5 day residential photography courses in the beautiful Northumberland Coast/Lake District
Workshop Series: Lake District/Northumberland (max 4 people per course!)
LD/NC 25-01 Sun 23 Feb - Thurs 27 Feb 2025
Summary (a full 5 day residential photo holiday)
A full 5 day split venue photographic experience.
The Northumberl;and Coast & Lake District are beautiful locations for photographers.
Chris will take you to the perfect locations at the right time of each day and will assist you in finding the most engaging composition and making your best shots in each location.
The focus of this course is on taking photographs, including dawn and sunset shoots. Chris will work with you at your own pace, helping you get more from your camera as you also develop key composition skills.
In the evenings, there will be the opportunity to discuss your best (or most challenging) shot of the day in our fun and friendly critique sessions.
This workshop will give you the opportunity to build your own portfolio whilst learning new techniques in the field as part of a small group (max 3 people per course).
Cost (5 day course)
£1,745 per photographer for the tuition, hotel and all breakfasts (see 'What's included' & 'What's not included', below). Includes all travel during the course.
A £600 deposit* is due at time of booking due to Chris Ceaser Photography.
Non-photography partners are welcome. Please ask for details!
What's included?
Your Lakes/Northumberland Workshop Includes:
- 2 nights’ lodging at the lovely Bamburgh Castlke Hotel in seahouses. Bamburgh Castle Hotel
All bedrooms have private, en-suite bathroom.
Full Northumberland breakfast is included with lots of options. - 2 nights’ lodging at the lovely Temperance Inn in beautiful Grasmere. Temperance Inn
All bedrooms have private, en-suite bathroom.
Full Cumbrian breakfast is included with lots of options. - All travel to the photo locations throughout the duration of the course. we meet at Seahouses where you can leave your car, and then we travel to Grasmere where you leave your car.
- A sunrise, sunset and other field sessions during each day
- Personal instruction by Chris in the field, including on the spot critiques and advice
- 4 group critique sessions, in which the shots you take during the workshop are discussed (see itinerary)You will be eligible for a FREE place on a 1 hour Lightroom session over Zoom with Chris. This will take place on a set date within 2 months of the course finishing.
- You will also have the opportunity to have 1 photo from the course printed by Chris at a special price using Chris's fine art papers from Canson Infinity, as used throughout his gallery.
What’s not included?
The following is not Included but we are happy to advise you on options, where appropriate:
- Travel to the hotel - We can provide advice on the options available – please ask. (Chris may be able to offer a collect/drop off service form York, please ask)
- Meals/drinks - Lunch/drinks are up to you – we normally stop at a cafe/pub for a break at lunchtime!
- Dinner. There are lots of great places to eat in Keswick and around Seahouses covering a range of tastes. You are welcome to do your own thing at the end of the day's shooting, but you are always welcome to join Chris at dinner!
- Insurances for you and your kit. Please contact Chris to discuss this if you do not have adequate insurances. Cover is available from just £7.
Itinerary
Sunday
The course begins over a coffee at the hotel at 10:30am – meet the group, get the cars parked up and chat about the days ahead.
The rest of the day will be spent out in the beautiful Lakes/Northumberland landscape, shooting the wonderful scenery.
We will finish with a sunset shoot before heading back for a scrumptious dinner at a local pub/restaurant, unless you fancy some free time to yourself!
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
Sunrise
Sunrise is at around 7:35 each morning.
Your day will begin at around 06:25 as we leave the hotel for the sunrise shoot.
Locations will vary depending on the weather/light.
We head back to the hotel after shooting, for a hearty breakfast at around 09:00.
On day 3 we move locations and head to the other hotel. This takes around 2 hours and then we park up all the cars and Chris will provide the transport again for the rest of the workshop.
Day
The period between the sunrise and sunset shoots is broken up into small processing/critique sessions and the opportunity to explore the landscape.
- Chris will also run a critique session at the end of each day, normally before dinner. This will feature the Photographer’s own work and Chris will give constructive feedback on the chosen images from each day.
- Other field sessions with Chris will be available during each day. The emphasis of the course will be on taking photographs and having a great time away with your camera!
- If you wish to have your shots critiqued in the evening, please bring your laptop or anything you can show your images on. The shot can be straight from your camera or one that you have processed. We limit the critique sessions to two or three shots per day, per Photographer, to ensure that the discussions are useful. You may choose to submit a shot you are particularly happy with, or one that you would like help to improve.
Sunset
Sunset is at around 18:30 each day.
We will aim to be at our chosen location an hour or so before sunset to allow us to work through the composition process before waiting for the light and making that perfect image.
Your shooting day will end after sunset, and then we will head back to the hotel to look at processing and image critiques before dinner
Evening
Critique sessions will be held back at the hotel possibly around 19:30 and should last around 30 minutes. After that, we will all take a short break before heading out for dinner.
We will transfer to the Northumberland hotel after breakfast on the Tuesday
The course ends at sunset on the final day.
Workshop ends at sunset on the Thursday
Cancellation & Insurances
- All deposits* are non-refundable
- Chris Ceaser Photography does not offer cancellation refunds. Please take out adequate insurance to cover cancellations due to ill health, jury service etc. Please ask for recommendations and see below.
Insurances and refunds:
YOU are responsible for your own insurances. This needs to cover you and your kit for things such as emergency illness whilst away, theft of your kit, inability to travel due to illness etc. Should you not be able to travel at the time of the course you will need to claim on your own insurance. Chris will provide you with an invoice and a letter confirming you did not attend. There is NO refund should you cancel after paying your deposits and balances. This is why you need your own insurances in place.
WE are covered under our own EVENT INSURANCE in the case that Chris cannot attend (due to illness, etc).
Our event insurance is quite comprehensive, but it does NOT cover things such as rainy weather, overcast weather etc. In these cases the course goes ahead, just like a normal booked holiday would. Make sure you or any operator you may use has such EVENT insurances in place or you may risk losing your money. You still need your OWN insurances in place to cover you and your kit (policies can cost as little as £9 for £5000 cover). Contact Chris on 07920 044094 to chat about insurances. You may already have such insurances in place, with your bank for example, but please check the policies cover you in case of illness or theft of kit either abroad or at home.
Chris runs his courses on a personal basis and normally provides all tuition etc personally. However, Chris Ceaser Photography reserves the right to replace instructors in the event of illness, emergency or death.
Terms & Conditions
We insist that you purchase travel insurance for your workshop. This can protect you in case of an unforeseen situation that would require a last minute cancellation (jury service, illness etc, to both you and your tutor). Your gear will also be covered!
The workshops include: bed, breakfast and lodging in your own em-suite room, all field sessions including transport and seminars/critiques which include thoughtful, personalised instruction from Chris.
Not included: Transportation to and from Hotel, lunches, dinners or drinks
The Hotels
We will be staying at The temperance Innl, in the heart of the Lake District
You will stay in your own room with private facilities. The Edwardene offers award-winning breakfasts and friendly service in a 'Gold Award' guest house. This has been my choice of hotel for over 7 years when I visit the Lakes for my own photography. The rooms are lovely and well appointed and Russell and Marie offer an excellent level of service and they will do their best to tend to any needs you may have.
Check out the hotel website - Temperance Inn
we will also be visiting the Bamburgh castle Hotel in Seahouses. You will stay in your own, en-suite room with full cooked breakfast with other options. Seahouses is ideally located for us to make the most of this beautiful area of coastline, including Bamburgh and Holy Island.
Check out the hotel website - Bamburgh Castle Hotel
Is this Workshop suitable for you?
Are you comfortable with your camera and its settings?
Yes - The workshop will help you develop your technical & compositional skills and allow you to develop your own photographic style.
No - Please contact Chris on +44 7920 044094 to discuss – a short pre-workshop session may be arranged to give you the confidence to join this Workshop.
Are you comfortable using Lee Filters?
Yes - The workshop will help you build on your experience to date, introducing you to new filters / techniques.
No - Chris has filters available to borrow during the workshop and will teach you how to use them effectively. Please contact him on +44 7920 044094 to discuss, prior to booking.
Do you have Lightroom on your laptop? (NB. It is NOT essential to bring a laptop)
Yes - The workshop will help you build on your editing/workflow experience to date – Chris will demonstrate his own workflow/editing techniques with lots of pro tips to help you improve.
No - Free trial periods are available on Adobe’s website.
Please contact Chris on +44 7920 044094 to discuss, prior to booking.
Requirements
All Photographers must bring:
- A digital SLR camera & lenses
- Filters, if you have them – if not, please let Chris know so that he can arrange for you to borrow them
- A laptop computer with lightroom if you want to work on your own images during rest periods.
- A sturdy tripod
- Cold weather gear
- A moderate level of fitness – there will be lots of walking on the flat with the odd little bridge to cross.
Remember – places are limited.
A maximum of 4 Photographers join each Workshop, so please book early to secure your place on this fantastic trip!
Testimonials
I have just returned from a March workshop in the Lakes. This was my first workshop with Chris. It was well thought out and Chris was very approachable. The weather was against us over the period of the workshop, turning Chris' original plans upside down, but with some rapid replanning and making the best use of the opportunities available - like the afternoon light at Castlerigg - and visiting some alternative locations like an old slate mine and the hamlet of Watendlath, I went home with a range of shots I was really happy with.
Rob Vaughan.
I have attended two of Chris’s courses and have been most impressed by the patience and professionalism of his instruction. The courses are tailored to meet the requirements of all who attend, and the small number of people on each course means that everyone leaves having learned a lot without feeling overwhelmed. You will be taken through the whole composition, image taking and processing procedures such that you will be able to create a photograph of which you can feel proud. I think Chris’s portfolio speaks for itself, and if you are looking to be able to produce images of this quality then one of his courses set in some of the most scenic countryside Britain has to offer may be just
what you are looking for. David Cooper.
'I've just been on my fourth course with Chris, and as usual I've come back with lots of new skills and techniques as well as a host of great shots from stunning
locations. From the moment the course starts, Chris is constantly monitoring the weather conditions and modifying his plans to give the group the best possible chance of taking fantastic photos every day. Chris's customer care is second to none, with everybody getting individual tuition base don their existing level of knowledge, and having fun in a friendly and relaxed environment. I'll certainly be back for more! Chris Bentham.