Choosing The Right Photographic Workshop ..

The very photogenic Sophie one of our workshop models.

If you are looking for a photographic workshop (whether you are new to photography or have some experience) there are some considerations that you should take into account, as it is not only a financial investment that you are making. It should also be a decision that ensures that you gain skills and knowledge to allow you to easily go and create the images that you want to.

I have been running photographic workshops since 2005, so I can speak from a position of some experience. Most of my workshops have been concerned with studio work, but I have also run a good number of location workshops as well as evening classes( from beginners up to advanced students of all ages).

When I first started to run workshops & courses I decided that I would utilise the key components from those  which I had  been on myself & that where most beneficial to me.  Those being a good balance of both theory and practical sessions.

Practical session in small groups of 6 photographers.

 I see so many course leaders  who seem to  think that it is their personal shoot, and that others will simply learn through observing them, & I really don’t believe this to be the case. The workshop is for those attending, and  they are the ones who should have time behind the camera whilst being coached.

 As a result, a typical J16 Studio workshop will balance both theory and practical sessions, usually with a group introduction to the style of photography being covered, and an overview of studio or location work, and then down to practical work with recaps throughout the day.

One important thing is also to have a small group to allow for a one on one teaching during the practical sessions. Therefore the group is usually six to eight photographers to ensure that everyone gets plenty of opportunity in the practical sessions to develop their skills.

Although there is group participation, and photographers can learn from each other, these are not “group shoots”, these workshops, which although very relaxed, have structure to them and ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to learn and develop at their own pace.

What I see an awful lot of now is “workshops” with several models and small groups randomly photographing them with no direction. This may be a good social activity, but they  are “group shoots” not “workshops”. I was recently told of a “Day Studio Workshop” that started at 10 am went to the local pub for lunch for one and half hours and finished before 3 pm. The  number of photographers attending was at least a dozen, and there was only one course leader, but there were several groups wandering around. One  can only wonder  whether some of them actually managed to get their cameras out of the bag while others took more than their fair share of the limited time.

I would therefore urge anyone considering attending a photographic workshop to look at the content and structure of the day. What  is actually being taught, and how it is being taught?, For  some people a large amount of theory may be preferable, and then go away and practice on their own, but I would suggest that unless you do this with some level of discipline this will not happen, and you will be attending further workshops to re-learn what you missed out on  the first time around.

No-one can improve without practice, and to me that should  start in the workshop environment. It is therefore important that the photographic workshop  you choose reflects your requirements, it should develop your interest for the subject, and give you the technical knowledge to do this, but more importantly, help develop your own creativity and motivation to work on your own.

One final recommendation is that (where possible) have a look what those who have already attended previous workshops have said about them,  this can be a good guide for yourself to allow you to make the  right choice. Those that comment on the pub lunch above all else should probably  be avoided unless that is your particular preference :-)