Mentoring and Tuition

Learn a little more with Niall Benvie

I want you to enjoy photography and the creative process as much as I do. But sometimes there are technical issues to be sorted out first: sharpness and good exposure do  matter: in the language of photography, they are the good spelling and grammar that heighten the viewer’s enjoyment of the plot (your composition). Get them right and you can really start to express yourself.


I teach small groups, sometimes even one photographer, with a view to overcoming any technical problem they have then concentrate on fostering their creativity. Digital photography has opened so many new avenues: I am eagerly exploring them in the course of my work as an editorial and project photographer and enjoy talking about and demonstrating the latest ideas.


This is a good time in my career to teach:  I’ve worked as a photographer and writer for the past 18 years, published over half a million words of books and articles, been involved in some of the biggest photo projects in Europe and have several thousand publication credits.  It is a good time to come home to share some of what I’ve gleaned over the years.

There are two main product types:


On-line mentoring. If you live a long way from Scotland or don’t have the time or resources to travel here, on-line mentoring via Skype may be for you. I provide you with a series of assignments, the results of which we discuss and view over Skype. We have one 60 minute call every 3 weeks for 6 months - a total of 8 hours tutoring and critique. If you are needing help with a technique, some creative input or preparation for a competition, we can arrange a one-off call.6 months mentoring: £640; one time: £80


Field workshops. It’s even better if you can come to Angus in Scotland where we’re based in person. The 8 hour day is designed to make you feel confident with your camera and begin to narrow the gap between what you saw and what the camera recorded. I’ll also sow a lot of creative ideas in your mind for you to try on your travels. Although the workshops are based on those in my Outdoor Photography Masterclass book, there is no cookie cutting: you’ll learn what you need to. A day with me costs £380. It’s that whether there is one photographer or 5. That’s not bad for 18 years professional experience. And you’ll get a lunch and cakes to remember.

For those of you with more specific interests, I also offer these intensive workshops:

  • Mastering Adobe Lightroom.
  • Field studio photography of plants, invertebrates and underwater subjects. A house speciality!
  • Design and post production techniques in Photoshop.
  • Landscape deconstruction (another speciality) - each £380
  • Outdoor photography as a career (£450).

Call me for more information, please!