Short Courses

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Sparks

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Hi folks,

Was just wondering if anyone had any good feedback on short courses they've been on that they found useful/good value etc.

I was thinking specifically Portrait type courses but Im always keen to learn so any advice is useful!

Im thinking 1-2 days type affairs (and preferably in the Midlands - but Im sure others would be interested wherever you are in the country)

Apologies if this has been covered before, I did a search but at a quick glance I could only find threads on online or uni/college type courses...Feel free to call me an idiot and point me in the right direction if you want to!
 
Hi,

I attended one of the Experience Seminars one day courses recently which was fantastic. I did the Understanding EOS Flash Systems course. I found it very informative. Nina the trainer (and owner of the company) certainly knew her stuff.

http://www.experience-seminars.co.uk/

I was so impressed that I've booked onto one of their practical experience days shooting weddings with flash.

Best regards,
Andy.
 
I attended one by the trained eye

http://www.thetrainedeye.co.uk/lifestyle.php

I did their wedding one, but I'm going to do their lifestyle one too. They are really REALLY good. Very helpful and you get a great lot of portfolio work out of it. With the lifestyle portrait one, I think you have about 5 models, different ages/gender so a good mix. Worth check out... it's based in Marlow, down the M40.
 
I'm also looking for some short courses, but I prefer night classes.

Are there any that you'd recommend in Central London?
 
im saving for the annabell williams short courses based in lake district. she gets great reviews but some say they are put off by her costs. ive done an evening class and didnt learn much more than i already knew plus it took forever to cover a short amount of work! i would also be keen if anyone knew of short/private courses in central scotland, a recommendation is preferrable???

thanks in advance
 
Details of day courses from my site on my sig if interested. Not allowed to post links, which is fair enough. Going out next thursday in fact if anyone fancies it, 2 or 3 seats left.

Otherwise follow the recommendations. Not wishing to sound cynical here but I would be dubious and careful of anyone claiming to teach wedding photography on a 'course'. Much better spending your time working with a pro as a sidekick, seeing how it is done over a summer and then going for it. It's the people skills, herding skills, technical skills and above all ability to work damned hard all day long often on your wits with unpredictable weather and unpredictable guests! :bang: :lol:
 
yes, these all look really good courses. anyone who has experienced a short course it would be good to hear of their experience. its a lot of money without really knowing!!
does anyone have feedback on any of the aforementioned, prior to parting with well earned £?

thanks
 
J Gordon said:
Otherwise follow the recommendations. Not wishing to sound cynical here but I would be dubious and careful of anyone claiming to teach wedding photography on a 'course'. Much better spending your time working with a pro as a sidekick, seeing how it is done over a summer and then going for it. It's the people skills, herding skills, technical skills and above all ability to work damned hard all day long often on your wits with unpredictable weather and unpredictable guests! :bang: :lol:
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If your refering to my post, they don't really teach you 'wedding photography', it's more how to read lighting and to set up your camera settings properly, visualising a shot, 'bank' shots, how to position people so they look their best etc... basically knowing your client/the market and what they may want. So can be applied to any kind of portrait photography.
 
Aimee K said:
If your refering to my post, they don't really teach you 'wedding photography', it's more how to read lighting and to set up your camera settings properly, visualising a shot, 'bank' shots, how to position people so they look their best etc... basically knowing your client/the market and what they may want. So can be applied to any kind of portrait photography.
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Hi Aimee, No I wasn't responding directly to your post, more a generic response to some of the courses out there that make big claims, wedding photography courses being one of the culprits. I've no doubt one could learn photographic techniques from such courses, and even getting ideas about positioning guests etc, which is all good, but some not all obviously, go from these courses directly to booking a first weddings ad it is a huge leap from classroom to trading. Whilst I've no doubt there are things to learn from such classes I guess what concerns me is that wedding photography cannnot possibly taught in such circumstances. It is vital to get out there and learn with a professional, over several months, so as not to make a hash of someones wedding. What cannot be taught or anticipated is the level of stress in regularly doing weddings, so I am always a little dubious when I see 'wedding photography courses' advertised despite the obvious technical merits for beginners. :)
 
J Gordon said:
I've no doubt one could learn photographic techniques from such courses, and even getting ideas about positioning guests etc, which is all good, but some not all obviously, go from these courses directly to booking a first weddings ad it is a huge leap from classroom to trading.
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Oh god yes, I completely agree. I would say that the courses are excellent for learning the techniques and marketing and gaining confidence in your camera etc, BUT even with the courses I would say be an assistant or 2nd photographer for a year or so, see how a 'pro' does it and how much pressure there is and then decide if you could do it yourself.

Portraits are a little different though. You can go on a course, learn what you need to a certain degree and then practice on your friends and family for a few goes because it doesn't matter if you mess those up. You can't practice on people for their weddings because you can't re-live the day, you can with portraits!
 
Absolutely right Aimee. Most, or at least many of us, learned the hard way and had to go back and get a set of portraits again. I once had to go back to Southampton to re-cover a commercial job in the pre-digital days which was a pain in the wotsit, not to mention a lost day and costs incurred. So I've learned now to get it right first time, that was the best lesson I ever learned in photography.
And no, getting it wrong can't be applied to weddings.......'so, same time and place next weekend?' :D
 
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