Traverse City, Michigan

Photography Classes in Traverse City

Our Photo Club brings together photographers of every skill level for hands-on learning in one of the most beautiful places in the Midwest. Photo walks, workshops, and mentoring — rooted in Northern Michigan.

See upcoming classes Join a photo walk

Photography class at Esch Beach, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Northern Michigan

What we do

Learn by shooting. Grow by showing up.

Most photography education happens in a classroom or on a screen. Ours happens at sunset on the shores of Lake Michigan, in the middle of a pinball arcade, and on a back road in Leelanau County when the light is doing something strange and perfect.

We are a community of photographers based in Traverse City. Some of us shoot professionally. Some of us are just getting started. All of us are here because we believe the best way to get better at this is to go out and do it — with people who are genuinely excited to help.

Michael Kent, co-founder of Allen-Kent Photography and lead educator at Photo Club, has been teaching alongside this community for years. The workshops, photo walks, and mentoring sessions are all built from what actually works in the field — not what looks good on a syllabus.

Michael Kent teaching photography at Esch Beach photo walk

How we learn together

Three ways to grow with us

Photo Walks

Free social micro-workshops held at locations around Traverse City and Northern Michigan. We shoot together, talk through what we're seeing, and head home with better images and new friends. No experience required.

See upcoming walks

Workshops

Focused half-day and full-day sessions built around specific skills — creative lighting, posing without posing, Lightroom basics, workflow and backup, holistic branding. Small groups, real locations, hands-on the whole time.

Browse workshops

1-on-1 Mentoring

Private sessions with Michael — two-hour video calls, full-day face-to-face sessions in NoMI, or a six-month focused growth plan. For photographers who want direct feedback and someone actually invested in where they are headed.

Learn about mentoring

What people say

From photographers who've been here.

"Shooting with Michael has been incredibly impactful. He goes above and beyond to teach the ins and outs of the trade — from how to make clients feel comfortable to how to find your own professional style. What started as a client relationship has blossomed into a mentorship I didn't know I needed."

Jonelle — Shooting

"Michael taught me so many things to fix and improve my workflow and my tech. Basically I feel like I'm flying. If you struggle with the tech side, it's so worth investing in someone to help you build good systems first. Truly your foundation."

Grace — Photography Workflow

"I am thankful that I met Brooke and Michael. They are amazing teachers with years of experience and get excited at sharing that knowledge and watching their students grow. If you are on the fence about a workshop or mentoring session — erase that doubt and do it."

Cristian — Shooting Portraits with Confidence

"I started with a big interest in photography but little to no technical background. Michael was more than willing to help with whatever questions I had. It was a huge reassurance knowing someone was there to help in a positive, supporting way."

Jessica — Technology

Where we shoot

Northern Michigan is the classroom.

We are based in Traverse City, which puts us within reach of some of the most photographically interesting places in the Midwest. Every photo walk is a chance to learn a new location — and to see a familiar one differently.

Esch Beach — Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Traverse City waterfront and downtown
Otter Creek and the surrounding dune forests
Old Mission Peninsula vineyards and bay views
Leelanau County backroads and shoreline
Studio and indoor locations in TC for winter sessions

We also run workshops at local venues around Traverse City — Studio North Collective, Floral Underground Studio, and wherever makes sense for the session topic.

See the full calendar

Esch Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes, photography class location in Northern Michigan

Common questions

Before you show up.

Do I need experience to join a photo walk?

None at all. Photo walks are free, social, and designed for every skill level. If you have a camera — phone, mirrorless, point-and-shoot — you are ready. We have had complete beginners and working professionals show up to the same walk and both leave with something useful.

What gear do I need for a workshop?

Whatever you already own. We do not believe in buying gear to get better at photography. We believe in understanding what you have. Workshops are built around real-world shooting with whatever camera you bring.

Are workshops only in Traverse City?

Most are based in the Traverse City area, but we travel when there is enough interest. If you want to bring a workshop to your city or region, reach out via the contact page and we will talk through it.

Do you offer any financial assistance for workshops?

We set aside a handful of scholarship seats for every workshop we run. If cost is a genuine barrier, reach out directly and we will figure something out. Those seats are for people who actually need them — not coupon hunters.

How is this different from watching YouTube tutorials?

You can learn a lot from YouTube. What you cannot get there is someone watching you shoot in real time, telling you what you are actually doing, and helping you fix it in the moment. That is what the walks and workshops do. The difference is immediate and obvious.