I stopped going to workshops about 5 years ago. I found that after travel expenses and workshop fees the value I received from attending didn't justify the expense. Additionally, workshops need to appeal to a rather broad spectrum and I found it a bit frustrating to attend a, let's say, portrait workshop and another attendee asks what an f stop is. The available information online is very useful and there are a number of online learning services that do a great job. I can buy a course that can be stored and replayed for about the cost of one night's stay in a decent hotel.
Passion, ask anyone who gets up at 3 AM to shoot the Milky Way or someone who hikes miles for the perfect shot; knowing their work may never get bought or published, but they still do it anyway. You cannot buy passion. But you can acquire expertise and I think your Youtube content and newsletter are fantastic, Glyn. I sat in on your Photoshop World demo a couple of years ago. Wasn't there as much to learn the details as I was to see your workflow and hear your commentary on the process. And I saw your passion. There's hundreds of ways to improve your photography. A sponge absorbs from all sides.
Glyn, all this makes a perfect sense. I know that you don't want to be preaching, but there's just one word I'd add to this: AMEN. You speak for so many people out there.
Hi Glyn, interesting thoughts, I've been on workshops and one to ones, I would agree with your points although I get information from workshops training days certainly deliver more information.
Well said Glyn. I appreciate all the help, time and downloads you give of your own free will. I would never have attended even if you had run a workshop but am aware of the fact that there are alot of photographers who are running workshops and I feel that it is only to make money, quickly. I would much rather pay for a 1 on 1 session where I know that I am getting the best advice that I pay for. Thanks so much for everything and continue doing what you are doing.
Ha ha, I'm so funny! Seriously, excellent points made. Your training is always excellent and you should continue doing what you do best and what works for you and your followers. Cheers mate!
Hi Glyn, sorry you are not doing a workshop, but I do get it why not. At a club meeting last year in the tea break I asked you a couple of questions about your lighting setup, which helped me tremendously. So thank you for that, and your reasons for not doing a workshop for now.
Hey Glyn, I love your tapes downloads. Do what makes you feel good. I tell you the last workshop I went to was a waist of my money and its wasn't the first but it is for sure the last . You're great and keep doing what you're doing.
Your honesty is refreshng. I have the impression that many of those who do workshops are doing them because they Β can't make enough income doing their photography.
The conveyor belt effect. Very annoying even if the workshop is free. And what you are describing is what many people want. One of the main reasons I am no longer doing workshops for the Camera Club. For me the fun of doing a workshop was the passing on of knowledge. Doing the entire setup so somebody can come along and do "click" and then claim it is their shot, and sometimes it was, did not sit well with me.
One of the best workshops I have done was with Freeman Patterson. Day one it is a lecture. Day two we go to a location, he assigns sub-locations, and says "now use what you learned". He is constantly wandering helping people with vision or technical. But he does not set up the shot for you. Day three, we examine and critique each others images, with frequent input from Freeman. Try that in the usual 3hr workshop.
But people seem to like what you no longer want to do, and I get it.
The last workshop I did for the club that I enjoyed was 5 parts in 2 hour chunks, plus a final 4 hr location shoot/practice.
Sorry, never replied to your emails, but Iβve never attended any Workshops, so had no useful comments to make. My own Photoshop βobsessionβ started with 3 college courses, followed by a Monthly Digital Meeting given by the Photography Club I eventually joined! Please keep going with your brilliant videos, I learn such a lot from them, and your presentation. Looking forward now to watching your βBlending and Maskingβ Thanks again. Heather
It's your work, your decision and not up to others. Β I fully support your decision mate and agree with you on the dissolution of quality in workshops and having turned them into a pocket picking business delivering marginal value for a lot of money. Β It has to be about the customer.
Great attitude and great explanations. Thank you, I will follow you online and hope you will make a lot more photoshop tuturials!! Best wishes and hope to hearing from you soon again…Karen
Hi, Glyn. You are an amazing instructor – I get a huge amount from your YouTube and other online sessions. I understand your points about workshops, including focusing on the attendee, but it's not your job to determine if the workshop is a good fit for the attendee. It's your job to outline clearly what you plan to cover so that people can make an informed decision about attending. Frankly I'll never attend your sessions in person (unless you come to Canada) but I don't think you should stop doing workshops if the reason for stopping is a few negative comments. Stop doing them only because you can provide better information in other ways. And never stop what you do on YouTube.
Thanks very much for that, Glyn! Very timely for me, as I just gave my first class ever this past weekend, not initiated by me, but only because I was requested to do so. It was an amazing experience, and I was actually asked about doing workshops. You've given me a lot to think about going forward. Very much appreciated!!
Great points. I personally really dislike workshops. I've been in big rooms with hundreds (no names here) – there's no connection and you might learn 2 or 3 things to take away all day, plus the travel time and outrageous prices. Your tutorials are top notch and a great way to move forward.
Glyn – you are a super bloke and when I need some help with Photoshop Post Processing (nearly every month) I look online for one of your tutorials and I am never disappointed. You are an expert trainer and as an enthusiastic amateur photographer with absolutely no qualifications I agree with everything you have said. Taking up your point about wedding photographers and wannabe trainers I once read an article from a very discerning writer that said something like βwhen you buy a violin you take lessons and learn and learn and learn over many years and eventually become a violinist but when some people buy a camera they become a photographerβ !!!!!!! Keep up the good work I enjoy every minute of it.
Fair play to you Glynn. Your genuine passion for what you do shines through.
There seems to me to be a certain cult of personality thing going on in the Photography workshop world, where well known photographers charge crazy money for workshops where people are paying just to be in their presence.
You are generous with your knowledge and that is obvious to anyone who has ever seen you Iβm sure.
You have spoken from your heart. Your last thank you chapter is exactly why you should do workshops. I've been following you on youtube since Iβve started studying Photoshop. I follow a couple of people that have been an inspiration. One thing with you is you are always meaningfull. Like you have been on this video.
The simple fact that you need for people to get something from your workshops is the reasing you should keep doing them. I went trhough lots of training where i missed exactly that. The pure commintment from the trainer.
Thank you Glyn. I have learned a lot from your tutorials. To the point that i now wish to do workshops and aim to deliver that same kind of commitment. But yes, life is never perfect and it is very difficult to get a class on a similar skill level.
What to do then? The best we can! And thatβs just what you do. One of the best in the world. If you should not be doing workshopsβ¦who should?
I stopped going to workshops about 5 years ago. I found that after travel expenses and workshop fees the value I received from attending didn't justify the expense. Additionally, workshops need to appeal to a rather broad spectrum and I found it a bit frustrating to attend a, let's say, portrait workshop and another attendee asks what an f stop is. The available information online is very useful and there are a number of online learning services that do a great job. I can buy a course that can be stored and replayed for about the cost of one night's stay in a decent hotel.
Passion, ask anyone who gets up at 3 AM to shoot the Milky Way or someone who hikes miles for the perfect shot; knowing their work may never get bought or published, but they still do it anyway. You cannot buy passion. But you can acquire expertise and I think your Youtube content and newsletter are fantastic, Glyn. I sat in on your Photoshop World demo a couple of years ago. Wasn't there as much to learn the details as I was to see your workflow and hear your commentary on the process. And I saw your passion. There's hundreds of ways to improve your photography. A sponge absorbs from all sides.
thanks but no thank you
Glyn, all this makes a perfect sense. I know that you don't want to be preaching, but there's just one word I'd add to this: AMEN. You speak for so many people out there.
I'm already subscribed to your Youtube channel Glyn, how do I receive your newsletters & emails though?
Hi Glyn, interesting thoughts, I've been on workshops and one to ones, I would agree with your points although I get information from workshops training days certainly deliver more information.
Well said Glyn. I appreciate all the help, time and downloads you give of your own free will. I would never have attended even if you had run a workshop but am aware of the fact that there are alot of photographers who are running workshops and I feel that it is only to make money, quickly. I would much rather pay for a 1 on 1 session where I know that I am getting the best advice that I pay for.
Thanks so much for everything and continue doing what you are doing.
So Glyn how do I sign up for the workshop?
Ha ha, I'm so funny! Seriously, excellent points made. Your training is always excellent and you should continue doing what you do best and what works for you and your followers. Cheers mate!
Hi Glyn, sorry you are not doing a workshop, but I do get it why not. At a club meeting last year in the tea break I asked you a couple of questions about your lighting setup, which helped me tremendously. So thank you for that, and your reasons for not doing a workshop for now.
Hi Glyn, sent you an email. AndyD
Hey Glyn, I love your tapes downloads. Do what makes you feel good. I tell you the last workshop I went to was a waist of my money and its wasn't the first but it is for sure the last . You're great and keep doing what you're doing.
Your honesty is refreshng. I have the impression that many of those who do workshops are doing them because they Β can't make enough income doing their photography.
Good luck and my hope you have great success! π
The conveyor belt effect. Very annoying even if the workshop is free. And what you are describing is what many people want. One of the main reasons I am no longer doing workshops for the Camera Club. For me the fun of doing a workshop was the passing on of knowledge. Doing the entire setup so somebody can come along and do "click" and then claim it is their shot, and sometimes it was, did not sit well with me.
One of the best workshops I have done was with Freeman Patterson. Day one it is a lecture. Day two we go to a location, he assigns sub-locations, and says "now use what you learned". He is constantly wandering helping people with vision or technical. But he does not set up the shot for you. Day three, we examine and critique each others images, with frequent input from Freeman. Try that in the usual 3hr workshop.
But people seem to like what you no longer want to do, and I get it.
The last workshop I did for the club that I enjoyed was 5 parts in 2 hour chunks, plus a final 4 hr location shoot/practice.
Sorry, never replied to your emails, but Iβve never attended any Workshops, so had no useful comments to make. My own Photoshop βobsessionβ started with 3 college courses, followed by a Monthly Digital Meeting given by the Photography Club I eventually joined! Please keep going with your brilliant videos, I learn such a lot from them, and your presentation. Looking forward now to watching your βBlending and Maskingβ Thanks again.
Heather
Great sense of responsibility – not seen too much these days. Well done, thanks
It's your work, your decision and not up to others. Β I fully support your decision mate and agree with you on the dissolution of quality in workshops and having turned them into a pocket picking business delivering marginal value for a lot of money. Β It has to be about the customer.
well – now i like you even more.
Great attitude and great explanations. Thank you, I will follow you online and hope you will make a lot more photoshop tuturials!! Best wishes and hope to hearing from you soon again…Karen
Totally understand and respect your reasoning. Your tutorials are brilliant and very hands on & instructive – long may they continue.
Hi, Glyn. You are an amazing instructor – I get a huge amount from your YouTube and other online sessions. I understand your points about workshops, including focusing on the attendee, but it's not your job to determine if the workshop is a good fit for the attendee. It's your job to outline clearly what you plan to cover so that people can make an informed decision about attending. Frankly I'll never attend your sessions in person (unless you come to Canada) but I don't think you should stop doing workshops if the reason for stopping is a few negative comments. Stop doing them only because you can provide better information in other ways. And never stop what you do on YouTube.
Great video Glyn. You hit the nail on the head. Love your honesty. π
Thanks very much for that, Glyn! Very timely for me, as I just gave my first class ever this past weekend, not initiated by me, but only because I was requested to do so. It was an amazing experience, and I was actually asked about doing workshops. You've given me a lot to think about going forward. Very much appreciated!!
Great points. I personally really dislike workshops. I've been in big rooms with hundreds (no names here) – there's no connection and you might learn 2 or 3 things to take away all day, plus the travel time and outrageous prices. Your tutorials are top notch and a great way to move forward.
Couldn't agree more!
I completely agree. Everybody is an expert now, ironically due to YouTube in many ways.
Glyn – you are a super bloke and when I need some help with Photoshop Post Processing (nearly every month) I look online for one of your tutorials and I am never disappointed. You are an expert trainer and as an enthusiastic amateur photographer with absolutely no qualifications I agree with everything you have said.
Taking up your point about wedding photographers and wannabe trainers I once read an article from a very discerning writer that said something like βwhen you buy a violin you take lessons and learn and learn and learn over many years and eventually become a violinist but when some people buy a camera they become a photographerβ !!!!!!!
Keep up the good work I enjoy every minute of it.
Fair play to you Glynn. Your genuine passion for what you do shines through.
There seems to me to be a certain cult of personality thing going on in the Photography workshop world, where well known photographers charge crazy money for workshops where people are paying just to be in their presence.
You are generous with your knowledge and that is obvious to anyone who has ever seen you Iβm sure.
Donβt change ??
You have spoken from your heart. Your last thank you chapter is exactly why you should do workshops. I've been following you on youtube since Iβve started studying Photoshop. I follow a couple of people that have been an inspiration. One thing with you is you are always meaningfull. Like you have been on this video.
The simple fact that you need for people to get something from your workshops is the reasing you should keep doing them. I went trhough lots of training where i missed exactly that. The pure commintment from the trainer.
Thank you Glyn. I have learned a lot from your tutorials. To the point that i now wish to do workshops and aim to deliver that same kind of commitment. But yes, life is never perfect and it is very difficult to get a class on a similar skill level.
What to do then? The best we can! And thatβs just what you do. One of the best in the world. If you should not be doing workshopsβ¦who should?
well said and thanks for the explanation Glyn.,,well considered and sound points..