This is an international workshop in Copenhagen 25-27. November 2026
Only 2 spots left - Secure your spot now!
As a media professional, you deliver quality to your clients. Photographs sharp, communicative and well-considered images. But are your portraits of the same high quality?
You might feel like many of your colleagues:
In other words... you could use inspiration to lift the quality of your images. So your portraits will be beautiful. Mood-filled. Stands out. And lifts above average.
The question is... what are you going to do?
We have a qualified bid for that.
Join Theilgaard Academy’s Portrait Photography Workshop for Media Professionals and put your professional development into focus while giving yourself some space away from the pressures of everyday work.
You will have the opportunity to spend three inspiring days together with fellow media professionals and return to your daily work with renewed energy and inspiration.
With this intensive workshop, our aim is to raise the quality of your portraits by giving you a range of methods and practical tools that will help you become more conscious and deliberate in the way you portray another person and create powerful portraits.
Taking personal portrait photography as our starting point, you will work with Helga Theilgaard’s unique and highly effective methods for directing people in front of the camera. We will explore the psychological aspects of portrait photography in depth, with a strong emphasis on how you can apply these methods in practice in a busy working environment to create portraits that feel engaging, personal and present.
You will also work with some of the particular challenges of portrait photography when it comes to lighting and how to use it effectively.
In addition, you will receive training in post-production and portrait retouching and learn how to make conscious choices in order to achieve a specific style and visual expression in the finished image.
25.-27. November 2026
We start at 10 a.m. on the first day, so those who come running from the rest of the country can reach it.
The other days we start at 9 a.m. - all days end approximately at 4 p.m.
Frederiksborggade 20B, 3rd th.
1360 Copenhagen K.
Your investment is EUR 1.592 + VAT
The amount can be paid in up to 3 monthly installments.
Who are you?
Take Strong Portraits is a workshop aimed at you who are a photographer, journalist, communicator, graphic artist, SoMe content producer or similar, who are often challenged by photographing portraits under time pressure. Our portrait photography workshop offers methods and tools for professional development in lighting, person instruction and image processing so that your portraits, despite limited time, take on a personal touch and stand out.
It is important that you need your portraits to your readers, customers and members to be as strong as possible and that you are curious to learn new things, are open to personal feedback and are passionate about going into the details of the whole process through three intensive days.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WORKSHOP...
• Learn more about how to master and manage lighting techniques both in the studio and on-location
• Learn to work with the daylight and the many possibilities of shaping with different modifiers
• Basic methods and exercises in person instruction
• Best Practics in Image Processing Focused on the Portrait
• Try out the techniques in real life with tasks and practice
• Get to grips with structured technical and psychological workflow
• Develop and improve your photographic practice
HERE'S WHAT YOU GET...
• Three-day intensive workshop in portrait photography with two top professional photographers and trainers
• Delicious food with coffee, tea, water, fruit, chocolate and lunch every day
• Handout material with follow-up from the lessons
• Access to a closed support network group after the workshop
• A follow-up 1-1 online coaching session one month after the workshop ends that ensures your development
The understanding of light is crucial in working as a photographer, and this means that you can master and control the light when working with portraits both in studio and especially on-location. Technically, we work with how, with simple means and transportable light, you can create a number of lighting techniques that define and support a person's character and expression in different ways, so that you can actively use light to support your narrative.
If a portrait is to be compelling and impactful, it must have a deeper layer of closeness and human recognisability. The tool is yourself and your motivation and limitations in meeting the person you portray. You will learn methods of how to direct another human being into different emotional spaces and states, and how your model gets to where the expression is genuine and authentic.
It is important that your finished portrait reflects your work and the narrative you wish to convey. Methods for selecting the best portrait are an essential part of this process, and just as important as the subsequent image processing and retouching of the portrait. We review best practices and workflows, optimal RAW conversion, and take a look at how to tackle typical challenges such as low color contrast, high iso skin tones and blend light, and they will demonstrate special techniques for black and white conversion, retouch and post-copy portraits.
All participants will have a personal 1-1 session after the workshop, where you will have the opportunity to get sparring on your further process with your project and discuss the challenges and reflections that have arisen from the workshop.
I’m a visual artist and photographer, and over the past 20 years I’ve created a number of significant nationwide exhibitions and book publications — most recently the exhibitions I’m Here Now and The Rootless – We Who Remain.
I also work with communicating and teaching art and photography through workshops and talks, and I’ve helped hundreds of professional, independent and emerging photographers define their photographic language and make their images truly stand out.
I trained under Rigmor Mydtskov, Photographer to Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark, as well as at Fatamorgana – The Danish School of Art Photography, and the European Film College.
If you have any questions, you’re welcome to contact me at
or by phone on +45 26 84 40 43.
I’m a photographer and image retoucher, and an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop. I trained as a photojournalist and have worked as a photographer for more than 20 years for magazines, publishers and companies.
Alongside this, I have specialised in post-production and portrait retouching, as well as finishing fine art prints for museums and exhibitions. I also work on my own artistic projects.
Over the years, I’ve taught at institutions including Fatamorgana – The Danish School of Art Photography, and the Photography Programme under KTS/Next.
If you have any questions, you’re welcome to contact me at michael@theilgaardacademy.com or by phone on +45 31 79 94 79.
