Two photographers – two perspectives – one shared goal.

A Unique
Portrait Photography Journey

We are proud to present a rare and powerful collaboration: A Conceptual Portrait Photography Course led by acclaimed photographers Bettina von Kameke and Thomas Kierok.

<Thomas Kierok is a renowned German portrait, people, and business photographer based in Berlin and Hamburg. With over 25 years of freelance experience, he creates evocative portraits that reveal the soul of his subjects ranging from everyday individuals to high-profile figures like Karl Lagerfeld and Angela Merkel.
A graduate of Berlin’s esteemed Lette Verein, Kierok has published multiple portrait photo-books, including Einsichten (2008), Mauergeschichten (2009), and most recently Hundert (2019) compelling visual exploration spanning ages 1 to 100, capturing deep emotional and psychological nuance in each face.
Represented by laif agency and Kossack & Kossack literary agency, he collaborates with magazines, advertising agencies, corporations, and public broadcasters (ARD, ZDF) saatchiart.com.Beyond commissions, his practice includes artistic projects such as the “Corona Art Kids” series, where he captured children’s emotions during the pandemic using ARRI LED lighting to powerful effect.
As an ARRI Ambassador and respected photography lecturer, Kierok integrates technical mastery with psychological insight . His heartfelt, authentic approach often informed by his interest in Zen and meditation—allows him to build trust quickly and elicit genuine expression from subjects

Thomas Kierok

Bettina von Kameke is a Berlin‑based portrait and documentary photographer whose work explores life inside closed communities with sensitivity, insight, and curiosity.Over the past decade, Bettina has immersed , herself in diverse communal environments traveling by container ship from England to South Africa, living among Benedictine nuns in London, touring with a Czech circus, and embedding in Wormwood Scrubs Prison to document daily life behind bars. These immersive experiences inform her signature style: empathetic portraiture that balances raw authenticity with profound human connection.

Her work has been exhibited internationally from London and New York to Berlin and has appeared in esteemed venues such as The Photographers’ Gallery, the V&A Museum, and The Guardian.
Bettina’s clients include Interview Magazine, Gruner + Jahr, Martha Stewart, Red Magazine, and The Guardian

Bettina von Kameke

This exclusive, four-month journey invites a select group of photographers to explore portraiture through radically different but deeply complementary lenses. With only 10 spots available, this intimate setting fosters profound growth and creative transformation.

Why This Course Is Different

Emotion-Driven Portraiture Evoke Real Emotion Through Subtle Guidance, Atmosphere, and Body Language

Learn how to go beyond posed expressions to elicit and capture authentic emotion. This module explores how to create an environment where subjects feel safe enough to reveal their true selves. You’ll develop techniques for directing body language with intention, using micro-gestures and posture to communicate deeper narratives. Discover how subtle cues, environmental context, and psychological rapport shape emotional storytelling in portraiture.

Find Your Visual Voice

Every photographer has a unique way of seeing the world. This section helps you refine your personal aesthetic, identify recurring themes in your work, and develop a consistent visual language. Through exercises and critique, you’ll begin to uncover what sets your portraits apart whether it's your use of color, your choice of subject, or the emotions your work evokes.

Tell Deeper Stories With Your Images

Portraits are more than faces—they are fragments of human experience. Learn how to embed layers of narrative into a single frame, using symbolism, context, and composition. This part of the course encourages you to think conceptually, crafting portraits that ask questions, reveal inner worlds, or reflect broader social and cultural themes.

Use Light to Shape Mood and Meaning

Lighting isn’t just a technical element—it’s an emotional tool. In this module, you’ll explore how natural and artificial light can sculpt your subject, shift the emotional tone, and suggest narrative depth. You’ll experiment with chiaroscuro, soft and hard light, backlighting, color temperature, and shadow to reinforce the mood and concept of each portrait.

Build Trust for Authentic Portraits

Great portraiture is built on connection. Learn how to foster genuine trust between you and your subject—whether they’re a stranger, client, or collaborator. You'll develop interpersonal skills, ethical practices, and non-verbal communication strategies to help subjects feel seen, not just photographed. This module emphasizes presence, empathy, and mutual respect as essential tools of the portrait artist.

Create a Cohesive Series for Exhibitions or Clients

Move beyond single images to craft meaningful, visually coherent series. You’ll learn how to develop a body of work around a central idea or emotional thread—whether for gallery exhibitions, editorial stories, or client presentations. The focus will be on editing for flow, visual consistency, and conceptual clarity, culminating in a portfolio-ready collection that represents your artistic voice.

Course Structure

Apply Now – Deadline: August 9, 2025 To apply, please submit the following