Milky Way Photography 101: Learn to Photograph the Night Sky

Learn to Photograph the Night Sky with Confidence

Have you ever looked at a Milky Way photo and wondered, “How on earth do people capture that?”

The truth is — Milky Way photography isn’t just luck. It rewards planning, patience, and understanding a few key techniques. The good news? You do not need expensive gear or years of experience to get started and you can capture these type of images right here in Southwestern Ontario!

Join award-winning Canadian photographer and educator Trevor Pottelberg for an engaging and beginner-friendly introduction to Milky Way photography.

This workshop is designed to help photographers feel confident photographing the night sky while learning the practical skills needed to create stronger, more intentional images.

Whether you are completely new to astrophotography or have tried photographing the stars before and felt frustrated, this workshop will help simplify the process and get you pointed in the right direction.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How to locate and photograph the Milky Way core
• Understanding Milky Way season and timing
• Planning around moon phases and darkness
• Recommended gear and camera settings
• Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO explained simply
• How to achieve sharp focus in the dark
• Composition tips for stronger night sky images
• Understanding light pollution and dark skies
• Helpful planning apps and tools (PhotoPills, Stellarium, Light Pollution Maps & more)
• Beginner-friendly shooting workflows that actually work in the field
• Different approaches to Milky Way photography including single image, panoramic, stacked, blended, and tracked images

THIS WORKSHOP IS

✔ Beginner-Friendly
✔ Practical & Real-World Focused
✔ Confidence-Building
✔ Designed for Photographers of All Experience Levels

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOT

✘ A highly technical deep-sky astrophotography class
✘ A heavy post-processing/editing workshop
✘ Overwhelming or overly complicated

WHAT PAST ATTENDEES ARE SAYING

“Trevor’s workshop was incredibly well prepared, engaging, and inspiring. His passion for photography is contagious and he makes learning feel approachable. Having attended hundreds of professional presentations throughout my university education, I would rank Trevor’s among the top 5%.”

— Andrea M.

"I recently attended Trevor’s Milky Way 101 evening photography class, and it was excellent. The session was packed with valuable information, practical tips, and clear instruction that made astrophotography feel much more approachable and achievable.
What stood out most was Trevor’s passion for photography and his genuine enthusiasm for teaching others. His knowledge, patience, and ability to explain concepts in an engaging and easy-to-understand way made the experience both enjoyable and inspiring.
I came away from the class feeling motivated, more confident, and excited to put what I learned into practice. I would highly recommend this class to anyone interested in learning Milky Way photography, whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your skills"

___ Lynn U.

"I highly recommend Trevor's courses if you are at all interested in photography. The Night Photography course I took was very thorough considering it was only a few hours. Having it in person and in an actual classroom made it that much better. Trevor made sure that all of the attendees had all of their questions answered. I absolutely enjoyed it"

___ Brian C.

ABOUT TREVOR

Trevor Pottelberg is an award-winning Canadian photographer, educator, and photography professor based in Southwestern Ontario. Trevor has been teaching photography at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario for over 18 years and has earned national recognition for his wildlife, landscape, and night photography.

His work has been featured internationally, including multiple magazine covers, and he was honoured as Canadian National Photographic Artist of the Year through the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC).

Known for his approachable teaching style and passion for helping photographers grow creatively, Trevor loves helping others gain confidence with their camera and see the world differently after dark.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

📍 Location: Fanshawe College, London, Ontario
🕒 Duration: Approximately 3 Hours
🎒 Bring: A notebook, pen, snacks, your questions, and curiosity

PLEASE NOTE

This is a classroom-based educational workshop designed to build confidence and understanding before heading into the field.

No prior Milky Way photography experience is required.

Come learn how to photograph one of nature’s most breathtaking spectacles — and leave feeling inspired, informed, and ready to try it for yourself.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Trevor Pottelberg Photography