If you’re just dipping your toe into photography or are trying to perfect your specialist skills, these photography workshops and courses could be just the ticket.
Samuel Hopkins - Staff Writer•
Our beloved capital is chock-a-block full of excellent photo opportunities, but that’s no good if you’re not a dab hand at using a camera right? Luckily for you dear reader, there are many courses and photography workshops in London to help you out. Whether you’re just starting out, are wanting to learn how best to ‘gram or are looking to improve your lens skills and become a maestro, then there’ll no doubt be something for you listed below. Time to get snappy!
1. Photoion Photography School, Waterloo
Kicking off this roundup of the best photography workshops and photography courses in London is the Photoion Photography School in Waterloo. Set right across the street from The Vaults, this professional photography studio offers courses for all kinds of budding photographers – from absolute beginners just starting out to aspiring professional photographers.
There’s everything here from one-on-one photography classes to courses geared towards wedding photography, and there’s even a ‘business in photography course’ which is designed to help you turn your hobby into a full-time sustainable business. Add in food photography, street art and even nude art photography workshops and we’re sure you’ll find something to suit your needs.
📍You’ll find the Photoion Photography School at 14 Lower Marsh, London, SE1 7RJ.
🚇 Nearest station is Waterloo.
2. Photofusion Photography Centre, Brixton
If you’re in Brixton and are looking to learn more about how best to use a camera, then the Photofusion Photography Centre is the place for you. The centre’s facilities include digital suites, darkrooms, exhibition production services, a picture library and even a contemporary art gallery which places an emphasis on showcasing emerging photographers as well as new work by mid-career artists.
They’ve also got a wide array of different photography courses on offer here, from PPP (photography, process and print) to large format portraiture photography, as well as one day DSLR camera workshops too.
📍You’ll find the Photofusion Photography Centre at 3Space International House, 6 Canterbury Crescent, London, SW9 7QD.
🚇 Nearest station is Brixton.
3. Street Photography International, Various Locations
Now we all know that London Town is famous for its street art, with two of its murals actually currently even in the running for being crowned the best street art in the world. But how best to photograph it – as well as London life as a whole? Well, if you’re looking for that answer, then Street Photography International is for you.
Run by a collective of talented street photographers who joined forces in late 2015 with the aim to ‘share their knowledge and passion for capturing and sharing the fleeting moments of the world around us’, they’re the place to go if you’re wanting to get an insight into street photography. Their workshops will give you the chance to learn from three individual photographers and learn skills such as candid shooting, composition,honing black and white and colour skills, online marketing and more.
📍To find out more about Street Photography International you can find out more here.
4. Camera Darkroom, Peckham
Formerly known as Bright Rooms, Camera Darkroom is, as the name would suggest, a darkroom based in the ever-popular Peckham Levels which specialises in private analogue photography workshops for up to four people.
There’s everything here from black and white film development to darkroom printing to medium format camera use, and all workshops are personalised and organised for a time that suits you. They also rent out their darkroom for editorial and film shoots if you’re looking for a change of career down the line! Note that the photography school is closed for the time being, but keep your eyes peeled on their website for details of reopening.
📍You’ll find Camera Darkroom at Unit 423, Level 4, Peckham Levels, 95A Rye Lane, London, SE15 4ST.
🚇 Nearest station is Peckham Rye.
5. Bishopsgate Institute, Liverpool Street
This cultural institution has been helping Londoners educate themselves and hone their skills in a whole variety of different things since all the way back in 1895. From delving into queer history to understanding what ‘racial capitalism’ is, there’s a whole host of different talks, tours and workshops on offer here.
That includes photography too. Currently they’ve got workshops on smartphone photography running until April, though there will likely be other things on throughout the year. Check their website for further details. You can also hop on board a private photography tour dedicated solely to Instagram photography – which let’s face it, in this day and age is vital! You can grab your tickets for that here.
📍You’ll find the Bishopsgate Institute at 230 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4QH.
🚇 Nearest station is Liverpool Street.
Why not join a photography tour of our beloved capital, stopping at landmarks including the London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral? Grab a hold of your tickets here.
6. University of the Arts, Various Locations
Now this one really needs no introduction. As Europe’s largest university for arts, culture and design, you’d expect the University of the Arts to have some of the best photography courses and photography workshops in London. And you’d be right! There’s everything here from fine art to fashion photography, and as well as regular undergraduate and postgraduate courses, they also offer specially-designed short courses too.
Specific examples include ‘photography and identity’, ‘alternative photographic processes’ and ‘speedlights, flashguns and the strobist photographer’ – sounds intriguing to us!
📍The University of the Arts is based in various different locations across London. You can find out more here.
7. City Lit, Holborn
Holborn-based City Lit bills themselves as ‘the ultimate destination for online and classroom based adult courses’ in town. They offer everything from part-time short courses and one-off workshops to year-long programmes. They offer a wide variety of courses covering a massive range of subject areas including art and design, music, dance and yep – you guessed it – photography.
They’ve got around 40 different courses here covering everything here from ‘beauty photography’ to ‘fine art photography’, as well as specialist courses like ‘capturing London’s bridges’ and even ‘pinhole photography’! Seems like there’s something for everyone here…
📍You’ll find City Lit at 1-10 Keeley Street, London, WC2B 4BA.
🚇 Nearest station is Holborn.
8. London School of Photography, Holborn
The clue’s really in the title with this one. Another Holborn spot here, the London School of Photography offers a more practical way of teaching – or, in their own words – ‘more like coaching than teaching, more like conversation than lecture’.
They offer a whole range of different photography workshops and courses here, covering everything here from lightroom essential training to using photoshop, and you can also do courses part-time or over flexible hours. Winner, winner.
📍You’ll find the London School of Photography at 14 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4QH.
🚇 Nearest station is Holborn.
9. DSLR Photography Courses, Wimbledon
Our penultimate entry on this roundup of the best photography workshops and courses in London is the Wimbledon-based DSLR Photography Courses which, as the name suggests, focuses on courses for digital single-lens reflex cameras (AKA DSLR).
Based in Wimbledon Art Studio, they’ve got everything here from nighttime photography workshops teaching you how to best capture silhouettes to those geared specifically towards travel and fashion photography. If all of these sound a bit too technical and you’re just starting out, then you can opt to join a beginner’s course instead. They’ll teach you how to use your cameras in the manual mode, make correct exposures and understand the basics of photography like aperture, shutter speeds and ISO (sensitivity to light). They also have regular photography competitions here too.
📍You’ll find DSLR Photography Courses at Wimbledon Art Studio, 10 Riverside Road, London, SW17 0BB.
🚇 Nearest station is Earlsfield.
10. 36Exp Photographers’ School, Barbican
Rounding off this list of the best photography workshops in London is 36Exp Photographers’ School – a five-star spot in the Barbican which is run by experienced – and in some cases award-winning – photographers.
There’s everything here from long-exposure courses to one-to-one tuition, and they also offer night photography workshops to teach you how to capture iconic London landmarks (and you know we love them). Add in photography-based trips to Spain (yes really!) and we’re wondering why you haven’t signed up already to be honest.
📍You’ll find the 36Exp Photographers’ School at 80-83 Long Lane, Barbican, London, EC1A 9ET.
🚇 Nearest station is the Barbican.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best photography courses and photography workshops in London. So if you’re looking to dip into the subject or are wanting to become the next Annie Lieberwitz or David Bailey, then head to one of these gaffs!
Read more: 10 Of The Best Photography Exhibitions In London To Check Out In 2023.
Tags:course, exhibition, photography course, workshop
