What You'll Learn

The trip is aimed at all levels of photographers - on past trips, we've had some people who really are rank beginners, through to semi-pros with years of experience. Most shoots are backed up by a short lesson, going through the key photography technniques, and Jonathan is on hand throughout to help perfect techniques. All lessons are completely optional - if you already know what's being covered, you can do something else or just get on with the shoot.

Lesson One TECHNIQUE Day One

Camera Shoot Mode
How the camera works - refresher
Aperture and Depth of Field
F Stops
Shooting Raw or Jpeg
Some ideas on Composition

Lesson Two TECHNIQUE - Day Two

Introduction to different light - Studio Flash, Tungsten Light, Speedlights and Ambient
Changing ISO
Metering Light, and how to use a light meter
Using Pulsar Radio Triggers, different ways of triggering studio flash
Using Bowens Flash Heads
More on F Stops
White balance and colour temperature
Using an Xpobalance
Different Light Modifiers

Lesson Three TECHNIQUE - Old Cars, Beautiful People Shoot

Ideas on Posing Models
Composing Shoots

Lesson Four TECHNIQUE - Walking on the Malecon

Shutter Speed
Using shutter speed to freeze movement
Automatic exposure in bright light
Centre weighted, evaluative and partial metering modes
Exposure compensation
Bracketing exposure

Lesson Five TECHNIQUE - La Moka Nature Reserve

Shooting Landscapes
Rule of Thirds
Rules of good composition

Lesson Six TECHNIQUE - Dance School

Different Types of Light
Essence of mixing different types of light
Using speedlights
Varying ISO and Exposure Compensation
Mixing studio flash and available light
Shooting movement
White balance when mixing light sources

Lesson Seven PRACTICE- Shooting Family Portraits

Choosing between working in the home and a studio
Equipment - A Typical Portable Kit
What to Charge for a portrait shoot
Shots to include
Workflow - working fast and smart
How to maximise revenue
Basic portrait sales techniques

Lesson Eight PRACTICE - Producing Work for Publication

This lesson is a talk by Jonathan about how he publishes calendars,
going into detail of the workflow and stages of production involved,
how to sell the product commercially, and the breakdown of revenue and
profit margins between the retailer, distributor, printer and publisher.

Lesson Nine PRACTICE - Shooting Stock

What works and doesn't work as a stock shot
Different types of stock libraries
Rights managed vs Royalty Free
How the money works
Model and property releases
BAPLA and its members
How to get started with shoting stock

Lesson Ten PRACTICE - Working with Models

How to find models
Using agencies, do's & dont's
What to pay
Models and the law
Model releases and copyright
Controlling the shoot and workflow
How to manage models

Lesson Eleven PRACTICE - Travel Photography

"Wish you were here" factor
Using backgrounds to contextualise shots
Lighting interiors
Photographing beaches and landscapes for travel
Using filters
Home-made filters
Walk through some good travel images

Lesson Twelve PRACTICE - Fashion Photography

High key and low-key fashion shots
Posing models for fashion shots
Lighting fashion shots
High fashion and high-street fashion - differences
Shooting a fashion show - do's and don'ts
Effects of different camera angles

During the holiday, there are also critique sessions, where we review each other's shots and comment on what we like, and don't like. Everyone takes part, and the feedback is constructive - most people find these critique sessions a highlight of the trip.

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