Leading a Photography Club in Colorado Springs: Inspiring Creativity Through Capturing Great Images
A Modern Example of Architecture and an Artistic Capture of it.
In December 2022, I launched the Colorado Springs Photography Club, a community born from my passion for capturing the world through a lens and sharing that joy with others. After years of honing my craft as a professional photographer specializing in commercial architecture and headshots, I made a deliberate shift in my career. I moved away from being tied to a single studio and embraced a location-based approach, allowing me to explore diverse settings and inspire others in dynamic ways. This club is the heart of that vision—a place where photographers of all levels come together to learn, create, and grow.
This month, we’re diving into the art and craft of architectural photography with a downtown shoot, and I’m thrilled to share what makes this community so special. Our club meets every other Thursday at a friend’s studio, where we explore the full spectrum of photography. While this month’s focus is structures and commercial buildings, next month we’ll savor the textures and colors of food photography, followed by the bold creativity of fashion photography in October. This variety keeps our sessions fresh and exciting, fostering a space where everyone—from beginners to seasoned shooters—can find inspiration. As the club’s founder and mentor, I’ve found that teaching others doesn’t just sharpen their skills; it reignites my own passion for photography. Guiding members through new techniques and watching their creativity unfold is one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
Let the sun reflect it’s power in the windows.
This week, we’re heading downtown to capture Colorado Springs’ architectural gems. I’ll be teaching the group how to blend artistic and commercial approaches to architectural photography. For artistic shots, we’ll play with leading lines and dramatic angles, using wide-angle and telephoto lenses to emphasize the city’s unique structures. For commercial shots, we’ll focus on clean compositions, correcting perspective with tools like a tilt-shift lens to ensure vertical lines stay sharp—perfect for client-ready images. Settings like ISO 100-400, f/8-f/16, and a sturdy tripod will help us nail crisp, vibrant shots, whether we’re capturing the golden glow of sunrise or the sleek lines of a modern building at dusk. These techniques, which I’ve refined over years shooting projects like a recent Volvo dealership session in Motor City or a few of our modern artistic buildings located downtown, are ones I love passing on to our members.
Running this club has shown me the power of community in photography. It’s not just about taking great shots; it’s about sharing knowledge, sparking ideas, and building connections. Whether you’re a local photographer eager to learn or someone curious about our downtown session, I invite you to join us. Come see Colorado Springs through a new lens, or follow along on erikcooperphotography.com for updates on our food and fashion adventures. Let’s create something extraordinary together.
Coming up…
Planning a headshot session? Discover the key differences between crafting a personalized, creative business portrait for an individual and orchestrating a streamlined, consistent corporate shoot for multiple employees in my next blog post on erikcooperphotography.com.
