PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP FAQ’S
Below you can find general information and answers to commonly asked questions in regards to my photography workshops. If you can’t find your answer below, please feel free to contact me.
What’s actually involved in a photography workshop?
I offer a variety of workshops, some that run for a few hours and others for over a week, but essentially the purpose of each is the same – to assist you with your photography and post-processing skills as well as guide you to great photography locations. On my longer trips, we shoot the sunrise, sunset and the night sky plus anything and everything in-between. Although I have a rough itinerary for my trips, I always allow for spontaneity. Locations are often based on the weather and I’m always willing to stop or take a detour for everyone to get great photos.
During a workshop you will be immersed in photography along with like-minded people in awe-inspiring locations. With the smaller group size of 6 participants, the vibe on most of my trips is similar to a road trip with friends. At each location, I provide an insight on things to consider and try when shooting then I encourage everybody to explore compositions for themselves whilst I go around and help people one-on-one. I provide compositional ideas, settings to consider and the skills to achieve certain results. I also allow you room to do your own thing and then occasionally come back to check and see how you’re going. This is your opportunity to learn, laugh and capture the types of photos you’ve dreamed of. On my tours, I don’t line people up to all shoot the same thing together, I want to encourage creativity and uniqueness,
What sets your workshops apart from others?
When I first started teaching over 6 years ago, I could count on one hand the number of fellow Aussies who were also running workshops, but now, the photography industry and business of running workshops is more popular than ever, across the world. Even big brands and companies are partnering with photographers to get on board. Essentially, there’s a few primary things that are going to set one workshop apart from the other. Heres some things I recommend you consider before booking a workshop with someone;
The photographers style and quality of work – This might seem obvious but the main aspect of a workshop is learning. Take time to review the portfolio of the photographer your’e considering learning from and ask yourself if that’s the type of photos you aspire to create. A full portfolio consistently high in quality and diversity is what you’re after. Art is subjective, so only you can decide for yourself if someones work really resonates with you.
The group size – How many people will you be sharing the trip and photography locations with? The maximum amount of participants I have on my tours are 6. I’ve found this to be a great number to travel with, allowing a more personal experience that gives flexibility when on the road and more freedom when at locations. I truly enjoy teaching and the smaller group size provides the best environment to work closely with people and make sure everyones individual goals are addressed. Keep in mind that you’re most likely not going to be the only people at the popular places, so if you’re travelling in a workshop with 10+ people, a location that already may have a few visitors becomes crowded very quickly. A smaller group allows us to access more intimate locations and for everyone to explore and find unique compositions
Duration – A cheaper price tag is definitely appealing but this usually comes at the cost of being on a shorter tour. When chasing the northern lights or beautiful light, the more opportunities you have the better, especially if you’ve already travelled a long way. I’ve found that 6-night/7-day workshops work well and usually result in a diversity of conditions to be experienced, particularly in mountainous regions where particular peaks can be shrouded in cloud. For this reason, I usually allow more than one night at iconic mountain locations.
Experience – How much experience running workshops does the photographer have? Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of teaching photography to hundreds of people from all different walks of life. From teenagers to seniors across the globe in a variety conditions in multiple countries. The locations I host tours are those that I know well, often having travelled to multiple times on both solo and group trips. When the light doesn’t cooperate, rain comes in, a location is crowded or an unforeseen situation arises, a guide with experience is going to ensure things still run smoothly and a good time is still had by all.
Permits and Regulations – In New Zealand, permits are required for anyone guiding on Department of Conservation land (most of the photography locations people visit). These permits ensure guides are being safe, responsible and helping conserve the beautiful landscape. I have obtained the necessary permits for where I host my group tours. In Patagonia, local guides are to employed by any photography tour, when on trails. This not only adheres to park rules but also supports the local communities that call these places home. Operating in the Canadian Rockies also requires park permits.
Husband and Wife Business – When my son was just 3 months old I decided I wanted to work for myself and be a full time landscape photographer. In hindsight it was a little crazy! but with the assistance of my wife Renee, we’ve managed to stay afloat and are grateful to have been successfully running this business for a number of years now, and with a second child in our lives. Every client we receive, however big or small, is greatly appreciated and helps me support our young family.
What is the accomodation arrangement?
On all my trips, twin-share is often the default accomodation option, staying with someone of the same gender with an ensuite. The hotels and lodges I use are all generally 4-star with heating, ensuite, wi-fi and all the essentials. If desired, a single supplement usually can be arranged for each trip (additional cost). If accomodation is different to this, it will be specified in individual documents for each workshop as I also run camping and hiking trips and sometimes use holiday houses.
What are the terms, conditions and cancellation policies?
You can view all those here.
I am a complete beginner, does that matter?
Of course not, that’s a great reason to join one of my trips! With my smaller group sizes, this allows for participants with all sorts of experiences to attend and receive quality, individualised tuition. I always start from the ground up when teaching, so you won’t ever feel left behind. The locations I take clients to are also suitable for everyone, regardless of experience. Plus, I’ll be there to help you every step of the way.
What do we do if the weather is poor?
I don’t really believe in ‘bad’ weather, just poor locations for certain weather. Unfortunately I can’t control the weather and light but what I can do is use my knowledge and experience to adapt to the conditions at hand. Heavy rain? I’ll try get us to a forest or waterfalls. Overcast skies? I’ll show you how to create high contrast and effective black & white imagery. No clear skies at night? I’ll still show you how to shoot in the dark then we can head in to the warmth and go over some post-processing in Photoshop. No mountain visibility for a few days where we are staying? I’ve been known to cancel and book new accomodation at my own expense, just to help you guys have a better time. The bottom line is that I have and will do my best to ensure you guys are creating portfolio worthy work. My advice for my clients is to avoid looking at a weather forecast and just leave it up to me. After all, most of my images are created within what people typically term ‘bad weather’.