My Workshops and Booking Terms & Conditions
THE WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
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I have been running wildlife tours and specialist workshops both in this country and abroad for over twenty years. I am proud to say that, during all that time, I have never advertised them in the press. From time to time they do get some publicity in the photography magazines but I certainly don't pay for it.
I firmly believe there is no better form of advertising than word of mouth from a satisfied customer and so I work hard to get them the pictures they want and that achieves good positive feedback. You can see what clients had to say in an independent survey carried out by a significant UK photographic retailer in 2011 after I had run some workshops badged under their name..
Today, thanks to the internet and my website, I have built up a substantial mailing list of workshop clients and many of them have gone on to become good friends as well. They receive regular info via my newsletter of new workshops coming up often before they appear on-site.
You can see an example of one of my recent newsletters here on the website. If you think the early info might be of interest to you and you have a current email address you can have it sent by signing up at the bottom of this page. You can instantly un-subscribe from the mailing list at any time. Also I assure you that your address will never be passed on to any third parties.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF WORKSHOPS
Group Workshops
Group workshops are, as the name suggests, designed for small groups of nature photographers where I restrict the number of participants depending on the subject. For example, to keep disturbance to a minimum, I keep the water vole workshops to just 4/5 people where as with subjects such as butterflies or orchids I can obviously take more.
One to One Workshops
Normally written as 1–1, this type of course is customized to fit the individual needs of the client who may be an absolute beginner, an experienced amateur or even another professional. The latter are often pros that need to fill gaps in their own libraries or portfolios with some of the rarer subjects I specialize in such as the water voles, reptiles or fungi. If required I will also arrange 2-1 or 3-1 workshops say for a husband and wife or camera club colleagues.
A 1-1 workshop makes a superb, unique birthday or Xmas present. Camera clubs will often present them to winners of club competitions and remember I can tailor them to the recipients needs and skill level.
Partnership, Camera Club or Company Days
These are workshops that I run on behalf of a company, a camera club or individuals and these may be badged under my name, their name or in joint names.
BOOKING YOUR WORKSHOP
Group Workshops & 1-1's
Simply click the on the tab at the bottom of this page
Camera Clubs
Your club secretary needs to contact me direct if you want to arrange a group workshop for your members or give a 1-1 workshop as a club prize.
AFTER YOU HAVE MADE YOUR BOOKING
Once the booking has been received your place on the workshop will be confirmed by email usually within 48 hours. Then 7 days before the workshop you will receive the actual location and meeting point. You will also receive advice on the type of equipment needed for that specific workshop. In addition you will also receive advice on clothing, footwear, the terrain and the amount walking involved. You will also receive my workshop mobile number. This is essential to keep with you so that you can contact me in the event that you breakdown, get held up in traffic or simply lose your way. For the same reasons I will need your mobile and Park Cameras or I will ask you for it when you make your booking.
THE WORKSHOP LOCATIONS
Please note that due to the sensitive nature of some of the subject matter (Smooth Snakes for instance), delegates may only be told of the precise location 7 days before the scheduled workshop is due to take place and only after they have paid for the course in full. Remember a major part of what you are paying for is discovering the actual whereabouts of the subjects. However you only pay once to find out because after you have been on the workshop you will be able to return to that location time and time again as all of my open sites allow public access.
CANCELATION & RE-SCHEDULING
You can cancel your booking up to 14 days before the workshop and you will receive 100% full refund.
Likewise if I have to cancel a workshop for any reason you receive 100% full refund.
The weather, climate changes or insufficient participants are the major factors in deciding if a workshop is canceled on the day or has to be re-scheduled in advance. What does that mean? Well let’s start with the obvious which is insufficient participants. Very often there is a standard fee to be paid to the location owners regardless of the numbers attending so if the sums don't add up we don't go and you receive 100% full refund.
Then we have weather conditions. If it is raining or snowing heavily on the day of the workshop then almost certainly it will be canceled. If it has been snowing on the days leading up to the workshop making driving conditions dangerous again the workshop will be canceled. In these situations the workshop will then be re-scheduled hopefully on the corresponding day of the following week. If the workshop runs but you cannot make the re-scheduled date and cannot find someone to take your place you will receive 50% refund.
Now the effects of climate changes in the UK often mean that workshops have to be re-scheduled. Let me give you an example that took place in 2010. When I plan my workshop diary I choose dates, based on previous years experience when each particular subject should be at its best and most prolific. I think you will agree that's about the best anyone can do?
However consider this - two years ago we had a prolonged spell of very cold weather during early spring causing plant growth to slow right down or even stop. This could be seen with the plants above ground at the time but not in the case of orchids that were not due to emerge until the summer. Having set my dates the previous year I then had to monitor the site, in fact I monitored several orchid sites prior to the workshop and ended up having to reschedule the workshop by almost three weeks. So again If you cannot make the re-scheduled date and cannot find someone to take your place you will get a 50% refund.