Intensive Beginners Photography Course

First of all — thank you for booking with us!

You will receive an order confirmation after completing your booking.

A few days before the course, we will also send you a reminder with the meeting place, timings, what to bring and your tutor’s telephone number in case you have any difficulty finding us on the day.

We may also ask you to tell us which camera and lenses you will be bringing. This helps your tutor prepare and means we can give you more specific advice during the class.

We currently meet at:

The Travel Cafe
139 Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7HR

https://maps.app.goo.gl/69fwVzC67dSiSJoU9

The café is close to Waterloo, Lambeth North and Westminster.

We begin the course inside the café and then continue outdoors around central London.

Please always check the joining instructions for your chosen date, as the meeting place may occasionally vary for certain courses.

The course starts at 10:00am and finishes at approximately 4:00pm.

Please try to arrive at around 9:50am, so we can introduce ourselves, get everyone settled and begin on time.

We normally spend the first two hours at the café learning the essential camera settings. We then head outside for practical photography exercises.

We usually stop for a short lunch break at around 1:00pm.

Lunch is not included.

We normally stop at around 1:00pm for a short break of approximately 25–30 minutes.

You can bring something with you or buy a sandwich, snack or drink nearby.

Please bring:

• Your camera
• At least one lens
• A fully charged battery
• A memory card with plenty of free space
• Comfortable shoes
• Clothing suitable for the weather
• Plenty of enthusiasm!

You are welcome to bring additional lenses or accessories, but you do not need a large amount of equipment.

A tripod is not required.

Please check your battery and memory card before leaving home. It is surprisingly easy to arrive with a camera and discover that the battery is flat or the memory card is still in your computer!

The course is suitable for most DSLR, mirrorless and bridge cameras.

We regularly teach people using Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, OM System, Panasonic and Pentax cameras.

Ideally, your camera should allow you to control aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

If you are not sure whether your camera is suitable, please email us with the make and model before booking. We will be happy to check it for you.

Yes, please bring your own camera and lens.

Learning with your own camera is important because every make and model has slightly different buttons, menus and controls.

If you are thinking about buying a camera but have not chosen one yet, please contact us before booking and we will be happy to offer some advice.

Not at all.

This course is designed for complete beginners, as well as people who have owned a camera for a while but are still relying mainly on Auto mode.

You do not need to understand any technical terminology before attending. We explain everything from the beginning, in clear and simple language.

There are no silly questions on a beginners photography course!

Yes. One-to-one tuition is ideal if you would prefer to learn privately, have very specific questions or want the lesson tailored completely to your camera and photography interests.

Private tuition can cover beginner camera skills, portraits, street photography, travel photography, night photography or another area you would particularly like to improve.

Please visit our One-to-One Photography Tuition page or contact us to discuss what you would like to learn.

The course takes place in normal London weather, including cloudy conditions and light rain.

Cloudy weather can actually give us beautiful soft light for portraits, street photography and many of our practical exercises.

Please check the forecast before travelling and bring suitable clothing.

We can adjust the route and activities depending on the conditions. If unusually severe weather makes the course impractical or unsafe, we will contact everyone with alternative arrangements.

We start promptly at 10:00am, so please try to arrive around ten minutes early.

If you are delayed or cannot find the café, call or message your tutor using the telephone number included in your course reminder.

Once the group has left the café, it may be more difficult to join us, so please let us know as soon as possible.

Please let us know as soon as you realise that you cannot attend.

If you give us at least 14 days’ notice, you can choose between a full refund or transferring your booking to another available course.

With between 7 and 14 days’ notice, we can provide a full refund or transfer if we manage to fill your place. If we cannot fill it, we will refund 50% of the amount paid.

With fewer than 7 days’ notice, we can only provide a refund or course credit if we manage to fill your place.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide a refund for cancellations made on the day or for participants who do not attend.

Please let us know as soon as you realise that you cannot attend.

If you give us at least 14 days’ notice, you can choose between a full refund or transferring your booking to another available course.

With between 7 and 14 days’ notice, we can provide a full refund or transfer if we manage to fill your place. If we cannot fill it, we will refund 50% of the amount paid.

With fewer than 7 days’ notice, we can only provide a refund or course credit if we manage to fill your place.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide a refund for cancellations made on the day or for participants who do not attend.

Probably much less than you think!

To get started, you really only need:

A suitable digital camera
At least one lens
A fully charged battery
A memory card
A little time, curiosity and enthusiasm

You do not need an expensive collection of lenses, filters, flashes and tripods before you can begin learning photography.

A simple kit lens is perfectly suitable for your first course and can be used for portraits, travel, landscapes, street photography and everyday family pictures.

As you gain experience, you will begin to understand what you enjoy photographing and which additional equipment might actually be useful to you.

For example, a tripod can be helpful for night photography and long exposures. A longer lens may be useful for wildlife or sport, while a brighter portrait lens can help you create beautifully blurred backgrounds.

But there is no need to buy everything at once.

The most important thing for a beginner photographer is to understand the camera they already have, practise regularly and learn how aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focusing and composition work together.

A better camera does not automatically create better photographs — but knowing how to use your camera certainly will!

There is no single camera that is best for every beginner.

The right choice depends on three important things:

Your budget
What you would like to photograph
The size and weight of camera you will be happy to carry

A small mirrorless camera can be an excellent choice for travel, family photography, portraits and everyday use. A DSLR can also be a very good and affordable way to begin, particularly if you are happy to buy second-hand.

Whatever you choose, ideally the camera should allow you to control:

Aperture
Shutter speed
ISO
Focus points and focusing modes

Do not worry too much about buying the newest model.

A good-quality camera that is several years old can still produce fantastic photographs, and buying second-hand from a reputable dealer can save you a considerable amount of money.

Think about how the camera feels in your hands as well. Are the buttons comfortable? Is it small enough to carry? Does it have a viewfinder? Will you actually want to take it with you?

The best beginner camera is not necessarily the most expensive or technically advanced one.

It is the camera you enjoy using, understand and are happy to carry regularly.

If you are choosing between a few cameras and would like some advice, please send us the model names and tell us what you hope to photograph. We will be happy to offer an honest opinion.

The best beginner photography course should explain the essential camera settings clearly and give you plenty of opportunities to practise them.

Watching videos and reading books can be useful, but photography often starts making much more sense when someone demonstrates a technique, watches you try it and helps you correct any problems straight away.

Look for a course that covers:

• Aperture, shutter speed and ISO
• Camera modes
• Focusing and sharpness
• Exposure and metering
• Lenses and focal lengths
• Natural light
• Composition
• Plenty of practical exercises

Group size is also very important.

If a class is too large, the tutor may not have enough time to help everyone with their particular camera. Different camera brands arrange their buttons, menus and focusing systems differently, so individual guidance can make a big difference when you are starting.

Our Intensive Beginners Photography Course is a full-day introduction designed for complete beginners and people who are still relying mainly on Auto mode.

We begin by going through the essential settings together, then head outdoors for practical photography around central London.

With a maximum of six participants, there is plenty of time for questions, individual help and feedback on your photographs.

If you want to understand the fundamentals quickly and practise everything on the same day, the Intensive Beginners Photography Course is an excellent place to start.

If you would prefer to learn completely at your own pace or have very specific interests, one-to-one photography tuition may be a better option.

The cost of a photography course depends on several things:

• Whether it is online or taught in person
• The length of the course
• The number of participants
• The tutor’s experience
• Whether it is a group course or private tuition
• How much practical guidance and personal feedback are included

A short online class will normally cost less than a full day of face-to-face tuition. Private one-to-one lessons cost more because the entire session is planned around one person, their camera and their photography interests.

Our Intensive Beginners Photography Course runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm and is limited to a maximum of six participants.

The course includes clear explanations, help with your own camera, guided practical exercises around central London and personal feedback throughout the day.

You can always find the current course price, available dates and number of places remaining in the live booking table on this page.

We prefer to show the current price there rather than inside the FAQ, so you can be certain that the information is correct when you book.

If you would like private tuition instead, please visit our One-to-One Photography Tuition page for the latest session options and prices.