I'm very pleased to announce 1:1 and 2:1 workshops have now resumed here at our peaceful house and grounds nestled in the wildlife havens that are the woods and valleys of Powys. Interested? Press the button below if you want to call me directly and book your free consultation on how we can work together to take your photography to another level - and beyond...
Why should I attend a photography workshop?
Do you ever spend a day out with your camera and get home to maybe find one or two great shots and plenty of images you weren't so keen on? Have you ever wondered how on earth did I get this shot, and why can't I get it right again? Would you like to be able to shoot great images in all kinds of light and weather conditions? These are all questions I asked myself time and time again when I first started taking images back in the good old analogue age. I know from the workshops I now take these questions - and many more - are still being asked by photographers as they try to make sense of their cameras capabilities, lighting conditions, and the often conflicting advice found on many social media platforms.
You can read as many photography books as you want, watch every video on the exposure triangle you can find, but there's still no substitute for an experienced photographer who has your back and spends a whole day guiding and supporting you, answering questions and physically demonstrating techniques and concepts.
Who am I to facilitate photography workshops?
I'm an award winning landscape, nature and wildlife photographer and author who's been on BBC Winterwatch, BBC Countryfile, BBC News at six and ten, Radio 4 and 5 and The Great British Photography Challenge on BBC 4 to name but a few. I'm as excited by photography today as I was thirty years ago and I've never lost sight of what it's like to be at the often frustrating start of ones photographic journey. A 1:1 or 2:1 workshop with me offers you unrivalled access to a patient, successful and committed mentor and tutor with decades of experience.
Why a small group workshop?
1:1 and 2:1 workshops give you time; time to revisit something that doesn't work out at the first or second attempt. You get my full, undivided attention, along with the benefit of the many years I've been a photographer who's made those same mistakes and experienced the same frustrations that seem to be some kind of rite of passage to becoming a competent photographer. My 1:1 or 2:1 workshops free you from the constraints large group work can bring for many people and leaves us with plenty of time to patiently and methodically work through whatever it is you want to achieve until you achieve it - and trust me, you will achieve it in the time we have together.
Photographers at every level will benefit from my small group workshops designed to look at making the transition from where you are to the next place you want to be - whether that's learning more about your camera, looking at more complicated techniques or exploring the pros and cons of becoming a semi or full-time professional photographer. There comes a point in most photographers journeys where they feel stuck or become stale. Many put their cameras down and don't return to photography for years. I've met many photographers who, when looking back at their photography, can clearly see a point where image making lost its allure. This was often because they ran out of ideas, or they just couldn't get the breaks they needed to generate the critical mass of interest all photographers need if they want to be successful. I can help with that. In less than three years I've gone from being a competent photographer to one running highly rated workshops around the UK, along with seeing my work in numerous publications, having one of the fifty top weather images in the world, winning the July slot in the RSPB calendar and featuring in numerous tv, radio and social media campaigns and programmes.
I've added some of my images below to give you an idea of my style, range of skills, quality and work ethos:
1:1 Photography Workshops and Post-production
Post production
I remember working in my own darkroom as if it was yesterday. It was an alchemical, magical thing to see a film you'd developed yourself being used to produce prints before your very eyes. Fast forward a few years, and many rolls of film later, and I became an early adopter of Photoshop teaching myself to use what was to become the most potent darkroom you could ever hope to experience. I'm now into my 20th year using this phenomenal post-production tool, and like to think I know a thing or two about how to get the most out of an image. One thing I need to mention is that Photoshop will make a good image better, but is rarely able to resurrect a poor image and make it great. That said I have a wide-range of software to help you improve those shots where you've clipped the shadows or highlights too much, introduced camera blur or used too slow a shutter speed and created a soft shot. One of the stellar uses of post editing software in 2023 is it's phenomenal ability to reduce noise and introduce a degree of sharpness - particularly with .raw images. Using Camera Raw very early on in your workflow can save a stack of time later in the process. - and every photographer should be aiming to reduce their post production time to a minimum so we can get back to doing what we truly love - creating stunning images.
Working smarter, not harder by getting as much right in-camera prior to post production is taught alongside the many tips, tricks and techniques I use to minimise the time I spend at a desk and make the most out of the image I have in front of me.
Post production can be a standalone day or added as an extra to an existing 1:1 or 2:1 workshop. Either way you and I will go out and shoot images specifically geared up to allow us to take a look at my professional workflow from .raw, through to .tif for prints, and on to .jpg for the web. Using my dedicated colour calibrated colour monitor and full suite of Adobe CC Photoshop, Luminar Neo, Topaz Denoise and DXO Labs we'll explore those areas of post production you feel least confident about using images you've taken on the same day. For those of you using Lightroom this will be your opportunity to compare your workflow using Lightroom against mine on Photoshop - you might be surprised...
Cost -
1:1 with me starts at a time to suit you, and is a combination of six hours of theory, tuition and practical work uniquely tailored to your individual needs and aspirations. The cost for 1:1 is £450 - this will include lunch, refreshments and a signed copy of my book 'Wildlife Photography: Saving my life one frame at a time'. If you wanted to add an hour of post production tuition to your day the price will be £510.
For a 2:1 workshop I charge £350 per person for a six hour workshop - subject to both participants booking together. That's a saving of £200 with the cost including lunch, refreshments and a signed copy of my book for each person.
The post production day will be a balanced mix of theory, practical and post production, but with a greater emphasis on editing. The cost for this is £450 and will be five hours long including lunch, refreshments, a signed copy of my book and three fully edited, print ready .tif files for you to take home and print from.
I pride myself on the support I provide both during and after a workshop. Just because our day has finished doesn't mean you can't contact me with any questions that may crop up after the workshop is completed. This is an entirely free service for anyone who attends a workshop, and gives you a week post workshop to get in touch with me regarding any queries around what we've covered on the day. You will also be provided with links or articles on a variety of topics including the exposure triangle, composition and post production.
What to bring
1:1 workshops will always involve a mix of practical, theory and tuition. We will be totally based here at our woodland home in Powys where there are many different areas set up for various wildlife including birds, small mammals and macro work if that's your thing. Most of the areas are less than a few metres from the house with The Shrewdio is actually inside the house looking out on to what is my cutting edge m² project:
I still recommend bringing a rainproof jacket, walking boots and several layers of comfortable clothing as we do end up standing still for periods of time and the main bird hide, although under shelter, is still outside. The workshops are appropriate for all skill levels and camera types including small compacts, bridge cameras and DSLR's. If you have a tripod and shutter release please bring them with you along with as many memory cards and batteries (and the charger plus cables) you have. Prior to booking one of my 1:1 and 2:1 workshops we will have a zoom meeting to discuss what you'd like to photograph, where you are on your photography journey and how you think we can best work together to achieve your goals.
Bring a selection of lenses if your camera lets you swop lenses around, and don't rule out a wide-angle for wildlife. Seeing as you are loading your boot up with stuff throw in the lens hood, tripod and some kind of plastic bag to cover your camera and lens up should the weather have the temerity to rain. If you have any physical health problems please bring them to my attention prior to the workshop so I can plan a day that is both doable and not too demanding.
I particularly welcome people who experience mental health problems. I'm very open about my PTSD from my military and police careers and strongly believe in the positive power of photography to improve mental and physical wellbeing. We have no neighbours or roads running past the house and grounds and no public access to the woodland and meadows meaning you will fully experience the peace and quiet the workshop has to offer all participants.
Start time, t&c's, and directions to our house in Powys along with any other information pertinent to your day will be sent out on receipt of a BACS transfer of the total cost for the workshop. Please read the workshop terms and conditions on this site as it forms the basis of our contract together and covers issues around refunds and our joint responsibilities during your time here.
It really doesn't matter where you are on your photographic journey. From complete beginner to advanced photographer 1:1, 2:1 and/or post production with me will take you to the place you want to be, wherever that is. I guarantee it - after all you will have my undivided attention for the session. It might only be one day, but it will improve your skillset, make you more confident and help create endless possibilities for years to come in your photography future.
Here's what you might get to photograph (depending on the season) on a 1:1 or 2:1 photography workshop at the house:
