How to Lead a Successful Photography Workshop: 11 Tips
If you’ve been in the photography game for long, you know that putting your eggs in different baskets is crucial to advancing your career and supplementing your income. Teaching photography or conducting workshops can be a great way to share your skills and earn money. And along the way, you will also learn a thing or two from your participants.
You don’t have to start big; start with your friends and family. Soon, you will gain the confidence to conduct bigger classes. When it comes to teaching classes, here’s our game plan to help you get started.
1. Do Some Research
If you’re having your workshop outdoors or in a park, ensure you have the necessary permit. First, choose an area you’re familiar with. Knowing the area well lets you accommodate and work with people with different physical abilities. You don’t want to go to a new location only to find that there are steep hills and make your participants uncomfortable.
Also, it’s wise to know about popular cameras, lenses, and smartphones from major brands. Folks are going to ask for help with their gear. For example, some may not know whether theirs is a full frame or crop sensor camera. If you’re familiar with famous brands, you could quickly guide them.
Find apps that canshoot in manual modefor people using mobile phones.
2. Start Early
Prepare to be at least 15 to 30 minutes early—you don’t want the participants waiting for you. So consider the traffic and start well ahead of what your map says. Allow time for parking, buying tickets, and so on.
You will also have time to improvise if your favorite spot is crowded or taken for some reason.
3. Plan Time for Questions
Always leave a few minutes for your participants to ask questions and have some discussion with the other participants. If you’re actively photographing in the workshop, they may have doubts and need help with camera settings. So, don’t cram too much content that you are pressed for time.
It is also good for the participants to have discussions and make the class lively, rather than you talking in a monologue.
4. Show, Don’t Tell
It’s quicker to just talk about a particular compositional tip or camera setting, but demonstrating them with a photo can make it easier for the participants to understand the concept better. So, have some images or physical prints with you to show them.
Even if you’re outdoors, you can use your mobile phone or tablet to show the pictures.
5. Check Your Pace
A few minutes into the class, observe the participants and check if they follow you. Not everyone has mastery ofthe exposure triangle. If they look confused, slow down. Now and then, stop and ask if they are in line with you. Take time to explain things in detail.
Usually, people from different walks of life will sign up for your classes. So expect participants of all skill levels in your workshop and be empathetic toward the needs of various participants.
6. Avoid Recommending Brands
Every photographer has a preference for a particular brand of cameras and lenses. But, it is not a good idea to recommend your favorite brand to the participants. Remember, you’re a photographer, not a camera expert. you may tell them what to look for, like, the best focal length for portraits, but don’t name specific brands.
As a professional, you may appreciate the high resolution or the bells and whistles of an expensive camera, but your participants may not. So, direct them to a local shop where they can find something suitable based on their budget, skills, and needs.
At the end of the day, your job as a facilitator is to show them the art and craft of photography, so they can use any camera they have effectively.
7. Be Prepared to Be Contradicted
There are tons of blogs and videos on photography, and it’s fair to assume that your participants regularly follow some of them. Sometimes, when you say a fact, your participants may say they heard a contradicting thing. For instance, you sayusing wide-angle lensesis best for landscape photos, and they may say their favorite Youtuber only uses telephoto lenses for landscapes.
It may seem like they are challenging your expertise, but keep calm and clarify your statement.
8. Stay on Topic
If your program has a generic title like “photography” without any specifics, you may have trouble sticking to a topic during the class. So, give a clear title and agenda for your program.
Some participants may be more interested in videography or vlogging, for example. You may also be an expert in those things, but stick to the topic—it’s unfair to the other participants not to. it’s possible to still give general tips but keep it concise.
9. Leave Your Primary Camera at Home
You may want to show off your state-of-the-art camera and lenses, but a workshop is not a place for that. You may also think having a professional camera will give you more authority, but it is for your expertise that your participants are there—not for your camera.
So bring your backup camera or a basic camera if you have one. This way, your primary camera is safe at home in case of accidents. And, you can connect with your participants easily with similar gear as them.
10. Put Your Participants First
When you’re out in a workshop, you may see a rare bird whizzing past or a gorgeous sunset, but avoid the urge to take photos to build your portfolio. Your participants are paying for your time, so pay attention to them. Help them with their composition and camera settings. You can come back later to take photos for your use.
11. Don’t Forget the Wallflowers
Not all participants will be upbeat and friendly. Some shy folks may not be very talkative in a group setting. So don’t forget to spend some one-on-one time with them to put them at ease and help with any questions.
Ace Your Photography Workshop
Running a photography class is for sure a rewarding experience. You will teach something close to your heart, meet new people, and pass on the joy of capturing the moments in pictures. Plan well and go with an open mind; you will have a blast.
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