Photography workshops in Rotterdam
Learn by doing.
Half-day workshops in small groups. Theory first, then we walk into the park nearby and shoot it for real. Professional gear on hand to try before you ever buy it.
Rotterdam
photo walks in the park nearby
Half day · €50
small groups, all levels
Gear to try
test professional kit before buying
Private 1-on-1
€300 · four hours · your topic
Every workshop runs the same way: a focused talk to explain the ideas, a walk in the park nearby to put them into practice with hands-on advice, and a relaxed look at your photos together at the end. Workshops are held in Rotterdam. The exact meeting point is shared when you book. Bring whatever camera you have, from a smartphone to a professional body, and try our equipment on the spot before deciding what to buy.
Every instructor at our workshops shoots professionally (paid, published, and in the field), while also holding formal training in teaching and pedagogy. That combination is rarer than it sounds. Most great photographers can't teach. Most great teachers have never held a camera on a real shoot. Our instructors do both, every week. What that means for you is less abstract theory, more of the kind of knowledge that only comes from years behind the lens, and the ability to actually transfer it to you.
Jump to a workshop:
Workshop 01
Flash photography
Stop fighting your flash and start using it. Learn to make flash look natural, indoors and out.
We go from the flash built into your camera all the way to a flash working off the camera. You will understand why flash photos so often look harsh, and the simple changes that fix it: bouncing light off walls and ceilings, softening it, and moving it off-camera for shape and depth. Speedlights, triggers and accessories are available at the workshop to try with your own camera, so you can feel the difference before spending a euro on gear.
- Flash and ambient light: the two exposures in every flash photo
- Bouncing light off walls and ceilings for soft, natural results
- Getting your flash off the camera with cables and wireless triggers
- Choosing between a built-in flash, a cheap flash and an expensive one
- Try our speedlights and triggers before you buy your own
Half day · €50 per person · bring a camera with a built-in or add-on flash
Workshop 02
Composition & framing
The difference between an OK photo and one people stop to look at is usually framing.
This workshop is about what you put in the frame and where. You will learn where to place your main subject, how to choose a background that supports the picture rather than distracts from it, and a handful of simple decisions that lift an ordinary shot into a strong one. We practise in the park nearby straight after the talk, then come back and look at what everyone made.
- Where to place your subject for the strongest image
- Choosing and simplifying backgrounds
- Using lines, framing and perspective to lead the eye
- Simple changes that turn an OK photo into an excellent one
Half day · €50 per person · any camera or smartphone, all levels
Workshop 03
Studio lighting for portraits
Set up studio lights and take professional-looking portraits without a professional budget.
A hands-on introduction to studio lighting for anyone starting to experiment with it. We work through two different lighting setups and shoot a real model with them, so you see exactly how each one shapes the light. All the lights, stands and modifiers are provided, so you try the equipment with your own camera and look at your results on the spot, before deciding what to buy. We also talk through what a kit actually costs, from a complete setup for around €100 up to a €1000-plus rig, and the same lights work just as well for children, products and other indoor photography.
- Two practical lighting setups, demonstrated on a live model
- Shaping light for flattering, professional-looking portraits
- Building a kit at your budget, from about €100 to €1000-plus
- Using the same setup for children, product and indoor photography
- All gear provided, plus hands-on time with your own camera
Half day · €50 per person · for beginners; any camera welcome
Try the gear before you buy it
Cameras, speedlights, triggers, studio lights and modifiers are available at every workshop. Test professional equipment with your own hands, and your own camera, so you know exactly what is worth your money before you spend it.
Workshop 04
Advanced camera settings
Take your camera off Auto and finally understand what those dials do.
If your camera has M, A (Av), S (Tv) or P on the dial, this one is for you. We cover what each mode means, when to reach for it, how to set your ISO sensibly, and how to get sharp, crisp images every time. We practise in the park nearby, and you leave able to control the camera instead of hoping it guesses right.
- What the M, A (Av), S (Tv) and P modes really do
- When to use each mode in real situations
- Setting ISO for clean, well-exposed images
- Getting sharp focus and crisp, detailed photos
Half day · €50 per person · a camera with manual or semi-manual modes
Workshop 05
Lightroom & post-processing
Magazine photos are not magic. They are processed. Learn the workflow professionals actually use.
A short, practical introduction to Lightroom, the tool most professionals edit in. You will see how to process a photo in seconds, rescue images that came out too dark or too bright, correct colours, sharpen detail, and clean up small blemishes. We also look at how to get Lightroom and Photoshop affordably, then work through your own photos together so you leave with a routine you can repeat.
- Process a photo in a few seconds
- Rescue images that were too dark or too bright
- Quick colour correction and white balance
- Sharpen detail and make colours sparkle
- Fix blemishes in portraits and landscapes
Half day · €50 per person · bring a laptop and a few of your own photos
Workshop 06
Travel & city photography
Come home from your next trip with photos worth printing.
Learn to take better pictures when you are visiting somewhere new. After a short talk we head out and act like tourists in Rotterdam, with hands-on advice as you shoot: finding good light, telling a story, and capturing the feel of a place rather than just documenting it. Back inside, we look at quick ways to process travel photos on your phone and computer.
- Seeing and shooting a place like a photographer, not a tourist
- Making the most of light at different times of day
- Telling a story across a set of images
- Quick phone and computer editing for travel photos
Half day · €50 per person · any camera or smartphone, all levels
Evening special
Fireworks & long exposure
An evening special, tied to a real fireworks show, where you learn to capture light over time.
An occasional, seasonal special run around a fireworks display. You will learn how long exposures work, how to set up a tripod and remote, and how to capture fireworks, light trails and night scenes cleanly. Because it depends on a show to shoot, it runs now and then rather than on a fixed schedule, so get in touch to hear when the next one is planned.
- How long-exposure photography works
- Setting up a tripod and remote trigger
- Capturing fireworks, light trails and night scenes
- What gear helps, including ND filters and phone apps
Evening special · ask about the next date and price
Private tutoring
One-on-one: your questions, a whole afternoon
Come with your own questions and spend a full afternoon with an instructor dedicated to you alone. Any topic you choose, be it flash, studio light, composition, editing, your camera or your portfolio, at your pace, on your photos, with our equipment available to try. Sessions are scheduled individually when you get in touch.
€300 · four hours of private tutoring · scheduled on contact
Upcoming workshops
Here is what is coming up next in Rotterdam. Groups are kept small, so places are limited.
| Date | Workshop | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 12 September 2026 | Composition & framing | €50 · half day |
| Saturday 19 September 2026 | Advanced camera settings | €50 · half day |
See a workshop you want to join?
Other workshops run on request, and everything can be booked privately, for a group, or as a gift, just ask.