class by celina bailey

At Play

Let go. Create photos without limits. Make Magic.

Break free from perfectionism, reconnect with your creative instincts, and rediscover the joy of making images for yourself. Whether you're feeling creatively stuck, burned out, or simply craving something new, this class invites you to explore photography in a way that feels light, freeing, and deeply personal.

i'm interested
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COURSE LENGTH

6 weeks

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class start date

tbc 2027

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INVESTMENT

$250 / $350

Independent / Guided

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celina bailey

Photography doesn’t always have to be serious or technically perfect. In fact, some of the most meaningful images come from moments of spontaneity, curiosity, and even chaos.

If we indulge our curiosity, we dig into new parts of our brains, allow the hidden parts to come forward, and can allow ourselves to be continually surprised by both the path and the destination.

By the end of the At Play course, you’ll walk away with a fresh body of work, new techniques to spark inspiration, and a deeper connection to your creative voice. Most importantly, you’ll remember why you picked up your camera in the first place: because creating can be fun, playful, and full of magic.

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celina bailey
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  • Creative techniques:

    • play with different composition

    • play with different perspectives

    • play with light and shadows

    • play with movement

    • play with focus

    • play with colours

    • play with in camera photo manipulations such as double exposures

    • play with creative ways of shooting with prism, mirrors, plastic

    • play with other artistic mediums such as mixed media

    • play with freelensing and reverse macro photography

    • photography with a DIY approach

  • This is a thoughtfully structured six-week interactive online workshop designed to support both creative growth and flexibility.

    Here's what you can expect:

    Three weeks of instruction spaced out over six weeks: You’ll receive one core lesson per week, followed by a week-long break to reflect, experiment, and complete your assignment without rushing.

    Weekly core lessons with daily prompts, and inspiration. As well as daily discussions on creativity. 

    Weekly Zoom calls: Guided students have live sessions to expand on each lesson with creative discussions, Q&A, and brainstorming. These are a chance to go deeper, connect, and stay inspired. (These are recorded for independent students and guided students who can’t attend live).

    Daily instructor interaction: Celina will be available in the classroom throughout the week to answer questions and provide guidance on the material.

    Weekly creative assignments: Designed to challenge, inspire, and stretch your photographic thinking.

    Individual feedback for guided students: Personalized video critiques (screen recordings) on each weekly assignment to help you grow and see your work with fresh eyes.

    Bonus exercises: Light, optional prompts to keep the creativity flowing. (Feedback not provided on these.)

    Community connection: A warm, inclusive space to share your work, process, and discoveries with like-minded creatives.

  • This course is open to all levels, from beginners to professionals. All you need is:

    • A willingness to experiment, play, and try new things (perfectionism not welcome!)

    • A camera of any kind: DSLR, mirrorless, analog, or even a smartphone 

    • Basic understanding of how to use your camera (how to adjust focus, exposure, etc.)

    • Optional: a few fun tools to experiment with—like a prism, mirror, plastic wrap, or an old lens for freelensing… all this will be discussed in class.

    Most importantly, bring an open mind, an open heart, and a curiosity-driven spirit. This course is designed to meet you wherever you are in your creative journey.

  • Interactive classes are held online and registration opens seasonally.

    Guided students can participate fully in class, by asking questions, submitting assignments, and getting personalized feedback from your teacher.

    Independent students have full access to class content and can participate in class discussions —they just don’t get teacher critique and feedback on images or assignments.

“For me, this class was about reflection. I walked away with a few concrete ideas to play and really hone my voice. But I also came away with a world of ideas about slowing down, listening to my gut, and trusting it. “

katja
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MEET THE TEACHER
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Celina

Bailey

Hello, I’m Celina. I wear many hats and embrace being perfectly imperfect- a walking contradiction who finds beauty in everything.

I’m a visual art addict, a working mom to Mathis and Elsie, a loyal friend, a hopeless romantic, and someone who still believes in magic. Professionally, I’m the Artistic Director and content strategist for CrownRing | Noam Carver, a bridal company.

I also teach photography here and lead workshops in Montreal on photography and social media. Over the years, I’ve collaborated with brands like Disney, eBay and JCrew, and built a Pinterest following of over 3 million.

Storytelling is at the heart of everything I do. I’ve been drawn to documentary photography for over a decade—capturing real, quiet, and messy moments. Lately, I’ve fallen in love with film again, developing and scanning at home and dreaming of one day building a darkroom.

Born into a half British, half Moroccan family, I’ve lived in Montreal since I was five. I love coffee, vintage finds, florals & stripes, anything Japanese, and all the colors.

I dance often, stay up too late, and am always happy to try something new—especially if it feels a little unexpected and fun.

See Celina's instagram
Visit celina's website 
Any questions?

Email your teacher directly here and they will get back to you.

Alumni Student?

We’d love to have you back! Email your teacher here and they will send you a link.

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Interactive Class Registration opens August 26th

EXPLORE
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A person with a smiling face and long hair peeks through dense, spiky cactus branches with small green leaves.
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A woman partially submerged in a body of water, resting her head on the surface with a distant view of trees and hills in the background.
Multiple overlapping images of a young man with dark hair against a yellow background, creating a layered, colorful effect.
Silhouette of a woman with a ponytail, standing outdoors with blurred trees and sunlight in the background.
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A double exposure photograph showing a profile of a young woman, with a landscape of a cloudy sky and green trees inside her silhouette.
A young girl sitting on a slide at a playground, wearing goggles and holding a butterfly net and a bowl, surrounded by greenery.
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A young woman with long brown hair wearing a colorful, sequined flower crown with her eyes closed outdoors.
A young woman with a yellow headband and earbud, partially obscured by colorful, pastel light streaks.
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Two people are jumping into a body of water during sunset, creating splashes and ripples.
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A black and white photo of a woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a tactical vest, and a sweatshirt, sitting outdoors with a landscape and cloudy sky in the background.
Person's legs reflected in calm water with a partly submerged arm and a tattoo visible on the thigh.
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A woman in a swimsuit and snorkel gear wading into a body of water near a yellow and pink float.
A black and white double exposure photo combining a woman's face in profile with a forest scene of trees and branches.
Portrait of a young woman with closed eyes, wearing a striped shirt and necklace, in black and white.
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What other students had to say

At Play was the perfect spark to try something bold and brave. To pick up the camera without judgement and to get unstuck. It was so refreshing to commit to play and Celina is such a thoughtful and inspirational guide.

shannon

At Play was amazing! There were photographers of many different styles in my class, and it was amazing to see how everyone applied the lessons and techniques in their own way. I was also blown away by all the different techniques and skills that we went over! Even ones that I have used before were broken down in a way that I could see how to push it and use it in a slightly different way. Celina really pored her heart into this class and it was very helpful to me creatively.

kristina
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This class is exactly what I wished it would be and needed, as I felt somehow stuck in my photography journey. Celina’s creative approach to (family) photography is beyond words. I am walking away with so many new ideas regarding composition, perspectives, camera settings, constraints (in a good way) .The class atmosphere was awesome and Celina was so helpful, engaged and encouraging towards our work. One of my favorite classes ever and perfect if you are stuck in a creative rut.

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katja
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