Who is the workshop suitable for?
This workshop is best suited for professional pet photographers or those seriously intending to run a pet photography business. Whatever stage you are at, we are certain that you will gain valuable insights into both your craft and business. All attendees should have knowledge of how to handle their camera in manual mode and be able to create consistent exposures in manual mode.
Why is it called a pet photography workshop when we’re only photographing dogs?
In our experience, the majority of the subjects that come before our lenses are dogs. They are often the “bread and butter” of a pet photography business. Due to the environment and setting of a workshop with multiple people shooting simultaneously, we believe dogs are the most suitable pets to work with as they are best able to deal with these kinds of situations.
What if the weather doesn’t co-operate?
It will be spring in Scotland and the weather can be beautiful, but sunshine is certainly not guaranteed, and we have no control over what the weather decides to do from day to day. The moody weather is to be embraced in this country and can create some amazing backdrops and atmospheric effects, so we’ll still shoot if it’s cloudy or raining. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds based on weather but we promise to make the best of any weather situation.
Why is the workshop priced higher than other workshops I’ve seen?
Please remember that the entire workshop is all-inclusive. Not only will we be staying in a stunning manor house in the Scottish Highlands, but all meals and transportation throughout the event will be included. The only expenses that attendees will be responsible for are transportation to and from the manor, as well as any alcoholic beverages during your stay. We are happy to assist you in arranging transportation from the local airports or train stations to the house.
Can special diets be accommodated?
Yes. After you are accepted into Barklander, we will send you a form asking for any medical or dietary needs. No worries if you are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or have a dietary allergy or medical restriction. Every effort will be made to accommodate you.
How many people can attend the workshop?
Barklander is limited to only 13 students. This will be a small and intimate group workshop and the students will have direct access to each of the instructors. It will also allow us to avoid group shooting as much as possible. We don’t appreciate having to elbow your neighbor to get the shot so this is NOT a workshop in which all 13 students will be photographing the same model. We will be breaking up into much smaller groups for the hands-on portion of the shooting, which will allow you to work directly with each instructor during the event.
What are the different types of rooms available?
Regular registration includes a twin-share room with an ensuite, and there are a total of 8 spots available. You may upgrade to a private room with an ensuite for an additional $500 USD – there are 5 of these private rooms available.
Can I bring my husband / wife / partner?
Yes! If your significant other needs some convincing as to why you should attend, you can offer to bring them along for a little holiday in the Scottish Highlands! There is room to allow a limited number of participants to bring their other half. Guests are welcome to enjoy the manor and the grounds while you are busy learning. The manor is located in a country area, so we recommend renting a car if your guest plans on enjoying activities throughout the region. There will be a $1000 USD additional charge over regular registration for a guest in order to cover the additional accommodation and meal costs. This includes an upgrade to a private room.
Can I attend the workshop without staying at the venue?
All students should plan on staying on the property from the night before the first day, until the morning after the last day – a total of 6 nights. Staying at the home with everyone is what makes this workshop unique and creates many lasting relationships. We will be eating, sleeping, and talking pet photography all day every day and there will be many opportunities to connect with each other outside of the scheduled programming.
What airport should I fly into?
The closest airports are Edinburgh (EDI) and Glasgow (GLA) and are both around 1 hour and 40 minutes drive away. We can assist you with securing transportation to the manor from the airport.
I can’t make it to the workshop, can you recommend another way to improve my pet photography?
We are sorry to miss you! All of the instructors offer private one-to-one mentoring in all aspects of running a pet photography business. Check out Charlotte’s e-books and mentoring here, Nicole’s Hair of the Dog Academy here, and contact Kaylee directly about hers. If you want to get started right now be sure to look over all of the free resources at Learn Pet Photography and Hair of the Dog.
Will you be holding more workshops in other states / cities / countries in the future?
It’s always hard to say what the future will bring. Hosting these workshops is an incredible amount of work for the three of us, so we just can’t guarantee future options. If you are interested in learning from these three instructors at one location then we strongly suggest submitting your application to attend as there is room for only 13 students per week!
How do I apply?
Due to the limited spots and high demand for this workshop, we will be taking applications for the 13 student openings. Applications will be open from August 1-8, 2019. After applications close, we will be selecting students based on a variety of factors such as; current skill level, previous experience, intention to run a pet photography business, and room selection.