2011: the beginning

In 2011, Tomas began studying Fine Art Photography at London Metropolitan University, but an injury ended his ability to shoot actively. Turning his focus to teaching, he returned to Lithuania and noticed a gap in modern, practical photography education. In the summer of 2012, he launched month-long workshops that emphasized hands-on learning over dry theory, creating a space where students explored concepts and brought them to life with models and stylists.

2012–2016: the birth of Brazzi

In 2012, after returning to London from vacation, Tomas began organizing workshops for Lithuanians living in the UK. He opened his first photo studio, equipped with Elinchrom strobes, which quickly became a creative hub. Frustrated with the lack of practical learning at university, he left formal education to focus on teaching and self-directed growth. This led to the birth of Brazzi Photo School — a name inspired by a shortened version of his surname.

By 2015, the school had expanded internationally with workshops in Cyprus, Mallorca, and Northern Ireland. These week-long trips, complete with models, makeup artists, and students, offered immersive photography experiences in stunning locations. In 2016, Tomas returned to Lithuania and opened a 55 m² studio — one of the few of its kind at the time — where he continued teaching, shooting, and supporting the local photography community.

2017: Brazzi Studios opening

By 2017, Tomas outgrew his original studio and moved to a larger 70 m² space, which soon expanded into a 600 m² high-ceilinged studio — now known as Brazzi Studios. At the same time, he was traveling across Lithuania, leading workshops and mentoring photographers in retouching and studio lighting. As the workload and team grew, Reda joined to coordinate operations, bringing structure and support. Their partnership quickly deepened beyond the studio, evolving into a life partnership that would shape the future of Brazzi and take it to new heights.

2019–2021: turning challenges into opportunities

In 2019, Tomas led live workshops on around 15 topics, ranging from core skills like daylight, studio lighting, and retouching to hands-on sessions in maternity, wedding, and family photography. But when Covid-19 hit in 2020, the pause in in-person events became a turning point. With time to focus, Tomas quickly began recording online training programs, while Reda built a platform for students to learn remotely — marking one of the most productive periods in their careers.

After quarantine, live workshops resumed, but it became clear that many students lacked foundational knowledge, making advanced topics difficult to grasp. In response, 2021 brought a major shift: specialized workshops were replaced with a comprehensive 3-month program focused on essential skills — daylight, studio lighting, and retouching — ensuring students had a strong base to grow from.

2021–2023: expanding the programs

The program later expanded to include creative topics like composition, posing, and photography history, along with a growing emphasis on specialization — recognizing that when everyone shoots everything, quality suffers for both photographers and clients. Brazzi Photo School brought in experts from various fields to help students identify and refine their niche. By the end of 2023, Tomas shifted focus from beginners to advanced photographers already working with clients, offering deeper guidance on specialization, personal style, portfolio building, positioning, and client communication.

2024–now: going global

Since Tomas’ first steps in 2011, the academy has evolved into an intensive 12-months training program exclusively tailored for advanced photographers seeking specialization. Once again, Tomas embraced the opportunity to step beyond his comfort zone — Brazzi Photo School was rebranded as Brazzi Academy and Tomas began teaching in English, opening doors to a broader international audience of aspiring future professionals. Accessible, clear, and practical photography teaching programs are in high demand — and, with hundreds of happy alumni, we are sure that we will keep developing them so that everyone gets a chance to aim for success in photography.

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