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50 Fantastic Photo Workshops Happening In 2015

If you’re considering taking a photography workshop this year, but don’t know where to start – sometimes it’s best to look in your own back...

If you’re considering taking a photography workshop this year, but don’t know where to start – sometimes it’s best to look in your own backyard. Here we’ve compiled a list of over 50 workshops, organized by location so you can find one happening not too far from home – or, if you’ve got the travel bug, dive in and explore a new place.

From travel to sports photography to business tips, there’s an entire community out there willing to teach and help you reach your professional goals. Take a look and find your perfect match – and if you’re running a workshop, or have another suggestion to add – leave them in the comments below!

Major Workshop Organizations

Santa Fe Workshops 

The renowned Santa Fe Workshops are at it again this year, hosting classes in Santa Fe, San Miguel de Allende, Cuba, and many more. Santa Fe Photographic Workshops instructors are among today’s most influential photographers and participants of all levels are welcome. They host various classes through out the year, and below are a few highlights coming up:

Momenta Workshops in partnership with Leica Camera  

During Momenta’s workshops, which are a collaboration with Leica Camera, each student is paired with a nonprofit organization for the duration of the workshop to produce a photo story or package of documentary work on their outreach efforts. The nonprofits range from schools, orphanages, hospitals, animal shelters, advocacy and arts organizations. Students on these workshops have the opportunity to shoot with a Leica M camera, which also features HD video capabilities. Students truly get the documentary experience in the field while having 1-on-1 mentoring sessions every day with an instructor for at least an hour.

Within The Frame Photographic Adventures 

Within The Frame Adventures are about the passionate discovery and photography of people, place, and culture. They emphasize the importance of going slow, lingering, experiencing, absorbing, savoring, and taking the time necessary for the excitement of the new and exotic to blend with an understanding and appreciation of the surroundings in order to find one’s personal vision. Here are some highlights for the upcoming year lead by Jeffrey Chapman, Elizabeth Opalenik, and Winslow Lockhart:

Eyes in Progress 

Eyes in Progress prioritizes their quality of training with a limited number of participants in each workshop, experts reviews after the workshop, and a strict workshop organization. Here’s a few highlights from their 2015 calendar:

National Geographic Adventures 

While many of the Nat Geo trips are travel-only (not a photo led trip per se), a great handful are photography workshops, taking you on the perfect photographic journey. Here’s some highlights for this year:

Maine Media Workshops

For more than 40 years, the Maine Workshops have influenced thousands of people. They believe that all artists, no matter their medium, have a story to tell, and they’ve created a workshop environment that is warm and welcoming to people of all different ages, cultural backgrounds, and experience. Participants come from all over the world to learn in the scenic environment of coastal Maine. Here are a few of the exciting courses they’re offering in 2015:

Rockport, Maine: The Personal Story with Cig Harvey June 21 – June 27

Rockport, Maine: The Authentic Photograph with Bil Zelman July 28 – August 1

Rockport, Maine: Editorial Bootcamp with Drew Gurian August 9 – August 15

In the US

Arizona

There are a number The Arizona Highways Photography Workshops happening across the US this year, but here a few happening right in AZ:

Kit Frost also leads photography workshops in Arizona, and around the Southwest. Various dates, April – Oct. 2015

Adam Schallau leads photography workshops in the Grand Canyon, happening Aug. 2 – 5 and Aug. 5 – 7, 2015

California 

El Capitan Canyon, CA: Field Trip is a summit created for those who want to grow their business, expand their unique voice, connect with the community, and explore the new frontier of photography and image creation. March 5-9, 2015

Orange County, CA: Sports Shooter Academy’s Lighting Workshop is a hands-on, educational program that will take participants step-by-step through the process of creative portrait. Instructors this year include Tim Mantoani, David Honl, Matt Brown, Shawn Cullen, and Robert Hanashiro. April 16-19, 2015

Palm Springs Photo Festival is hosting its tenth year Workshop Program which will offer 16 intense, hands-on, remarkable classes with world-renowned working photographers and educators. Most of the workshops are three full days, and designed to be intimate with only 16 students per class. Workshops run April 26 – May 1, 2015. A few highlights for this year’s includes:

Yosemite, CA: Photographer Phil Hawkins teaches 2 to 5 day landscape photography workshops in Yosemite National Park throughout the year until Sept. 2015.

Various locations, CA: Photographer Todd Bigelow teaches the Business of Photography Workshop throughout the year, teaching valuable lessons regarding understanding the freelance market, copyright basics, licensing for revenue, contracts (real and redacted), and much more. Here are few upcoming dates:

  • Los Angeles at UCLA on January 24-25, 2015
  • ASMP Oregon (held at Pro Photo Supply in Portland) on Feb. 21-22, 2015
  • Santa Barbara at Brooks Institute on February 28-March 1, 2015

Florida

Palm Beach, FL: The Palm Beach Photographic Centre provides various classes taught through out the year, including photo basics and classes for youth.

Montanta

Missoula, MT: The Rocky Mountain School of Photography teaches a handful of workshops in Missoula. Various dates, May – Oct. 2015

New York

Brooklyn, NY: MediaStorm hosts intensive, hands-on educational experiences in advanced multimedia storytelling at their location in Brooklyn. One day workshops focused on the art and business of digital storytelling are happening:

  • Feb. 7, 2015 *Apply by: Jan 1, 2015
  • March 7, 2015 *Apply by: Feb 14, 2015
  • April 11, 2015 *Apply by: Mar 13, 2015
  • Sept. 19, 2015 *Apply by: Aug 28, 2015
  • Oct. 17, 2015 *Apply by: Sep 18, 2015
  • Nov. 21, 2015 *Apply by: Oct 30, 2015

New York, NY: Photography Intensive at Columbia University is being taught by Thomas Roma and Inbal Abergil. May 26 – July 2, 2015

Oregon

Astoria, OR: Landscape photographer Art Wolfe is hosting a workshop along Oregon’s historic and scenic coast. July 9 – 12, 2015

Wyoming

Jackson, WY: Rich Clarkson is leading The Adventure Photography Workshop again this fall. Come and spend a week learning from top adventure photographers and editors while enjoying the outdoor paradise of Jackson, WY. And special bonus, a tuition discount of 10% is offered for full-time students and photography educators, workshop alumni, and members of their partner organizations, NPS, NPPA, NANPA and ASMP. Sept. 19-24th 2015

Jackson, WY: Summer in the Tetons – with Bret Edge & Jason Hatfield. June 18 – 21, 2015

Vermont

Stowe, VT: The FotoVisura Summer Editing Sessions are 2-day intensive workshops that pair two photographers with a guest editor and are one-on-one and group sessions focused on the editing, sequencing, and/or layout of a project. Various dates, May through Sept. 2015

Virginia

Fairfax, VA: NPPA’s Northern Short Course is a three-day event packed with more than two dozen workshops on a variety of topics relevant to professionals and students in the field of visual journalism.  Learn from and network with industry leaders, as they share their work and discuss what makes them successful. March 12 – 14, 2015

Outside the US

Argentina, Buenos Aires: Foto Ruta gives guided city tours geared towards the most photogenic spots. Tours last 4 hours, and can be set up by appointment. Foto Ruta is also located in Barcelona, London and Santiago.

Bahamas: The second ever Fstoppers Workshop will take place at Atlantis Resort on the Island of Nassau in the Bahamas on Wednesday May 13th – Sunday May 17th, 2015

Bolivia: Photographer Sergio Ballivan takes photographers for one week to the world’s largest salt flat – The Salar de Uyuni – for the flooded mirror spectacle. January 18-24, January 25-31, March 15-21 & March 22-28, 2015

Canada, Saskatchewan: Branimir Gjetvaj takes you on an instructional photography tours, which is less structured than a full workshop or a course. The main idea behind the tours is to take participants to exceptional locations, and to explore and photograph in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. Suitable for intermediate and advanced photographers. Oct. 23 – 25, 2015

Dubai: Gulf Photo Plus (GPP) is the heart of the Middle East’s photography community. They believe in the art and science of photography as a medium of creative expression, and exist to inform, educate and inspire people across the region. They host workshops and classes throughout the year.

France, Auvergne: Kristel Schneider is teaching a 5-day workshop in Tuscany of Auvergne, a photo-holiday and learning experience wrapped into one: 19 July – 25 July 2015

Iceland: Ken Kaminesky & Patrick DiFruscia lead you on an epic adventure in Iceland. May 20th – 30th, 2015

Iceland: Tim Vollmer partners up with various photographers, including Martin Bailey to lead workshops in Iceland through out the entire year. Various dates, Feb. – Oct. 2015

India, Ladakh: Join Travel Shooters to capture the people, the culture and the high Himalayan landscapes of Ladakh. June 3 – 17, 2015

Indonesia, Bali: Foundry Photojournalism Workshops goes to Bali this year, July 19-25, 2015

Ireland: Photographers Athena Carey and John Dunne are leading a 6 day northern Ireland photo tour, with only 12 spots it will fill up fast! May 31 – June 5, 2015

Italy, Dolomite Mountains: Phil Hawkins takes you to the Cortina D’Ampezzo area of the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy, some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in all of Europe. Sept. 7 – 11, 2015

Japan: Photographers John Paul Caponigro and Seth Resnick lead various workshops throughout the year, but their adventure through the sacred places in Japan looks incredible, and only 4 spots are left! Nov. 3-20, 2015

New Zealand: Photog Petr Hlavacek leads photo workshops throughout New Zealand, and hosts one on one courses by appointment.

Tanzania: This private small group photo safari lead by Art Wolfe provides a rare opportunity to photograph three of Africa’s icons in untouched, untamable Africa. Oct. 10 – 20

Thailand, Chiang Rai: Hone your photography skills, and enjoy Thailand’s majestic elephants in a responsible manner, while staying in 5 star accommodations in the jungles of the Golden Triangle. Workshop led by Lee Cracker, various dates, make reservations for private lead tours.

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Are you running a workshop this year? Leave a link in the comments below with information!

Feature image from Sports Shooter Academy’s Lighting Workshop

 

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