New articles in Amateur Photographer and Digital Photographer - March 2025

I was delighted to be commissioned by Amateur Photographer Magazine to write a piece on a subject that is very close to my heart - camera choice for beginners.

When I'm not shooting for my commercial property clients, the rest of my time is taken up with teaching photography and post processing - and I've taught hundreds of people over the last decade or so. I've learned that the right camera can make a huge difference to someone's ability to learn the basics of aperture, shutter speed and ISO, and their ability to change those settings easily 'in the field' - often literally!

You can read the Amateur Photographer article online now - and find a longer piece on camera usability elsewhere in my News section.

Then I was also recently asked by Digital Photographer Magazine to write a piece on running photography workshops, which is something that I have been doing for the last four years in my home city of Milton Keynes, UK.

The full copy can be found here, as I'm aware it's not easily readable in this image!

How do I run a photography workshop?

Photographer Gill Prince explains how she plans a typical workshop, the challenges she faces and how she prepares for every eventuality.

How did you get started in photography, and what led you to teaching workshops?

I've been taking photos since I was seven when my dad taught me the basics. It was always my hobby and gradually became my business in 2016. I started teaching one-to-one around the same time and added one-day workshops to my services in 2021.

I realised that most UK workshops were in'honeypot locations, but thought that people could still benefit from attending a workshop in less apparently glamorous locations. In my case, that's Milton Keynes, which is actually lovely, though much maligned!

What is your most popular workshop?

The more general ones are the most popular. where I plan a set itinerary that covers different locations and a mix of technical and compositional advice. This gives people the chance to chat as we walk and to experiment with different types of scenes. I also run more niche workshops, such as night photography. panoramas, sunrise and sunset and ICM. and while these have been well received, the general ones attract a bigger audience.

Do you prefer small, intimate workshops or larger group settings?

Definitely smaller workshops with a maximum of five people. With larger ones, it's hard to offer the same benefits as my time would be spread too thinly. I've found this works well and the only time l've run larger groups is for classroom-based Lightroom sessions.

How do you structure a typical workshop from start to finish?

First, I plan a route that covers a range of photographic opportunities, with an easy-to-find meeting point and parking. Then I send out detailed joining instructions, including what to bring and what to wear. I ask everyone what camera they are shooting with - so I can research the settings - and their level of knowledge, so I know who needs extra help.

On the day, I ask everyone to introduce themselves, say what they hope to get out of the session and check whether the less experienced members of the group need any help setting up cameras. Then we walk around a series of pre-planned locations, giving advice on how to shoot each scene, but also looking out for anything 'ad hoc' that presents itself.

I usually follow up with details of the main locations, so people can revisit at a later date in different light/weather conditions. One of the advantages of running local workshops!

What has been the most memorable or rewarding workshop experience for you?

Probably the first one I ran in 2021. I was understandably nervous as it was a new thing for me, but everyone really enjoyed it and the feedback was excellent. Just knowing that my original concept and all my planning had worked out was an amazing feeling.

What are some of the technical challenges you face and how do you avoid them?

Camera equipment malfunctioning or settings that are hard to find in a camera's menu system that I'm not familiar with. I always bring a spare camera with me in case anyone's breaks, so they can still continue the session I also remind people in advance about bringing spare batteries and SD cards.

How do you market your workshops and what has been the most effective way to reach new participants?

I mainly advertise through social media including Instagram and a variety of MK

Facebook groups, as well as my own 'Photography in Milton Keynes' group, which has just under 2,000 members.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting their own photography workshops?

Don't forget the amount of 'admin' involved You have to be a good marketer and manager as well as a photography teacher. The rewards are huge but don't underestimate what goes on 'behind the scenes to make it run smoothly.

Click the link to find out more about my Photography Workshops and my Photography Tuition - and please get in touch if you have any questions at all.