Photography Training

My photography training is based on a combination of classroom and practical camera use. this method ensures that students really master the camera controls and capture images that they would have previously thought impossible to capture. There is no where better than the north east coast or the vibrant Newcastle upon Tyne area to leans how to really control your camera. Whether you are currently shooting in automatic mode and want to learn how to take better photographs for pleasure, or you want to start your own photography business then we have a course that will fulfil your photographic expectations. Course options support complete beginners through to professional photographers who want add to their existing portfolio.

Course delivery can be face to face or via a webinar service. All teaching is underpinned and supported by clear visual tutorial material which is shared electronically after each tutorial session. Students will learn how to take full advantage of digital camera controls and depending upon course selection will be encouraged put their learning into practice photographing a range of photographic themes. Access to a private social media page allows students groups to complete homework assignments and get constructive feedback outside of the structured lesson plan. The combination of classroom learning and practical application ensures that students rapidly gain confidence and love their photography.

Select from the links below for detailed information on course options and booking information.

Course Options Book Course Student Images Testimonials

COURSE OPTIONS

Beginners Course

The photography beginners course is aimed at students who want to get out of automatic mode and take control of their cameras. The course is structured to work for a small group of between four to five students. This allows me to make the course affordable and also create a positive teaching environment where students can learn together and inspire each other. The course will ensure students are confident in basic camera controls before building to a full understanding of their cameras capability. All students have a passion for some form of photography. At the end of this course students will be taking photographs that will exceed their expectations. This is a promise and a fact confirmed within the many positive testimonials provided.

Click here for more information and booking options

Standard course delivery as ten 1 hour 15 mins classroom session, plus inclusive practical sessions.

Intensive course delivery as five 2 hours 30 minute classroom sessions, plus inclusive practical sessions.

More detail on what is included is provided at the end of this section.

This course is not about the class visiting a beautiful location and me telling them how to set your camera to capture that perfect photograph. This type of session is commonly advertised and may well deliver one or two great shots on that one outing. The problem is, what about the next time you go out? Every-time you pick up your camera the lighting is different, the location will always present different challenges and opportunities. If you did not understood why those specific settings were entered into your camera in the first place, you are almost certainly back to square one. My course offers you the confidence to adapt and use your camera to its full potential.

You will learn exactly how to control your camera. You will understand how the camera effectively 'thinks', for instance when to apply compensation to ensure the perfect shot every time. So many times people have said to me “the camera just could not capture what I was looking at”. I can say with confidence, this photography teaching course will ensure you won’t face that problem. When you understand how your camera works, you will know how to make the right adjustments before pressing the shutter release. You can then record an image which is beautifully accurate or exciting and creative.

The photography teaching course includes a number of practical elements designed to reinforce what you are learning. Included in the course will be three outdoor practical shoots; landscape, waterfall and streetphotography. These will link directly to the tutorial sessions so what you learn in the classroom will be put directly into practice.

Each session within my photography teaching course will be supported by a TV tutorial presentation, this will be shared with you electronically after each session with the option to download and print.

In addition, I will set up a private Facebook page where you can post images and upload homework images you would like to share with the group. Over the ten weeks I will critique your uploaded images to help build your confidence and ensure your continuous photographic development.

I understand due to prior commitments, some students may not be able to attend every session. I am able to offer occasional 1:1 sessions to ensure that content is not missed.

10-week Photography Teaching course summary

Tutorial group content

Ten x 1 hour 15 min classroom lessons; which include elements of practical work
Camera basics
Aperture selection
Exposure compensation
Metering modes
White balance
Full manual control
Focus and lenses
Landscape photography
Portraiture
Street photography
Shutter priority mode
Camera maintenance

Practical sessions

1. Landscape photography outdoor session
2. Street photography
3. Waterfall shoot
4. High key/low key still life session

5-week Photography Teaching course summary

Delivery as above with extended classroom sessions for students who want to get through the course more quickly

Total cost for the above course £200

Course Locations 3 Nursery Court, Blackhall Mill, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE17 7TZ

1:1 sessions

Ideal for students who want to get out of auto camera mode but prefer not to be part of a group.

Can provide specific teaching for students who have mastered the basics but want to learn more.

These sessions are able to adapt to satisfy specific photographic concerns or interests. For example a student who is primarily interested in Landscape photography can learn specifically about this area of photography following agreement this may for example include: classroom sessions, location practical photography then images processing using one of a number of software packages including: Lightroom and photoshop.

Examples but not exclusive

1. Part or full camera basics course
2. Landscape photography
3. Street photography
4. Bird photography
5. Portraiture
6. Night photography including Astro photography
7. Child photography
8. Still life Photography
9. Wedding photography
10. Sports photography

Cost £35 per hour

Course Locations
3 Nursery Court, Blackhall Mill, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE17 7TZ

Wedding Photography

The complete beginners course

Phil has been a successful wedding photographer all over the UK as well as in India, Spain and Italy. This comprehensive course is intended to provide photographers with everything they need to know from winning wedding jobs to the delivery of stunning images that generate great feedback and future business

“When I speak to photographers about wedding photography, its not just about the taking of photographs, it’s even more to do with the responsibility of getting it right. Many photographers worry about the pressure and responsibility of taking photographs that will capture the most important day in a couples life. Having photographed weddings for many years with my wife Jeanette, I feel well equipped to help photographers to enter this competitive market with real confidence and to succeed”.

The course will be delivered in two parts.

Part 1 A full day interactive classroom session supported by comprehensive presentations, concentrating on how to present yourself, how to be organised and remove the stress. It will also show a set of key images and explain how to capture them. This part of the course will also provide you with a set of support documents covering; presentation, planning the job, organising your kit, sample quotations and invoices, all to make your whole delivery totally professional. To complete this session, practical instruction and demonstration of off-camera lighting will prepare you for the next session, which will be working with a priest and couple to capture beautiful images.

Part 2 A half-day photoshoot with stunning bride and groom models and a real priest, shooting in a beautiful church. The objective of this session is to ensure that you can capture images that will delight your clients.

Day one
A full day tutorial covering all aspects of wedding photography:

First meeting - how to sell yourself - presentation - key messages - winning the job
Preparation for the big day - removing stress, being fully organised and truly ready
The Wedding day - how to capture key images that will delight the couple
Delivery - processing and delivering the image set
Payment - all aspects of ensuring you are paid without stress

Studio photography

Working with light and photographing people is my particular interest and passion. A large part of my business is based on providing head shots for various corporate clients including the NHS, councils, any various local businesses. This course will cover all technical aspects of camera and lighting settings as well as how to work with a subject to help them relax. The course can cater for small groups or 1:1 teaching.

Cost based on a group of 4 students

£200 per person including 2 hour class room tutorial session and 2 hour studio session

Prices will vary for larger and smaller groups including 1:1 sessions

Location photography

Sometimes a photographer just needs support to get the best results on a shoot. Especially if its a special occasion or an opportunity that’s will not be easily available again. This may be as a follow up to a classroom session or simply a agreed location meeting where camera settings are selected to meet the local conditions. Examples of the types of occasion are listed below but other types of photography can be covered.

1. Street ( People and or buildings)
2. Sports
3. Birds
4. Wild life parks
5. Landscape
6. Astro
7. Wedding
8. Dance
9. Music
10. Party or family

Cost will be based on £35 per hour covering local events and will vary if travel out of gather local are is required.

Residential option

Although the webinar service allows classroom tutorial sessions to be available to students located outside of the Newcastle upon Tyne area. The option for one or more students to visit and either stay at my home or for larger numbers at a local provider who supports my teaching service is available. This teaching option can work well when a student or students want to focus on a specific area of photography development. This would normally involve a combination of classroom, location and image processing.

Cost for this option will vary to meet particular demands

Day one Classroom session including evening meal
Over nigh accommodation breakfast
Full day photography and image processing including lunch

Cost £400

Webinar teaching

This service can allow students to join a tutorial group from anywhere in the world. For practical purposes this will be limited to four students maximum. The tutorial sessions will be delivered with live commentary and screen annotations over the slide content to assist in answering questions. Students will be able to ask question live or depending on group preference ask questions by the messaging service visible only to the tutor.

The cost will be linked to the basic course tutorial sessions but for practical purposes will exclude outdoor practical photo shoots.

Full course £120
Rate for individual sessions £20 per hour

Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom Course

When you have mastered your cameras controls then it a good idea to learn how to polish your images in either photoshop or lightroom. There is a perception that using software should not be necessary if you captured the picture perfectly in the camera. However, this is not the case with experience you may well move away from shooting in JPG format into camera RAW. In camera raw the camera records data allowing you to finish the image of with software. A simple example of how this extra control is a benefit can be explained with reference to sharpening. With software the last thing you do with and image is to sharpen it. There are a number of different levels of sharpening from gentle effect for a babies face to crisp sharpening for a car. When you allow your camera to sharpen then its one size fits all.

When I am teaching photogaphy my aim is to teach students how to accurately record what they are seeing so that the image in the camera is never a disappointment. Understanding how your camera operates and knowing how and when to alter settings is key. But getting the image to look stunning is where I want to get students too.

An important aspect of photo processing is work flow. Teaching students photo processing in a logical way helps in learning and also ensures that the process is enjoyable and not tedious.

A useful part of photo processing is learning how to create actions which allow you record steps ones and just press run to make controlled image changes to a photograph. This may sound complicated but its not when you have this and other skills at your finger tips your enjoyment of photography is massively enhanced.

Cost £22.00 per hour and all presentation material used is shared electronically.

Sample Video tutorials

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