Course Timings & Location
Dates: February to November
Timings: 09.30am - 5.00pm
Registration - 9.30am-9.45am
Address: 25 Westerby Lane, Smeeton Westerby, Leics, LE8 0RA
Telephone. 0116 2796906
Price: From £135
Lunch: Included
AWBC Landscape & Bird Photography Course is at Rutland Water. Oakham
Your Tutor - Glen Tillyard
I'm an NCTJ qualified, award winning professional press photographer, with over 30 years experience in a vast range of photographic subjects.
I've also taught and lectured in photography and Photoshop at many adult colleges and schools throughout Leicestershire.We also run specialist courses for police forces, Corporates and charities, including the British Red Cross.
We understand that different students have different learning styles so we use recognised teaching methods to ensure that whatever your needs we'll aim to get the message across, without using jargon, in a way you can understand.
I now specialise in running photography courses helping beginners to get the very best from their digital camera. I'm passionate about helping you to get off the full auto setting and I'll show you how to take stunning photographs in just one day.
Please don't take my word for how good these photography courses are but take a few moments to read some of the many testimonials in the right hand column of each page and the student galleries over on the left hand navigation column.
If you have any questions about photography or buying a camera then I'm happy to answer them without obligation.
Very best wishes,
Glen Tillyard
DSLR Photography Course Guide Timings
9.30 -9.45am Arrival, coffee & biscuits
9.45am - Registration
10.00am camera settings & theory
12.30 -1.00pm light lunch (included)
1pm-3pm Practical photography
3pm-4pm Review photographs
4pm-4.30pm Photo-editing - Close
5pm Questions & course feedback
Batteries & Cards
Please ensure you have a fully charged battery as we will be using your camera a lot and batteries do to tend to run out. For batteries and cards at huge discounts visit mymemory.co.uk
DSLR Course Requirements
Digital SLR Camera (or a bridge camera but see below)
Any extra lenses - optional
Fully charged battery and / or a spare
Empty memory card with space for at least 100 images
External flashgun - optional
Tripod - optional
Any other kit you need explaining
Change of shoes if wet.
Bridge/Hybrid Camera Users
Most courses are intended for Digital SLR users but we do sometimes get asked if Bridge or Hybrid cameras users can attend the Digital SLR photography courses. The proviso is that some of the more technical aspects of Digital SLR photography might not apply to the bridge camera but you will still find the course beneficial and enjoyable.
If you are happy to accept these conditions then you are very welcome to attend. You will be informed during the course of any items do not apply to your bridge camera.
Please contact us, without obligation, if you have any question.
Portrait Course - Sun 13th May 2018
During this photography course you will learn how to:
- Set up a low cost Home Photography Studio
- Shoot portraits outside without flash
- Shoot portraits outside with fill in flash
- Using reflectors with portraits
- Shoot portraits indoors without flash
- Shoot portraits indoors with flash
- Shoot portraits indoors with off camera flash
- Shoot portraits indoors using bounce flash
- Shoot portraits indoors by window light
- Shoot a moody low key portrait with a black background
- Shoot a light high key portrait with a white background
- Shoot a studio flash portrait with a white background
- Shoot a studio flash portrait with a black background

This course will show you how to create Low and High Key Portraits plus there will also be a demonstration on how to use a single speedlight flash to create several creative portrait lighting styles.
There is an option to save money by paying for a Beginners Photography Course followed by a Portrait Photography Course in advance. Individual courses are £135 but two courses cost £250 which is a saving of £20.
Most Saturday Beginners Photography courses are followed by a Level Two course the following day. This is helpful for people who may be travelling some distance or who would like to attend both courses during the same weekend. You can, of course attend on a later date if you prefer.
Book a Portrait Course - Sun 13th May 2018
High & Low Key Portrait Photography Session
This session will show you how to take well lit and attractive portrait photographs by available light and flash indoors. We will show you how to create a home studio setup using inexpensive accessories for that professional look. You will be advised on which lens to use, the best camera settings and have the opportunity to try additional flashguns. We'll even show you how to add character to a portrait or produce that romantic soft lighting look. The portrait session blends into the low light course with the chance to take photographs by candlelight.
Who can attend?
This intensive course is mainly aimed at students who have attended one of our previous beginners courses but novices can also join.
Many photographers tend to use their camera on the full auto setting and want to learn how to get much better pictures from their new camera by using the other settings.
All the courses start off with the absolute basics and progress, step by step, through to some of the more technical aspects. Each theoretical lesson is followed by a demonstration then a practical session.
Flash photography with the built in flash
The flash built into amateur cameras is of very low power so I have also suggested suitable flashguns which can be purchased when funds allow. These units all have swivel heads which will allow you to bounce the light off a ceiling or wall for a softer light. This subject is covered in great depth on the Portrait Photography Course
FAQ- Which is the Best Length Portrait Lens to Buy?
Private Tuition Option £325
If you would like to learn how to use studio flash lighting to a semi-professional standard we suggest a One to One Private Tuition day for £325. This tuition includes many more studio lighting techniques plus Photoshop tuition on background clean up for that super bright white background look. This is also available as a 221 "Bring a Friend" option for £450. Please call or email for details.
Separate Bounce Head Flashgun
A separate flashgun with a flash extension lead is a really useful accessory for this course but not essential as we will be able to demonstrate using our equipment. I also recommend a tripod and remote cable release if possible. See MyMemory for details.
Try doing a search for flash extension cord on eBay or visit a your local camera store.
Which is the best Nikon flash gun to buy?
I'm only going to comment on the dedicated Nikon flashguns as I have never used the other brands.
Nikon SB700 Speedlite About About £230.00
This Speedlite uses Nikons latest i-TTL metering technology for spot on exposures, It's a powerful but sensible priced main flash for general photography. The SB-700 also offers fully automatic exposure control when used in groups with other SB-700 Speedlites, controlled either by a Master SB-800 or the new Commander function of the new DSLRs like the D300, D700,D7000, D90 and D3s.
NIKON SB900 Speedlite
About: £325
The powerful and versatile Nikon SB900 Speedlite is a professional i-TTL Speedlite compatible with the Nikon Creative Lighting System (NCLS). These means it can be used in a multiple flash set up with other SB900s or SB600 to allow for several creative lighting scenarios for portrait or product photography. The power output and exposure can be controlled through the pop up flash and CLS menu on the Nikon D300 and D700 or by another SB900 or transmitter on the D3s.
Which is the best Canon flash gun to buy?
I'm only going to comment on the dedicated Canon flashguns as I have never used the other brands.
CANON Speedlite 580EX II about £375.00
This professional level speedlite is powerful and versatile with a bounce head and the ability to be a master or slave flash in a multiple lighting set-up. It's the ideal companion to any of the enthusiast through to pro cameras.
The Canon Speedlite 430EX II £199.99 is the baby brother to the 580 EX and as such is slightly less powerful. It can be used as a slave unit when used in conjunction with a 580 EXll or a transmitter. This flash would be a good choice for one of the amateur systems.
Can I use these flashguns remotely?
The speedlite can be used with a remote wireless transmitter which will fire several flash guns. This is useful for multiple flash lighting set-ups for portraits and product photography.
Please Contact Us If You Have Any Questions
email - glen@digitalphotographycourses.co.uk or call 0116 279 6906
Student Testimonials
Another tremendous day. Glen’s courses never cease to amaze and inspire me. It’s fun and easy learning but at a high level. The sense of achievement and WOW factor is there all day long. My future models will be delighted I’m sure. Thanks Glen.
Denise Reid.
Brilliant day! Learned lots and laughed lots too. Great teaching as usual from Glen. Thank you. I really enjoyed the split lighting photos and I’m going to practice this. Helen Bason
Such a good course. I had so many light bulb moments during the day and I can’t wait to try them all out. I finally feel able to get the more interesting portraits that I wanted to.
Sharon Harris
Great course again. The mystic of portrait photography explained in the most simplistic terms that everyone can understand.
Martin Ayling.
A great course covering the topics I was interested in and how to set up a studio without breaking the bank. I got to take portraits I didn’t think were possible at home. Suresh Thalange.
For me this is the best course I’ve done so far. I’ve learnt so much and had a great day. I just need to put it into practice. Paul Yates.
I really enjoyed this course and feel I got a huge amount from the day. I can’t wait to put it all into practice. A brilliant day and my favourite course so far. Debbie Cherry.
Everything is the opposite to what I had thought. I know to use a longer lens instead of a short one and I double my knowledge every time I come. One becomes two, two becomes four and I reckon I’m up to sixteen now. Thanks for a good course. Dave Allen.
An excellent fun course. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about all the different lighting techniques and I now feel confident in taking portrait photographs. Toby Maloy.
I’m Looking Forward to taking lots of photographs of my children that aren’t blurry, shadowy and poorly lit as before. Laura Griffiths
Glen covered everything I needed to know about setting up a studio at home and how to take portraits with confidence. Thank you. Nicola Blakeway
Excellent Day. I learnt more in 6 hours than in the last 3 months about how to use the flash and settings on my camera. I’m sure this new knowledge will enhance my photographs a great deal. Kev S.
Picture by Ian Price
The Portrait Course provided a good balance between theory and practice. We were shown how to select the correct camera settings to take good portraits in different environments and given advice on how to set up a home studio. Yet another excellent course in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I’m looking forward to my next one.
Kamila Marshall
As with the Beginners Course there were several lights on moments as both the theory and practical fell into place. You can’t possibly fail to learn a huge amount on these courses. Excellent!
David Griffin
This course was as insightful as ever. Having attended both the small group courses and now the one to one courses I can highly recommend the private tuition option for anyone wanting to take their portrait photography to the next level. Ian Price.
A fantastic addition to the standard photography course.
I wanted to know which settings to use for portraits photography and this course covered everything I needed.
Jill Porter
Brilliant Course as usual. I just need to go home and practice. Thanks to Jacqui for another lovely lunch. It’s also great to put faces to the names on the DPC Facebook Group. Elaine Argent.
A very good portrait photography course. I've learnt such a lot and had the chance to put it all in to practice today. Glen's courses are very well put together and I would certainly recommend them. - Thank you!
Rebecca Tompkins