select Upload or drag and drop your images.
4. Click Submit to send your photos!
(Up to 5 photos or videos entries per attendee)
Rules:
All photographers retain their copyrights to their images, but by entering into this contest, agree to allow usage on social media platforms for promotion.
Please upload a JPEG image. Please Re-size photographs to under 8MB per photo.
Please DO NOT include watermarks on photographs – Images will be disqualified from entry.
Please make sure to include your NAME and IMAGE TITLE in your FILE NAME.
Please get rid of erroneous numbers or edit numbers.
(Example: JohnSmith_CherryBlossoms.jpg)
If you are having trouble with this form, please email all of the information below and your photographs to: [email protected]
Winners will be announced a week after the deadline on Instagram @UniquePhoto.
Terms of Use:
Creators Challenge Contests Eligibility: Contests are open to individuals who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry. Employees, affiliates, and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate. Submission Guidelines: Photos must be original and submitted by the photographer. Submissions must not contain offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate content. Number of photos submitted and submission deadline will be determined by the specific Creators Challenge contest. Copyright and Usage Rights: All photographers retain full copyrights to their submitted photos. By entering any Creators Challenge contest, participants grant Unique Photo a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and publish their submitted photos on social media platforms and other digital channels for promotional purposes. No modifications will be made to the photos without prior consent from the photographer, except for minor cropping or resizing to fit display formats. Judging Criteria: Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and adherence to the contest theme. The decision of the judging panel is final and binding. Liability: By entering, participants agree to release Unique Photo and its affiliates from any liability, injury, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this contest or any prize won. Privacy: Personal information collected during the contest will only be used for the purposes of administering the contest and will not be shared with third parties. Agreement to Rules: By participating, contestants agree to abide by these terms and conditions and the decisions of Unique Photo, which are final and binding in all matters related to the contest. Modifications: Unique Photo reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the contest if necessary, due to technical issues or other unforeseen circumstances. For any questions or concerns regarding these terms, please contact us at [email protected]
Get a FREE $10 Token
with Registration
Please note that there will be
NO refunds or rescheduling for Expo classes.
Mike has been photographing weddings for 10+ years and enjoys a technically challenging low-light situation as much as he does a stunning once in a lifetime sunset + sky. He typically starts with traditional poses that will make older members of families smile. Then, based on the rapport he builds with clients, he mixes in more personalized and creative shots of couples based on their preferences, and vibe. Mike enjoys meeting new couples, and learning about their unique love stories, which helps his subjects feel comfortable in front of his camera no matter how shy or introverted they may feel.
In a society where we are bombarded with negative self-image content on social media, with algorithms that help create false narratives about how we should look, Mike's philosophy in photography and life is to reject this status quo. He firmly believes everyone deserves to have beautiful photographs of themselves no matter what their age, size, race, gender, religion (or lack thereof), or sexual orientation may be. When not photographing weddings, Mike can be found seeking out the best hidden gems of New Jersey pizzerias, and spending quality time cooking delicious impromptu meals with his fiance Melanie.
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.
FAQ UNIVERSITY
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.
Creators Challenge Contest Entry Form
How to Submit
1. Select the Choose Your Challenge dropdown in the form below to view each open contest.
2. Fill out the required information.
3. Select Upload or drag and drop your images.
4. Click Submit to send your photos!
(Up to 5 photos or videos entries per attendee)
Rules:
All photographers retain their copyrights to their images, but by entering into this contest, agree to allow usage on social media platforms for promotion.
Please upload a JPEG image. Please Re-size photographs to under 8MB per photo.
Please DO NOT include watermarks on photographs – Images will be disqualified from entry.
Please make sure to include your NAME and IMAGE TITLE in your FILE NAME.
Please get rid of erroneous numbers or edit numbers.
(Example: JohnSmith_CherryBlossoms.jpg)
If you are having trouble with this form, please email all of the information below and your photographs to: [email protected]
Winners will be announced a week after the deadline on Instagram @UniquePhoto.
Terms of Use:
Creators Challenge Contests Eligibility: Contests are open to individuals who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry. Employees, affiliates, and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate. Submission Guidelines: Photos must be original and submitted by the photographer. Submissions must not contain offensive, discriminatory, or inappropriate content. Number of photos submitted and submission deadline will be determined by the specific Creators Challenge contest. Copyright and Usage Rights: All photographers retain full copyrights to their submitted photos. By entering any Creators Challenge contest, participants grant Unique Photo a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and publish their submitted photos on social media platforms and other digital channels for promotional purposes. No modifications will be made to the photos without prior consent from the photographer, except for minor cropping or resizing to fit display formats. Judging Criteria: Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and adherence to the contest theme. The decision of the judging panel is final and binding. Liability: By entering, participants agree to release Unique Photo and its affiliates from any liability, injury, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this contest or any prize won. Privacy: Personal information collected during the contest will only be used for the purposes of administering the contest and will not be shared with third parties. Agreement to Rules: By participating, contestants agree to abide by these terms and conditions and the decisions of Unique Photo, which are final and binding in all matters related to the contest. Modifications: Unique Photo reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the contest if necessary, due to technical issues or other unforeseen circumstances. For any questions or concerns regarding these terms, please contact us at [email protected]