Private 1:1 photography workshops in Swansea, South Wales – for beginners and experienced photographers alike
Explore the cosy seaside vibes and wild beauty of Swansea’s Gower Peninsula while learning how to create powerful, story-driven photography.
Hello!
I’m Ben Holbrook, a published travel photographer and writer offering private 1 or 2 day photography workshops on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales.
These sessions are private and fully tailored to you (or bring a friend at no extra cost) and your specific photography goals.
My workshops are not about collecting “pretty postcard photos” or “Instagram bangers”, but about learning to notice, observe and tell visual stories with your camera.
Yes, we’ll cover camera settings when you need them, but the real goal is to develop your eye and artistic vision.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced photographer looking for fresh inspiration, this is a photography experience I know you’ll love.
Prices from £395 (further details below)
What You’ll Gain
Immersive, hands-on experiences. Instead of chasing technical perfection, we’ll focus on:
- Not just creating images, but telling stories
- Capturing authentic moments and atmosphere
- Developing your personal photographic voice
- Feeling comfortable and confident while shooting around people in public
- Creating a cohesive photo essay of your time on the Gower
You’ll leave not just with a few standout photographs, but with a collection of images that tell a story of people and place in photo essay format.
Who It’s For
These photograph workshops are suitable for:
- Complete beginners (no camera experience or gear needed – you can borrow one of my cameras at no extra cost)
- Enthusiasts wanting to break out of creative ruts
- Photographers looking to refine their storytelling approach
- Anyone who wants to feel more comfortable and confident shooting in public with their camera
- Anyone who wants to experience the Gower in a more creative and meaningful way
- Anyone who loves photography or loves the idea of getting into photography as a new artistic outlet
What You’ll Learn
Over the course of your photography workshop, we’ll cover:
- How to “see” like a photographer (finding real moments, not clichés)
- Storytelling through a sequence of images
- Working with light, shape, and composition
- Capturing candid, documentary-style scenes
- Capturing texture, detail and atmosphere
- Developing a more intentional way of shooting
This is less about gear — and more about vision. The goal is to tell a story and build a cohesive photo essay from your day.
Where We’ll Go and What We’ll See
We’ll explore some of the most beautiful locations on the Gower Peninsula, from coastal paths and dramatic cliff lines to seaside vibes and hidden coves.
Depending on your interests, we might shoot:
- The coastal landscapes and shifting light of Rhossili Beach
- The vibrant colours and geometry of Swansea Marina and/or Mumbles Pier
- People, movement, and candid life in Mumbles
- Quiet, intimate details that tell a bigger story
Every workshop is different and unique to you – shaped by light, weather, and your curiosity.
Meet Your Photography Teacher – A Little About Ben Holbrook
My name is Ben Holbrook and I hold a first-class photography BA from Falmouth University, though I feel I truly honed my skills working as a professional travel photographer.
I’ve travelled all over, working with tourist boards, travel brands and some of the world’s biggest publications, but I am perhaps best known for this blog and my work in Spain (particularly Barcelona), where I lived for seven years.
My photographic style is informed primarily by the great documentary and street photographers of yesteryear, such as Steve McCurry, Martin Parr, and Joel Meyerowitz. And whilst I like to shoot in beautiful destinations, it’s more the interplay between people and place that interests me.
That is to say, I’m not simply interested in making “beautiful photos”, I’m interested in making images that pique curiosity, images that tell stories, images that make you stop and think.
For this reason I wouldn’t classify myself as a landscape photographer, and a result do not position my workshops as “landscape photography workshops”.
I’ve displayed some examples of my work below to illustrate this point – all taken in Swansea, south Wales.
Workshop Prices and Options
1-Day Photography Workshop from £395: On this fast-paced 1-day crash course into photography, we’ll spend most of the day shooting and exploring various locations and subject matter. Then at the end of the day we’ll slip into a pub or coffee shop and edit your best images in Lightroom. I will provide feedback and encouragement on your work, and also make suggestions on where to take your photography next.
2-Day Photography Workshop from £650: More immersive and slower paced, this 2-day photography workshop allow us to explore more locations and spend more time shooting. Includes 1 full day of shooting plus 1 full day of photo editing and feedback (as well as all equipment, on-going guidance and support and transport from meeting point.)
Local transport included: I can meet you at the train/bus station in Swansea or collect you from your Airbnb/hotel.
Gift cards are also available if you’d like to buy this photography workshop for the budding visual artist in your life.
NB: These are private photography workshops and the price is for yourself and up to two other people at no extra cost – so feel free to bring a friend and/or family member who also loves photography.
Ready to book your personalised photography workshop in Gower, Swansea, south Wales, UK? I can’t wait to hear from you!
Shoot me an email and let me know a few different dates that might work for you and we’ll take it from there!