Photography learning courses / workshop

Are you thinking about taking your photography to the next level, or you just want to improve a little on what you already know? Well then I can help you. I have many years of photographic experience, mostly in wildlife and landscape, although I also do portrait photography.
I offer photography workshops that involve going to a location and then teaching you how to get the best out of the equipment that you have so you can improve your photography.
 I do both group and private workshops and can cater to photographers of all levels from complete beginner to more advanced.   
All workshops can be taught in either English or Japanese Typical things that I may cover during a workshop.

  • Setting up your camera for best results

  • Finding the sweet spot for the lenses you have

  • Showing you the best settings for the type of photography and situation

  • Explaining the different settings and what they do

  • Talk about what equipment you really need for your own type of photography, including which lens for which situation

  • Explaining the pros and cons of various peripheral equipment, such as tripods, mono-pods, flash, bags, straps, etc

  • Explaining composition and how to get the best images

  • How to get the best out of your camera

  • Exposure settings

  • Angles, heights and positions

  • Zooming, both physically and using your camera/lens

  • How to find a subject that will make a great photo

    The above is designed to be taught over a series of workshops in detail, although if requested it can all be (very briefly) explained in one workshop although not recommended.

Please note as I am primarily a wildlife and landscape photographer my workshops are based more around these two genres of photography. While I can certainly help you regardless of the type of photography, wildlife and landscapes are my main areas.

All workshops are usually done outside and when it is at least not raining or snowing, unless requested by the customer.

All workshops are divided into groups according to level, unless private in which case level is not an issue.

Generally group workshops will consist of 4 hour blocks either in the morning or afternoon. If you enroll in a single 4 hour workshop it will cover one genre of photography, either landscape or wildlife, not both.

If you enroll in a two course workshop then it will consist of two 4 hour workshops, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. In this case it is possible to do one genre in the morning and a different one in the afternoon, depending on the others in the group.

If you enroll in a private workshop regardless to if it is a 4 hour or 8 hour workshop you can freely choose how you wish to divide up the time.

(I highly recommend the private workshop over a group workshop if you are serious about improving your level, as I can tailor the workshop to your exact needs, something that is not possible with a group workshop).

As the workshops are usually always going to be outside they are weather dependent, so in this case I try to arrange the workshops when the weather is at least dry and not foggy or adversely windy, etc.

Should a workshop that is booked in advance happen to fall on a day when the weather is too bad to be outside then it will be changed to a different mutually agreed day.

Please note for those of you who are highly advanced photographers the workshops may be of less benefit to you than less competent photographers. It does not mean you will not learn anything, but the advantages may be smaller, unless you are coming from a different genre of photography in which case you may well find my workshop of benefit as different genres of photography do require different set-ups and settings that you may not be familiar with regardless to competence.

Currently I am only offering these courses to those residing in Japan in Yamanashi (Kofu and surrounding areas and Hokuto) or Nagano (Suwa and surrounding areas, Haramura, Fujimi, Chino, Tateshina) or to those from other parts of Japan who are willing to travel to the location.

Photography workshop prices are as follows

Pair 2

  • Single 4 hour course (3500 yen)

  • Double 8 hour course (6500 yen)

GROUP 3-6

  • Single 4 hour course (2500 yen)

  • Double 8 hour course (4800 yen)

Private

  • Single 4 hour course (5000 yen)

  • Double 8 hour course (9500 yen)

Workshop days are not set, I usually set up a workshop according to customer requests. But please note not every day and time is available so please email me and tell me your availability for a workshop with a few possible dates of availability.

Should you decide you would like to join one of my workshops then please send me an email telling me which dates you are available, your level of experience, which genre of photography you are currently doing or wish to have a workshop in and I will get back to you promptly.

If you wish to join a group lesson then it may or may not be possible depending on the day and availability of other individuals in which case only a private lesson may be available.

CLICK HERE to send me a message!