Ventura has always had a strong photographic community. Ventura Photoworks gives it a home, with small classes, real cameras, and instruction rooted in the places and light that make this region such a great place to photograph.
Ventura Photoworks is a community-centered photography school and creative space founded in 2026 by professional photographer and educator David Zentz. Beginning with hands-on courses at the WAV Gallery near downtown Ventura, Photoworks is launching its first classes for beginner photographers in fall 2026. Students learn the fundamentals through a combination of instruction, practice, and discussion, including exposure, manual camera settings, composition, and working with natural light.
As Ventura Photoworks grows, we plan to expand into workshops for photographers at all levels, along with opportunities to print, exhibit, and share photographic work.
About David Zentz
David Zentz has spent more than 20 years working as a photographer across photojournalism, documentary, portrait, lifestyle, and commercial photography. His work has appeared in the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, Outside, and Newsweek, as well as in campaigns and communications for corporate and institutional clients nationally and internationally.
Teaching has been a thread running through his career from the beginning. He taught introductory photojournalism at the University of Florida and spent seven years as president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers, one of the industry's leading professional organizations, where he developed and produced educational programs covering lighting, portfolio development, and the business of photography.
Ventura Photoworks is the natural next chapter: bringing that same approach to education home to Ventura, for photographers at every stage of the journey.