Photography Holidays & Photo Tours · All Abilities Welcome
You don't need to be good at photography to come on a photography holiday. You just need a camera, and the willingness to use it properly for once.
"A few years ago, I bought an entry-level DSLR hoping to teach myself photography. After countless hours watching YouTube, I ended up putting my camera aside, feeling uninspired. I've learned more in just a few trips with UK Photo Tours than I ever did through self-study."
— Sarbjot U., Google Review ★★★★★
Castlerigg Stone Circle, Lake District
What "All Abilities" Actually Means
Most photography holidays talk about "all abilities" without actually doing anything differently for a beginner. On UKPT tours, there's no assumption that you already know what you're doing. Before the first shoot, Dion goes through your camera with you - not in a classroom, but in the field, with something worth photographing in front of you. That's when things actually stick.
If you're new to photography, you'll get more one-on-one time, not less. The small group sizes, up to 5 photographers, make that possible. Nobody gets left behind, and there are no stupid questions. If you don't understand aperture yet, that's exactly what you'll understand by the end of day one.
What You'll Learn
Not theory. Actual skills you'll use on the day and take home with you. The photography tutor works with you on all of these in the field, not in a lecture room.
How to use your DSLR or mirrorless camera in manual mode: understanding aperture, shutter speed and ISO as a system rather than three separate dials. By the end of day one, you'll shoot on manual and know why each setting does what it does.
What golden hour actually looks like in practice, how to position yourself relative to the light source, and how to use your camera's histogram to check exposure without guessing. Landscape photography is really just light management.
How to find a frame, use foreground interest, and work a scene from multiple angles before you commit to a shot. These are technical and creative decisions at once, and they make the difference between a snapshot and a photograph.
How to use a tripod properly, dial in long exposures for water and cloud movement, and avoid the common mistakes. You'll have ample time to practise at every location, rushing is not part of the itinerary.
Why shooting RAW matters, and a basic introduction to Lightroom for developing your images. You won't come away as a Lightroom expert, but you'll know what to do with your files when you get home.
On the astro-focused tours, you'll try new techniques like star trails and Milky Way photography. Most beginners attempt astrophotography for the first time on a UKPT tour, with a professional photographer standing next to them as they do.
Tours for Beginners
Every tour on the UKPT programme is open to beginners. These four are particularly well suited to first-timers. Either because of the relaxed pace, the approachable subject matter, or the structured shooting sessions that give you time to practise each skill before moving on.
England · Cumbria
Three days, multiple locations, a relaxed pace that gives you time to practise at every shoot. The Lake District's landscapes are forgiving. The light here is dramatic without being technically demanding. A natural first photography tour.
£1,695pp
View Tour →
England · Wiltshire
A single-day photography workshop with a clear structure: arrive before dawn, shoot the stones at sunrise, work on technique throughout the morning. Because it's a day out rather than a multi-day trip, it's a low-commitment way to try a photography holiday for the first time.
£149pp
View Tour →
England · Norfolk Coast
Wildlife photography tours don't have to mean long telephoto lenses and advanced technique. The grey seal pup colony at Horsey is one of the most accessible wildlife photography subjects in the UK. The pups barely move, the light is soft, and you get close enough to fill the frame with a standard kit lens. An excellent first wildlife photography experience.
£495pp
View Tour →
England · Norfolk
If you've ever pointed your camera at the night sky and got a black frame, this tour fixes that. The Nightscapes workshop covers everything from shutter speed and wide aperture settings for stars through to Milky Way composition. Norfolk's dark skies are among the least light-polluted on the English east coast. Most participants are complete beginners to astrophotography.
£795pp
View Tour →All photography holidays and photo tours are open to beginners. These four are highlighted as particularly well suited, but the same expert tuition and small group sizes apply to every tour on the programme. View all tours →
What to Bring
The most common mistake a beginner makes before a photography holiday is buying gear. Don't. Any camera works: a DSLR, a mirrorless, a bridge camera. If you're shooting with a phone, that's fine for the theory exercises and the post-processing sessions.
What makes a real difference is a tripod. You don't need an expensive one. A £30 Amazon tripod is genuinely fine for landscape and astrophotography at beginner level. If you don't have one, borrow or hire one, or ask Dion. He carries spares.
You don't need to know Lightroom before you arrive. Post-processing is covered as part of the tour. You don't need to sharpen your skills beforehand either, that's what the photography tutor is there for.
What First-Timers Say
31 Google · 6 TripAdvisor · all 5★ · 750+ Meetup ratings
★★★★★
"I'm a complete beginner and was excited to finally learn how to use my DSLR properly. The trip didn't disappoint. Dion was a great guide and coach, managing to help all the attendees at their various stages of learning. I have so many wonderful pictures from the tour!"
★★★★★
"He caters for everyone from the true beginner (me!) to experienced photographers. He is delightful and so helpful, with an excellent array of lenses, filters and tripods you can borrow. Could not recommend him more."
★★★★★
"Whether you're a seasoned photographer or a complete beginner like myself, UK Photo Tours is an excellent choice for refining your photography skills. Dion continuously checked in with me, offering guidance and answering my numerous questions on composition. His advice helped me see and compose photos in ways I hadn't before."
Common Questions
Your Photography Tutor
Dion has been leading photography holidays and tours across England, Scotland and Wales since 2014. He's a working landscape photographer whose images have appeared in national publications, but his real skill is in explaining what he does so that a photographer at any level can apply it.
Most professional photography tuition assumes you already know the basics. Dion's doesn't. The small group sizes mean he can spend genuine time with each participant, and the relaxed pace of the itinerary means there's always time to revisit something that didn't quite click on the first pass.
Leading photo tours and photography trips across England, Scotland and Wales since 2014
750+ Meetup ratings with consistent praise for teaching ability from beginners
Specialist in landscape, wildlife photography tours, and astrophotography across the Scottish Highlands, Lake District, Norfolk and Cornwall
100% financially protected via Towergate Insurance. Every photography holiday departs as booked
Ready When You Are
Groups fill quickly: book early to avoid disappointment. Deposits are small and all payments are 100% financially protected. Every photography tour departs, no cancellations due to low numbers.
All photography holidays and tours include expert tuition · groups of up to 5 · fully financially protected