Private Camera and Photography Lessons

2026 may be the last year June operates the studio on Long Island. Sessions and teaching will continue until the property is sold. Please be in touch if you would like to schedule a session or lesson. Would love to meet you before the end of this amazing 42-year run of a successful and amazing time here!

Schedule time with June to learn how to really use your camera, level up your photographs, learn how to better use lighting, whether indoors with studio lights or windows, or outdoors. June is also a wildlife photographer, published by National Geographic, Disney, Museum of Natural History, and many international publications. So if working on your wildlife photography is on your list, we can do that too. And don't forget The Art of Photography; composition, depth of field, perspective, the decisive moment, and understanding the Exposure Triangle. 

You may already have lights that you purchased but aren't confident in the placement or lighting ratios for the best results. We can fix that. If you are shooting with window light or constant lighting, we can work on that. Then there's the very large field of learning called Portraiture. Much of what we see online of 'portraits' are really snapshots, and do not fall into the category of classic portraiture. But learning how to create the most beautiful images of a person, photos that deserve more than a place in the 'cloud', is never going away. Those photos are what we call memorable, and the process is so worth learning.

• Two hours - $100 (2 hours, 15 minutes ~ The 15 minutes is for 'Getting to Know You') 
• Three hours - $130

Please email the studio for more information and to schedule your lessons. Reading materials will be emailed to you to familiarize yourself on camera basics prior to the lesson. You will receive a folder with printouts on many photo topics to help you refresh what you learn in class and much more.

Vintage Style Floral PortraitYoung lady with a flowing vintage gown, a large hat with tulle, and a background full of artsy flowers.

Baby Girl Portrait on LaceBaby Girl is draped in cream colored chiffon with a lace and flower headpiece.

A few ideas ~

• Learn your camera settings and have more control over the final results of your photos, not just what your camera feels like producing, as when it is set on AUTO.
• Photographers paint with light. We all have windows and we all have the great outdoors. Learn how to find the best light in both instances to make beautiful images ~ without flash or any complicated lights.
• You don’t have to be a professional portrait photographer in order to greatly improve the photos you take of your children or grandchildren.
• Snapshots don’t have to be devoid of good and proper Composition. Learn the rules and soon they will become second nature to how you shoot anything, from the flowers in your garden, your pets, children, or a sunset.
• Thinking of setting up a shooting area in your home? Get the basics and learn how to do it at different spending levels.
• Travel and Wildlife ~ When you know your camera and have learned lighting and composition basics, it’s amazing how much more you will enjoy shooting photos when you travel!  And if wildlife is in your sights, learn techniques that will increase your collection of Keepers from an outing. (June won a National Geographic Photo Contest and a trip to Galapagos Islands for two, a $16,000 prize.)

Lessons are at June Jacobsen Portrait Studio in Patchogue, Long Island, NY.  Please email with any questions or concerns you may have. 

Please email for information