Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 1: Arrival (D)
We'll arrive at our hotel in Chicago, meet for dinner, and then enjoy an orientation to go over the logistics for the exciting week ahead!

Day 2: Studio Day (B,L,D)
Today we'll kick off the week at 9:00 AM, so make sure to bring all your equipment (you can leave items at the school throughout the week if you'd like). Most of the day will be spent in the classroom learning the basics of macro photography, including set-ups and lighting techniques. After lunch, we’ll dive into some hands-on practice with in-studio subjects, honing our skills with different setups. By around 5:00 PM, we’ll wrap up, having covered everything from the basics of equipment and lighting techniques to more advanced skills like focus stacking.

Day 3: Outdoor Field Day (B,L,D)
We’ll head outdoors today, so dressing in layers is key. After prepping our gear, we’ll venture over to Lincoln Park. This will be our chance to explore the North Pond area and the Lagoon, snapping photos of everything from nature scenes to wildlife. We’ll also make stops at the Nature Museum and Lincoln Park Zoo, offering up-close photography opportunities with critters and reptiles. We’ll grab lunch at R.J. Grunts, a favorite amongst locals, before heading back to the school by 4:30 PM. By the end of the day, we’ll have practiced in-field lighting, hand-held focus stacking, and some off-camera flash basics, finishing up around 5:00 PM.

Day 4: Class and Computer/Printing Lab (B,L,D)
Today, we’re taking an in-depth look at post-processing. We’ll start in the computer lab (you can bring your own laptop if you prefer) where we’ll review and edit our images from the first two days. The afternoon will get more technical as we jump into advanced techniques like focus stacking in Photoshop and Helicon, UV macro photography, and even printing our work. By 5:00 PM, we’ll have polished our shots and learned some new digital tricks.

Day 5: Field Day at Garfield Park Conservatory (B,L,D)
We’ll mix indoor and outdoor photography today, so dress in layers again. At 9:00 AM, we’ll prepare our equipment and by 9:30 AM, we’ll head over to Garfield Park Conservatory. Inside, it’ll be warm and lush, offering a perfect setting for macro shots, while the outdoor gardens will give us more natural light to play with. We’ll have lunch at a nearby restaurant before heading back to the school by 4:30 PM. Throughout the day, we’ll practice off-camera flash, multiple exposures, slow shutter techniques, and even test out some Laowa lenses!

Day 6: Studio Day (B,L)
We’ll wrap up the week with a creative bang! This morning will start a little earlier at 8:00 AM. Today's theme will be "drips, drops, and illusions," pushing our macro skills to the next level with some fresh, fun ideas. We'll finish at 3:00 PM, and by then we’ll have a collection of unique, experimental shots, ending the week with a solid portfolio of macro magic! Evening flights can be booked after 6pm or we can arrange for an additional night if you'd prefer to depart the next morning.