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Workshops

  • I am a travel, wildlife, documentary and portrait photographer and I enjoy sharing my passion for photography with others. I offer photography training tailored towards beginners and enthusiasts in Yorkshire. 

    Details of some of my current workshops are below, most of which are available on request on a 1:1 basis. My 1:1 rate is £75 for 3 hours and £150 for 6 hours. As a guide, prices to attend a group workshop are typically around £99 per person. Group sizes are small to ensure everyone gets the attention they need. Specific prices are detailed in the course descriptions below. I do not charge VAT.

    Please take a look at some of the workshop and 1:1 testimonials I have received here>>>.

    Do consider subscribing to my newsletter to receive details of new workshops, special offers and discounts for multiple bookings, plus photography tips and tricks.

  • Message from Valerie Mather

    "The safety and well-being of all my workshop participants have and always will be my priority. Due to the UK government lockdown restrictions of non-essential movement of people I have postponed all 1-day workshops and 1:1 sessions up to the end of May 2020. I am reviewing future workshop information on a daily basis and will update it here when necessary and in accordance with government policy.

    Please be assured that if you have paid a deposit or full payment for a workshop or a 1:1 session during this period you will not lose it. Your payment will be 100% credited towards a future workshop or 1:1 session booked to start before 30th May 2021."

    Book with confidence

    If you would like to be a part of any of the workshops or you are interested in 1:1 sessions from June 2020 below please get in touch at any time to make a booking. Please be assured that your deposit will be safe and if the workshop has to be postponed due to government restrictions over Covid-19 you will not lose your money. It may simply be transferred to a future workshop of your choice to start before 30th May 2021, so please book with confidence to secure your place.

    Please stay safe!

If you fancy a fun day out at Breezy Knees gardens near York photographing flowers, statues, water features and unique viewpoints and vistas, whilst learning new skills with your camera, then this workshop is for you.

In association with Bass & Bligh cameras, this course is suitable for beginners and those who already enjoy taking photographs but wish to understand manual exposure controls and to improve their compositional skills.

If you fancy a fun day out at Yorkshire Wildlife Park photographing the only polar bears currently in England, plus a host of other animals, including meerkats, lemurs, lions, tigers, wallabies and giraffes, whilst learning new skills with your camera, then this workshop is for you.

If you fancy a fun day out at Harewood Speed Hill Climb capturing all of the motorsports action whilst learning new skills with your camera, then this workshop is for you. 

If you fancy a fun day out at York Railway Station learning how to see and photograph in black and white, documenting the light, lines and texture of this beautiful Grade II listed building and capturing the expressions of the people pouring through the station, then this workshop is for you.

If you fancy a fun day out at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden photographing unique viewpoints and vistas plus the historic ruins of the Abbey whilst learning new skills with your camera then this workshop is for you.

If you fancy learning how to make distinctive studio portraits, using models and professional studio lights then this workshop is for you.

  • Kind Words

    "Val is an amazing photography tutor and has succeeded in teaching me where others have failed. She has a flexible and adaptable approach to lessons, which suits me perfectly, and we have a giggle to boot! Her patient and thoughtful nature has really helped me progress, with her picking projects that suit my objectives as well as challenge my skills. I am very much looking forward to continuing my photography journey with her. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Val is the best photography tutor I have had the pleasure of being taught by and I would highly recommend her!

    - Mayu Amin"

  • Kind Words

    "Does exactly what it says on the tin! Highly enjoyable and commended. I now know what it means to come off Auto!"

    - Roger Taylor attending a Level 1 Photography Workshop

  • Kind Words

    "A very useful and informative day. Demystified moving off Auto. I feel a lot more confident in getting creative with my camera. The practical exercises and manual playing cards were really useful".

    - Alastair How

  • Kind Words

    "Val broke down the basics into a language all could understand, and she gave plenty of chance for practical moments to cement the theory. Her workshop made me feel very confident to remove the “auto” button".

    - E Womersley

  • Kind Words

    "A really thorough grounding on how to use my camera on manual settings, thanks. I now feel confident to practice myself. It was brilliant to have things simplified and explained in great detail. Good to have practicals to put things together". 

    - Sally How

  • Kind Words

    "Very clear guidance to understanding the 3 elements of the exposure triangle, with lots of opportunities for practice. The quiz and manual playing cards were great".

    - G Fisher

  • Kind Words

    "Done in a really good structure which made bringing things together easier. I enjoyed the practical exercises".

    - Rosie Hester

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    "Thoroughly enjoyed the course and can now understand the basics of using a camera not on Auto Mode."

    - A Swift

  • "I had a photo session with Valerie for some new images of myself for my website and various media publications. Valerie had a natural instinct for the style and quality of the photographs needed for my business and took time and patience to get the right setting and positions. The images captured me naturally but with a professional focus and I am delighted with them." -Jacquie Cole Bakewell Travel
  • "We came into contact with Val when we wanted to organise a family photograph for our 40th wedding anniversary. Val was wonderful to work with, she made sure everyone looked great, was very good with the grandkids, we had a lot of fun, and you can really see that come through in the end results" -Nora Thrush
  • "I thoroughly enjoyed my photo shoot with Valerie . Her sense of humour and attention to detail resulted in the perfect images for my fashion blog and social media accounts . They not only captured the clothes , but also something of my personality - in my experience a rare feat. I could not be more pleased"

    - Katherine M

Covid19 message response

Message from Valerie Mather

"The safety and well-being of all my workshop participants have and always will be my priority. Due to the UK government lockdown restrictions of non-essential movement of people I have postponed all 1-day workshops and 1:1 sessions up to the end of May 2020. I am reviewing future workshop information on a daily basis and will update it here when necessary and in accordance with government policy.

Please be assured that if you have paid a deposit or full payment for a workshop or a 1:1 session during this period you will not lose it. Your payment will be 100% credited towards a future workshop or 1:1 session booked to start before 30th May 2021."

Book with confidence

If you would like to be a part of any of the workshops or you are interested in 1:1 sessions from June 2020 below please get in touch at any time to make a booking. Please be assured that your deposit will be safe and if the workshop has to be postponed due to government restrictions over Covid-19 you will not lose your money. It may simply be transferred to a future workshop of your choice to start before 30th May 2021, so please book with confidence to secure your place.

Please stay safe!

New Book: Yorkshire Born & Bred

Val's new book, Yorkshire Born & Bred has recently been published find out more here >>>