My photography tuition is about improving your photography by expanding your knowledge and finding solutions, not about criticism. Your tutorials will concentrate on the practical - you will learn by doing not by sitting around watching me take photographs. Photography is both a craft and an art and both of these can be learnt.
During the tuition process I will often ask you what is the picture for? Pictures for commercial use need to be technically perfect but often don’t need to be great art; pictures for publication may need to be technically perfect and contain artistic elements but then a photograph of a major news event doesn’t have to be either (although it is more likely to sell if it is). Fine art pictures need the photographer to be in control of the technical aspects of the medium to produce their vision but that doesn’t mean the rest of the world will like the image. If you just want to take better pictures for your own enjoyment then I can help you build on your technical and compositional skills as well as helping you see new opportunities for photographs.
Tuition is available via e mail, telephone, Skype or face to face.
I have worked as a professional photographer for over thirty years and ran a large commercial studio in Hampshire for many of those years. My commercial experience has included producing pictures for advertising, catalogues and wedding and portrait photography. Later I specialized in editorial and boudoir style portrait photography. Since qualifying as an adult education tutor I have taught photography for Norfolk County council and Reepham Learning Community adult education services and also run courses in basic computer skills. My photographs continue to sell as stock images and are published in a wide range of books and magazines.
I offer tuition 1-1 or to small groups on photography and photo editing at your home. This means that you will be using your own equipment and computers. At home, location or studio tuition is available inclusive of travel in the following postcodes NR1-30. Additional travel expenses may be requested if you live in NR31-34, PE or IP postcodes.
Courses include:
When (and how) to turn off Auto Mode.
Modern digital cameras are able to automatically adjust for a wide variety of situations but there is no substitute for the human eye. You will learn about exposure compensation, shutter and aperture settings, depth of field as well as improving your composition skills. This course can also cover progressing to using RAW. It can run from one to as many sessions as you feel you need and can be weekly, bi weekly or monthly.
Pre course introduction by phone or skype Free. Tuition £25/hr (first session minimum 2 hrs). You can add up to 2 additional people to the group at an additional £5 per person per hour.
This course can include practical work at locations in Norfolk.
Fine Art Nude
Covers finding and working with models, studio lighting, planning and preparation, ideas for shoots and can include a practical session with a model in a studio or on location (studio advised if this is your first session).
Pre course introduction Free. Planning session £30. Practical £25/hr (minimum 2 hrs). You can add up to 2 additional people to the group at £5 per person per hour (Plus model or studio fees - please note you will be responsible for paying any deposits or fees for models or and/or studio time in advance). Read more
Specialist tuition is also available in portrait, boudoir or fetish photography either on location or in the studio.
Online Tutorials. Submit up to 5 full size photographs online and receive detailed feedback on both the technical and artistic content of the pictures. The feedback also includes a realistic assessment as whether they are suitable for submission to various picture libraries and includes advice on whether model or property releases would be required for some uses. Fee £30. Additional Skype tuition £20 per hour.
Below are links to downloadable PDF files which complement some of my digital photography courses. Updated versions are available to students
The information sheets are free to download but no distribution or reproduction is allowed for commercial gain or via any website that is run wholly or partially for profit. For specific uses please contact the author
All images and text copyright Simon Pocklington 2014/2018. For more details please contact