BFOP 2025 Workshops

Even more workshops coming soon...

LANDSCAPE WORKSHOPS 2025

Off-Centre and Loving It 🤪

with Adam Edwards

Genre: Landscape
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: TBA
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

Are you stuck in the centre-frame comfort zone? You’re not alone. This workshop is your permission slip to let go of symmetry and start making images that feel a bit more bold, a bit more risky, and a whole lot more interesting.

We’ll explore how placing your subject off-centre can improve your composition, create visual tension, and give your images space to breathe. It’s about making deliberate choices, playing with balance, and learning to love the parts of the frame you’ve been ignoring.

Spoiler alert: the best part of your photo might not be in the middle.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Layer it on!

with Adam Edwards

Genre: Landscape
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Ever look at your photo and think, “It looked better in person”? That’s probably because the depth got lost somewhere between the shutter and your screen. This workshop is all about fixing that by learning how to layer it on.

We’ll dive into building better compositions using foregrounds, midgrounds, and backgrounds (yes, all three), and discuss how to make your images feel like you could walk right into them. Whether it’s a field, a laneway or a full-blown mountain scene, layering helps your shots feel more intentional, more dynamic, and way less ‘meh’.

We’ll explore subject placement, visual weight, and some subtle techniques to guide the eye through the frame, without overcomplicating things. Perfect for anyone who wants to shoot with purpose, even if they still occasionally forget their lens cap.

Workshop Key Learnings:

The Painted Landscape - Learn how to create a painterly effect in your landscape images

with Jeff Freestone

Genre: Landscape
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: Telephoto Lens | 70-200mm or 100-400mm
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Ever find yourself in a rut with your photography and need something to get you out of it?

Learn this simple but effective technique and let your creativity run wild. Inpsired by the impressionism movement – create painterly looking images from subjects found in your own backyard. This technique can be done anywhere and will keep you interested for hours!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Let's Get Intimate - Looking at the smaller details in nature

with Jeff Freestone

Genre: Landscape
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Expand your creativity and learn how to identify and photograph the intimate landscape. Learn to see nature in a more ‘abstract’ sense rather than seeing literal objects. This workshop will look at creative and interesting ways to photograph the smaller details found in nature. Utilising conceptual qualities found in nature such as line, shape and form I will show you how to create unique and compelling images from ordinary subjects.

Workshop Key Learnings:

How to develop an eye for finding new and unique compositions in nature.
Learn how to utilise conceptual qualities such as line, shape and form to create compelling compositions.
Understand the importance of ‘exclusion’ when considering your framing and how this simple concept can improve your landscape images.

Chasing Perspectives - Sunrise for the adventurous

with Josh Beames

Genre: Landscape
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 3hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Hike up a mountain in the dark
Group size: 20

Fit enough to climb a mountain at 5am? Good, please read on…

Get ready to shift your perspective. In this hands-on photography workshop, Chasing Perspectives, we’ll dive into creative techniques that help you see and shoot the landscape in new and exciting ways. Set against the stunning alpine backdrop of Mount Buffalo, this session is all about breaking the mold of traditional compositions and capturing truly unique images.

You’ll learn the art of focus stacking to create jaw-dropping depth (plus, you’ll get a free eBook to take home), how to use bracketing to handle tricky lighting, and how to master your histogram so you can expose with confidence every time. We’ll also dive into how to scout compelling foregrounds, frame with intention, and look at the landscape with a fresh creative eye.

This isn’t just another scenic shoot. It’s about learning to think differently, push your creativity, and walk away with images that stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or just starting out, you’ll walk away with new techniques, inspiration, and the skills to elevate your landscape photography.

Workshop Key Learnings:

How to use focus stacking, bracketing, and histograms to create technically strong and well-exposed landscape images.
Creative techniques to find unique compositions and engaging foregrounds in any environment.
How to shift your visual mindset and approach the landscape with a fresh perspective to create more compelling images.

Chasing Perspectives - Sunset from The Horn

with Josh Beames

Genre: Landscape
Transport: Self Drive (rough road)
Location: The Horn - Mount Buffalo
Length: 3hr
Skill Level: Enthusiasts, advanced
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Get ready for an evening where the light constantly transforms. At Horn Lookout, we’ll follow the shift from golden hour into sunset and on through the rich tones of blue hour. This two-hour workshop is designed to help you adapt quickly and capture the landscape at its most dramatic.

You’ll learn how to balance the sweeping alpine landscape with strong foregrounds, use bracketing to handle tricky light, and read your histogram so you can expose with confidence. We’ll explore how white balance choices can completely change the mood of your images, from natural tones to more creative looks.

As the sun dips, we’ll work with silhouettes, starbursts, and long exposures to capture the magic of twilight. And if the skies are clear, feel free to hang around after the session wraps for some astro photography under the stars.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Creative Abstract Photowalk

with Mieke Boynton

Genre: Landscape
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5 hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Long walk (<1km)
Group size: 20

Abstract photography is one of the most creative and intriguing genres of photography. We’ll have a short theory session outlining the basics of abstract photography, sharing some ideas for abstract photos, and ensuring that everyone understands what their cameras are capable of. Then we’ll go for a photowalk together, experimenting with panning and motion blur, seeking out natural abstracts (bark, water etc), urban abstracts (architecture, angles etc) and – for those whose cameras will allow it – in-camera multiple exposures. Please wear comfortable shoes!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Sunrise views of the Alpine Valleys

with Mieke Boynton

Genre: Landscape
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Rougher terrain (unsealed track)
Group size: 20

There is something truly special about watching the rising sun slowly to bathe a valley in light, and some of the best views of the Alpine Valleys are from the lookouts at the The Gorge (Bents Lookout) and Crystal Brook Falls at Mount Buffalo. We will hope for some early morning fog in the valley, or some warm golden light to make the granite outcrops glow. We’ll also take the opportunity to learn about depth of field in landscape photography, and tips and techniques for shooting into the sun. Please dress warmly, bring a tripod and don’t forget the mounting plate!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Big Bad Bustrip - THURSDAY & FRIDAY

with Brendan Waits & Charlie Brown

Genre: Landscape
Transport: Bus from BFOP HQ
Location: Alpine Region
Length: 10hrs approx
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: Camera, any lenses you own, spare battery highly recommended, tripod. *please bring a water bottle and a packed lunch. Snacks will be provided. There will be very limited opportunity to purchase food. As we will be ascending Mount Hotham, warm clothing is highly recommended along with sun protection.
Fitness Level: Short walks on some uneven surfaces
Group size: 40 per bus (2 instructors)

Jump on the adventure bus and head for the hills! Victoria’s STUNNING high country will be yours to capture under the guidance of 2 (count them, 2!) very experienced Landscape Photographers, Charlie Brown and Brendan Waites. Charlie Brown is not only a local to these here parts, he also runs a successful photographic gallery in Mount Beauty and has been a stalwart of BFOP since its inception.

Brendan Waites has been in the photographic industry since 1994 and runs many a workshop from his Camera Shop in Ocean Grove, and is one half of The Down South Photo Show podcast.

Together Charlie and Brendan will take you on an Epic journey to some beautiful landscape photography opportunities, including Mount Beauty, Bogong Village, Rocky Valley and Fainter Creeks, Harrietville and the piece de resistance, Mount Hotham approaching Sunset for possibly the best view in Victoria. We’ll have a lot of laughs along the way as we roll through this wonderful area.

Workshop Key Learnings:

PORTRAIT WORKSHOPS 2025

Adding a Flash of Colour

with Karl Ludik

Genre: Flash
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5 hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Understanding the basics of flash photography, then taking our speed lights off camera and adding coloured gels. We’ll experiment with artistic backlighting, we’ll use corrective gels to turn boring skies into something wow, and we’ll shoot against the sun, even when it’s not there!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Striking Studio Portraits with Colour and Character

with Aaron Walker

Genre: Flash
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Step into a creative indoor space where light, colour, and expression come together. In this hands-on portrait workshop with Aaron Walker, you’ll explore how coloured lighting and controlled exposure can shift the mood and impact of your images. Working with live models, you’ll learn how to shape light, apply colour theory, and direct your subject to create portraits that feel bold, engaging and intentional.

Whether you’re aiming for punchy and vibrant or something more subtle, this session offers a practical, supportive environment to experiment, refine your approach, and enjoy the process.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Prompt Me, Baby

with Anne Scott-Virtue

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Sometimes the best photos happen when you throw the rulebook out the window and just go for it. In this fast and fun workshop, you’ll get a handful of quirky, emotional prompts designed to kick your creativity into gear. Shoot solo or team up, experiment wildly or play it safe — no judgments here. Then we’ll regroup to swap stories, laughs, and marvel at how one prompt can spark a hundred different shots.

Perfect for anyone who needs a good excuse to ditch overthinking and just shoot.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Soul & Story — The Art of Unposed Portraits

with Anne Scott-Virtue

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

What makes a portrait unforgettable? It’s not perfect lighting or stiff posing, it’s connection. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to create portraits that feel honest, soulful, and alive. You’ll learn how to connect quickly and authentically with your subject, direct with curiosity instead of control, and capture moments that tell a story.

Film and digital shooters alike are welcome, with plenty of space to ask questions and explore both mediums in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Workshop Key Learnings:

The Roaring 20s

with Julie Powell

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Step back in time to the opulent, glamorous world of the 1920s in my Roaring 20s Gatsby Photography Workshop. This is your chance to capture the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age, where flappers, dapper suits, and extravagant accessories come together for the ultimate vintage photoshoot.

This workshop is your gateway to creating classic, cinematic portraits with a modern twist. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced photographer, you’ll walk away with the skills to bring the magic of the Roaring 20s to life in your photos.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Master the art of staging and styling for the elegance and opulence of the Jazz Age
Cinematic Lighting for Vintage Portraits: Discover how to create constant lighting setups that add drama and luxury to your portraits, bringing the 1920s vibe to life.
Directing Models for Timeless Poses: Learn how to guide your models into the graceful, confident poses that defined the era, ensuring every shot is full of the elegance and charm of the Roaring 20s.

Using Available Light to Create Mood

with Christopher Hopkins

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: TBA
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Stimulating emotion from the audience is vital to successful story-telling. A successful image will always induce some form of emotion. Whether you want the viewer to feel empathy, laugh, cry or be shocked, the lighting used will be a key element in informing this emotion and sometimes, the only tool we have. This workshop will provide an instructive session on the concepts behind creating a mood with lighting.

In this session Chris will identify and share the different techniques he employs as a photojournalist to create a look and to evoke a defined emotion explaining the why and how. The workshop will have a particular emphasis on utilising the environment you find yourself in. Bring your cameras as this will be a hands on session!

Workshop Key Learnings:

High Key Lighting for Ballet & Contemporary Dance Photography

with Craig Wetjen

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Join photographer Craig Wetjen for an immersive workshop focused on High Key Lighting for Ballet & Contemporary Dance Photography. This 2-hour hands-on session explores the techniques behind creating clean, bright, and expressive images that highlight the elegance, emotion, and form of dance.

Designed for intermediate to advanced photographers, the workshop will cover how to effectively use off-camera flash and continuous lighting setups to achieve high key results minimising shadows, enhancing detail, and creating a polished, professional finish.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Environmental Portraits on the Outback Ranch

with Craig Wetjen

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Specialist Equipment: Wear boots as we are going to be on a horseback ranch. You may want a tripod but not required. Warm coat
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

This workshop focuses on the details of getting the most out of your photoshoot focusing on details and most importantly the most out of your subject. This workshop will be a fun hands-on experience. Attendees will discover an understanding of the basic principles of lighting utilising off camera flash for an environmental portrait, the importance of photographing details and creating a connection with the subject and telling a story through photography.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Introduction to Creative Portrait Lighting

with Eric Peng (Sony Australia)

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

In this hands-on session, you’ll explore the fundamentals of lighting for portrait photography—with a creative twist. Learn how to:

Use continuous lighting to sculpt your subject and set the mood
Work with colour and gels to add energy and emotion to your images
Understand the basics of light positioning, intensity, and modifiers
Bring your own creative vision to life using professional LED lights
You’ll get the chance to try the latest lighting tools from Nanlite, including the powerful and colourful FC-500C, designed to give your portraits a dynamic, cinematic edge.

All camera brands and photographers are welcome—you don’t need to shoot on Sony to join.

Interested in experimenting with something new? Sony cameras and lenses will be available to borrow during the session. Just bring your own SD card to keep your shots.

Perfect for photographers who want to add controlled, creative lighting to their portrait toolkit.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Creative Portraits with Sony

with Eric Peng (Sony Australia)

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

This hands-on session is designed to elevate your portrait photography skills. Work with a professional model in a natural light setting, and learn how to:

Confidently direct talent to bring out authentic expressions and dynamic poses
Shape and manage natural light for flattering, cinematic results
Understand the creative and technical considerations for shooting compelling portraits
Get the most out of your camera gear—with tips that apply across all brands

All camera brands and photographers are welcome—you don’t have to shoot Sony to join!

Want to try something new? You’ll also have the opportunity to borrow Sony cameras and lenses during the session. Just bring your own SD card to take your images home.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your portraiture approach, this workshop is a great opportunity to learn from one of Australia’s most engaging educators in the field.

Limited spots available. Bring your camera and come ready to shoot!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Arwen & Aragorn: A sacrifice for love and hope

with Ian Tan

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Cosplay is a combination of the words ‘costume’ and ‘play’. Cosplayers dress up in a costume accurate to, or inspired by, the character they are role-playing. The characters usually come from various genres in pop culture: film and TV, animation, video games, or even an original character from the imagination of the cosplayer.

Cosplay photography aims to capture the essence and tell the story of the character being cosplayed using photography techniques and lighting. With the help of 2 amazing cosplayers, we will be telling the story of Arwen and Aragorn from ‘Lord of the Rings’ focusing in on various aspects of their beautiful relationship.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Fabulous Steampunk

with Julie Powell

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Step into a world where vintage meets the extraordinary, and romance collides with whimsy. Join me for an unforgettable experience in my Romantic & Fabulous Steampunk Photography Workshop, where we bring together the elegance of a bygone era with the boldness of fantastical, steam-powered imagination.

This hands-on workshop is perfect for photographers of all levels looking to elevate their creative portrait skills in a truly one-of-a-kind setting.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Mastering Steampunk Styling: Learn how to incorporate intricate steampunk elements like vintage props, costumes, and accessories into your photoshoots for stunning, visually rich compositions to tell a story
Creative Lighting Techniques: Understand how to work with Constant LED lighting to create dramatic, atmospheric shots that perfectly complement the steampunk aesthetic.
Posing and Directing: Gain the skills to confidently direct models in unique, dynamic poses that capture the essence of both romance and fantasy in your steampunk portraits.

In My Element - Esoteric Portraiture

with Jess Shepherd

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Drawing inspiration from other creatives is awesome, right? But capturing them in their element can be down right daunting.

Using a natural bohemian style of portraiture, and having a fab set up with a model in nature, we’ll explore what it means to co create with another creative and shoot from the heart to snap some excellent images!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Bright, bright portraits

with Vicki Bell

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Let me brighten your day as we go a-wandering for an inspiring walk through the town of Bright, where we’ll train our eyes to see light in unexpected places and spaces. This workshop is all about learning to work with the light you have, not against it — spotting how sunlight filters through trees, bounces off walls, or wraps softly under eaves. You’ll explore how to position your subject, shape light with simple tools, and use natural conditions to create portraits full of mood and character. By the end, you’ll feel confident finding beautiful light anywhere, turning ordinary locations into compelling backdrops for your portraits.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Wrapped in Light: A Natural Approach to Newborn Photography

with Sophie Geraghty

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Step into the gentle art of newborn photography in this calming and highly practical 2-hour workshop with professional photographer Sophie Geraghty. Perfect for photographers ready to explore the world of newborn sessions, or refine their natural style. This session covers everything you need to feel confident working with babies and families in real homes using soft, available light.

Focusing on baby-led posing, safety, and storytelling, Sophie will guide you through every step of a session structure from wrapping and settling to photographing with siblings and choosing colours and textures that create timeless imagery. You’ll learn how to use natural light beautifully, how to work with real family dynamics and how to shoot newborns in a relaxed, respectful, and heartfelt way.

Whether you’re new to newborns or looking to build a body of work with a both a studio feel and lifestyle aesthetic, this workshop is designed to give you both the knowledge and the confidence to get started.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Pre-session consult and planning
Safe and simple wrapping and posing techniques
How to work with natural light in everyday home settings
Photographing newborns in real-life spaces (not studio-only setups)
Calming, settling and baby-led posing workflow
How to pose siblings safely and naturally
Using colours, textures and layering to build visual softness
Session structure and client communication
Choosing the right lens for your style and environment
Capturing the details

Great Portraits in Sh!t Locations

with Glynn Lavender

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

We rarely get to shoot supermodels in French Medieval Castles, but we do get the chance to photograph real people in average locations. Come along on a 2 hour journey of learning, laughter and shared passion. You won’t believe how much we can pack in to two hours.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Flash in the Wild: Mastering Outdoor Portraits with High-Speed Sync

with Aaron Walker

Genre: Flash
Transport: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Specialist Equipment: Flash & Triggers supplied
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Take your portrait photography outdoors and learn how to work with — not against — harsh daylight. In this on-location workshop, you’ll explore how to use high-speed sync flash to create shallow-focus portraits with soft, controlled backgrounds even in full sun. By balancing ambient and artificial light, you’ll gain practical tools to manage exposure, shape the subject, and enhance the environment rather than fight it.

This session is all about making lighting work on your terms, using portable gear and straightforward techniques that deliver strong, clean results.

Workshop Key Learnings:

How to Photograph People Confidently and with Purpose

with Jesse Hisco

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

If the thought of photographing people causes mild anxiety, you’re not alone. Most photographers — especially in the early stages — find the process clunky, awkward, uncomfortable, even intimidating.

In this workshop, I’ll share the exact tools and techniques I’ve used to build a career out of confidently photographing absolutely anyone, anywhere and with purpose.

You’ll learn how to walk into any shoot — whether it’s with a stranger, a friend, or a full-on camera-avoider — and know exactly how to break the ice, keep the vibe comfortable, and capture natural, beautiful portraits with purpose. I’ll show you how to spot nervousness before it spirals, guide people into authentic moments, and use small acts of openness to build rock solid trust without oversharing.

No technical overload, no stiff posing charts — just a clear and repeatable approach to confidently photographing people with purpose.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Setting the Tone – How to build trust quickly and create a welcoming, judgment-free space.
Breaking the Ice – Simple ways to start a shoot so everyone relaxes fast.
Empowering Your Subjects – Direction techniques that spark authentic emotion.
Reading the Room – Spotting signs of nervousness and knowing how to ease them.
Directing Couples – Guiding organic, natural interactions that translate beautifully on camera.

From Idea to Exhibition PHOTOGRAPHING THE ARTIST AT WORK

with Penny Stephens

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Beginner, Enthusiast
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Step into photojournalist Penny Stephens’ world for a fun and relaxed, environmental portraiture shoot of a local Bright artist at work in their home studio. See Penny’s photographic thought processes evolve as she builds quick rapport with the artist whilst capturing a vibrant visual story. You too will get the chance to capture the artist in their studio – having the opportunity to learn and employ simple tips and tricks used by the pros. This is the perfect workshop for the photographer who loves natural looking portraiture and also the budding artist wanting to put together their own exhibition. You will be shooting in real-time, with no technical mumbo-jumbo or talk of megapixels, just a great chance to shoot, learn, share and be inspired! Penny will share her practical experience and ideas on how to gain support and turn your own personal body of photographic work into an exhibition. She will also share a downloadable guide on how to turn your own story idea into an exhibition.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Practical tips for setting your subject at ease, whilst simultaneously identifying the essential elements of their environment to build a strong portrait - capturing personality and place.
With Penny’s friendly guidance – have a go at making your own portrait of the artist. Employ your strengthened understanding of composition, lighting, subject positioning, props, exposure and emotion to capture energetic moments using available light.
Take home a downloadable ‘How to Guide – From Idea to Exhibition’

PORTRAIT WORKSHOPS 2025

How close is too close? Advanced Macro

with Aaron Harivel

Genre: Macro
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Join Aaron from OM SYSTEM to take your macro shots to the next level!
We will be looking at advanced techniques like focus bracketing, lighting and creative tips to elevate your macro shots to the next level!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Starting to get close now... Beginners Macro

with Aaron Harivel

Genre: Macro
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Interested in getting close-up/macro images but haven’t really had much success? Join Aaron from OM SYSTEM to learn what you need to started. Aaron will take you through overcoming the challenges that make macro photography so tough, but so rewarding when you get it right!

Bring your camera and lenses, but we’ll have some gear for you to try if you don’t have the right stuff.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Marvelous Macro Meander Masterclass

with Alex Cearns

Genre: Macro
Transport: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All.
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Join Tamron Ambassador Alex Cearns OAM for an exciting 90 minute outdoor macro adventure, where you’ll hunt for tiny details and discover some delightful surprise macro guests. As you explore, be sure to tick off those scavenger hunt items by capturing them with your camera.

Prepare for a quirky, detail-packed journey that will sharpen your macro photography skills and help you master the art of seeing the extraordinary in the small things.

Workshop Key Learnings:

PHOTOJOURNALISM & DOCUMENTARY WORKSHOPS 2025

Getting down and streety

with Adrian Whear

Genre: Photo Journalism
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

Have you ever wanted to capture the stories and art of the streets through your camera lens? Uncover the artistry of street photography in this immersive workshop, where every corner tells a story waiting to be captured. The workshop is designed to sharpen your skills, expand your creative vision and test your knees.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Part 1: Photo Essay – Shoot it in a day!

with Chris Hopkins

Genre: Photo Journalism
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

In part one, with a nod to the traditional picture stories of W. Eugene Smith and Don McCullin, Chris Hopkins will guide participants in the art of the Photo Essay. In a hands on, interactive approach, participants will be set a predetermined time to get out amongst the township of Bright and produce a series of images that form an identified visual narrative of their own choosing. What to include. Where to begin. Targeting an audience. Concepts and ideas.

A positive and supportive workshop, participants will be encouraged to explore these fundamentals of visual story-telling in their own style. To make the most of the project, participants are encouraged to bring the work to the ‘Photo Essay – Put it Together!’ workshop where Chris and Photo Collective’s Harriet Tarbuck will conduct a discussion on how to make the most impactful photo essay through intelligent storyboarding and sequencing of your imagery.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Part 2: Photo Essay – Put it together!

with Harriet Tarbuck

Genre: Photo Journalism
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: 6x4 prints (preference) or a laptop with digital files
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

In Part Two of this workshop, we will be looking further into how we can make our images tell a story through clever editing and sequencing. We’ll discuss how photographers create narrative with their imagery.

Observe, as Harriet and Chris Hopkins storyboard one of Chris’ projects. See how the development of the essay forms from both the photographer and the editors’ viewpoints. Note how the collaboration between two sides of the industry work together.

Then we’ll look at your work! If you have done ‘Part 1 – Photo Essay – Shoot it in a day!’ Chris and I will work with you to bring your story to life. Alternatively, you can bring any projects you are working on from home. Participants are encouraged to bring prints in 6×4 print format (Officeworks or Kmart are great for this!). Otherwise, bring your digital files on a laptop. If you don’t come with images, this is a great opportunity to observe how a photo story is created through other photographers.

This is an opportunity for you to show your photography, get direct feedback and receive knowledge and skills to develop further storytelling as you move through your photographic practice.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Photojournalism and Film Indsutry Stills Survival Guides

with David Dare Parker

Genre: Photo Journalism
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

In many ways I have led two completely different lives – influenced by two symbiotic careers. One as a Photojournalist – and the other, as a Film Industry On-Set Stills Photographer. I could not have done one without the other. My work in the film industry pretty much financed my life as a Photojournalist.

I got the idea of earning a living by working on film sets by one of heroes, Magnum Photographer Robert Capa. (Capa once had a fling with the actress Ingrid Bergman, and their brief affair gave him the idea that he and his colleagues could pick up work on film sets as a way of helping finance both their personal projects while at the same time keeping their newly formed collective, Magnum Photos, funded and alive).

For BFOP I will be running workshops on both Photojournalism and Film Industry Stills Photography. Think of them as ‘survival guides.’ There will be hands on assignments and briefs. There will (possibly) be anecdotes (selectively chosen), ‘names-changed-to protect-me-from-the-types-that-litigate’ stories. (I am pretty sure any PTSD I may have is related to film sets and not any conflict or natural disasters I have covered).

The photojournalism workshop will be about story telling — building a narrative and creating a classic photo-essay during the BFOP long weekend. For the film industry workshop, we will recreate and document a ‘scene’ – capturing the types of images that you would need deliver to a Production publicist. We will also build a ‘Key Art’ set to produce the type of imagery suitable for posters and billboards. It will be fun.

Below is a link that will best explain who I am and while offering up some insight as to what you might expect when attending the workshops.

A Photographer’s Life: https://photocollective.com.au/in-conversation/photo-collective/david-dare-parker-a-photographers-life/

Workshop Key Learnings:

Become faster and better at documentary photography. With a couple!

with Joel Alston

Genre: Photo Journalism
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

Ever since making my shift to shoot on full time film and analog cameras, I have noticed I am able to operate much quicker and more efficient than I was with the most recent digital with all the bells and whistles. Although, you don’t need to shoot film to have a fast process of shooting documentary. I have come up with things that you can do to help yourself become more efficient with this. This can help you with weddings, street photography or even just getting better at snapping those candid moments of family and friends.

We will also have a real couple along with us for the ride so we are able to practice this faster pace of shooting with real moments.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Bruce Gilden Inspired Workshop

with Joel Alston

Genre: Photo Journalism
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Bruce Gilden is a prolific street photographer from New York. His work became known and popular worldwide for his harsh and some would say abrasive approach on the street. Most of his more well known work was on black and white film with direct flash on the street. He was known for using a wide lens and getting right up in peoples faces with a flash.

His work has been massively influential to me especially in my wedding work.

So let’s float around BFOP with a wide lens and a flash and get in some peoples faces to get some amazing reactions and images!

Workshop Key Learnings:

WILDLIFE & ANIMAL WORKSHOPS 2025

Shooting Wildlife without Killing Anything

with Matt Krumins

Genre: Wildlife & Animal
Transport: Self Drive
Location: Red Stag Emu & Deer Farm
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: Telephoto lens
Fitness Level: Short walk (<500m)
Group size: 20

Join Matt Krumins for a crash course in the lesser-talked-about techniques of wildlife photography. No more ‘shutter priority mode she’ll be right’ nonsense, this workshop is all about being prepared for the moment without over complicating it. Get his tips and tricks for shooting all types of wildlife as well as hands on shooting time!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Magical group shot! All dogs are perfectly trained right?????

with Jo Howell

Genre: Wildlife & Animal
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

All dogs may be perfect, but getting them all together in one shot can be like herding cats. (side note:this method also works with cats and kids, and unruly adults and turtles, I love turtles)\r\nIn this class we will use a lil bit of magic to compose and composite the perfect doggo group photo.

Bring your camera and a tripod is essential. We will all have the chance to shoot a set of images and once we have the goods, will go through the process of how to weave that photoshop magic to bring it all together.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Working with animals safely.
How to compose separate images that make it easier to complete a composite
Basic Lightroom skills for working a set of images for consistency
Photoshop compilation for final imaging, including masking and layer alignment.

Feathered Focus Foto Fest

with Alexandra Cearns

Genre: Wildlife & Animal
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Get ready for an exciting adventure with acclaimed Tamron Ambassador Alex Cearns OAM. Join us for a lively two-hour wild bird photography session set against the breathtaking backdrop of a private property at the foot of Mount Buffalo. We’ll kick things off with an on-site course on the perfect lenses, settings, and tips to capture gorgeous bird portraits. Then it’s time to put your newfound skills to the test, capturing the vibrant personalities of local birds in their natural habitat. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to uplevel your bird photography.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Making a splash

with Jo Howell

Genre: Wildlife & Animal
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Unleash your creativity and capture the joy of canine play with our “Making A Splash!” photography workshop! This hands-on workshop is dedicated to photographing water loving pooches. Whether they’re leaping into a pool, chasing waves at the beach, or splashing in a stream, water loving dogs provide endless opportunities for dynamic photography.

This workshop is ideal for photographers of all levels who love dogs and want to enhance their action photography skills. Bring along, your camera of choice. Favourite lenses. A 70-200mm and wide angle would be great, but any lens is fine. Perhaps a towel and some water shoes (last year we all ended up in the water!) Come ready to have fun, learn some new skills and watch a dog that loves water have time of its life! Let’s make a splash together!

Workshop Key Learnings:

Full Flight Equine Photography Workshop

with Louise Sedgman

Genre: Wildlife & Animal
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

There’s something truly magical about photographing a horse at liberty! No ropes, no riders, just pure, unfiltered motion. In the paddock, every toss of the mane, every flying hoof, and every glint of sunlight on muscle becomes a story for us to capture. It’s about anticipation, quick reflexes, and learning to read the horse’s body language so you can be ready for that perfect moment—the explosion of power, the playful buck, or the graceful arch of their neck. This is where photography meets instinct, and the result is pure motion turned into art. You will learn about what camera settings are needed to capture the action at its best. You will learn about seeing the most flattering moments, and when to capture them. And you will learn what it takes to set up a shoot like this, so you can do it again safely and with confidence yourself

Workshop Key Learnings:

FINE ART WORKSHOPS 2025

A nostalgic analog journey with the Shutterstop Mobile Darkroom.

with Andy Zakeli and Katie Rivers Shutterstop

Genre: Film
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 3hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Photographers Andy Zakeli and Katie Rivers will take you on a nostalgic journey of black and white photography using SLR cameras, creating dramatic photos that you can develop and print in our unique Mobile Darkroom Van.

Workshop Key Learnings:

How, What & Really?

with Bruce Moyle

Genre: Fine Art
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: TBA
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

A lot of people pick up a camera as a hobby, for a challenge, even a creative pursuit but don’t go past the literal of what is exactly in front of them. Sometimes you need to just use the camera subjectively “wrong” to discover something different.

This workshop is very casual and is my go to type of photography for mental health, relaxation and sometimes less importantly beautiful abstract images. The best thing is that it’s super simple and really fun and you might just see the world slightly slightly differently afterwards.

Workshop Key Learnings:

The Crazy Studio Abstract Portraits Workshop V2.0 - Let Go BIG!

with Bruce Moyle

Genre: Fine Art
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Beginner/intermediate
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Let’s Mix Constant Lights, Strobe and People… but can we go bigger than previous years? Let make some art and be bold and whacky at the same time. 1.5 hours of trying not to burn out a strobe. Mix it with fun, music and one (or maybe more) models not knowing what they have stepped into. It’s going to big, it’s going to be chaotic and it’s going to be weird. You will learn that working together we can absolutely make a bigger mess than individually. You might even love the result. NOTE: Anyone with photo sensitive seizures, this probably isn’t the workshop for you sorry.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Develop your work for competitions (and other opportunities)!

with Harriet Tarbuck

Genre: Fine Art
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Ever had an image that you thought would win but didn’t?! This is your opportunity to show your images in a safe group setting and ask why.

In this workshop you will have the opportunity to show your photography and discuss in depth what is working and what could be improved upon. In education we call this Work in Progress. It is an integral part of learning and developing as photographers, getting feedback from others. We will begin to learn how to critique our own work, give feedback to others and select the best images to put forward into the world.

Photography critique can open our eyes to seeing our work in new ways and take us down a whole new road in image making. We will bravely show our work to our peers and receive positive critique. Come with an open mind to learn from feedback. This is a safe environment, with the sole purpose to uplift each other’s photography.

Bring digital Images to show on a screen.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Equine Projections

with Louise Sedgman

Genre: Fine Art
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

Join me for an extraordinary creative photography workshop where we’ll explore the magic of projected patterns on a white equine canvas. With my projector and carefully crafted designs, we’ll transform this beautiful horse into a living, breathing work of art — creating stunning, surreal portraits that blend photography, fine art, and imagination. Perfect for photographers seeking something truly unique, this session will challenge your creativity and leave you with an unforgettable portfolio piece. It’s not about the light or portraiture, it’s about experimentation and creativity.

Workshop Key Learnings:

FlashDance: Painting with Light & Motion

with Michael Marlborough

Genre: Fine Art
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Ready to break the rules of traditional portraiture? In this hands-on studio workshop, we’ll blend the crisp punch of flash with the dreamy trails of coloured LED light to create portraits that are equal parts sharp, surreal, and seriously cool. You’ll start by photographing our model silhouetted against a stark white backdrop. As the flash fires, the model will move—creating a perfectly focused base image with ghostly, motion-blurred trails captured by continuous LED light. It’s photography meets performance art, and you’re holding the remote. No experience with flash or LED? No worries—we’ll guide you every step of the way. Every participant will get time behind the camera and leave with stunning, unique images. Plus, you’ll receive detailed Photoshop notes to refine and finish your shots at home. Come for the flash. Stay for the blur. Leave with images that dance off the screen.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Getting Started with Studio Lighting: Learn the basics of working with flash and continuous LED lights—what they do, how to set them up, and how to use them together for creative results.
Creating Sharp and Blurred Effects in One Shot: Understand how to control your camera’s settings (like shutter speed and flash timing) to capture both clear and motion-blurred parts in a single image.
Simple Editing Skills in Photoshop: Follow easy, step-by-step instructions to enhance your workshop images at home—adjust brightness, boost colours, and make your portraits stand out.

Flipping Studio Lighting on Its Head: The Lighting Strikes Back

with Michael Marlborough

Genre: Fine Art
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Intermediate
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Why settle for one background when you can have two (without moving a single light stand)? In this creative workshop, we’ll first shoot a model on a glowing, pure white background—then kill the lights and drop them into pitch black for round two. Same pose? Great. Different pose? Even better! The fun begins when we blend those exposures into wild, surreal portraits that feel like two worlds colliding.\r\nNo Photoshop headaches here—we’ll give you step-by-step notes so you can work your magic later. Just bring your camera, your imagination, and a willingness to break the “rules” of studio lighting (in the best possible way).

Workshop Key Learnings:

“Less is More… More or Less”

with Vicki bell

Genre: Fine Art
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

A playful workshop exploring abstraction through the lens of design elements. We’ll the streets of Bright seeking lines, shapes, textures and colour to strip scenes back—or layer them up—to create images that intrigue and surprise. You’ll experiment with simple DIY filters, vignettes, and in-camera distortions that bend reality into art, learning how to make ordinary spaces look wowza. Whether you’re drawn to minimal compositions or wild, messy impressions, this walkabout will expand how you see, shoot, and tell visual stories. Perfect for photographers ready to loosen up, break rules, and discover that sometimes less truly is more… or maybe it’s more.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Light Painting Portraiture

with Denis Smith

Genre: Light Painting/Astro
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Seeing a light painting portrait come to life is universally mind blowing, for the subject and the creator. Denis will guide you through various techniques used to wrap your subject in light then it’s hands on, you get to create and sit through the experience. These workshops are always ultra fun! 3 WOAH’s! 2 WTF’s! And 4 OMFG’s! guaranteed!

Workshop Key Learnings:

A Most Splendid and Illuminating Gathering in the Woods

with Denis Smith

Genre: Light Painting/Astro
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 4hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

Hark! Gather thy lanterns and curious contraptions, for thou art cordially summoned to a nocturnal congregation of uncommon spectacle and mirth. In yon enchanted forest, under cover of moon and mischief, noble seekers of light shall embark upon a merry romp of photographic wizardry. We shall conjure glowing orbs, weave ethereal trails through the glade, and scribble upon the darkness itself, all with naught but sticks of light and devilish devices. Lo, even portraits shall be captured—likenesses of thy noble visage rendered with strokes of purest brilliance. Whether thou be a learned scholar of the shutter or a wayward knave fumbling with thine exposure, all shall be welcome in this mixed bag of merry-making. Pray, dress warmly, bring stout shoes, and prepare thyself for laughter, learning, and a most bewildering night in the company of luminous fools.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Illuminated Nudes - The Sealed Edition

with Kym Vulling

Genre: Portrait / Nude
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly Seated / Stationary
Group size: 20

Taking the concept of capturing the creative nude a step further this year, this exciting workshop blends Kym’s love of evoking genuine intimacy and connection when working with a couple, with the art and fun of playing with light and projection techniques on the nude form. This workshop will take you through the do’s and don’t’s of of working with nude models, how colour and light and projections can tell a story, and finally how to build trust and move past any nerves ( yours or the models) to capture beautiful intimate moments with our real life couple. This workshop uses both a male and female nude model.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Photojournalism

with David Dare Parker

Learn the art of visual reportage — the craft of telling powerful stories through a camera lens. This workshop will explore not just how to take photographs, but how to create compelling narratives that capture the essence of a moment, a place, or a person.
I’ll share my own personal stories, anecdotes, and experiences from the field, while we delve into subjects such as ethics, instincts, and moral values.
In the first part of the day, participants will take on real-world assignments designed to challenge their creativity and sharpen their storytelling skills. Later, we’ll regroup for an in-depth review session, where we’ll closely examine the final photo essays, discuss the choices behind each image, and explore how editing and sequencing can elevate a story from good to unforgettable.

Workshop Key Learnings:

PRODUCT & FOOD WORKSHOPS 2025

The styling lab: Colour. Light. Texture

with Keren Dobia

Genre: Fine Art
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Hands-On Instructional Experience for All Skill Levels
Join Keren Dobia for an immersive, hands-on Styling & Lighting Workshop designed to elevate your creative process and visual storytelling. Whether you’re a portrait, fashion, still life, or conceptual photographer—or simply someone looking to refine your visual voice—this workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore the art of image creation beyond the lens.

Keren will guide you through the process of building visually striking images by focusing on:

Styling with Intention: Learn how to select and combine elements—objects, fabrics, props, and surfaces—based on colour palettes, textures, and composition to create harmonious and dynamic visuals.
Lighting Fundamentals: Using constant lighting, Keren will demonstrate how light can shape, sculpt, and transform a scene, giving you a clear and accessible way to understand light direction, intensity, and mood.
Visual Balance & Creativity: Discover how to construct images that are not just technically sound, but emotionally resonant and aesthetically compelling.

This workshop is not limited to skills for product or still life photography—it’s about learning to see and build creative imagery that reflects your vision, no matter your genre or experience level.

Expect a hands-on, collaborative environment where you’ll be encouraged to experiment, ask questions, and leave with practical tools to bring more depth, clarity, and artistry to your work.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to push your work further, this is a chance to learn to elevate your styling in a supportive and creative environment.

Workshop Key Learnings:

The Art of Cocktail Photography

with Vueey Le

Genre: Food
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Step into the vibrant world of cocktail photography, where creativity meets precision. In this hands-on workshop, Vueey Le will guide you through the process of capturing stunning drink imagery from start to finish.

You’ll learn how to:
• Choose the right gear and settings for dynamic results
• Compose eye-catching scenes that tell a story
• Master lighting techniques to enhance colour, texture, and atmosphere
• Direct and style a cocktail shoot to bring your vision to life

Whether you’re building a portfolio, shooting for social media, or simply looking to refine your skills, this session will equip you with the tools and techniques to create mouthwatering images that stand out.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Mastering Composition & Storytelling – Learn how to arrange your subject, props, and background to create visually compelling cocktail shots that draw the viewer in.
Lighting for Impact – Discover techniques to shape and control light to highlight colours, textures, and mood in drink photography.
Directing a Photoshoot – Gain practical skills in guiding the process from setup to final shot, including styling, timing, and working with a team or mixologist.

Reflection Perfection

with Emily Black

Genre: TBA
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: TBA
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Photographing shiny products can be tricky with all those reflective surfaces. Let’s problem solve using a variety of tools, some specific, some creative, to take control of the highlights and reflections to create mood and form.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Food Glorious Food

with Karl Ludik

Genre: Food
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

After three years of wondering around the kitchen, I’m returning to a back to basics food photography course. In my role as Content Creator for the World’s largest cookware company, its my day to day, and I’ll be sharing my workflow, mastering natural and strobe lighting and learning how to create layers and depth to your scrumptious creations. We’ll light, shoot and eat our subjects. No boring landscapes here! Hills of cream, berry filled valleys and caramel sunrises.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Let's Be Brief

with Emily Black

Genre: TBA
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: TBA
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Ever wondered what it’s like to make an editorial image, showcasing a product, but working to a specific design brief? We’re going to get creative, while working within a shoot brief photographing food and product, using continuous and available light. With support and guidance and a collection of tools we’ll explore a variety of work stations and briefs to create a final ad worthy image.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Some kind of sexy food styling thing

with Vueey Le

Yeah yeah yeah, relax. This workshop info is coming soon.

Workshop Key Learnings:

SPORTS WORKSHOPS 2025

BMX Skate Park Catastrophe Part Deux

with Nick Fletcher

Genre: Sport
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Specialist Equipment: Wide angle lenses and flashes are reccomended but not required
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m) If you are unsteady on your feet or less mobile then this is not the workshop for you.
Group size: 20

This workshop was soooo good last year that we are doing it all again. Join Nick with Jai Larson and Mitch Brown, two of Australia’s best Freestyle BMXers, at Mrytleford Skatepark for some wide angle BMX madness. Last year the freestyle freaks got very upside down and no doubt they will want to go bigger this year.

Bring any lens you like but we’ll be focussing on getting wide and close. Like really really close. And for those that have it bring a flash to pop on the top of your camera and we’ll shoot into the sun.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Wild Grit: Photographing the Women of the Trails. A raw, real, and empowering visual storytelling workshop

with Sophie Geraghty

Genre: Sport
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: Hiking
Specialist Equipment: Wide angle lenses and flashes are reccomended but not required
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m) If you are unsteady on your feet or less mobile then this is not the workshop for you.
Group size: 20

Join photographer and ultrarunner Sophie Geraghty on the breathtaking trails of Bright for an immersive and empowering workshop capturing the strength, grit, and beauty of women in trail running. This 2-hour outdoor session is designed to blend your passion for photography with your passion for purpose, creating meaningful work that celebrates women in sport and the untamed energy of the ultrarunning world. Working with a small group of female trail runners, you’ll learn how to craft a visual story that blends portraiture and motion with the natural environment. The goal? To produce a series of striking images that represent not only the physical movement of running; but the deeper story of determination, identity, and connection with the outdoors. This project proudly supports the Women of GSER initiative, part of the Great Southern Endurance Run (GSER), which shines a spotlight on women in trail and ultra-distance running. Selected images will contribute to a collaborative storytelling project promoting this movement and giving voice to the women of the trails. Sophie Geraghty is a professional photographer and ultrarunner whose work lives at the intersection of sport, storytelling, and soul. With over 20 years of experience behind the lens and hundreds of kilometres on foot, Sophie brings a unique ability to capture raw moments of power and vulnerability. Passionate about encouraging more women into sport and into creative expression, her workshops are welcoming, grounded, and designed to help photographers create work that matters.

Workshop Key Learnings:

How to direct and photograph athletes naturally in outdoor environments
Techniques for capturing both action and emotive portraiture in natural light
Using landscape and light to frame strength and vulnerability
Telling a visual story: from moment to mood
Connecting with your subject to reveal authenticity and emotion

BFOP25 goes Tour de France style!

with Jean-Pierre Ronco

Genre: Sport
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: Telephoto lens, mid zoom lens with low aperture, speed light
Fitness Level: Short walk (>500m)
Group size: 20

I will go with you with my best tips to capture sporting events without missing any actions. First, I will go with you through the gears that I use on the field and the set-up of our cameras. Then we will start to shoot in Aperture priority to get the fastest shutter speed possible and freeze the action. We will also use our environment and landscape to get the best result of the action in the environment. After that, we will move to Shutter priority to get some movement happening with some panning exercises. Finally, we will move to Manual mode to be in full control of our camera on the field creating amazing sport images. At the end, of this workshop, I will do an introduction to speed-light use during daylight and race day to create stars reflexion and movement (panning). With all these tools, you will be able to be the true leader and yellow jersey on the field.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Learn more about the different shooting modes of their camera.
Learn to adapt our camera setting to a rapid change of our environment (light).
Learn how to freeze the action.
Learn how to create speed and movement by panning.
Learn to use speed light during daylight.

THE OTHER WORKSHOPS 2025

Pre-FOP Skills Refresher

with Dani Webb

Genre: Other
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: Beginners
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

You’ve booked your BFOP ticket, lined up your workshops… and now your mind’s gone fuzzy on what all those buttons and dials actually do. Don’t stress—we’ve got you.

Join Dani from Camera House for a friendly, no-jargon refresher session where she’ll break down the essential camera settings in a way that actually makes sense. You’ll learn why your camera sometimes gets exposure wrong—and how to take control and fix it fast.

Perfect for anyone who needs a confidence boost before diving into the weekend’s workshops.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Confidence with Your Camera – Feel empowered to take control and make quick, smart decisions behind the lens.
Simplified Settings – Get a clear, stress-free breakdown of the key camera settings and when to use them.
Understanding Your Light Meter – Learn how to read and respond to what your camera is telling you about exposure.

Snow Much Fun: From Santa Shoot to Photoshop Magic

with Karen Alsop & Vicky McKay

Genre: Other
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 3hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Get ready to sleigh this Christmas with a photography and Photoshop workshop like no other! Join internationally acclaimed photographic artist Karen Alsop (creator of Christmas Wish and The Heart Project) for a magical, hands-on experience where storytelling meets sleigh bells.

For the first half of this festive frolic, you’ll be photographing the REAL Santa Claus—yes, he’s flying in just for you (rumour has it the reindeer are requesting room service in Bright). We will begin with a magical Christmas set, complete with our very own ‘Aussie Santa’. You’ll learn how to capture Santa in the perfect light and pose, with Karen guiding you through storytelling techniques and camera creativity.

Then it’s time to fire up Photoshop and dive headfirst into the snow globe of digital editing. Karen will walk you through how to turn your Christmas photo into a fully-fledged Christmas Wonderland Composite.

Leave the workshop with:

✔️ A photo of Santa (taken by you)

✔️ Editing skills to make it magical

✔️ A big smile and probably glitter in your hair

🎅 Santa’s booked in. The sleigh’s polished. All that’s missing is you.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Learn the secrets behind seamless selections, creative lighting, and shadow play—then pull it all together to build scenes so real, they might just step off the screen. This is where Photoshop stops being a tool and starts becoming your storybook.
Taking it to the next level with mind-blowing new tricks using Photoshop's Generative AI to magically expand your photo, grow your scene beyond the frame, and turn a simple snap into a full-blown festive fantasy.
Impress your friends and family with a Christmas card so good, they’ll think Hallmark hired you!
🎁 BONUS: You’ll receive a recorded video of the editing session to follow along with later at home, when you’re ready to create your own Christmas Card masterpiece.

Beyond the Frame: 4D Photo Art Fusion

with Karen Alsop & Vicky McKay

Genre: Other
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: Your imagination, a notebook (digital or paper), and a few of your favourite photos on USB
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Step into a world where photographs leap off the page, dance through space, and tell stories in more than just two dimensions.

In this mind-expanding 4D Photo Art workshop, internationally acclaimed visual storyteller Karen Alsop will take you on a guided journey through the intersection of photography and mixed media art. From painting and decoupage to sublimation and augmented reality, this is where still images find new life across every sensory realm.

Learn how to transform your photographs into:

✔ Layered 3D art that frames the story.
✔ Sublimated pieces that shimmer with personality
✔ Interactive augmented reality art that pulls you into another world
✔ Subtly animated images with sound and motion, perfect for digital display
✔ Tactile, hand-embellished artworks that fuse traditional and digital techniques

Whether you’re a photographer looking to expand your medium, an artist seeking a digital edge, or a creative soul ready to explore something completely new—this session will open doors to new possibilities and bring your work beyond the frame.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Hybrid Art Creation: Learn how to turn your photographic art into tactile pieces through printing, painting, cutting, and layering techniques (including 3D decoupage, canvas printing, and embellishment).
Augmented Reality & Animation: Discover how to bring your photos to life with subtle motion, audio, and interactivity.
Concept-to-Experience: Understand how to design an immersive artwork from start to finish—including choosing the right photo, matching it with a tangible medium, and enhancing it through sound, visual animation, and even physical texture.

Demystifying the Fine Art Print

with Keren Dobia

Genre: Other
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Print Workshop with Keren Dobia (Epson Ambassador) and Kayell Australia.

Delve into paper choice. Find the world of printing overwhelming or to technical then come along and learn from Epson ambassador Keren Dobia as she takes you through her step by step approach to editing for print enhancement.

Keren will walk you through her process of image analysis, test printing, print enhancement and making the best paper choice for your work. If you need some tips and tricks for your own image enhancement and preparing fine art prints then you can be sure to take away some valuable information. See how important paper, image and screen profiles are to your print outcomes. We will have an Epson printer and Eizo screen on display in addition to some of Canson’s fine art papers.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Exploding Stuff with Camera House

with Dani Webb

Genre: Other
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Mostly seated/stationary
Group size: 20

Ready to blow things up

Join Dani from Camera House for an action-packed photography session where things move fast… and sometimes explode! Discover the art of freezing motion in its most dramatic form. Whether it’s flying fruit, bursting balloons, or micro explosions, you’ll learn how to capture the perfect moment before it vanishes.

Workshop Key Learnings:

📸 Master the light – Learn how to harness different lighting setups to highlight motion and drama.
🎯 Nail your focus – Explore pro-level techniques for tracking and locking focus on moving subjects.
⏱️ Control time – Understand how shutter speed transforms your images from a blur to a razor-sharp spectacle.

Film Set Production Stills & Key-Art Photography

with David Dare Parker

Step onto set with me and discover the hidden art of capturing cinema. After four decades behind the camera, I’ll share what it truly takes to navigate the often-chaotic world of film production — from the delicate dance of working with actors to building trust with the crew, staying invisible in an actor’s eyeline, and reading the room when tensions run high. This is more than a workshop; it’s your insider’s survival guide to stills photography in the film industry — packed with real stories, sharp insights, and the kind of lessons only experience can teach.
Along the way, we’ll dive into the essential relationships that make or break a shoot: publicists, producers, line producers, assistant directors — and how to deliver imagery that meets their exacting standards.
Our stage? The Railway Museum in Bright — an evocative setting that could have been plucked from the golden age of Hollywood. Imagine Casablanca, with Bogart and Bacall framed in the glow of cinematic light. That’s the atmosphere we’ll bring to life.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Adventure Weddings: Because Ordinary Is Forgettable

with Jesse Hisco

Genre: Portrait
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 1.5hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

An adventure wedding isn’t just about hiking boots and mountaintops — though it’s a pretty rad start — it’s about telling a couple’s story in a way that feels like them, not just looks like them. In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll learn my fast-track approach to capturing the heart of any wedding day — from the loud, joy-filled celebrations to the quiet, blink-and-you-miss-them moments in between — so your photos feel alive, connected, and impossible to forget.

We’ll strip back the noise and focus on what matters most: building a visual story that pulls people into the day. You’ll leave with a simple, repeatable framework you can start using immediately — plus a taste of the deeper techniques that can completely change the way you shoot weddings.

Workshop Key Learnings:

Spot the Story – Identify the moments that matter most to your couple and weave them into a visual narrative.
Direct Without Disrupting – Guide couples naturally so they stay present and the story stays authentic.
Shoot the In-Between – Capture the unscripted, blink-and-you-miss-them moments that give the day its soul.
Balance Big & Small Moments – Transition seamlessly between the epic, scene-setting shots and intimate details.
Build a Repeatable Story Framework – Walk away with a simple method you can apply to any wedding, anywhere.

Canon Photo5 starts with five everyday items in a simple brown box.

with Jenn Cooper

Genre: Other
Transport: TBA
Location: TBA
Length: 2hr
Skill Level: All
Specialist Equipment: N/A
Fitness Level: Medium Walk (>1km)
Group size: 20

This is unique photographic competition where each item offers a challenge designed to inspire the creation of remarkable photography. Canon Photo5 was an annual photography competition in Australia and New Zealand that challenged photographers to respond to five different photographic briefs, involving simple everyday objects. BFOP attendees who register receive a box containing five items, each acting as a prompt for a photo, and they must incorporate specific creative techniques into their shots. The competition aims to inspire creativity and push the boundaries of photographic expression all while having a lot of FUN!

The Core Concept:
The competition revolves around a “Photo5” concept, where participants receive a box containing five everyday objects.

The Briefs:
Each object serves as a photographic brief, requiring participants to create a unique image based on that object and a specific theme or technique.

Creative Techniques:
Participants are often instructed to incorporate specific creative photography techniques, like using light, shadows, or specific camera settings.

Community Engagement:
Canon encourages participants to share their work, fostering a sense of community among photographers and enthusiasts. Visit the Canon HQ and share your images to be printed and displayed on the Photo5 wall.

Prizes and Recognition:
Winners of the competition receive prizes such as Canon Selphy Printer, Canon merchandise and opportunities to showcase their work.

Past Examples:
In previous years, the briefs included items like spaghetti, tissue paper, little people, and even a brown box with a secret theme.

What will be in your Canon Photo5 box?

Video link for inspiration:
https://youtu.be/4ujHxPiFrP0

Workshop Key Learnings:

📸 Master the light – Learn how to harness different lighting setups to highlight motion and drama.
🎯 Nail your focus – Explore pro-level techniques for tracking and locking focus on moving subjects.
⏱️ Control time – Understand how shutter speed transforms your images from a blur to a razor-sharp spectacle.