Our street photography workshop
Our unique combination of a highly experienced course leader (a full-time professional street photographer and photojournalist) and small groups leads to a powerful and immersive learning experience. Whilst an element of the workshop is theory-based, most of our time together is spent shooting on the streets, learning by experience with plenty of individual, hands-on tuition.
Our street photography workshops are fun, informative and relaxed. They are sometimes provocative, usually challenging and always highly enjoyable; they will stretch your imagination, develop your skills and boost your confidence. Our courses concentrate on ‘getting the picture’. We don’t get too bogged down with technicalities (though we do give you a comprehensive grounding in the essentials such as camera settings, lighting and composition); we prefer to make the most of our time together by focusing on how to make you a great street photographer, conquering your fear of shooting on the streets, understanding what makes a good picture and ensuring that you capture ‘the moment’.
We passionately believe that good street photography extends beyond random pictures of strangers walking down a street or of people sitting in a cafe. We pay as much attention to the aesthetic as we do the technique and it is this combination which makes our workshops different. There is a structured, tried and tested formula designed to make you a better street photographer.
What you will learn
- Develop a street photographer’s ‘eye’ and learn how to spot a photo opportunity in an every day street scene.
- Appreciate the aesthetics and the ‘art’ of street photography.
- Understand the importance of nurturing your own photographic style and how to conceive and develop street photography projects.
- Understand the components of a great street image.
- Conquer your fear of photographing strangers.
- Become invisible and shoot your environment quietly and unobtrusively.
- Learn the technical aspects of street photography: equipment, composition, exposure, light and focus.
- Maximise the potential of your camera when photographing buildings and urban landscapes.
- Learn the optimum camera settings for street photography for fast and accurate shooting.
- Learn how manual (zone) focusing can speed up your work and make you more effective as a street photographer.
- Learn how to photograph safely in difficult situations or areas and how to interact effectively with the public, the police and other officials; react positively if people are questioning, challenging or offended.
- Understand some of the key legal and ethical aspects of street photography.
UK street photography workshops
Our 2017 street photography workshops will take place in London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Blackpool, Hull and Brighton. Led by a professional street photographer and with a maximum of six participants, this street photography course is structured, challenging and inspiring – as well as being great fun. Click HERE for details.
Venice photography workshops
Join us in the most charismatic of cities where we will combine elements of travel and street photography. Explore the ‘hidden’ Venice with a professional travel and street photographer. We run group and one-to-one workshops throughout the year. Please click HERE for details.
One-to-one street photography workshops
Power up your street photography with individual coaching & mentoring. We will tailor a unique learning experience for you – from an intensive 1-day workshop to a career development programme spread over several months. Click HERE for details of our private learning experiences.
Talks & lectures for camera clubs
We love to engage with camera clubs and photographic societies! Whether it’s for a lecture, informal talk, critique evening or competition judging, we can add a refreshingly different, engaging and inspiring angle to your event. Click HERE for details.
Develop your confidence & skills with a professional on the UK’s most popular street photography workshops
Learn invaluable tips and techniques from a professional street photographer, lecturer & author
Build your confidence and conquer your fear of shooting strangers on the street
Discover the essential field techniques to become an effective street photographer
Develop your powers of observation and learn the art of story-telling through pictures
Learn how to shoot quickly and to recognise and capture the ‘decisive moment’
Learn to see and observe, creating very personal perspectives for your work
Develop an appreciation of the aesthetics of street photography and discover your own style
Learn to develop projects, bringing a real focus to your work; discover how to publish and exhibit your images
Learn to create meaningful street images – not random pictures of strangers!
Locations
Happy students
Photos taken on average course
Maximum group size
This street photography workshop was destined to sit head and shoulders above would-be competitors in the genre in the UK, and was full of promise. For a start, the “Streetsnappers” website is dedicated to this genre alone. In addition, it did not go unnoticed that Brian, the workshop leader, showed a keen interest in gaining an understanding of his students’ individual skill levels in the days leading up to the Workshop. It seems to me that this is of paramount importance to effective teaching, yet is is so often missing from the offer of some other companies in this field. The day started with a comprehensive briefing over coffee where Brian’s interest in his students and where his enthusiasm and expertise in street photography shone through. Technical information was shared in an easy-going, interactive style and it was quickly apparent that part of Brian’s working life involves academic teaching.
Richard BI am a fairly experienced photographer but new to street photography. I wanted a course that would challenge me, teach me some new ways of working and help conquer my reluctance to shoot strangers. This course delivered on all counts. Our course leader, Brian, was a very experienced photographer with a real talent for getting the message across in an engaging way. He put us at ease right from our first encounter and worked hard with every member of the group from the beginning of the workshop to the end of the day. All in all a very worthwhile, fun, informative, provocative and top value day. Bravo Steetsnappers, I’ll be back for more!
Robin YI spent a wonderful day with Brian on Sunday. We had a mixed bag of weather but this didn’t hinder the fun. I wanted to spend a day to up my confidence levels, build a foundation for me to move forward with and glean as much information as I could from a pro! A pro he is but one that is wiling to share every tip he possibly can with you. His style of teaching was perfect for me and I really cannot recommend this course highly enough. There is structure to the day but Brian is happy to go off piste and deal with anything you may throw at him.
Victoria M
Brian Lloyd Duckett
Principal & Course Leader
I have been involved with street photography for more years than I’d like to admit to! My interest started when, as a photojournalist, I pounded the streets of London, shooting material for news and features. That made me realise just what a rich source of photo opportunities can be found all around us. We just need to open our eyes to the possibilities . . . When I’m not shooting street photography, I run a commercial and editorial photography business, I teach as a Visiting Lecturer at universities, I lecture at camera clubs and my latest street photography book, ‘Mastering Street Photography’, was published by Ammonite Press in 2016.
From the street photography BLOG . . .
News, developments and insights from the world of street photography
Ones to Watch: Gianfranco Gentile
Gianfranco attended one of our Soho workshops last year and, although he’s a relative newcomer to the genre, his work has come on in leaps and bounds since then. I asked him 10 questions about street photography and here’s what he has to say . . . 1. How... read more
Street photography critique
This is the next in our series of regular street photography critique evenings, networking and discussion groups . . . Frank, friendly and constructive criticism can be hard to come by. Sure, we can all get lots of praise on social media but there’s a limit to how... read more
Liverpool street photography workshop – 24th June
I have a couple of spaces left on this Saturday’s Liverpool street photography workshop. Join me in this colourful and charismatic city for the people, the bars, the shops, the waterfront, the work, the play . . . our small workshop group (maximum 6... read more
Street photography techniques: overcome your fear
Street photography techniques: 10 ways to overcome your fear Some of us are comfortable with shooting strangers on the street – others less so. Whenever I run a street photography workshop at least half the participants cite this is the main thing which holds... read more
Street photography camera settings: under-expose for impact
Street photography camera settings: under-exposure People often ask me about street photography camera settings. When we were starting out in photography we were almost certainly taught to take great care to expose correctly – it’s one of those photography... read more
