Upcoming Live Classes

Illustrator From The Ground Up - Part 2: Shape Editing with Jason Hoppe

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. Simple shapes are the building blocks of nearly every Illustrator project. In Part 2, Jason Hoppe shows you how to take those shapes apart and put them back together. You'll learn how the Direct Selection tool gives you control over individual anchor points and segments, and how corner widgets let you round and refine corners with a simple drag. Next, you'll use the Transform panel and transform tools to scale, rotate, reflect, and position artwork with precision. Jason then shows how grouping keeps related artwork organized, and how the Pathfinder panel and Shape Builder tool turn basic shapes into logos, icons, and custom forms. You'll also learn to join and clean up open paths so your artwork is ready for production. By the end of this class, you'll be able to build complex artwork from simple shapes quickly and accurately. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Jason Hoppe. What You'll Learn Select and edit individual anchor points and path segments with the Direct Selection tool Round and reshape corners precisely with corner widgets Resize, rotate, and position artwork with the Transform panel and transform tools Combine, divide, and build complex shapes with the Pathfinder panel and Shape Builder tool Group artwork and join open paths to keep your files organized and clean Who It's For Students who completed Part 1 of the series Beginners who can draw basic shapes and want to create more complex artwork Designers who want to build logos and icons faster Illustrator users who rely on workarounds instead of the Pathfinder panel and Shape Builder tool How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor Jason Hoppe is an Adobe Certified Expert and Adobe Certified Instructor with a graphic design background. For 19 years he has taught Adobe software, including Illustrator, at Seattle's School of Visual Concepts, Luminous Works, and Seattle Central College, and he is the founding instructor at CreativeLive. He breaks complex tools down into clear, practical steps, which helps students of every level build confident vector illustration, logo, and layout skills they can put to work right away. Jason's teaching draws on 20 years of real production work. He has led electronic production departments at Seattle agencies such as Hornall Anderson and Bozell/FCB, and has built design workflows for clients like Costco and Cascade Designs. That experience means his Illustrator lessons go beyond what each tool does: he teaches how professionals use it to work efficiently, avoid production problems, and deliver polished, print- and digital-ready artwork.

How to Create Magical Backgrounds - Christmas Wish: Part 1

Wed, Nov 4, 6–12pm ET Live Online

This course will be free to watch while streaming on YouTube Live on November 4, 2026 from 6:00–7:30PM EST and will be available for purchase after the event. Click Here To Watch The Live Stream Every holiday season, photographers, digital artists, and volunteers come together for Christmas Wish by The Heart Project—a worldwide initiative now celebrating its milestone 10th year. Together, the team visits hospitals and hospices around the globe to bring wonder, joy, and hope to children facing grave medical battles and severe health challenges. By photographing children in hospital rooms and compositing them into awe-inspiring, magical winter wonderlands alongside Santa Claus, this project delivers priceless heirloom art to families who need it most. A truly believable composite starts with an exceptional environment. In Part 1 of this special CreativeLive series, project founder and master composite artist Karen Alsop takes you behind the scenes to teach you how to conceptualize, stage, and construct original, high-resolution Christmas background plates ready for seamless subject integration. Whether you are creating storybook scenes as a volunteer artist for The Heart Project or looking to craft breathtaking holiday fine art for your own clients, this class bridges essential classic compositing fundamentals with state-of-the-art Photoshop tools. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Karen Alsop. Live Highlights A special guest appearance from Santa Claus direct from the North Pole. A live on-site cross to the Brisbane Christmas Wish crew setting up at Hummingbird House Children's Hospice in Australia. Class Outline The Anatomy of a Storybook Background Dual-Method Creation: Traditional Compositing vs. Next-Gen Generative AI. Karen will teach you both workflows side-by-side so you have total creative freedom and granular control: Method A, Traditional Multi-Plate Compositing, and Method B, Advanced Generative & AI-Assisted Environment Design. Prepping the Plate for Seamless Compositing What You'll Learn Designing with the Subject in Mind: Understanding how to build scenes that accommodate Santa, children, wheelchairs, or medical equipment seamlessly. Perspective, Depth & Scale: Setting the camera angle, vanishing points, horizon lines, and atmospheric perspective to ensure subjects sit naturally in the scene. Lighting Logic: Establishing defined key lights, soft ambient fill, rim lights, and practical glow sources (such as sleigh lanterns, fireplaces, and starry skies) to guide the in-hospital lighting setups. Sourcing and combining base photographic assets (interiors, architectural elements, snowy rooftops, sky plates). Harmonizing varied color palettes, contrast ratios, and grain structure. Adding mist, rim separation layers, and realistic falling snow from scratch. Crafting highly specific generative prompts using reference styles to dream up bespoke fantasy sets (flying sleigh cockpits, toy workshops, vintage hot air balloons). Harnessing modern Generative Expand, Generative Fill, and Reference Image matching to extend canvases and inject thematic props effortlessly. Overcoming AI "tells" by combining generated elements with manual plate photography, textural overlays, and brushwork. Organizing a non-destructive PSD template ready for production compositing. Pre-building foreground cutaways, contact shadow layers, and light wrap masks. Color grading the master environment with global adjustment layers, color lookups, and atmospheric depth haze to make downstream subject blending effortless. Who It's For Digital artists and retouchers looking to master environment creation and professional compositing techniques. Volunteers and photographers planning to contribute artwork to The Heart Project's Christmas Wish initiative. Portrait and commercial photographers wanting to add magical, high-end holiday composites to their creative repertoire. Prerequisites & Suggested Tools Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop layers, masks, and adjustment layers. Adobe Photoshop (Creative Cloud). Pen tablet recommended (Wacom or similar). How to Join This class will be free to watch while it is streaming live on YouTube. The YouTube Live link will be sent to registered participants prior to the event. After the live event, the class will be available for purchase. About the Instructor Karen Alsop is an internationally acclaimed Melbourne, Australia-based photographic digital artist. Expanding on two decades of photographic and graphic design experience, Karen brings photography and art together to create stunning artworks that tell a story and take the viewer into another world.

How To Composite Subjects and Backgrounds - Christmas Wish: Part Two

Thu, Nov 5, 6–12pm ET Live Online

This course will be free to watch while streaming on YouTube Live on November 5, 2026 from 6:00–7:30PM EST and will be available for purchase after the event. Click Here To Watch The Live Stream Welcome to Part 2 of the Christmas Wish workshop series. In Part 1, we crafted immersive, storybook background plates designed to spark wonder. Now, the heart of the project begins: uniting Santa Claus with brave children facing significant medical journeys. Compositing portraits captured under challenging hospital conditions—such as portable green screens, neutral grey backdrops, and delicate clinical equipment—requires both precision and sensitivity. In this intensive hands-on session, Karen Alsop guides you through the complete subject integration pipeline. You will explore the balance between time-tested manual selection methods and cutting-edge Photoshop AI extraction tools, master seamless spill and edge decontamination, and anchor subjects into three-dimensional space with accurate perspective and contact shadows. Learn how to transform raw studio captures into believable, luminous works of art that bring profound joy to families during difficult times. By weaving together clean edge extraction, realistic physics, grounded shadow structures, and painterly light interaction, we have transformed two separate photographic moments into a unified scene of pure holiday magic. The skills mastered across these modules extend far beyond Photoshop technique. Every refined selection around fine hair, every neutralized edge spill, and every subtle layer of falling snow contributes to an heirloom portrait that families will cherish for generations. Whether applying these principles as a volunteer artist for The Heart Project's worldwide Christmas Wish initiative or crafting fine-art fantasy commissions for your own clientele, you now possess the complete, non-destructive workflow needed to bring extraordinary Christmas stories to life. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Karen Alsop. Class Outline Pre-Composite Review & Asset Preparation Subject Extraction — Classic Craft vs. Next-Gen AI: Method A, The Classic Color Range & Edge Refine Workflow, and Method B, Modern AI Selection & Cloud-Assisted Matting. Spatial Integration, Scale & Staging Lighting Harmonization & Atmospheric Magic What You'll Learn Reading the Background Plate: Analyzing perspective, vanishing lines, color temperature, and key/fill light angles established in Part 1. In-Hospital Green Screen Asset Ingestion: Reviewing RAW captures shot on green screen setups and grey backgrounds (addressing rim lighting, subject stance, and stand-in Santa reference frames). Lightroom Preparation & Smart Object Pipeline: Cropping, baseline profile corrections, and opening green screen files into Photoshop as Smart Objects to preserve non-destructive editing flexibility. Sampling the green backdrop using Color Range with inverted selection. Manual clean-up using marquee tools, soft brushes, and Shift-click straight-line mask refinements. One-click Subject Selection and Cloud-enhanced edge processing for fine strands of hair. Refining edges and fur using selections and generative tools. Hybrid Masking for Challenging Elements: Masking around wheelchairs, medical tubing, sensitive sensory equipment, and baby poses safely and cleanly. Placing Santa and Child into the Scene: Arranging relative proportions, eye levels, and realistic physical interaction points (e.g., sitting inside a sleigh, perching on Santa's knee, or holding props). Painting ambient occlusion layers right at contact points. Building soft-cast directional shadows to match background light sources (lanterns, fireplaces, moonlight). Depth of Field Alignment: Matching background focus blur to subject depth planes so foreground figures do not look artificially sharp. Practical Light Bleed & Rim Enhancements: Painting interactive glows from sleigh lanterns, glowing ornaments, and festive firelight onto Santa and the children. Blending foreground and mid-ground falling snow textures. Introducing magical holiday sparkle, mist, and soft atmospheric bokeh. Who It's For Digital artists and retouchers looking to master environment creation and professional compositing techniques. Volunteers and photographers planning to contribute artwork to The Heart Project's Christmas Wish initiative. Portrait and commercial photographers wanting to add magical, high-end holiday composites to their creative repertoire. Prerequisites & Suggested Tools Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop layers, masks, and adjustment layers. Adobe Photoshop (Creative Cloud). Pen tablet recommended (Wacom or similar). How to Join This class will be free to watch while it is streaming live on YouTube. The YouTube Live link will be sent to registered participants prior to the event. After the live event, the class will be available for purchase. About the Instructor Karen Alsop is an internationally acclaimed Melbourne, Australia-based photographic digital artist. Expanding on two decades of photographic and graphic design experience, Karen brings photography and art together to create stunning artworks that tell a story and take the viewer into another world.

Fashion & Portrait Photography Portfolio Review with Ab Sesay

Multiple dates

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. In this class, photographer Ab Sesay will review your fashion and portrait photography portfolio, live! Bring your best work and get real-time, professional feedback. Ab Sesay will go through submitted portfolios on air — sharing what's working, what to cut, and how to sharpen your edit and sequencing. It's the kind of critique you'd normally only get one-on-one, opened up for everyone watching to learn from. Submit your portfolio for review live in chat during the broadcast. Whether you're building a portfolio for clients, school applications, or your own website, this is your chance to see real fashion and portrait photography portfolios get real feedback, live. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Ab Sesay. What You'll Learn What separates a strong fashion and portrait photography portfolio from a weak one, through live, real-world examples. How to edit down a body of work to your strongest, most cohesive images. How to sequence a portfolio so it tells a story and holds a viewer's attention. What working photographers and reviewers actually look for when evaluating fashion and portrait portfolios. Who It's For Photographers building a fashion and portrait photography portfolio for clients, school applications, or their own website. Anyone who wants real-time, professional feedback on their work. Photographers who want to learn portfolio editing and sequencing by watching live critiques, even if they don't submit their own. How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor Ab Sesay is a versatile commercial advertising photographer, creative producer, and content creator known for his exceptional ability to blend ideas, technology, and resources to elevate projects and bring his clients' visions to fruition. With a career spanning over 20 years, Ab has served as a producer for both motion and stills, gaining invaluable experience from the client's perspective as Chief Creative Producer at the Mac Group, where he has overseen content development for more than 30 renowned brands, including Sekonic, X-Rite, Broncolor, Bowens, Profoto, and Elinchrom. As Ab puts it, "Every project possesses a unique creative goal, timeline, and budget, and finding the perfect balance between them is a thrilling challenge." Beyond his in-house work at the Mac Group, Ab has taken on outside contracts with prestigious names including L'Oreal, Pepsi, Universal Records, Fujifilm, and Higher DOSE, as well as nonprofit organizations like the American Parkinson Disease Association. He currently serves as Brand Manager for Sekonic Light Meters and Chief Creative Producer at the Mac Group, alongside his passion for teaching lighting.

The Art of Direction: How to Create Emotion, Expression & Story with James Patrick

Fri, Nov 13, 5–8pm ET Live Online

This course will be free to watch while streaming on YouTube Live on 11/13/2026 from 5:00–8:00 PM EST and will be available for purchase after the event. Great photographs don't simply happen because a subject knows how to pose. They happen because the photographer knows how to direct the person in front of the camera. In this class, James Patrick breaks down the art and psychology of directing subjects to create authentic emotion, compelling expression, natural movement, and stronger visual storytelling. From nervous first-time subjects and camera-shy professionals to experienced models, photographers will learn how to communicate effectively, use prompts instead of rigid posing, direct body language and movement, and create genuine connection between subject, camera, and environment. Through practical demonstrations and real-world techniques, this class teaches photographers how to move beyond simply telling people where to stand and instead create photographs that actually feel like something. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with James Patrick. What You'll Learn Communicate directions clearly using prompts rather than rigid, mechanical posing. Build genuine connection and trust with subjects, from nervous first-timers to experienced models. Direct body language, movement, and expression to create authentic, natural-feeling images. Adapt your directing style to different subject types and comfort levels. Move beyond "where to stand" instructions and create photographs that feel emotionally real. Who It's For Photographers who are technically strong but struggle to get natural expressions or movement from subjects. Anyone who works with nervous, camera-shy, or first-time subjects. Portrait and lifestyle photographers who want their images to feel more authentic and less posed. Photographers ready to move past rigid posing formulas and develop real directing skills. How to Join This class will be free to watch while it is streaming live on YouTube. The YouTube Live link will be sent to registered participants prior to the event. After the live event, the class will be available for purchase. About the Instructor James Patrick is a commercial photographer and media strategist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has photographed more than 800 magazine covers across the health, fitness, and wellness industries. His work has appeared in major publications including Muscle & Fitness, Men's Fitness, Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine, and Women's Running. James specializes in creating bold editorial imagery and helping photographers develop both their creative voice and their professional brand.

Beauty and Glamour Portfolio Review with James Patrick

Mon, Nov 16, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. In this class, photographer James Patrick will review your beauty and glamour portfolio, live! Bring your best work and get real-time, professional feedback. James Patrick will go through submitted portfolios on air — sharing what's working, what to cut, and how to sharpen your edit and sequencing. It's the kind of critique you'd normally only get one-on-one, opened up for everyone watching to learn from. Submit your portfolio for review live in chat during the broadcast. Whether you're building a portfolio for clients, school applications, or your own website, this is your chance to see real beauty and glamour portfolios get real feedback, live. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with James Patrick. What You'll Learn What separates a strong beauty and glamour portfolio from a weak one, through live, real-world examples. How to edit down a body of work to your strongest, most cohesive images. How to sequence a portfolio so it tells a story and holds a viewer's attention. What working photographers and reviewers actually look for when evaluating beauty and glamour portfolios. Who It's For Photographers building a beauty and glamour portfolio for clients, school applications, or their own website. Anyone who wants real-time, professional feedback on their work. Photographers who want to learn portfolio editing and sequencing by watching live critiques, even if they don't submit their own. How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor James Patrick is a commercial photographer and media strategist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has photographed more than 800 magazine covers across the health, fitness, and wellness industries, with work appearing in major publications including Muscle & Fitness, Men's Fitness, Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine, and Women's Running. James specializes in creating bold editorial imagery and helping photographers develop both their creative voice and their professional brand.

Illustrator From The Ground Up - Part 3: Advanced Editing with Jason Hoppe

Tue, Nov 17, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. In Part 3, Jason Hoppe moves beyond basic shapes and into the tools professionals use to create detailed, precise artwork. You'll start by building grid structures that keep your designs consistent and well proportioned. Then you'll take on the Pen tool, which many people find intimidating. Jason breaks it down step by step and shows how the Curvature tool offers an easier way to draw smooth curves. As your artwork grows more complex, organization matters. You'll learn how to use layers to keep your files manageable, and how clipping masks and Draw Inside let you place artwork inside shapes without destroying the original. Finally, you'll use compound shapes to create cutouts and complex forms that stay fully editable. By the end of this class, you'll be able to draw nearly any shape you can imagine and keep even complex files organized. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Jason Hoppe. What You'll Learn Build grid structures for consistent, well-proportioned layouts and illustrations Draw precise curves and paths with the Pen and Curvature tools Organize complex artwork with layers and sublayers Hide and reveal artwork with clipping masks and Draw Inside mode Create compound shapes for cutouts and complex forms Who It's For Students who completed Parts 1 and 2 of the series Illustrator users who have avoided the Pen tool and want to master it Designers who work with complex, multi-layered files Illustrators and logo designers who need precise control over curves and paths How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor Jason Hoppe is an Adobe Certified Expert and Adobe Certified Instructor with a graphic design background. For 19 years he has taught Adobe software, including Illustrator, at Seattle's School of Visual Concepts, Luminous Works, and Seattle Central College, and he is the founding instructor at CreativeLive. He breaks complex tools down into clear, practical steps, which helps students of every level build confident vector illustration, logo, and layout skills they can put to work right away. Jason's teaching draws on 20 years of real production work. He has led electronic production departments at Seattle agencies such as Hornall Anderson and Bozell/FCB, and has built design workflows for clients like Costco and Cascade Designs. That experience means his Illustrator lessons go beyond what each tool does: he teaches how professionals use it to work efficiently, avoid production problems, and deliver polished, print- and digital-ready artwork.

Editorial Portrait Portfolio Review with James Patrick

Mon, Nov 23, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. In this class, photographer James Patrick will review your editorial portrait portfolio, live! Bring your best work and get real-time, professional feedback. James Patrick will go through submitted portfolios on air — sharing what's working, what to cut, and how to sharpen your edit and sequencing. It's the kind of critique you'd normally only get one-on-one, opened up for everyone watching to learn from. Submit your portfolio for review live in chat during the broadcast. Whether you're building a portfolio for clients, school applications, or your own website, this is your chance to see real editorial portrait portfolios get real feedback, live. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with James Patrick. What You'll Learn What separates a strong editorial portrait portfolio from a weak one, through live, real-world examples. How to edit down a body of work to your strongest, most cohesive images. How to sequence a portfolio so it tells a story and holds a viewer's attention. What working photographers and reviewers actually look for when evaluating editorial portrait portfolios. Who It's For Photographers building an editorial portrait portfolio for clients, school applications, or their own website. Anyone who wants real-time, professional feedback on their work. Photographers who want to learn portfolio editing and sequencing by watching live critiques, even if they don't submit their own. How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor James Patrick is a commercial photographer and media strategist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has photographed more than 800 magazine covers across the health, fitness, and wellness industries, with work appearing in major publications including Muscle & Fitness, Men's Fitness, Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine, and Women's Running. James specializes in creating bold editorial imagery and helping photographers develop both their creative voice and their professional brand.

Illustrator From The Ground Up - Part 4: Advanced Composition with Jason Hoppe

Tue, Nov 24, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. Part 4 is where Illustrator starts to feel like a creative playground. Jason Hoppe introduces the tools that let you build rich, complex compositions without drawing every element by hand. You'll use the Blend tool to create smooth transitions between shapes and colors, and symbols to place and update repeated artwork across a design. Jason then shows you how to design seamless patterns for backgrounds, textiles, and packaging. You'll turn sketches and photos into editable vector art with Image Trace, then fill them with color using Live Paint. Finally, you'll create and apply custom brushes that add hand-drawn character to your work. By the end of this class, you'll have a toolkit of time-saving techniques for creating detailed illustrations, patterns, and textures. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Jason Hoppe. What You'll Learn Create smooth transitions between shapes and colors with the Blend tool Save time and keep files lean with reusable symbols Design seamless, repeating patterns Turn sketches and photos into vector art with Image Trace, then color them with Live Paint Create and apply custom brushes Who It's For Students who completed Parts 1–3 of the series Illustrators who want to add texture, depth, and detail to their work Surface, textile, and packaging designers who create repeating patterns Artists who want to turn hand-drawn sketches into vector artwork How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor Jason Hoppe is an Adobe Certified Expert and Adobe Certified Instructor with a graphic design background. For 19 years he has taught Adobe software, including Illustrator, at Seattle's School of Visual Concepts, Luminous Works, and Seattle Central College, and he is the founding instructor at CreativeLive. He breaks complex tools down into clear, practical steps, which helps students of every level build confident vector illustration, logo, and layout skills they can put to work right away. Jason's teaching draws on 20 years of real production work. He has led electronic production departments at Seattle agencies such as Hornall Anderson and Bozell/FCB, and has built design workflows for clients like Costco and Cascade Designs. That experience means his Illustrator lessons go beyond what each tool does: he teaches how professionals use it to work efficiently, avoid production problems, and deliver polished, print- and digital-ready artwork.

Portfolio Review SEO and Branding Optimization with Tasiana Louise

Mon, Nov 30, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. In this class, marketing strategist Tasiana Louise will review your photography portfolio, live, with a focus on SEO and branding! Bring your portfolio and get real-time, professional feedback. Tasiana Louise will go through submitted portfolios on air, sharing what's working, what to change, and how to make your work easier to find and your brand easier to remember. It's the kind of critique you'd normally only get one-on-one, opened up for everyone watching to learn from. Submit your portfolio for review live in chat during the broadcast. Whether you're building a portfolio for clients or refreshing your own website, this is your chance to see real photography portfolios get real feedback on SEO and branding, live. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Tasiana Louise. What You'll Learn What makes a photography portfolio easier for search engines and potential clients to find. How to spot common SEO gaps and where to fix them. How to make your branding clear and consistent across your portfolio and online presence. How to communicate your value and specialty to the clients you want to attract. What's working, and what to change, through live, real-world portfolio examples. Who It's For Photographers with a portfolio who want to be found by more potential clients. Freelance and professional photographers who want clearer, more consistent branding. Anyone who wants real-time, professional feedback on their online presence. Photographers who want to learn from watching live critiques, even if they don't submit their own. How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor Tasiana Louise is a marketing professional with a background in digital marketing, content strategy, branding, and business operations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Arizona State University and has worked with businesses across retail, healthcare, and service-based industries. Her hands-on experience includes developing social media strategies, managing marketing campaigns, creating digital content, and helping businesses strengthen their online presence. Tasiana focuses on making marketing approachable and actionable, helping creative professionals understand how to promote their work with greater confidence and intention.

Illustrator From The Ground Up - Part 5: AI and 3D with Jason Hoppe

Tue, Dec 8, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. In Part 5, Jason Hoppe brings together time-tested techniques and some of Illustrator's newest features. You'll start with Concept to Vector, following an idea from a rough concept all the way to a clean, finished vector graphic. Then you'll use Turntable, an AI-powered feature that generates new views of flat illustrations, so a character or icon can be seen from different angles without redrawing it. Next, you'll move into three dimensions. Jason shows how to build 3D objects with Illustrator's 3D tools, add lighting and materials, and keep everything editable. You'll use the Mockup feature to see your logos and artwork on real-world products, and learn techniques for creating clean, accurate isometric drawings. Throughout the class, Jason shows how these tools fit into real projects, so you can work faster and present your ideas more effectively. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Jason Hoppe. What You'll Learn Take an idea from rough concept to finished vector graphic Generate new views of flat vector artwork with Illustrator's AI-powered Turntable feature Build 3D objects with lighting and materials using Illustrator's 3D tools Place your designs on realistic product images with the Mockup feature Create clean, accurate isometric drawings Who It's For Students who completed Parts 1–4 of the series Designers who want to turn their ideas into finished vector graphics Packaging, product, and brand designers who need realistic mockups Illustrators interested in AI-powered tools, 3D, and isometric artwork How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor Jason Hoppe is an Adobe Certified Expert and Adobe Certified Instructor with a graphic design background. For 19 years he has taught Adobe software, including Illustrator, at Seattle's School of Visual Concepts, Luminous Works, and Seattle Central College, and he is the founding instructor at CreativeLive. He breaks complex tools down into clear, practical steps, which helps students of every level build confident vector illustration, logo, and layout skills they can put to work right away. Jason's teaching draws on 20 years of real production work. He has led electronic production departments at Seattle agencies such as Hornall Anderson and Bozell/FCB, and has built design workflows for clients like Costco and Cascade Designs. That experience means his Illustrator lessons go beyond what each tool does: he teaches how professionals use it to work efficiently, avoid production problems, and deliver polished, print- and digital-ready artwork.

How To Write Stellar Settings – Writing Your Novel: Part 1 with Dawn Richards

Thu, Dec 10, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. This is part one of a four part series that will teach you how to write a novel. In this class, Dawn shows you how filmmakers establish place in a single shot, and how you can do the same on the page with a few well-chosen details. You'll learn to use setting to set mood, raise tension, and reveal who your characters are. By the end, your story world will feel like a place readers can step into. Writing is hard but it should be fun, too! Whether you are thinking about writing a novel, are working on one currently, or have finished your book, this series uses screenwriting tips to improve your manuscript. Using selected scenes in film and television, you'll study character development, nuance in dialogue, pacing, and how to better organize your writing time, and Part 1 starts with the importance of setting. While this class will not cover the publishing industry, the goal is to get your books in the best possible condition to attract an agent! Dawn will use examples of lessons learned to help you improve your own project. Practical examples and tips will enable you to identify what works and what doesn't work, and she will examine common roadblocks in your personal and professional writing lives. In addition to craft advice, Dawn wants to invigorate writers, offer encouragement, and quell anxiety. By breaking down individual aspects of storytelling, starting here with setting, the challenges you face become manageable and the end results, once you incorporate these lessons, will be brilliant! This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Dawn [LAST NAME]. What You'll Learn How to use all five senses to put readers inside a scene How to make setting reflect mood, theme, and character emotion How to weave in description through action instead of info dumps How to treat setting as a character that shapes your plot Who It's For Novice novelists All ages Fiction writers currently considering writing a novel or those who are in the process of writing or editing one How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time.

From Stills to Multimedia: Bringing Video & Audio Into Your Production Workflow with James Patrick

Fri, Dec 11, 5–8pm ET Live Online

This course will be free to watch while streaming on YouTube Live on December 11, 2026 from 5:00–8:00PM EST and will be available for purchase after the event. Photography clients increasingly need more than still images. In this class, James Patrick shows photographers how to expand their existing production workflow by integrating video and audio into the same shoots, creating more valuable and versatile multimedia content without having to become full-time filmmakers or audio engineers. From adapting lighting and directing subjects for motion to capturing usable interview audio, B-roll, behind-the-scenes content, and short-form video, photographers will learn how to plan productions that efficiently generate multiple forms of content. The class also explores the equipment, workflow, crew considerations, deliverables, and client service strategies needed to incorporate multimedia into a photography business, helping photographers increase the value of their productions while giving clients a more complete content solution. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with James Patrick. What You'll Learn Adapt lighting and directing techniques for motion, not just stills. Capture usable interview audio, B-roll, behind-the-scenes content, and short-form video. Plan productions that efficiently generate multiple forms of content in a single shoot. Navigate the equipment, workflow, and crew considerations needed for multimedia production. Structure deliverables and client service strategies to sell multimedia packages alongside stills. Who It's For Photographers looking to expand their production workflow into video and audio without becoming full-time filmmakers. Photographers who want to offer clients a more complete content solution. Anyone looking to increase the value of their productions through multimedia deliverables. How to Join This class will be free to watch while it is streaming live on YouTube. The YouTube Live link will be sent to registered participants prior to the event. After the live event, the class will be available for purchase. About the Instructor James Patrick is a commercial photographer and media strategist based in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has photographed more than 800 magazine covers across the health, fitness, and wellness industries. His work has appeared in major publications including Muscle & Fitness, Men's Fitness, Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine, and Women's Running. James specializes in creating bold editorial imagery and helping photographers develop both their creative voice and their professional brand.

Illustrator From The Ground Up - Part 6: Effects and Graphic Styles with Jason Hoppe

Tue, Dec 15, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. In Part 6, Jason Hoppe reveals one of Illustrator's most powerful and overlooked features: the Appearance panel. You'll learn how to stack multiple fills, strokes, and effects on a single object, creating rich looks that remain fully editable. Then you'll use opacity and blending modes to add transparency, depth, and lighting to your artwork. Next, Jason tours the Effects menu, from drop shadows and distortions to 3D and isometric effects, and shows how to adjust them at any time. You'll save your favorite looks as graphic styles so you can apply them with one click. Finally, you'll learn when and how to expand effects and appearances, an important step when preparing files for print, cutting, and other production uses. By the end of this class, you'll be able to create complex, polished styles quickly while keeping them flexible. This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Jason Hoppe. What You'll Learn Stack multiple fills, strokes, and effects with the Appearance panel Use opacity and blending modes to create depth and transparency Apply and edit live effects from the Effects menu, including 3D and isometric effects Save and reuse looks with graphic styles Know when and how to expand effects and appearances for production Who It's For Students who completed Parts 1–5 of the series Designers who want to create consistent styles across projects Illustrators who want to add depth and dimension to their work Production artists who prepare Illustrator files for print and fabrication How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor Jason Hoppe is an Adobe Certified Expert and Adobe Certified Instructor with a graphic design background. For 19 years he has taught Adobe software, including Illustrator, at Seattle's School of Visual Concepts, Luminous Works, and Seattle Central College, and he is the founding instructor at CreativeLive. He breaks complex tools down into clear, practical steps, which helps students of every level build confident vector illustration, logo, and layout skills they can put to work right away. Jason's teaching draws on 20 years of real production work. He has led electronic production departments at Seattle agencies such as Hornall Anderson and Bozell/FCB, and has built design workflows for clients like Costco and Cascade Designs. That experience means his Illustrator lessons go beyond what each tool does: he teaches how professionals use it to work efficiently, avoid production problems, and deliver polished, print- and digital-ready artwork.

How To Create Compelling Characters – Writing Your Novel: Part 2 with Dawn Richards

Thu, Dec 17, 7–8:30pm ET Live Online

This session is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. This is part two of a four part series that will teach you how to write a novel. In this class, Dawn breaks down how screenwriters build memorable characters from the inside out, starting with what a character wants and what stands in the way. You'll learn to give your protagonist a meaningful arc, craft antagonists with real motives, and show personality through choices rather than description. You'll leave with characters readers care about long after the last page. Writing is hard but it should be fun, too! Whether you are thinking about writing a novel, are working on one currently, or have finished your book, this series uses screenwriting tips to improve your manuscript. Using selected scenes in film and television, you'll study nuance in dialogue, the importance of setting, pacing, and how to better organize your writing time, and Part 2 focuses on character development. While this class will not cover the publishing industry, the goal is to get your books in the best possible condition to attract an agent! Dawn will use examples of lessons learned to help you improve your own project. Practical examples and tips will enable you to identify what works and what doesn't work, and she will examine common roadblocks in your personal and professional writing lives. In addition to craft advice, Dawn wants to invigorate writers, offer encouragement, and quell anxiety. By breaking down individual aspects of storytelling, including character here, the challenges you face become manageable and the end results, once you incorporate these lessons, will be brilliant! This class includes a dedicated 30 minutes of Q&A directly with Dawn [LAST NAME]. What You'll Learn How to give characters clear wants, needs, and motivations How to build believable flaws, fears, and contradictions How to map a character arc that changes across your story How to reveal backstory without stopping the action How to develop supporting characters and antagonists with depth Who It's For Novice novelists All ages Fiction writers currently considering writing a novel or those who are in the process of writing or editing one How to Join The class will be delivered via Zoom Webinars. You'll need access to Zoom through a web browser or the Zoom app in order to participate. This class is exclusively available to CreativeLive subscribers. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can subscribe here. To reserve your spot, register using the Sign Up form and button above. Space is limited. A unique Zoom join link will be sent to registered subscribers, up to the maximum number of participants per class. You'll receive this link one hour before the class start time. About the Instructor [INSTRUCTOR BIO NEEDED]