New Workshops, Autumn and Winter 2024/2025

Shropshire Woodland Workshop

Sunday the 17th of November 2024

Join Simon and I for a full day of photography in some of the most spectacular woodland scenery to be found anywhere in England. With a wealth of knowledge between us this dawn ‘til dusk workshop is guaranteed to provide you with all the help you need in photographing the often chaotic forest environment.

Mortimer Forest near Ludlow in South Shropshire provides a wealth of different types of woodland from rich, mature Beechwoods, stands of elegant Larches, frothy Birch saplings and huge Oaks all of which rise up a high hill, the top of which provides wide views into Herefordshire and right across Shropshire. No matter what weather we encounter there is the perfect area of woodland to explore.

Woodland photography can be notoriously difficult but both Simon and I will be on hand to give advice on composition, controlling/managing light and if necessary with setting your camera up correctly for the conditions. Most importantly we will be offering assistance and advice on how to simplify and distill the scene in front of you to achieve the very best results. There will also be plenty of hints and tips on various ways to post process your images to better achieve the finish that you were hoping for.

This workshop is aimed at helping photographers from beginners to advanced come away with a fine selection of beautiful woodland images for their portfolio.

Glen Etive, Glencoe and Rannoch Moor.

January 2025

Wednesday 15th to Saturday 18th January

Glencoe and Glen Etive are two of the most iconic locations to visit in the Highlands of Scotland. While there are a few true honeypot locations within the area there are many many more incredible scenes to photograph that I discovered during my eight years living in the area. Having lived in and photographed Shropshire for the past twelve years I can safely say I still know North Argyll and Glencoe better.

With Loch Etive bringing the sea right to the heart of our tour location we will be surrounded by towering mountains with huge slabs of exposed granite, fast flowing rivers pouring over waterfalls and through pine clad ravines, lichen covered forests and even an estuarine plain. For most, Rannoch Moor needs no introduction; a vast expanse of lochan filled moorland rising on all sides to mountains blanketed in snow. Dramatic all year round but even more so in winter when ice adds so much interest to foreground details

During our stay we will be based in warm and comfortable self catering accommodation at the bottom of Glen Etive. Staying there we have immediate access to all the varied landscapes that Scotland has to offer with just a twelve mile drive up onto Rannoch Moor and into Glencoe. As with all our tours the intention is to get beneath the surface of our immediate surroundings photographically speaking rather than travel far and wide and waste valuable time and light in cars. We would like to take you to at least one higher viewpoint overlooking the landscape but this will be on well worn paths and with no more than 300 metres of ascent. With that in mind please bring stout boots, lots of layers of warm, waterproof and windproof clothing, hats, gloves, buffs/scarves and for the valley floor we strongly recommend wellington boots since there is always so much standing water. Should there be snow or ice on the hills we will not be venturing out onto any steep ground.

During January we are highly likely to experience some wintery conditions but no matter what the weather offers up we have locations in mind to guarantee highly successful days out with a camera.

The course fee of £945 covers four days of guidance and tuition from two leaders, three nights’ accommodation and all meals cooked by Simon who just happens to be an award winning chef (please let us know if you have any special dietary needs). Not included, transport during the tour ( note that being based in such a sensational location travel during the tour will be kept to a minimum and we would encourage a bit of car sharing). A deposit of £200 is required to secure a place on this workshop with the balance of £745 due 56 days prior to the start of the course. Please make sure you have read the Ts&Cs at the bottom of this page before securing your place. Just six places in total on this workshop which can be booked below. To whet your appetite further here’s a taster video from Simon.

We plan to bring you four days of great views, great food and all the help you might need with your photography out on location and back at our accommodation after dark. Please check out both mine and Simon’s social media feeds for more images and footage from Scotland.

One To One Tuition.

There can be no better way to advance your photography than with tailored one to one tuition. Whether that be help getting to grips with a new camera, assistance with accurate exposure and use of filtration, post processing for web and printing using Lightroom/Photoshop, on hand advice about composition or guidance regarding your image portfolio and preparation for exhibition.

I offer bespoke tuition from half a day to a full week on location wherever you wish to travel in the UK (ongoing mentoring packages are available too). I have an in depth knowledge of the landscapes of Shropshire/Welsh Borders, The Peak District, Lake District, Snowdonia NP, Cairngorms, Trossachs and all of Western Scotland including many of the Islands.

With twenty five years of photographic experience and fifteen years tutoring I am well placed to help you with your photography whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran. Over the years I’ve used Nikon film and digital cameras, Canon digital cameras, Pentax 35mm and medium format film cameras, Panasonic 4/3rds cameras, Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras but my particular area of speciality has been in using cameras with movements (Tilt Shift lenses, Mirex TS adaptors, 5x4 inch large format film cameras and Cambo Actus mini view cameras married to mirrorless bodies and medium format lenses).

Prices are £150 for a half day workshop (four hours) and £250 for a full day (eight hours). Discounts may apply for multiple day bookings and prices do not include expenses. Please note that tuition fees are payable in full at time of booking. These workshops can be attended by up to three participants (there is a charge of £10 per extra person when booking for more than one client). Please contact me by email (richard@richardchildsphotography.co.uk) to discuss options and to find a mutually convenient time for your tuition. I would also like to know a little about your photography and more importantly about your needs in advance in order that I tailor the session(s) to your precise requirements.

*Gift vouchers are available from the print sales page and these can be used for workshops as well as gallery products and services*

Testimonials

I'd just like to repeat my appreciation of the Torridon tour. The locations were amazing and, perhaps even more astonishing, was the way you were able to get round (with the exception, obviously, of the persistent wind at the Bealach) the extremely variable weather. My impression is that when on location we had dry conditions for more than 80% of the time. The locations themselves were wonderful and were the sorts of places that seemed to urge one to make worthwhile images from them......

Additionally, your attention and patience in explaining how to do things - particularly metering - was individual and pitched just right, as far as I'm concerned.     

M. Roberts

Hi Richard,
just a quick thanks for your patience and thoughtful explanations yesterday.
I lost count of how many times you had to repeat the same things!
Much appreciated.

C. Smith

Hello Richard,

many thanks for the photo tour around the Assynt area last week. I thoroughly enjoyed it and as I work through the images am more than pleased with the locations and and the results.
Your enthusiasm and help as well as the weather made everything come together better than I had hoped for.   

     G. Taylor

Richard,

This is my first opportunity to sit down and properly thank you for a wonderful experience last week. I truly appreciate the time you spent with me, your patience, and eagerness to help me through the photographic process. Your approach to making a photograph elevates the end result to a work of art.     

J. Machin

Hi Richard,

Thanks for yesterday, an absorbing and very enjoyable day. I have never felt so exhausted after taking 6 photographs and walking no more than a couple of miles!!  

C. Reynolds

Hi Richard

I thoroughly enjoyed getting together in Wales.......I noticed, as I chased you along the A5, that your off-side number plate light is dead!

  P. Staff

Thank you so much for the 1-1 photography tuition last Tuesday afternoon. Although it would have been all very basic stuff to you, it was really excellent for me, and indeed when we approached the end of the session I thought it had been a really fantastic tuition session and a privilege to be guided by someone with such depth of knowledge and expertise. You have moved me on from being very unconfident about the controls and settings on my camera….

SC

Terms and Conditions

Booking Fee
A non-refundable booking fee of the amount stated in each tour or workshop description is required at the time of booking.

Balance Due Date
The balance of the tour/workshop price is due 8 weeks prior to the departure date. Should this final payment fail to reach me by the date specified, I reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled and retain the booking fee. If a booking is made 8 weeks or less prior to the departure date then the full amount is payable at the time of booking.

Client Cancellations
Any cancellation by the client must be made in writing or by email. The date on which the letter or email is received by me will determine the cancellation charges applicable. These charges are expressed as a percentage of the total tour price, and are as follows:

• 8-6 weeks before departure 50%;

• 6-4 weeks before departure 75%;

• 4 weeks or less before departure 100%.

Confirmation of Booking

The receipt of a booking fee does not imply acceptance of a booking. I will confirm our acceptance of your booking by email, and it is at the time I send out this confirmation that a contract comes into existence between us.

At my discretion an administration charge of £40 may be made for alterations or amendments to a booking.

The transfer of a booking from one tour to another is at the discretion of Richard Childs Photography, if made more than 8 weeks prior to departure, it will also incur a fee of £40. The intention to transfer should be notified in writing or by email.

At 8 weeks or less before departure cancellation fees will also apply (see cancellation clause).

Alteration & Cancellations by Richard Childs Photography 

Richard Childs Photography reserves the right to alter or cancel any tour or workshop. Should an alteration or cancellation become necessary, you will then have the choice of accepting the change, taking an alternative tour or workshop (and where this is of a lower price I will refund the difference), or withdrawing from the contract and accepting a refund of all monies paid to Richard Childs Photography.

 Underbooking

Underbooking is a situation in which the minimum number of bookings required to run a tour is not met.

If I have to cancel a tour for this reason, I will not do so less than 30 days prior to departure. However, since most of my workshops are for low client numbers I may offer anyone signed up the alternative of a bespoke option in lieu of the planned group workshop.

Force Majuere

I may also cancel due to force majuere, this is defined as unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond my control, such as war or the threat of war, riots, terrorist activity, civil strife, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, flood or adverse weather conditions.

Change of Tutor

In the event of the specified tutor being unable to attend due to illness or other circumstances beyond my control, another tour leader will be provided. If this is not possible, then the tour or workshop will be cancelled and the provisions of alteration & cancellation clause will come into effect.

Travel and accommodation

The workshop fee covers,

• accommodation,

• inclusive transport

• all photographic tuition during the workshop.

All other costs and expenses associated with attending the workshop are the responsibility of the client.

Price Alteration 

I reserve the right to change any of the prices, service or other particulars of a tour or workshop at any time before I enter into contract with you. If there is any change, I will notify you before we enter into such contract.

Funds Held in Trust 

To ensure compliance with the Package Travel Regulations in the event of insolvency, all customers’ payments will be held in trust until the tour or workshop is completed.

Tour & Workshop Descriptions

The type of tours and workshops I offer require flexibility and must allow for changes in weather and other circumstances beyond my control. For this reason the outline itinerary and tour/workshop description must be taken as an indication of what may take place on the tour or workshop, and not as a contractual obligation on the part of the company.

Clothing and Equipment

The client is responsible for providing clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather conditions and terrain likely to be encountered on a landscape photography workshop. I am happy to advise on this prior to the start of a workshop.

Please ensure you bring adequate batteries, chargers and media storage for your cameras as these will be virtually impossible to source once the workshop has commenced.

Interruption to Service

Richard Childs Photography does not accept liability for any loss or additional expense caused by delay or interruption to travel services through weather conditions, civil disturbance, industrial action, strikes, wars, floods or sickness. Such losses or additional expenses are the responsibility of the passenger.

Responsibility

Richard Childs Photography accepts responsibility for acts and /or omissions of its contractors (whilst acting in the course of their service). Richard Childs Photography does not accept responsibility or liability for death, bodily injury or illness caused to the client or any other person included on the booking, unless arising from the negligent act and/or omission of the company’s contractors (whilst acting in the course of their service). Any claims shall be subject to English law in respect of any question of liability or quantum, and all proceedings shall be within the exclusive domain of the English courts.

Complaints

The client must communicate any perceived failure in the performance of this contract on the spot to the tour leader thus giving the tour leader the opportunity to achieve a satisfactory solution. Should this not be possible, you should make your complaint known to us in writing within 28 days of the completion of the tour or workshop.

Travel Insurance

It is a term of the contract between us that you will obtain the appropriate travel insurance cover before you set out on the tour or workshop (whether abroad or in this country). The insurance must cover the loss, expenses and damages arising from, including but not limited to, the cancellation of the tour or workshop (whether in whole or in part), personal accident and injury, loss of baggage and personal money and belongings

As the client and participant in a workshop it is your sole responsibility to ensure you, your belongings and equipment are adequately insured against injury, death and accident, accidental damage, loss and theft, during the workshop.

The client hereby accepts sole responsibility for ensuring that they have adequate insurance cover for life, medical and accidental risks before, during or after the workshop. This insurance should cover the client in the event of medical rescue and/or repatriation costs (in the case of accident or illness). All personal belongings (luggage) and equipment remain the sole responsibility at all times of the client.

Richard Childs Photography cannot accept any liability for loss or damage to the client or their equipment and the client takes part in the workshop entirely at their own risk.

It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that they take heed of any instruction and/or advice given by the tour leader and should the client select any locations or take any route to a location of their own choosing or move away from close proximity to where the tour leader is they do so in their own independent and individual capacity and entirely at their own risk and will be deemed to be outside of the scope of the workshop and no longer a part of the workshop until such time as they return to within close proximity of the tour leader (such proximity to be within ear shot and eye sight of the tour leader)

Acceptance of Terms & Conditions

By making a booking, you are agreeing to accept all the above conditions. Any person making a booking does so on behalf of all the individuals included in it, so that all are bound by the booking conditions.