As a photographer I feel like one of the best ways to find motivation and to learn new little tips can be to go to a workshop. Sure you can learn pretty much anything you need to online but there is something to be said for actually being there in person surrounded by likeminded people.
I have been to three different types of photography workshops, all in different price ranges. I still remember the first workshop I went to, I showed up not having a clue what was going to happen really, but having high hopes of learning a lot. I was just getting in to photography so it was the perfect workshop for me, just a small group of people and through that workshop I was introduced to the joys of editing in Lightroom. I think the biggest question for me now when I am looking in to a workshop is that which photography workshops are worth it?
Photographer and Sit Workshop
The photographer and sit workshop in my experience is usually the cheapest kind you can go to. This is also the first kind of workshop I ever attended and I do think they are good for those just starting out. They are usually a one-day event put on by a single photographer who spends the day sharing their photography journey. You get to hear the photographer’s story of how they got started, you find out the programs they use, maybe some tidbits on how they run their business and other such things. Usually there is a short shoot at some point in the day where everyone takes pictures of the same models at the same time. In my experience I don’t usually feel like I walk a way from these kinds of workshops learning a lot but if your intention is too meet other photographers and make new connections then this is definitely the way to go. Since there is usually a smaller number of people I find it easier to get to know everyone, bonus is quite often you are all invited to a Facebook group so you can keep in contact. If you are hoping to learn more about how to use your camera at one of these workshops then I would pass. I find the shoot part is kind of a time where you cross your fingers and hope that you magically get a shot you can use for your portfolio. In other words, I never walked away with pictures I really felt like I could use.
Photographer and Work Workshop
The photographer and work workshop is probably the best kind of workshop to go to if you want to learn, though in my experience they are far from the cheapest to go to, in fact they kind of hurt the bank account. Though these workshops are similar to the first in the way that it is one single photographer sharing what they know with you in my experience they go in to more detail. I was at one that was spread over two days so you had an entire day just going over business stuff and one day spent shooting. The shoot is really where I felt like I learned because there were multiple models and one person shot one at a time so you had the models entire attention. This workshop can be a little overwhelming between critiques and the shoot so if you are unsure of your camera then I might pass but aside from that very much worth attending.
Conference
The conference is a multiple day, exhausting but fun time. Usually a conference is held over a few days with a lot of people in attendance and a lot of different photographers sharing what they know. There are different conferences out there and I am sure there are some that are more hands on but the one I have attended in the past had a different outlook. They wanted everyone to be able to listen to every photographer so it was twelve-hour days of sitting and listening to one person after another. I like the idea of not having to choose between the different activities going on, the only downside would be that there was no hands on, it was all just sitting and listening. Both the years I went I did feel like I walked away having learned something, but I think even more important is that I walked away from the conference both times excited to work. There is something about listening to that many people for three days straight that gets you motivated and inspired. There are definitely other bigger conferences out there that have the hands on aspect and I think they would be well worth hitting up no matter where you are with your photography.
If you are trying to choose a workshop to attend and are not sure which route to go then think about why you are going. Do you want to network, or to learn more of the technical side, or do you just need some inspiration?
I still remember one of my instructors in school saying that as long as you walked away from class having learned one thing then that is all that mattered and I think the same rule could apply to workshops.
