we believe
is magical
About
BallaratShutterBugs is the brainchild of Sonia Macak, photographer based in Soldier Hill, Ballarat. Inspired by her daughter, Anna, Sonia's vision goes beyond just capturing moments – it's about building a community around creative photography in an age dominated by digital devices. With years of experience running her own studio, exhibiting nationally and internationally, Sonia brings a rich tapestry of photographic knowledge, from the earliest camera obscura, traditional and alternative darkroom techniques, to modern digital methods. Sonia's passion lies in capturing not just images, but the very essence of life and soul in our surroundings.
we are a family operated business deeply rooted in our community. Our focus is on fostering connections and creating meaningful experiences for everyone we serve
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Anna captured by our first light chaser Liam (6yo)
Camera: Nikon Coolpix P7700
Location: Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Lighting: Natural light
Aperture: f3.2
ISO: 400
At the tender age of 9, Anna, already a multi-talented artist, with aspirations in harp and photography. It was Anna's enthusiasm and her rescue kitten Kiki that prompted Sonia to recognise the need for photography education focusing on children and the opportunity of bringing them away from the screens and internet and nurture their natural inclination for exploration. Anna's youthful perspective breathes life into the workshops, from her heartfelt illustrations for the workshop booklets to her invaluable input in shaping the curriculum. As both an inspiration and an assistant, Anna bridges the gap between generations, infusing each session with creativity and joy.
Together, Sonia and Anna are shaping a space where photography isn't just a skill, but a means of storytelling and connection.
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Our philosophy is simple.
We love to share the secrets of painting with light and pass it onto generations coming.
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fireflies holiday program
$120
Little light chasers
$240
Two day holiday photography workshop. Children will learn about camera modes, aperture, shutter speed and iso and explore the relationship of above mentioned through variety of photography focused games.
Little Light Chasers is hands on interactive course involving use of cameras & games. Students are also provided print at home study sheets.
The course consists of 8 weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 1.5hour
Shutterbugs Classes
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Little Light Chasers is hands on interactive course involving use of cameras, games, as well as print at home study sheets. The course consists of 8 weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 1.5hours.
Children will learn the following:
Photographers toolkit
Aperture
ISO
Shutter speed
Camera shooting modes
White balance
Composition rules
Lighting
Posing
History of photography
Careers in photography
Recommended age: 8-12 years old.
Please fill in our contact form below to secure a spot in one of our courses. We will get back to you as soon as possible with details regarding spots and course dates.
Bookings
BOOKINGS
Terms & Conditions
Payment: Deposit is required to secure your booking. Remaining balance is due week before the course start.
Payment can be made via bank transfer or cash. Online credit card payments will incur 3% interest.
Attendance: It is your responsibility to ensure that your child attends all sessions. Missed sessions cannot be refunded or rescheduled. Materials for a missed session will be provided for home study.
Schedule changes: BallaratShutterBugs reserve the right to cancel or reschedule a course due to unforeseen circumstances, and in such cases, participants will receive a full refund or be offered a place on a rescheduled course.
Behaviour: Participants are expected to behave in a respectful and appropriate manner towards others, the equipment and the venue. Any behaviour deemed inappropriate will result in the participant being removed from the course without refund.
Liability: While every effort is made to ensure the safety of participants and their belongings, instructors cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or injury incurred during the course.
Photography: Participants will be taught how to use a camera and take photographs during the course. Any photographs taken may be used for promotional purposes unless you explicitly request otherwise in writing.
While BallaratShutterBugs is not a Registered Training Organisation and our photography courses are not officially accredited, we are
committed to providing exceptional education to our young generation of aspiring photographers.
Upon completion of our workshop, Certificate of completion will be provided to all attendees. Record of attendance can be further supplied upon request.
Ballarat Shutterbugs
Soldiers Hill