Teaching has been part of who I am for a really long time. Back in the mid-2010s, I was part of the Jessops Academy team, running camera courses for people who'd just bought gear and wanted to know how to use it properly. Then when I opened the studio, I got my mentoring certification and started working with people on music – bass, guitar, drums, production. So whether it's photography or music, teaching's always been there.

These days, I'm mostly running workshops and group courses in photography, though I'm considering moving into one-to-one tuition later this year or early next year. But the group workshop model is really where photography shines for me.

Why Group Workshops Work For Photography

With instruments, one-to-one makes sense because it's noisy and you need dedicated attention. But photography workshops work brilliantly in groups. People bounce ideas off each other, ask questions that others might not have thought of, and you build a community around it. That's something I've always done – the Jessops days were group-based, and it just felt right to carry that forward. There's energy in a room full of people learning together that you don't get one-to-one.

What We're Teaching Right Now

The main courses are a beginner fundamentals course where we cover shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition, all the foundations. Then we run a Lightroom course for editing. We've done Affinity Photo as well. Moving into later this year, we're opening up advanced and media courses.

We're also doing photo walks that tie into the courses, and everything's priced to match what it offers. A fundamentals course can be cheaper because it's in my space. But if we're doing something like a racetrack shoot or a safari experience, the costs are higher because of tickets and transport. It's about matching the price to what's involved and keeping things accessible where we can.

The Moment It Clicks

What keeps me coming back is seeing that moment when someone gets it. Even if it's something small, when they go, "Ah, I've always wanted to know how to do that," or "That makes sense now," there's a look on their face. That's the moment. That's brilliant.

There are challenges because people learn at different speeds and in different ways. But everyone's got a certain skill set, and eventually things click. In smaller groups especially, say four, five, six people, there's this amazing dynamic where everyone's supportive of each other. No one's left behind – everyone wants to help everyone.

What People Should Walk Away With

I don't expect people to remember everything or become experts after one course. The goal is just a step forward. A bit more confidence. A bit more knowledge about what to do in certain situations. If they walk away feeling better about their abilities than when they arrived, that's a job well done.

We also have a WhatsApp group that people can join after the course, so they can ask questions and stay connected. It's not a one-shot thing – it's the beginning of something.

One-To-One Tuition Is Coming

Later this year or early next, I'm planning to offer one-to-one tuition, and it'll be completely different from the group workshops. It's tailored entirely to the person. They can specify what they want to learn. Instead of a single six-hour course, we'd do weekly lessons. We'd have more dedicated time to break things down, take photos, shoot video, really hone their skills. It's personalised in a way group courses just can't be.

Where This Is Heading

The overall goal is to run anywhere between five to ten workshops a year, mostly entry-level stuff with one or two bigger experiences. Moving into next year, I'd love to do a residential photography trip – book somewhere, spend a weekend shooting together. That's where the photo walks and courses are heading.

And then one-to-one tuition with a few students, building from there. Just seeing how it evolves.

If You're Interested In Learning Photography

Whether you're just picking up a camera for the first time or you want to get better at editing, I run photography courses in Milton Keynes designed to give you a step forward. We offer beginner fundamentals courses covering the basics, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition. We run Lightroom courses for editing. We're also partnering with Unity Place this summer for free one-hour sessions with kids and teens, though that's a one-off collaboration we're exploring at the moment.

If one-to-one tuition is more your speed, that's coming later this year. We're also planning photo walks and bigger experiences down the line.

The courses are designed to give you a step forward, a bit more confidence, and tools you can actually use. You won't be an expert after one session, but you'll feel better about what you can do.

If any of that sounds interesting, head over to pixelaffiliate.com or get in touch. We'll find something that works for you.

Photography Education, Why I Teach.

WHY I WENT ALL-IN ON FUJI!