Photocomposition for Fine Art Photography
A course by Dasha PearsArt Photographer and Visual Artist
A course by Dasha Pears, Art Photographer and Visual Artist
Learn how to shoot and edit striking portraits that convey deep meaning and emotion through minimalist imagery
Portraits don’t always have to be what meets the eye. Let Dasha Pears make you look twice and create something surreal. Inspired by a passion for psychology, she employs what she calls a ‘psychorealist’ style to depict what is going on in our inner worlds and make our feelings, thoughts, and emotions tangible. She’s a self-taught artist and has received more than 15 international photography awards, a gold medal from the Photographic Society of America and a prize from the Smithsonian Magazine for the best-altered photo. Her work has been exhibited around the world — in Finland, Russia, Poland, France, Germany, Israel, the UAE, Mexico, the UK, and the US.
Learn how to craft photos with more than meets the eye. In this online course, Dasha teaches you how to employ a minimalist aesthetic to surreal portraits that bend your perceptions of reality. She explains how to decide on key elements to make simple portraits attention-grabbing with simple props and tools. You plan out a photo shoot, from choosing the right tools and setting, to preparing your camera, to finding what deeper meaning you want to convey with your work. You will guide your model to get the right look and feel for your image, and edit it with a surrealist spin using Lightroom and Photoshop.
What will you learn in this online course?
23 lessons & 18 downloads
What Is a Minimalistic Portrait?
9 minutes, 13 seconds
Coming up with the Initial Concept 1
18 minutes, 33 seconds
Coming up with the Initial Concept 2
14 minutes, 23 seconds
The How-Tos of Minimalism 1
11 minutes, 23 seconds
The How-Tos of Minimalism 2
10 minutes, 45 seconds
Getting Ready
6 minutes, 30 seconds
What's included in this course?
Dasha begins the course by introducing you to her artistic journey and influences. She shares what drew her to minimalism and surrealism, how she developed her no-rules attitude, and why she feels there should be no excuses for creating unique and unexpected images, even when resources and budgets are limited
Then you start your minimalist journey by coming up with an idea of what you want your final image to look like and what you want it to convey. You learn the basics of minimalistic portrait style and how to decide on color, composition, wardrobe, props, and lighting. Sketch a draft of your final image (no illustration expertise needed!) and build a Photoshop plan based on it.
Dasha next takes you through different location types and how to set up your shoot. She also introduces you to the equipment she uses, and explains how to efficiently work with your team members and models – even if they aren’t pros.
Start to really bring out the surreal in your photo in post-production. Dasha shows you how to bring out the magic by editing raw files in Lightroom and Photoshop. She takes you through everything from fine-tuning your image to film-inspired filatures. Finally, you’ll export the file to the web to be shared on social media or printed.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
A minimalist portrait with surreal elements.
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to try a new style of approaching portraiture.
Requirements and materials
Camera, portrait lens (35mm or 50mm), tripod (optional), reflector (optional), computer with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Reviews
- 1 year ago
Wonderful
- 2 years ago
The instructor explains her approach to photography in a very understandable and pleasant way.
- 2 years ago
I really liked the teacher, her creativity and the fact that the whole process of creating and post-editing an image is shown. These are very useful lessons. It's minimalism, it's creativity and professionalism. It is nice that the author of the course shows the process in detail.
- 2 years ago
El curso me parece bastante completo e interesante, me gusta mucho como abarca cada unidad porque aunque no tengas experiencia si sigues la practica si puedes obtener buenos resultados.
- 2 years ago
Super cursus, duidelijk en informatief!
Dasha is a self-taught photographer and editor with an impressive resume of exhibitions and awards. Her work has been shown in Finland, Russia, Poland, Italy, Germany, Israel, UAE, Mexico, the UK, and the US. She has received over 15 international photography awards – including a gold medal from the Photographic Society of America for the best emotional image and a prize from the Smithsonian Magazine for the best-altered photo.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
Your First Steps In Minimalism
- What Is a Minimalistic Portrait?
- Coming up with the Initial Concept 1
- Coming up with the Initial Concept 2
- The How-Tos of Minimalism 1
- The How-Tos of Minimalism 2
- Getting Ready
- U3
The Photoshoot
- The Space
- The Model and the Team
- Equipment
- During the Photoshoot
- U4
Post-production
- Editing in Adobe Lightroom 1
- Editing in Adobe Lightroom 2
- Photo Compositing: Cleaning up the Image 1
- Photo Compositing: Cleaning up the Image 2
- Photo Compositing: Cleaning up the Image 3
- Photo Compositing: Adding Believability and Volume 1
- Photo Compositing: Adding Believability and Volume 2
- Photo Compositing: Adding Believability and Volume 3
- Photo Compositing: Adding Believability and Volume 4
- The Final Touches
- Understanding and Sharing Your Art
- FP
Final project
- Photocomposition for Fine Art Photography
What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate photographers who want to explore fine art photography, psychorealism, and minimalistic portrait techniques, building on basic photography knowledge.
You’ll need a camera (DSLR or mirrorless), basic lighting (natural or minimal), simple props, and access to editing software like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for post-production tasks.
You’ll learn how to conceptualize, shoot, and edit surreal and minimalistic portraits using limited resources, develop a unique style, and apply advanced composition, lighting, and storytelling techniques.
Basic familiarity with Lightroom and Photoshop is helpful, but the course covers essential editing and compositing steps to guide you through the process.
You’ll explore synthesizing influences from classic art, cinematography, and literature, and use self-reflection and experimentation to craft an authentic and distinctive visual style.
Absolutely. The course emphasizes creativity with limited resources, showing how to shoot compelling portraits in small spaces using everyday props and natural light.
Psychorealism centers on revealing internal emotions through visual storytelling. The course covers its principles and practical application in portrait photography.