PCS: The Art of Lighting the Band with Clay Patrick McBride
Select a Date
Join Clay Patrick McBride for an intensive workshop focused on the challenges and creative possibilities of photographing groups. Through live demonstrations and real-world case studies, students explore lighting strategies for everything from small bands to large ensembles.
We’ll break down composition, direction, visual hierarchy, energy, exposure control, posing, layering, and balancing ambient light with strobe. Just as important, we’ll look at how to direct a group so the photograph feels connected, authentic, and alive.
The goal is bigger than simply getting everybody into the frame and making sure they’re lit. It’s about using light, structure, collaboration, and cinematic storytelling to make a group actually feel like a band.
Attendees are also encouraged to register for Clay's The Art of Shooting the Band at Sugarmom's for a live on-location shoot!
Clay Patrick McBride
Clay Patrick McBride is known for his bold portraiture that celebrates his subjects through empowerment, humor, honesty and grit; he has an ability to connect with talent in a way that is personal, intense and collaborative in nature. McBride’s philosophy of image making fuses experimentation and limitlessness with his classic training in painting and art history, resulting in an iconic visual language that creates a conversation between the old and new world. His deep interest in connecting with and understanding the world around him is what drives him to keep experimenting with new processes, techniques and to examine the interplay between process and the portrait, time and space.
Over the course of his career, McBride has photographed cultural icons including Jay- Z, Kanye West, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Norah Jones, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Nas, and Snoop Dogg. Selected clients include Nike, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Sony Music, Atlantic Records, Blue Note Records, Def Jam, and Universal Music Group.
Unique Photo Philly
28 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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.
Select a Date
Get a FREE $10 Token Back
Good towards in-store purchases.
*NO REFUNDS or rescheduling for any Camera Show classes.
Join Clay Patrick McBride for an intensive workshop focused on the challenges and creative possibilities of photographing groups. Through live demonstrations and real-world case studies, students explore lighting strategies for everything from small bands to large ensembles.
We’ll break down composition, direction, visual hierarchy, energy, exposure control, posing, layering, and balancing ambient light with strobe. Just as important, we’ll look at how to direct a group so the photograph feels connected, authentic, and alive.
The goal is bigger than simply getting everybody into the frame and making sure they’re lit. It’s about using light, structure, collaboration, and cinematic storytelling to make a group actually feel like a band.
Attendees are also encouraged to register for Clay's The Art of Shooting the Band at Sugarmom's for a live on-location shoot!
Clay Patrick McBride
Clay Patrick McBride is known for his bold portraiture that celebrates his subjects through empowerment, humor, honesty and grit; he has an ability to connect with talent in a way that is personal, intense and collaborative in nature. McBride’s philosophy of image making fuses experimentation and limitlessness with his classic training in painting and art history, resulting in an iconic visual language that creates a conversation between the old and new world. His deep interest in connecting with and understanding the world around him is what drives him to keep experimenting with new processes, techniques and to examine the interplay between process and the portrait, time and space.
Over the course of his career, McBride has photographed cultural icons including Jay- Z, Kanye West, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Norah Jones, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, Nas, and Snoop Dogg. Selected clients include Nike, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Sony Music, Atlantic Records, Blue Note Records, Def Jam, and Universal Music Group.
Unique Photo Philly
28 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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.