Chris Mann’s Island Blog

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate to be able to attend a photography seminar in the UK given by David Williams - one of Australia’s leading portrait and wedding photographers, and one of the most popular and inspirational photography lecturers in the world…

The three-day seminar was hosted by Zoe Richards who has a studio in Southport, and about 15 delegates cam from various parts of the UK to hear David speak. I think I was probably the farthest-travelled - apart from David himself!

During the three days we learned a lot about how David approaches the art and craft of making pictures of people - from ways to use natural and artificial light, to posing groups, to making prints and laying out gorgeous album designs. And it wasn’t all theory - we were given practical exercises to do as well, to help develop new ways of seeing and finding telling details in even the most ordinary home to help tell the story of a wedding day or illustrate the essential character of a person or family.

Not only that, but David’s great Aussie sense of humour kept everyone entertained - and his passion for Chinese food meant that we made more than one trip to Stockport’s finest Chinese restaurant!

If this sounds like a gushing review then that’s because it is - sometimes seminars can be as dull as ditchwater, or just a rehash of ideas you’ve seen or heard before. It’s rare to find someone with as much experience and creativity as David Williams sharing what he knows - and having the skills to get the information across in such an entertaining way. So bravo David!

Some visual impressions of the seminar follow…