Photography Courses in Leigh, Manchester

Private Photography Coaching Built Around You

Whether you have just bought your first camera or want help improving your photographs, individual tuition gives you time to understand what you are doing and why.

I explain settings and techniques in plain English, demonstrate how they work and help you put them into practice. If something doesn’t make sense, I can explain it differently or spend longer on it.

My photography lessons take place at my working studio in Leigh, Greater Manchester, welcoming learners from Wigan, Bolton, Warrington and the surrounding areas.

You can work on camera basics, composition, studio lighting, photographing people or editing. There is no requirement to book a complete course.

How the Photography Modules Work

Each module is a separate private coaching session with its own subject, duration and price.

Most modules last two hours. The working-with-models module lasts three hours and includes the model’s fee.

If you are a complete beginner, I recommend starting with Module 1. If you already understand your camera, tell me what you would like help with and I can suggest a suitable starting point.

You can leave time between bookings to practise, then bring your questions to your next lesson.

Module 1: Camera Basics — Get Off Auto

Private one-to-one lesson | 2 hours | £50
Suitable for: Complete beginners and photographers relying on Auto mode.

Understand the main camera controls and start making your own decisions about how your photographs look.

I’ll explain aperture, shutter speed and ISO through practical examples, helping you connect the settings on your camera with the results in your images.

Your lesson can cover:

• The exposure triangle and how the three settings work together.

• Creating a blurred background or keeping more of a scene sharp.

• Freezing movement and avoiding unwanted motion blur.

• Choosing focus settings for sharper photographs.

• Using Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual mode.

The aim is to give you a useful foundation to practise at home, rather than overwhelm you with information.

Module 2: Lenses, Composition and Better Photographs

Private one-to-one lesson | 2 hours | £50
Suitable for: Beginners and improving photographers.

Explore how lens choice, camera position and composition affect your photographs.

I’ll help you understand when different focal lengths are useful and how to make stronger pictures with the equipment you already have.

Your lesson can cover:

• Wide-angle, standard and telephoto lenses.

• Focal length, perspective and background appearance.

• Framing, balance and leading lines.

• Choosing cleaner backgrounds.

• Positioning yourself and your subject.

• Considering your next lens purchase.

This module is useful if you understand the basic settings but feel your photographs still lack impact.

Module 3: Studio Lighting Made Simple

Private one-to-one lesson | 2 hours | £50
Suitable for: Photographers beginning to explore studio lighting.

Learn how to work with studio lights in a practical session at my Leigh photography studio.

I’ll demonstrate how changing a light’s position, height and distance affects the subject, shadows and background.

Your lesson can cover:

• Setting up and triggering studio flash.

• Choosing suitable camera settings.

• Understanding soft and hard light.

• Using softboxes, umbrellas and reflectors.

• Building a simple one-light setup.

• Introducing a second light when appropriate.

The emphasis is on understanding a manageable setup that you can practise and develop.

Module 4: Working with Models and Posing

Private one-to-one coaching | 3 hours | £150, including model fees
Suitable for: Photographers ready to develop their portrait skills.

Build confidence photographing and directing a person, with a model available for the practical session.

I’ll guide you through preparing a shoot, communicating your ideas and making adjustments as you photograph.

Your lesson can cover:

• Planning a portrait session and using reference images.

• Giving clear, comfortable directions.

• Posing hands, shoulders and body angles.

• Working with expression and eye line.

• Matching posing to your lighting.

• Reviewing photographs and identifying improvements.

You’ll have time to shoot, ask questions and receive feedback. Basic knowledge of camera settings is recommended so you can concentrate on working with the model.

Module 5: Lightroom and Photoshop for Beginners

Private one-to-one lesson | 2 hours | £50
Suitable for: Beginners who want a clearer editing workflow.

Learn how to organise, improve and export your photographs with individual Lightroom and Photoshop tuition.

The session can introduce both programs or concentrate on the one you most need help with. Tell me which versions you use before booking so I can plan the lesson appropriately.

Topics can include:

• Importing and organising photographs in Lightroom.

• Adjusting exposure, white balance and colour.

• Cropping and straightening.

• Recovering highlight and shadow detail.

• Basic Photoshop adjustments and retouching.

• Exporting photographs for print, websites and social media.

Two hours provides an introduction to selected essentials. You can book further coaching if you want more practice or help with particular editing tasks.

Specialist One-to-One Photography Coaching

Private session | 2 hours | £120

Specialist coaching is for photographers who want to apply their skills to a particular subject or solve a more specific problem.

Subjects include:

• Dog photography.

• Iris photography.

• Family portraits.

• Wedding photography basics.

• Headshot photography.

• Product photography.

• Portrait photography.

• More focused studio lighting techniques.

Unlike the introductory modules, these sessions focus on your chosen type of photography. Contact me before booking so I can understand your experience, equipment and goals, and explain what can realistically be covered.

One-to-One Photography Business Coaching

Private session | 2 hours | £250

Thinking about turning your photography into a business?

My individual business coaching provides practical discussion about starting out, choosing equipment, setting prices and finding clients.

Depending on your priorities, I can cover:

• Deciding which photography services to offer.

• Understanding costs and setting prices.

• Choosing equipment without unnecessary spending.

• Marketing, advertising and networking.

• Building a portfolio and your reputation.

• Managing enquiries and client expectations.

The session is tailored to your questions and stage of business, with honest advice about the work involved.