class by iris hu

Layers of Love

Turn every photography session into cinematic storytelling.

Learn to master any light, compose with heart, and guide families effortlessly. In this class you will be guided on the four key elements that create storytelling images: light, environmental elements, connection, and composition. This will allow you to build a family photography business where artistry thrives—no ‘perfect’ conditions needed.

I'm interested
Dark gray clock face with black hour and minute hands showing the time as 4:00. 
COURSE LENGTH

3 weeks

Close-up of a black and gray electronic device, possibly a gaming console or computer hardware component, with vent-like openings at the top. 
class start date

16th Feb 2026

Black price tag with a circular hole at the top, tilted on a black background. 
INVESTMENT

$350 / $450

Independent / Guided

A family gathered in a kitchen, with children and adults sitting and standing, engaged in conversation or listening. A young girl is holding a picture book with bird illustrations. The kitchen has green cabinets, wooden shelves, and a peach-colored wall.
A gold-colored graphic 
iris hu

Discover the freedom to create images that truly reflect your unique perspective and capture the deep connection within families.

Ever felt uneasy when a client picks a session location you’re not familiar with? Or maybe you’re stressed out by a small, messy, or poorly lit house? Do you worry that a client’s outfit choices could affect the outcome of your images? And what if they insist on booking a session in the middle of the day, under harsh light? 

These are common concerns for family photographers—but what if every environment, every light condition could inspire your art? What if you could turn these challenges into your greatest strengths?

In this interactive workshop you will learn the art of cinematic storytelling no matter where you are and what you’re faced with.

Black and white photo of a young girl with long wavy hair, smiling, wearing a floral dress and headband. An adult's arm surrounds her shoulder. In front, a younger girl with curly blonde hair, wearing a light dress, rests her head on her hands with elbows on the older girl's chest. They are outdoors, background blurred with trees. 
iris hu
register for a Guided seat
register for aN independent seat
Join waitlist

    • Master the four key elements to create storytelling images: light, environmental elements, connections, and compositions. 

    • Confidently navigate both in-home and outdoor locations, creating artistic and meaningful images with a wide variety of looks. 

    • Use diverse lighting scenarios to enhance your storytelling. 

    • Learn gentle but intentional client direction to add layers and depth to your imagery, capturing organic connections with a cinematic feel. 

    • Discover a simple, quick editing flow that enhances the cinematic look of your photos. 

    • Build a solid business and branding foundation, with easy-to-implement workflows that keep your business thriving. 

    By the end, you’ll transform uncertainties into artistic opportunities, and leave with confidence to capture families anywhere. 

  • This three-week online workshop is designed for your busy schedule while maximizing your growth.

    Each week includes: 

    • In-depth written guides blending mindset shifts, practical techniques, and real-client examples 

    • Daily Q&A access to me—no question left unanswered 

    • Video lessons and behind-the-scenes footage (outdoor + in-home sessions) 

    • Weekly mini assignments to immediately apply what you learn 

    • A weekly live Q&A meeting to connect with Iris and dive deeper 

  • This class is ideal for photographers with an established family photography business or those planning to start one. You should already know how to shoot in manual mode and understand the relationship between ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. 

  • 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.

“This course has lit a fire under me. I've always felt a pull towards documentary, but I quickly feel cinematic photography will be a close second in its capability to pull out the personalities of my clients and how it can be unique for every client interaction.”

kari
A pixelated image with blocks of black, yellowish-green, light blue, and gray colors. 
MEET THE TEACHER

Iris

A woman with long black hair and a red dress holding a gray tabby cat with white markings close to her chest, standing beside a woman with long brown hair who is partially visible, pressing her hand against a glass surface.

Hu

Hi, I’m Iris,  I’ve never been the kind of photographer who sticks to just one thing. Weddings, commercials, quiet family afternoons—I shoot it all, because what really moves me is people and the way they exist in the world. 

I’m an introvert at heart, married to a musician, and a mom to two kids who remind me daily how fast time moves. Photography is how I slow it down - how I pay attention to the way wildflowers tremble in a breeze, the sunlight catching dust motes in an otherwise ordinary room, the way a glance can hold a whole story

… these are the details others might miss, but to me, they're everything. 

Influenced by wabi-sabi, I chase poetry in imperfection—the kind of images that feel like a half-remembered dream. The ones that pull you back to the way the air smelled, the way your chest tightened, the way time seemed to pause. 

When I’m not behind the lens, I’m teaching Layers of Love at Illuminate Classes, or hiding in a quiet corner with a book, recharging my introverted heart.  

I love documenting families, couples, and brands wherever they are, in light that feels real and moments that feel true. I’m based in Portland, Oregon, but most of my work happens somewhere else—I travel for about 90% of my sessions.

See iris' instagram
Visit iris' 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.

Iris’ photographs have recently been curated for exhibition at the Chinese Modern Art Museum. She was also recognized by the Lifestyle Photographers Association as 2023’s Photographer of the Year.

A gold-colored graphic

Registration opens January 7th

6pm EST

REMIND ME
A woman holding a baby and two young girls looking out a window on a cloudy day.
A woman and four children sitting on a black couch in a room with a large window behind them. One girl is standing on the window sill reaching up, another child is standing holding a teddy bear, and a woman is sitting with a little girl on her lap. T
A woman holding a baby and smiling, standing next to another woman washing dishes in a kitchen.
A woman with curly hair sitting in front of a backyard playground, watching children play on the slide and climbing structure.
Two women lying on a blanket in a forest during sunset, one holding a small Christmas tree branch, both smiling and relaxed.
A black-and-white photo of a family outdoors. The man is kissing a woman on the cheek. The woman is looking at the camera. A young girl is leaning against a ledge in front of the woman, looking at the camera.
A family of four with a dog enjoying a day outdoors in a grassy field with trees and mountains in the background at sunset.
A woman sitting on a stairway with four children around her, two children lying on a bed and two standing nearby, looking up at her.
Two young girls, one older and one younger, are outdoors. The older girl has long, wavy hair with a headband, and is smiling at the camera. The younger girl has blonde hair with a bow, resting her chin in her hands and looking at the camera. Their ar
Silhouetted woman and child walking on the beach during sunset
Four children playing and running near a pond in a grassy area with trees and hills in the background during autumn.
Four women lying on their backs on a blanket outdoors, close together, with their heads near each other, some touching, with relaxed expressions.
Children playing by a pond in a grassy area with trees and hills in the background during autumn.
A family visiting a stable: a man holding a young boy, a woman with a horse, and a girl sitting on the ground with a small dog.
A woman holding a child on a stone bridge near the ocean with rocky islands in the background in black and white.
A woman and two children on a city fire truck ladder, smiling. The woman is sitting on the top platform, with one girl sitting beside her and the other girl climbing the ladder. The background shows a city street with buildings and parked cars. The f
A woman with tattoos and dark hair sitting on grass holding a young girl with long hair and a bouquet, two other young girls, one standing with a dog and the other sitting on the grass, in a natural outdoor setting at sunset.
A woman dancing on the beach with three children and a man, with two playing violins and one holding a stick, in front of large rock formations near the water at sunset.
Red storefront door with two young girls standing inside and looking outside. The door has the number 450 at the top, a sign that says 'WELCOME Mask Optional,' and the store hours. Outside reflections show buildings and trees.
A group of four people, two women, a man, and a child, standing in a grassy field. One woman is holding a small black and white dog and the woman is smiling. The man is carrying the child on his shoulder. The scene is outdoors in a natural setting.
A group of women and children are relaxing and playing together in a cozy attic room with wooden walls and a small window letting in sunlight.
A woman and a young child walking on a large gray triangular platform near a stream in an outdoor setting with a plain, light gray wall in the background.
Street scene in front of the Hudson Tunnels entrance with people walking and a person riding a bicycle in rainy weather.
A woman laughing and smiling, holding a doorframe, while a toddler climbs on a couch in a living room.
A family of four walking on a rocky trail near a small stream in a rural landscape with rolling hills and a small white house in the background.
A woman and three children sitting outside a bookstore called The Strand in New York City, with the children reading books. The scene is in the evening with city buildings reflected in the window behind them.
A family of four sitting in a dimly lit room, with two adults and a baby, watching a young girl standing at the window.
Family gathered in a kitchen. A young woman and a young girl sit at the counter, while a woman and a boy face each other across the counter. The boy holds a picture of birds, and the girl is seated by a sink. The background shows kitchen shelves and
A woman pushing a stroller with a child wearing a white polka dot hat sitting inside, and a woman hugging a small girl in an orange dress outside a building at night.
Two women are lying on a bed; one is resting her head on her arm with her eyes closed, the other is holding a white lace cloth over her face with one eye closed, and sunlight filters through a window creating patterned shadows.
A man and woman standing on a city sidewalk outside a pizza restaurant called Village Square Pizza, with a bicycle in the foreground and three people inside the restaurant visible through the window.
A woman and five children sitting together in a dimly lit room, all watching something off-camera with serious expressions.
A man holding a child, a woman with a dog on a leash, standing outside a shop with a window display and neon sign that says 'NUMI Global curiosities'.
A black and white photo showing three children on an indoor staircase and a woman and a man standing on the floor below. Two children are on the staircase, one holding the railing, the other leaning on it. The woman and a child are engaged in a playf
A group of people enjoying a day outdoors near a vintage green van in a grassy field. A woman in a maroon dress sits on the back of the van, while a man in a white shirt stands next to her. In the background, a woman in a yellow dress and white boots
Family of four sitting on a grassy riverbank, smiling and laughing, with two children standing near the water, mountains and cloudy sky in the background during sunset.
A boy riding a bicycle past a family sitting on the sidewalk in front of a house, with a dog nearby, during daylight.
People walking outside the Hudson Tunnels entrance in New York City, with some standing and some walking across the sidewalk.
A woman and two children lying on a blanket on the beach at sunset, with two men in the background near the water.
A man and five children watching something intently in a dark room, sitting on a sofa and floor, with a framed picture on the wall behind them.
A family in a living room, with a man playing guitar, a woman holding a child, and a young girl standing nearby listening.

What other students had to say

Iris' cinematic approach to family photography opened a new creative door for me in envisioning scenes for family shoots that capture the family's authentic story and love. The way the course is broken down by shoot locations (nature, in-home and urban) made practicing the application of Iris's philosophy feel approachable in any setting. I feel lucky to have gotten a seat in this course and gain Iris's feedback on my assignments - she is an incredibly talented photographer and great teacher!

whitney

I am very happy that I attended this course. I absolutely love Iris' photos and now I know she has a great philosophy, values ​​and engagement behind them. The structure and modules were very well thought out, interesting, and understandable. I felt very inspired studying each module and doing homework. Recently, I experienced burnout. This course returned my inspiration, and curiosity to the study of space and light. I remembered that it is important to be yourself. I am truly grateful for this experience. It was a great learning experience. Iris is a talented photographer and mentor

alina
A lavender-colored graphic

Layers of Love has given me wonderful insight into how Iris achieves her wonderful, cinematic family images. I have taken new inspiration into my shoots and am already seeing a positive change and trend towards a more considered and patient composition. Iris is a wonderful artist and a wonderful teacher who has opened my eyes to how I can incorporate these different approaches into my work to create more striking images. Thank you Iris!

A gold-colored graphic 
belinda
Check out more class reviews
A gold-colored graphic

More classes you might like

Young girl with wet hair wearing a swimming mask, smiling with her teeth visible, near a swimming pool 
basics of photography with celina bailey

Take control of your camera to bring forth your vision with confidence. Mastering manual photography and understanding how your camera works will allow you to consistently take perfectly exposed photos in any situations and allow for more creativity in your work.

A tall, dense patch of grass with a cloudy sky in the background.
A family of five, including children and adults, walking on a grassy field during sunset, with mountains and a sky with clouds in the background. Some birds are flying in the sky. 
naturally lit with carolyn fong

Forget feeling dependant on golden hour or window light - learn to create beautifully lit images anywhere, anytime using off camera flash. Naturally Lit is designed for natural light photographers ready to expand their toolkit - without compromising their style.

Learn free

A person standing outdoors at night, with a starry sky and lightning in the background.

Access our library of mini classes for free today.

access free classes here