For our Fundamentals  course, you’ll be absolutely fine even if you’ve never picked up a camera before. If you have, but aren’t 100% comfortable with your settings, you’ll find the course will help you structure your knowledge and you will quite likely pick up a few new tricks as well.

If you’re relatively familiar with the camera’s manual settings, but want to try out new techniques and develop your composition – our Advanced, Level 2 course is the one for you. If you’re not sure where your knowledge puts you, just get in touch and we’ll be more than happy to help.

We created a placement quiz which should help you decide which level is right for you. Download it here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kgxf0cn64b7uq9z/Fundamentals%20or%20Advanced.pdf?dl=0

• A camera with manual controls – it doesn’t have to be an SLR, a mirrorless or a bridge camera are absolutely fine – get in touch if you’re not sure if yours is up to the job. These days, most cameras beyond the simplest of point-and-shoot ones ( does anyone even buy these anymore?) tend to do just fine. 
• Ability to spend approximately 2-4h per week ( not necessarily in one go) on your photography practice. We suggest spending at least 15min daily for best results
• Access to the internet ( that’s a given but we had to mention it )
• A child / children you can practice your photography on

The course consistes of 6 modules, each focusing on a different aspect of photography - 5 core modules and a bonus last module : Idea Bank with advice on follow on practice and development. The course is inclusive of a 1 week break after the first technical modules to allow for extra practice and ironing out any issues. 

Every Monday morning, we will release the module's core materials for you to access and read at your leisure. You don't have to be online when they are released - when you log into your learning space, the materials will be waiting for you. The modules include little 'Ttry it now' exercises which you can follow to immediately put in practice what we explain in the materials.

On top of that, you get given weekly homework - nothing strenuous, we usually ask for a few photos which illustrate the skills we teach in that module. Usually, our students tend to spend weekdays on the module and the little practice exercises and do the home assignmemt at the weekend. We give you personal, detailed video feedback on those homework photos. Our students often say that this feedback is one of the absolute best things about our course.  Please note that we do not provide feedback in our Light Touch version of the course. 

Every week, typically on Wednesday or Thursday evening, we run a live webinar class, during which we cover and expand on all the key elements of that module, we answer your questions, we provide additional explanations and illustrations. These sessions are scheduled in the evening and always recorded, so that even if you couldn't join live, you can always relay them.  Please note that this element os not available to our Light Touch students.

Finally, there is also our private Facebook group - for the students of your course only. The group ia a great opportunity to share your images, ask questions, chat to your fellow course mates. It's also where we post any additional materials and info and / or run little additional video demonstrations when needed. 

Each course is run by an experienced instructor - professional children's photographer who is your main point of contact to answer your questions, provide your feedback and talk to in your FB group and in webinars. They're there to help and nurture and cheer you on in your photo journey. 

No. You DO need A camera. And your camera needs to allow you to make changes to some of the manual settings ( going beyond the ‘landscape’. ‘portrait’, ‘fireworks’ modes). You’ll often be able to tell if your camera has those just by looking at it - if it has a wheel with letters M, A, S, P or M, Av, Tv, P on it you’re good to go. Some modern cameras do not have that though, but still let you change those settings, so just drop us a line with your camera’s make and model and we’ll happily advise. We even have a few cameras for rental if you need. 

Ah. The question not many people actually ask, but nearly all want to know. Obviously - I don’t know you or your ability BUT I have seen over 1000 students go through our courses ( in person or online) and every single one of them improved. Some improved more than others, some really got the ‘photography bug’ and moved on to start their own photography businesses, some just kept it as their hobby and a way to get better photos of their kids. Not everyone can become the next Annie Leibovitz but everyone can learn how to use the camera to deliver the kind of results they want ( like that blurry background in images or being able to capture your kids on the move - sharp!) and everyone can learn how to master their camera and principles of composition and light which make your photos much stronger. So yes, you will improve, even if you don’t think of yourself as an artist.