5 Photography Experiences in Yorkshire

Improve your photo skills with a photography experience from Uniquely Local

With over 90% of adults owning a smartphone, many with high-end cameras, it seems we’re all photographers now.  It’s easier than ever to take a group selfie, keep a visual diary of your holidays or capture special moments with family or friends.  All this snapping got us interested in improving our own photo skills and discovering how to take a perfect shot, and we’re pleased to now offer some exciting local workshops and photography experiences in Yorkshire for you and your favourite people.

If you have a digital SLR camera, with the professional guidance of local photographers you’ll not only learn how to produce beautiful creative images, you’ll also get to explore some of Yorkshire’s most fascinating and inspiring places.

Experience a night photography walkabout with friends

For a memorable experience with a group of friends you could book a night-time walkabout in the fabulous historical city of York with its haunted medieval buildings and Roman wall, or maybe explore Whitby’s atmospheric streets and seascapes. Whitby’s dramatic Abbey and ghostly churchyard make the perfect setting for an annual Goth festival and the natural beauty of its coastline is stunning by moonlight. Using your own DSLR camera, professional Andrew Throup from JPO Photography will guide you on a ‘Night Photography Walkabout’ to one of these locations and help you to get the most out of your camera. This experience includes tips on settings, F stop, ISO and Shutter Speed and how they all work together to produce great night images.

The group walkabout with Andrew lasts around 2 to 2.5 hours. If it’s raining on your chosen date you can move to another date as courses run right through the darker months. All you need is a pair of good walking legs, a DSLR camera that you can put in manual mode, a wide lens or two and a tripod to support your camera. You’ll probably need a warm jacket, hat and fingerless gloves too if it’s a cold night.

Try a night photography experience for £50 per person.

One-to-one night photography course with ‘Lightroom’ post processing

Another great gift experience option with Andrew includes one-to-one guidance in capturing night-time images followed by his expert tuition in using Lightroom to enhance your photos, create incredible effects and produce professional images. During the evening Andrew talks you through tips on settings, F stop, ISO and Shutter Speed and how these all work together to produce great night images. After the walkabout you’ll retreat to a local pub or café to download some of your images from the night into Lightroom. Andrew will show you how to edit your images from start to finish, something which isn’t included on the group course. The walkabout lasts around 2.5 hours, followed by roughly an hour of processing time, plus a free drink.

The best time to enjoy night-time photography experiences is September through to April, so book your dates now! £150 per person.

A photographic walk and talk in the scenic beauty of the Yorkshire Dales

Another unique photographic walk and talk in the Yorkshire Dales, this one in daylight, is likely to appeal to budding photographers who love nature. On this photographic rural ramble, you’ll explore and photograph the beautiful and unspoilt Walden Valley. Led by local artist, photographer and teacher Katherine Ralph you’ll receive a warm welcome and introductions over tea and coffee with homemade biscuits, buns, scones and cream before starting your gentle ramble through the Walden Valley. Your route is tailored to your group (2 miles to 4 miles along gentle terrain) and you’ll have many opportunities to stop and photograph the wildlife, bird life and stunning landscape including Buckden Pike and its lovely waterfalls. Katherine teaches basic camera function and photograph composition with lots of demonstrations throughout the day. The price includes a delicious picnic lunch.

Katherine says her inspiration has always been her love of travel, the outdoors and the Yorkshire landscape. This is one of a range of Distinctly Yorkshire Arts and Crafts experiences that she runs from her fully equipped workshop in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park.

We think this makes a unique gift for budding photographers of all ages. Book a photographic walk and talk in the Dales for £75 per person.

A pet portrait, a unique and memorable gift

Here’s a wonderful way to capture your pet with an image you can treasure for ever. Our pet photography package includes a private photo shoot for your beloved pet with talented photographer Stewart Waite.

To capture your pet in the best light the photography takes place outdoors. A garden is ideal, or if you have another special venue in mind, this can be arranged between the photographer and pet owner, preferable within a 10-mile radius of York. If further afield Stewart is happy to discuss. The photo shoot lasts as long as it takes to get ‘the perfect shot’ both photographer and owner are happy with.

Although the shoot is usually up to two pets in the same photo if you or the gift recipient does have more pets, it’s possible to discuss this with Stewart. He is more than happy to photograph all types of pets: dogs, cats, exotic pets, horse and rider… and he’s willing to discuss more unusual requests!

After the shoot, you select your perfect shot from a selection then your printed photo is either sent by Royal Mail or mounted, framed and sent by courier.

Stewart uses the local landscape to inspire his work and much of his work takes inspiration from both the Yorkshire and Cumbrian landscapes where most of his time is spent. He presents his work in both colour and monotones, to allow the viewer to look at the image from abstract angles.

Buy a pet photography package now! From £100.

Enjoy a one-to-one or group photo walk and photography workshop in York

A photo walk is a fun way to get creative and explore a city from a new and interesting perspective. On this 3-hour photo walk and photography workshop you take your camera around some of the many and varied landmarks of York city centre and learn how to capture great images of one of the most beautiful cities in the UK.

With expert tips and tuition from Stewart Waite you’ll explore photography techniques, camera settings and the ‘exposure triangle’. The experience starts with meeting up for a coffee and safety brief with Stewart who outlines the route and the aims of the workshop. He’ll then guide you on to explore York Minster for around 45 minutes, learning camera work, then on to the Museum Gardens for a further 45 minutes. Stewart encourages you to take lots of photos and gives advice throughout the session. You’re also welcome to bring your own tripod.

A one to one photography walk and workshop will cost £150, a group photography walk and workshop is £160 for two people.