START LEARNING PHOTOGRAPHY
The in-person workshop to go from beginner to taking photos you love with a step-by-step process.
Sunday 28 February 2027, 10am to 4.30pm
Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland
£125 early bird until 8 November, then £145
Only 8 places. Makes a brilliant Christmas gift.
YOU’VE GOT A CAMERA
BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START
I struggle to find good light
My images are blurry and I can't get them to be sharp
Would love to understand how to take my camera off auto mode
My photos are too light or dark
I find setting shutter speed and focus hard
I don't know what I’m doing!
Are you tired of struggling with photography? Do you find it challenging to capture good light and sharp images? Are you stuck in auto mode and feel frustrated by the lack of control? Do your photos often turn out too light or too dark? Are you overwhelmed by the complexities of shutter speed and focus settings? Do you feel lost and unsure about what you’re doing?
If you’ve tried searching for solutions on YouTube, you know how disjointed and confusing it can be. And without proper support and guidance, it’s difficult to progress and improve your skills. The jargon and technical terms only add to the confusion. Other photography courses you’ve come across are either too simplistic or too complex, leaving you wanting a step-by-step approach that takes you from beginner to confident photographer. You crave a program that encourages you to pick up your camera every day, and provides the support and community you need to succeed. You may even have invested time and money in a college course, but it focused more on theory than practical skills, leaving you feeling that you still don’t know how to take good photos.
Imagine feeling confident in your photography skills and capturing stunning images every time. Picture yourself understanding the key concepts of lighting, achieving sharpness in your shots, and effortlessly transitioning from auto mode to manual control. Envision having a clear roadmap that simplifies the learning process and eliminates confusion. Instead of searching for answers on YouTube, imagine having direct access to a professional photographer with over 16 years of experience, who has taught thousands of photographers and shot over 700 weddings. Think about the progress you could make with a step-by-step system that has been distilled from years of practical knowledge and expertise.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE NORTHERN IRELAND
start learning photography
Join me for a one day workshop to address all your photography challenges and take you from a beginner to a confident photographer.
I’m Donal Doherty, a professional photographer with over 16 years of experience, and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
Through my career, I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph weddings, portraits, landscapes, and commercial projects, earning numerous awards along the way. But my true passion lies in teaching and helping others develop their photography skills. I’ve trained photographers in workshops, international conferences, magazines, books, and now through my online course.
Start Learning Photography is a one day photography workshop in Northern Ireland designed specifically for beginners like you. This course has been developed based on the feedback and requests of my students with the goal to help beginners like you. With my expertise and guidance, you’ll embark on a transformative learning experience.
On the in-person course you will cover eight easy-to-follow video modules that cover the essentials of photography. In the afternoon we go for a walk with our cameras to put into practice what you have learned on the day.
The benefit of taking the course in-person is the ability to ask questions in real time and getting hands-on help with settings. In addition it’s always fun to meet others on the journey and make new connections along the way.
BUT DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!
HERE ARE WHAT SOME OF MY
STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY
100% of students would recommend the course & say the course improved their photography
I really really enjoyed the course. It was really well structured and delivered and I enjoyed the mix of the course videos and the group where you could ask questions directly. It was evident that a lot of effort into creating the course and making the concepts easy to follow was put in by Donal. Before the course I was a beginner and had no insight in to anything to do with photography. Coming away from it I have learned so much in a short space of time. I can now use my new knowledge to develop my skills in photography and take photos I love.
This course is an excellent opportunity for any beginner considering taking a path in the world of photography. The course content was clear and concise giving a good introduction to photography and the basics of editing. Donal is very friendly and encouraging which made the course more enjoyable. He took the time to give useful feedback on the images that were sent to him. It was great having the ability to do the course at my own pace. This course helped me to understand how to actually use my camera properly and to get off auto mode.
As a total beginner, I felt the content was well explained, manageable and interesting and doing the course lit a spark in me that I never knew was possible. Donal explained all the concepts really clearly, used examples and repetition of terminology to reinforce the concepts then the image critique and opportunity to ask questions and get tips was the icing on the cake. I’m more comfortable using my camera now and it has inspired creativity in me to practice more and learn and develop more skills. I would highly recommend the course.
Fantastic course. Really made me what to take my camera out more often to implement what I had learned from the videos. The course helped me understand different types of photography and what settings to use for different situations. Donal’s knowledge of photography and being able to explain things in a simple manner made it really easy to improve my photos. 100% would recommend this course to new photographers or any photographers looking to strengthen their knowledge.
I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot. The course has given me the confidence to start using more of the functions on my camera. Donal has a real passion for photography and this really came across during the course.
I had been looking for a course to help me get a better understanding of photography and start developing my skills with my own camera Donal was very good at explaining the techniques /photography terms without making you over thinking then and putting them into practice. The online course meant I would have access of the lesson to go over on repeat if needs be and could do the course at my own times. I now have a better grasp of what I want to photograph and how to do it better. Couldn’t recommend this course enough for total beginners.
I found the course very interesting & very informative. The video lessons were well put together & easy to follow. It’s great that I can learn at my own pace by watching the lessons on repeat as most of the concepts were new to me.
start learning photography
8 Step-By-Step Training Modules
Unlocking Your Creativity
Composition & Storytelling
Lighting
Inspiration
Projects To Get You Shooting
Equipment – Cameras & Lens Selection
Camera Modes
My Camera Gear
Exposure Triangle
Metering
Histogram
Aperture
Selecting Your Focus Point
Exposure Compensation
Shutter Speed
ISO
White Balance
Manual Mode
Bringing It All Together
Editing Software Overview
Lightroom
Photoshop
Useful AI Tools
GOT SOME
QUESTIONS?
Is this course for beginners?
If you are totally new to photography this course is designed to explain the theory and to provide practice projects in an easy to understand way. Feedback from previous students that already had some experience found that they learnt a lot and it helped them to improve their understanding and their photography.
Will I still be able to get good photos with my cheap camera?
In my day-to-day life as a pro photographer I use professional-level equipment. Teaching the course, I want to show that YOU are the most important element in taking great photos, not your equipment. Don’t get me wrong, having high-quality equipment can help with getting great photos, but a creative mindset and an eye for beauty are most important.
I invested in an entry-level camera, the Canon 2000D, specifically for this course. My goal is to demonstrate the settings on a camera similar to yours, and to show that great images can be captured on any camera.
What can I expect to leave this course with?
You’ll leave understanding exactly what every setting on your camera does and when to use it, with the confidence to take it off auto and start taking photos you love. You’ll also have practice projects to keep you shooting after the day.
Where does the workshop take place?
The workshop takes place at my home studio in Derry/Londonderry. The group is kept small so everyone gets plenty of help, and lunch, snacks and drinks are all provided. I’ll send you the address and everything you need to know once you’ve booked.
Can I get a refund if I cannot make it?
Tickets are non-refundable, but if something comes up, I’ll do my best to move your place to a future workshop.
Will there be another date for the workshop?
This is the only in-person workshop I have planned for 2027, and places are limited to keep the group small. If you can’t make it, the online course covers the same content and you can start straight away.
Can I buy it as a gift?
Absolutely, it makes a brilliant Christmas present. Once you’ve booked, I’ll send you a gift letter you can print or pop in a card. Book by 8 November to get the early bird price.
Can I take the online course too?
Yes. The online course covers the same content, so it’s a great way to prepare before the day or rewatch everything afterwards. When you book the workshop, you can add lifetime access to the online course for just £40, instead of the usual £97.
What should I bring?
Your camera, a fully charged battery, an empty memory card and a warm coat. February in Derry can be chilly, and we’ll be outside for the afternoon photo walk. If you’re not sure your camera is suitable, just drop me a line before the day.
Ready to book?
Sunday 28 February 2027, 10am to 4.30pm
1 Day Beginner Photography Workshop
8 Step-By-Step Training Modules
Photo Walk with Cameras
Lunch, Snacks and Drinks Provided
Option to add the full online course for just £40
Option to add 4 one-to-one mentoring sessions at half price
ONLY £125
Early bird price until 8 November, then £145