Isle of Skye Photography Workshop

Frequently asked questions

What are your workshops like?

We strive to create a fully immersive yet relaxed experience so that you can improve your photography whilst also enjoying the beautiful environment.

Our workshops are a safe space to test out new ideas, ask questions and push your boundaries - from wherever your starting point is. We strive to provide an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for all attendees.

What makes the difference? While there are many talented photographers who offer workshops, being a skilled craftsman doesn't always equate to being an effective teacher. We not only possess extensive photography experience, but we also have a successful track record in our previous teaching and coaching careers. Learning won't be incidental to being taken to a 'nice location' and then forgotten the moment you get home. Instead it will be meaningful and we will find the best way to make it stick!

When you book with us we will send you a brief questionnaire so that we can start to get to know you, what you hope to get from the workshop and how best we can make your learning count.

Who is the workshop for?

Our landscape workshops cater to photographers of all levels, provided they have basic knowledge of their camera and the exposure triangle. We offer a personalized approach to each participant, taking into account their individual experiences and learning styles. We assess your skills and build from there, ensuring that the workshop is tailored to your needs. Whether you're looking to learn new skills, refine existing ones, or challenge yourself to improve your craft, our workshop has something for everyone

This is a course for improving your landscape photography and not the course to learn camera basics. If you are a complete beginner then we offer 1:1 tuition (in person or by Zoom) to ensure that you are ready to get the most from the workshops in the future.

Is there an Itinerary?

The workshop starts on Saturday at 1pm with a light welcome lunch together and a chance to break the ice. We will then have a brief introductory session before heading out for an afternoon and evening shoot. Attendees should expect long days as we are hoping to be going out before dawn and returning after sunset each day (light dependent). The course will end at lunchtime on Tuesday.

We have an extensive knowledge of Skye and the surrounding areas. Our itinerary is deliberately flexible so that we can capitalise on the weather and light conditions as the days unfold. We work really hard to ensure that we get the most our of our precious days together! We will, of course, visit some of the iconic locations including Sligachan Bridge, Quiraing, Old man of Storr, Fairy Pools etc. The wide variety of locations will provide you with both fabulous photography and learning opportunities.

There will be times when we offer the group an input into a location and/or activity focus.

How fit do I need to be?

To explore the Skye area, you will need moderate fitness and mobility. Some locations are near where we can park, but a few require up to 30 minutes of walking on rough and sometimes boggy terrain, and can include some short climbs, climbing over rocks and jumping small streams whilst carrying your photography equipment.

If any location poses a significant challenge we will provide the group with a description of the terrain so that participants can opt in or out. We will also provide an alternative, easier location nearby whenever feasible.

What are the group numbers?

A minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 participants are required for this workshop to proceed (2 tutors).

What about accommodation?

There is limited accommodation on Skye so we have reserved a number of rooms in Portree.

Rooms are booked on s shared (same sex) twin basis. If you would like to pay extra for a single room, please let us know ASAP. we will make every effort to accommodate you but cannot guarantee it.

Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your ideas before booking accommodation.

What about transport

It is suggested to have one or two volunteer drivers each day, depending on group size, which can be arranged amongst participants. It is encouraged for participants to repay the favour by offering a drink or meal to the driver or taking turns to drive.

This allows for a separate car to be available in case of any issues, without impacting the course delivery as one of us can deal with the situation whilst the other continues with the group to the next location.

What kit should I bring?

Once you have committed to the workshop we will send you a welcome pack which includes a kit list and other useful information.

Camera kit to include:
DSLR or mirrorless camera with a short zoom (24-70mm or primes at either end) as a minimum. An ultra wide (IRO 14 - 24mm) and a telephoto would be good.
Batteries (enough for a long day)
Memory cards for all days
Tripod
Basic filters
Wipes and towels
Rain cover or shower caps(!) for your camera.
Bag with waterproof cover

A laptop and card reader is useful but not essential.

Please ask us before buying any new equipment as we have recommendations for saving money and may be able to lend you some equipment.

What insurance do I need?

It is the responsibility of workshop participants to ensure that they have taken out insurance to meet their needs. It is the responsibility of workshop participants to ensure that they have taken out insurance to meet their needs.

Insuring your equipment is a personal choice but we also strongly recommend that you take out personal insurance in case you need to cancel, we have another pandemic or you have an accident. There are a number of providers on the market. One of the leading ones is a Staycation Plan.

Oversees participants: Insuring your equipment is a personal choice but it is a requirement that you have personal travel insurance that includes good health cover and repatriation back to your country of domicile.

What are the T&Cs?

Before booking please read our full terms and conditions.

DEPOSIT
To secure your spot in the workshop, a deposit payment of 25% is required.
If the workshop is cancelled by The Photography Workshop Ltd, due to low demand, you will receive a full refund or be offered alternative dates.
If you cancel, the full deposit will be forfeited.

Payment of the balance is due 60 days before the event start date.

CANCELLATION OR BAD WEATHER
In the rare event of severe weather, where the FCO issues severe warnings advising against travel then alternative dates will be offered.

If there is extreme weather whilst we are away on a workshop, we will provide alternative options, such as indoor training on landscape photography techniques, photo editing, planning, critiques and other photography topics.

Let’s learn together