PCS: The Compelling Environmental Portrait with Jonny Edward
Select a Date
Every environment holds the potential for a compelling portrait. The challenge—and the opportunity—lies in learning to see beyond what’s immediately apparent.
Join portrait photographer and educator Jonny Edward for an exploration of environmental portraiture, where observation, intuition, and technical mastery converge to create images rich with atmosphere, emotion, and narrative. Together, we’ll examine how light and shadow, texture and tone, architecture and negative space, and the relationships between subject and environment can become powerful expressive tools in our photographic storytelling.
Rather than approaching a location with a predetermined formula, we’ll explore the art of recognizing possibilities, responding to unpredictable conditions, and creating thoughtful compositions that reveal something meaningful about both the subject and the space they inhabit.
We’ll also examine the creative integration of natural light and strobe—understanding when to preserve the existing atmosphere, when to subtly augment it, and when to transform a scene entirely in service of our artistic vision. From perspective and focal length to lighting, composition, and subject direction, every technical decision becomes an opportunity to communicate with greater intention.
More than a lesson in location lighting, this presentation is an invitation to develop the awareness, adaptability, and creative confidence to transform unfamiliar environments into extraordinary opportunities for portraiture.
Key Areas of Exploration:
· Recognizing the expressive potential of natural light and shadow
· Using negative space, architecture, texture, and geometry to build narrative
· Understanding spatial relationships between subject and environment
· Exploring focal length, perspective, and composition as storytelling tools
· Integrating strobe with ambient light to augment or transform a scene
· Developing creative intuition and adaptability in unpredictable conditions
Attendees are also welcome to register for Jonny's The Compelling Environmental Portrait Live Shoot for a hands-on, on-location shooting experience!
*Check-in is at Unique Photo Philly! Please do this first before heading to the workshop location.
*This workshop takes place at the Museum of the American Revolution (~10 minutes walk from Unique Photo Philly).
Jonny Edward
"For me, portraiture is a sincere conversation, a wonderfully surreal collaboration between light, shadow, trust, and truth. It is a way for me to make others feel seen, heard, safe, loved, accepted, and celebrated; to tell their singularly unique stories and, in the process, tell a bit of my own. Ultimately, it's the alchemy of humanity and reciprocity.
To that end, over the last 11 years, I've photographed tens of thousands of people — artists, rebels, entrepreneurs, rock stars, leaders, dreamers, the everyday folks, and uncannily uncommon individuals, those at the very top of their game and those navigating the lowest points in their lives, the shy and the bold alike. I've created and taught around the country and across the globe, exploring how contrast and narrative intertwine, and at times, combine to reveal who we truly are. My camera has been a passport to new worlds, a powerful conduit for heartfelt connection with fellow humans, and a mirror through which I've come to know and love myself."
101 S 3rd St
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.
Every environment holds the potential for a compelling portrait. The challenge—and the opportunity—lies in learning to see beyond what’s immediately apparent.
Join portrait photographer and educator Jonny Edward for an exploration of environmental portraiture, where observation, intuition, and technical mastery converge to create images rich with atmosphere, emotion, and narrative. Together, we’ll examine how light and shadow, texture and tone, architecture and negative space, and the relationships between subject and environment can become powerful expressive tools in our photographic storytelling.
Rather than approaching a location with a predetermined formula, we’ll explore the art of recognizing possibilities, responding to unpredictable conditions, and creating thoughtful compositions that reveal something meaningful about both the subject and the space they inhabit.
We’ll also examine the creative integration of natural light and strobe—understanding when to preserve the existing atmosphere, when to subtly augment it, and when to transform a scene entirely in service of our artistic vision. From perspective and focal length to lighting, composition, and subject direction, every technical decision becomes an opportunity to communicate with greater intention.
More than a lesson in location lighting, this presentation is an invitation to develop the awareness, adaptability, and creative confidence to transform unfamiliar environments into extraordinary opportunities for portraiture.
Key Areas of Exploration:
· Recognizing the expressive potential of natural light and shadow
· Using negative space, architecture, texture, and geometry to build narrative
· Understanding spatial relationships between subject and environment
· Exploring focal length, perspective, and composition as storytelling tools
· Integrating strobe with ambient light to augment or transform a scene
· Developing creative intuition and adaptability in unpredictable conditions
Attendees are also welcome to register for Jonny's The Compelling Environmental Portrait Live Shoot for a hands-on, on-location shooting experience!
*Check-in is at Unique Photo Philly! Please do this first before heading to the workshop location.
*This workshop takes place at the Museum of the American Revolution (~10 minutes walk from Unique Photo Philly).
Jonny Edward
"For me, portraiture is a sincere conversation, a wonderfully surreal collaboration between light, shadow, trust, and truth. It is a way for me to make others feel seen, heard, safe, loved, accepted, and celebrated; to tell their singularly unique stories and, in the process, tell a bit of my own. Ultimately, it's the alchemy of humanity and reciprocity.
To that end, over the last 11 years, I've photographed tens of thousands of people — artists, rebels, entrepreneurs, rock stars, leaders, dreamers, the everyday folks, and uncannily uncommon individuals, those at the very top of their game and those navigating the lowest points in their lives, the shy and the bold alike. I've created and taught around the country and across the globe, exploring how contrast and narrative intertwine, and at times, combine to reveal who we truly are. My camera has been a passport to new worlds, a powerful conduit for heartfelt connection with fellow humans, and a mirror through which I've come to know and love myself."
101 S 3rd St
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.