What we’re about
NVPPA: Northern Virginia Professional Photographers Association | VA DC
If you're a potential client that needs professional wedding photography, event photography, studio portrait photography, profile headshots, lifestyle photography, senior portraits, real estate photography, beauty, fine art photography, and commercial photography, how do you find the best professional photographers in Northern Virginia? Ask NVPPA! NVPPA's members are constantly honing their technique and artistic acumen by attending lectures, workshops, and juried competition to reach levels that exceed their non-member peers. Many are members of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and have achieved international, industry-respected degrees and numerous international awards in competition with other professionals.
If you're a photographer, are you interested in the art and business of photography? Welcome and congratulations on visiting the newest and only pro-path to professional photography group located in Northern VA focused on wedding, studio portrait, fine art, and commercial photography! We focus on the type of photography that will excel your work and if you wish, produce an income.
NVPPA's consistent monthly speaker lineup is unmatched and without question, NVPPA has hosted the best, award-winning, professional photographers in the MD, DC, and VA area! We are the most highly-rated photography group located on Meetup in the Metro DC area -- just check all our ratings and member-written reviews under the Past tab. Meetup is a great tool but we are a professional, non-profit, educational and business association that gives ongoing benefits to our invested members.
When you're ready to join and support us, please go to our Membership Application and Dues page to join as a professional Gold Member.
Studio Memberships are available for additional persons from the same studio. These additional employee memberships are 33% off the regular one-year membership rate.
We offer a special Student Membership rate at 50% off the regular one-year membership that includes both teens 16 and older and college students enrolled in a degree program. Please contact our membership chair for more information and joining as a student.
Best!
Philip Brasch, President & Founder
NVPPA: Northern Virginia Professional Photographers Association
www.nvppa.org
nvppa.membership@gmail.com
:: Welcome, to our Fairfax County, Manassas, and Fredericksburg visitors! ::
Pre-Join Checklist:
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Please provide a photo of yourself when you join so that we know who you are when you join us for our events!
Since we are a group of professionals, not a club, and to be fair to every photographer / business-owner in NVPPA, we require that you enter your real FIRST and LAST name on our Meetup -- not a business name or third party advertiser (i.e. "ABC PhotoTools"). We also need your name to verify your RSVP and registration at our events. This requirement also reduces unwanted and off-topic spam to our membership.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Sunset & Beyond! Stunning iPhone Landscape Photography at the Water’s Edge $79!Wegmans Market Cafe, 2nd Floor , Woodbridge, VA$109.00
## Sunset & Beyond! Stunning iPhone Landscape Photography at the Water’s Edge
Unleash the full potential of your iPhone camera and capture breathtaking landscapes during the magical hours of sunset and twilight!
RSVP Required!
Join Philip Brasch, an international award-winning professional photographer and Meetup and PPA 5-star rated instructor, this Sunday evening, July 6th, for an immersive, hands-on workshop right here in Woodbridge! This workshop marks the exciting relaunch of Philip's highly-rated photography series, offering exceptional value and a chance to truly elevate your mobile photography.
This workshop is perfect for smartphone users of all levels who want to take their landscape photography to the next level. While we focus on iPhone techniques, the core principles of composition, capturing light, and panoramic stitching are applicable to most smartphone cameras. All mobile phone users interested in improving their landscape photography are welcome!
### What You'll Learn & Experience: Addressing Your Landscape Photography Pain Points!
Are your landscape photos missing the "wow" factor you envision?
Do you struggle to capture the dramatic skies and rich details you see, especially at sunset or in challenging light?
In this hands-on workshop, Philip will help you conquer common smartphone landscape photography challenges, transforming your images in just a few hours!
- Master the Light: Learn composition strategies and how to harness the available light, from the late golden hour through "Sunset and Beyond!" We'll focus on advanced techniques to preserve intricate details in the brightest whites, especially in clouds when shooting directly into the sun or across panoramas, or when light edges of dark clouds hold the drama but are difficult to capture the detail. This frustrating loss of detail in high-contrast scenes (often due to your phone's automatic processing or built-in HDR) is a pain point experienced by many photographers. You'll learn to expertly overcome this challenge by going beyond built-in features, even capturing multiple exposures (bracketing) for ultimate dynamic range and professional-grade detail. (A tripod will be essential for these multi-exposure techniques!) You'll discover how precise exposure control and strategic timing (when the light naturally softens) can yield stunning, three-dimensional images with detail from sky to foreground.
- Technique Over Tech: Philip will primarily demonstrate these powerful techniques using his iPhone SE2. This proves that incredible "wow" images are achievable with any smartphone, whether it's an older model or the latest flagship! We'll specifically analyze how your smartphone model handles highlights and shadows, then dive into post-processing to maximize your unique phone's capabilities and stretch them to limits you never thought possible! This includes mastering highlight and shadow control in both image capture and post-processing – understanding what they do, why they're critical, and how to use them to maintain highlight textures (like bright clouds or sparkling water) while bringing out vital detail in dark areas. You'll also learn professional strategies for achieving accurate color, like using a simple color target, and how to ensure critical sharpness in low light using hands-free shutter release methods that require no additional equipment or expense! This is a skill honed from extensive photography experience, and Philip will share these valuable insights with you during the workshop.
- Unique Perspectives in Composition: Discover creative low-angle shooting techniques to capture compositions previously difficult or even impossible to achieve. These include placing your iPhone just centimeters above the ground or water, shooting through tall grasses for an immersive sense of presence, extending from steep cliff edges common along the Potomac and its tributaries, or maneuvering through dense trees and leaves to ensure an unobstructed view while creating a natural frame. All these powerful shots are achieved comfortably and without getting wet, made possible by Philip's uniquely assembled equipment, and only revealed exclusively in this workshop!
- Panoramic Power: Utilize your iPhone's Pano function for stunning panoramic vistas, enjoying the freedom of handheld shooting for impressive single-row panos. For unparalleled resolution, height, and control, you'll also explore taking individual "tiles" (multiple overlapping photos), which can be stitched together in post-processing to create exceptionally high-resolution, high-quality landscape images. We'll even discuss how this advanced technique can be combined with multi-exposure HDR for breathtaking results that surpass basic phone capabilities! While stability (like with a tripod) is recommended for maximum quality and seamless stitching, you'll learn techniques that enable incredible results even handheld. Philip will demonstrate his favorite app for this process.
- Capture After Sunset: Beyond the Golden Hour, Evoke Mood, Serenity & Vibrant Colors: Learn techniques to continue capturing breathtaking images as the sun dips below the horizon, including subtly lighting the foreground using video lights to reveal hidden details and create impactful photos with rich, saturated colors, even long after sunset (and without flash)! This fast-paced technique will unlock 'wow' images that will leave your friends wondering how they did it!
### Workshop Details:
- When: This Sunday, June 29th, 2025
. - Time: 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM (Sunset around 8:37 PM, followed by a quick editing session)
, - Where: We'll meet promptly at 4:45 PM at Wegmans Market Cafe, 14801 Dining Way, Woodbridge, VA, upstairs in the cafe area to the right (if you take the stairs). From 5:00 PM to approximately 5:30 PM, we'll have a brief meet and greet, workshop overview/agenda, and an image inspiration slideshow. Then, we'll
, - Note on Location Fees: If our chosen shooting location requires a park entrance fee (e.g., a state park), Philip's state park pass will cover the vehicle he drives. Carpooling from Wegmans will be an option to help minimize any potential fees for attendees. Many excellent locations in the area have no fee.
, - Post-Shooting: After our shooting session, we'll conclude with an optional half-hour editing session in the field or back at Wegmans, where you can review and edit your images using your own phone! We'll also cover basic editing principles and introduce Lightroom mobile, time permitting.
, - Investment: Special Relaunch Price! Just $79 per person. (Regular Price: $109)
### How to Register & Pay:
*** RSVP is Required! ***
- RSVP & Pay: To secure your spot, please RSVP and make your payment of $79 directly through this Meetup's event page. This ensures your commitment to attend!
. - Complete Registration Form: After paying through Meetup, PLEASE COMPLETE this short and secure Registration and Contact Information FORM (REQUIRED for your contact info.):
https://goo.gl/forms/HFsiT6bL9Ntx4nfx2
Once you've registered, we will contact you with Philip's mobile phone number.
### Questions?
Email: gallery252@gmail.com
***
### Your Instructor: Philip Brasch
Philip Brasch is an international award-winning professional photographer (PPA - http://www.ppa.com) with a passion for capturing stunning portraits and landscapes, and for exploring the creative possibilities of technology in photography. As the president and founder of http://www.NVPPA.org/, Philip is a seasoned pro specializing in weddings, lifestyle portraiture, and commercial photography.
With over 2 decades of experience, Philip has led numerous highly-rated lectures, seminars, and workshops for fellow professionals, aspiring photographers, and enthusiasts. He's excited to share a wealth of photographic insights and secrets with you, drawing from his popular workshops that have consistently received overwhelmingly positive feedback and high ratings. Mr. Brasch has also earned the prestigious distinction of PPA Medalist, a significant achievement recognized through the International Photographic Competition (IPC) of PPA.
"I'm driven by a desire to help others unlock their photographic potential, and that's why I offer these professionally-led workshops at exceptional value. Your investment guarantees a spot in these limited-enrollment, hands-on training sessions. Expect a fun, inspiring, creative, and technical experience – my enthusiastic students consistently learn and improve every time we venture outdoors! I guarantee it!" —Philip Brasch
Looking forward to a creative evening exploring the stunning and secret landscapes of Woodbridge and the Potomac with your iPhone!
