Churches, cathedrals and sanctuaries are some of the most rewarding places I photograph. They have soaring vaults, symmetry, stained glass and light that changes through the day. I have spent years photographing them, and I teach two approaches.
Photographing places of worship
The first approach is about seeing the architecture and showing it with care. I cover how to:
Use symmetry and leading lines to draw the eye down an aisle to the altar.
Frame an interior through an open doorway.
Photograph ceilings and vaults as patterns, looking straight up at ribs, tracery and color.
Choose a wide or fisheye lens to capture the full scale of a space.
Handle the extreme contrast between bright windows and dim interiors.
Behave respectfully: asking permission, working quietly, and understanding what is and isn’t welcome during services.
Photographing places of worship creatively
The second approach goes beyond documentation. I use zoom blurs, motion blur and blended exposures in PS along with in-camera techniques to turn a sanctuary into something more expressive:
A stained glass window becomes a burst of radiating color.
A nave dissolves into soft vertical streaks, with a sharp altar glowing at the far end.
A crucifix stays crisp while the light around it swirls.
A familiar interior is pulled into a tunnel of motion, with a rose window as the single point of focus.
These images aren’t about recording what the building looks like. They try to convey how it feels to stand inside it.
Bring this to your group
I’m open to speaking at camera clubs, and I’m available for hands-on workshops in New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and Maryland. The talk can focus on either approach or combine both, and a workshop can be tailored to your group’s time and venue.
