Sony Scene Festival 2026: photography workshops
Try portrait lighting, photograph a dancer after dark or start the day beside the sea. These nine October sessions focus on making photographs.
A festival spread across individual sessions
Sony Scene Festival runs from 1 September to 31 October 2026 across Australia and New Zealand. This shortlist focuses on upcoming Australian creative workshops and photo walks with published dates, locations and booking details. Each session is booked separately.
SceneScape, the large Melbourne event on 3–4 October, has already finished. Some events appearing in the Scene Festival filter take place later in the year; check the date on the individual booking page.
Current and upcoming outings
Selected for this guide, with dates and visitor details from the linked organisers. The suggestions are ours. Completed events drop out of this list; check each organiser for opening days and current availability.
Darwins Walk Photography Adventure
- When
- 17 Oct
- Where
- Cassiopeia Coffee — meeting point
- Entry
- From $10
A practical way to develop landscape compositions while spending a morning on foot.
Before you go: 17 October, $10 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Portrait and Lighting Workshop — Lunar Studio
- When
- 17 Oct
- Where
- Lunar Studio Sydney
- Entry
- From $150
Hands-on portrait practice with lighting guidance and time to experiment.
Before you go: 17 October, $150 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Editorial Styling and Studio Photography Workshop
- When
- 17 Oct
- Where
- Lunar Studio Sydney
- Entry
- From $150
Useful for photographers developing a more deliberate approach to portrait styling.
Before you go: 17 October, $150 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Flash Photography 101
- When
- 20 Oct
- Where
- Desk & Studio — meet in foyer
- Entry
- From $79
A small practical session for understanding how flash changes a portrait.
Before you go: 20 October, $79 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Ballet Portraits After Dark — Melbourne
- When
- 23 Oct
- Where
- Hyde Melbourne Place reception — meeting point
- Entry
- From $98
Combines the study of movement with the creative possibilities of a city after dark.
Before you go: 23 October, $98 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Studio Lighting Fashion Portraits Workshop
- When
- 24 Oct
- Where
- Hyde Melbourne Place
- Entry
- From $98
A focused introduction to shaping studio light rather than relying on one fixed setup.
Before you go: 24 October, $98 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Beauty Portraits: Colour Gels Workshop
- When
- 24 Oct
- Where
- Hyde Melbourne Place
- Entry
- From $98
A chance to use colour and light as deliberate elements of a portrait.
Before you go: 24 October, $98 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Sunrise & Seascapes — Mahon Pool
- When
- 25 Oct
- Where
- Mahon Pool — meeting point
- Entry
- From $10
An affordable early-morning outing for experimenting with coastal light.
Before you go: 25 October, $10 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Classic Hollywood Black-and-White Portraits
- When
- 25 Oct
- Where
- Hyde Melbourne Place
- Entry
- From $30
A beginner-friendly session connecting photographic history with hands-on image making.
Before you go: 25 October, $30 per person. Check the official equipment list and current availability.
Choose a session for the photographs you want to make
In Sydney, Lunar Studio offers separate portrait-lighting and editorial sessions on 17 October. Flash Photography 101 follows in Petersham on 20 October. For time outdoors, Darwins Walk explores Blue Mountains landscapes on 17 October and Sunrise & Seascapes meets at Maroubra on 25 October.
Melbourne options include photographing a ballet dancer after dark on 23 October, studio lighting and coloured gels on 24 October, and a beginner black-and-white portrait session on 25 October.
Before booking
Read the equipment list and access information for your chosen session. Photo walks involve walking, some sessions begin before sunrise, and the Petersham studio is reached by stairs. Availability can change quickly; use the official booking link before travelling.
Book your chosen session directly with the organiser. Keep the confirmation handy for meeting instructions, equipment requirements and any weather updates.
Sources & checking
This guide combines practical Art Fairs advice with the references below. It is not a report of a first-hand visit or an artist interview.
- Darwins Walk Photography Adventure ↗
- Portrait and Lighting Workshop — Lunar Studio ↗
- Editorial Styling and Studio Photography Workshop ↗
- Flash Photography 101 ↗
- Ballet Portraits After Dark — Melbourne ↗
- Studio Lighting Fashion Portraits Workshop ↗
- Beauty Portraits: Colour Gels Workshop ↗
- Sunrise & Seascapes — Mahon Pool ↗
- Classic Hollywood Black-and-White Portraits ↗
- Sony Scene — Australian festival listings ↗