guiding you to create with confidence and see the world differently
wild lens academy
Hi! I'm Zara
Helping you build confidence, trust your eye,
and create freely
Wild Lens Academy was created from a long-held desire to teach, guide, and create safe, creative spaces for people to grow. Zara King Photography has been around since 2010, I've been teaching since 2017, and I’m currently completing my Certificate IV in Training and Assessment to deepen and expand the way I support my students.
Through beginner workshops and creative programs, I focus on building both technical skills and creative confidence - helping you understand your camera, trust your instincts, and capture the world in a way that feels true to you.
My approach is gentle, inclusive, and grounded in real understanding - whether you’re picking up a camera for the first time or reconnecting with your creativity. Wild Lens Academy is here to help you build confidence, trust your eye, and develop your skills in a way that feels supportive, not overwhelming.
Blue Mountains
Beginner Photography Workshop
Wentworth Falls School of Arts
One-day photography workshop covering a thorough introduction to your camera, composition, and retouching basics — perfect for people new to photography who want to shoot confidently and creatively.
*held once a month on a Saturday
North Sydney Community Centre
Beginner Photography
2hrs per week for 6-8 weeks
A thorough introduction to your camera, composition, and lighting basics — perfect for people new to photography who want to shoot confidently and creatively.
*Monday evenings, 6.30 - 8.30 pm
Extended Photography
2hrs per week for 8 weeks
For those who want to deepen their skills, explore the different genres of photography (from portraiture and landscapes to night-scapes and astro), and experiment with storytelling through images.
*Thursday evenings, 6.30 - 8.30 pm
Smartphone Photography
3 hour workshop
This workshop teaches you how to get the best results from your smart phone’s built in camera. You’ll be learning techniques that make your snapshots stand out from the crowd, including photography principles such as lighting, composition and editing.
*Twice a term, Saturday 12 - 3pm
Retouching
3 hour workshop *Coming Soon
In this workshop, participants will gain valuable knowledge and skills related to photo editing and organisation. We’ll be covering photo file formats, providing an overview of Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop, and guiding participants on effective photo storage and filing methods.
FAQ
How do I sign up for your courses?
My 8-week evening courses are currently run through the North Sydney Community Centre, and they handle all the bookings. You can find upcoming dates, pricing, and enrolment details on their website.
My weekend workshops can be booked through Class Bento or directly through me via my contact form. If you have questions before signing up, feel free to reach out directly - I’m always happy to chat about which course might suit you best.
What’s your teaching style like?
My classes are relaxed, friendly, and designed to meet you where you're at. I aim to create a welcoming space where you can learn at your own pace, ask questions freely, and build confidence without pressure. Whether you’re brand new to photography or returning after a break, the focus is on gentle growth and real-world creativity, not perfection.
Do I need any photography experience to join?
Not at all! These courses are designed with beginners and hobbyists in mind. You don’t need to know any technical terms or have used a fancy camera before. We’ll start with the basics and build your skills gradually, with lots of hands-on practice and simple explanations.
What gear do I need to bring?
Any DSLR or mirrorless camera is great, it just needs to have the ability to be in manual mode. I also recommend pens and paper, or an iPad/laptop for taking notes, and comfortable shoes and wet weather gear for excursions. If you're not sure what to bring, feel free to reach out and I’ll help you figure out what works best for the course you’re joining.
Testimonials
If I could give more stars to Zara, I would. She brought enthusiasm, great knowledge and patience to the course. I would love to do an intermediate course with her as I learnt so much beginner knowledge from her and the other members of the class.
Testimonials
It was great to learn the different functions of my camera. Until now I had only used the auto mode, so a huge thank you to Zara. She was always ready to rescue me when I called “help”. I especially enjoyed the excursion as the majority of the photos are taken in the day. However, it was interesting to learn about night photography, too.
Testimonials
The course leader, Zara, was incredibly patient with us, her knowledge is excellent and her ability to share that at a pace all of us could follow is superb.
Testimonials
Enjoyed everything about the course. Most informative with a very pleasant and helpful teacher.
Testimonials
I loved this course. Zara explained things in a simple yet clear way. I can now make good use of my camera.
Testimonials
Very good course for beginners. Great teacher!
Turn confusion into confidence,
one photo at a time
A Wild Lens Academy graduate feels capable of hosting exhibitions, or starting their own business, or comfortable and confident in their creativity skills if they want to keep it as a hobby.
No self doubt. No need for reassurance. They’re ready to capture the world one photo at a time.