Spring Coastal & Woodland Photography Workshop

17th April — Essex
Limited to 3 participants
Meet up: 4.45am

This spring photography workshop is designed to give you hands-on experience across two very different environments — the coast at sunrise and woodland in peak spring conditions.

By keeping group numbers small, everyone gets plenty of individual guidance while still enjoying the shared experience of a workshop.

Includes: Guided sunrise coastal shoot, woodland session, breakfast, image review, and personalised tuition throughout the day.

 

Workshop Overview

🌅 Coastal Sunrise Session

We begin early on the Essex coast, photographing sunrise as the tide falls toward low tide — ideal conditions for long exposure photography, evolving foregrounds, and changing light.

What you’ll learn:

  • Working with tides and timing for coastal photography

  • Long exposure techniques using ND filters

  • Composition using boats, anchors, textures, and leading lines

  • Reading and responding to changing light at sunrise

This session focuses on slowing down, understanding movement, and making intentional compositional choices.


☕ Breakfast & Image Review

After the coastal shoot, we’ll stop for breakfast and review images together.

We’ll discuss:

  • What worked well

  • How compositions changed as the tide moved

  • Small adjustments that could strengthen your images

This is a relaxed, informal session designed to reinforce what you’ve learned in the field.


🌲 Woodland Photography Session

We then move to nearby woodland locations to photograph bluebells, woodland trees, and spring growth in soft, diffused light.

What you’ll learn:

  • Composing strong images in busy woodland scenes

  • Depth control and focus choices

  • Working with diffused and directional light

  • Slowing down and refining compositions

This part of the day focuses on observation, patience, and seeing order within complexity.


🖼️ Post-Workshop Zoom Editing Session (Included)

After the workshop, we’ll meet for a small-group Zoom call to review and edit images captured during the day.

  • One image per participant will be edited live, step-by-step

  • I’ll explain my full post-processing workflow and creative decisions

  • Additional images will be reviewed with guidance on improvements

This session is designed to help you understand what’s possible with your files and how to develop your own editing approach.


Practical Details

  • Start: 4:45am meet & greet

  • Finish: Around 1:00pm

  • Group size: Maximum of 3 participants

  • Location: Essex coast & woodland


Recommended gear

  • Any camera (mirrorless or DSLR)

  • Wide-angle or standard lens (approx. 16–70mm)

  • Tripod

  • Filters (polariser and ND filters recommended)

  • Wellies for the seafront

  • Walking boots for woodland

  • Hat & gloves

  • Warm layers

  • Spare socks (recommended)

  • Thermos with a hot drink

  • Snacks you enjoy


A Note on the Day

This workshop is about learning through experience, not rushing between locations. We work with the conditions on the day and focus on understanding light, timing, and composition rather than chasing specific shots.

👉 Register your interest for the Spring Workshop

 

Important Information

  • Any loss or damage to equipment remains the responsibility of the participant

  • Deposits are non-refundable

 

Examples of what you can expect