PHOTOGRAPHY
EXPERIENCES
This is where you will find all of the information relating to my photography tours & workshops. Launched in 2018, after a year in the making these tours are the extension to my photography talks and I see them as a natural progression from my seven years as a project manager in the events industry. Having made photography a career in 2018 – I am now based out of Istanbul, Türkiye having spent the previous three years in Tbilisi.
About Me
During my photography tours and one-day workshops, I cover subjects such as composition and camera technique, which element of the scene to focus on, working with the light, exposure blending, and much more. Each of these tours is meticulously planned to cater to all skill levels and to ensure that you take home not only new and improved skills but also a superb set of images and memories that you will cherish forever.
Please check back regularly for updates and additional locations & dates. Please also check the ’FAQs’ and conditions at the bottom of the page.
If you have any further questions or require more information then please contact me via that page or by emailing me on: info@jameskerwin.uk
FIXED
TOUR DATES:
FIXED
TOUR DATES:
LOST IN CAPPADOCIA
- Price £1099
- Dates 2nd - 7th October 2023
Did you want to join me on a trip to Cappadocia (Central Turkiye) – did the original dates sell out too fast? Couldn’t you make the dates?
Then Join me on this, the 2nd tour of the region as we take a look at a mixture of hidden gems, cave cities, lost churches, and historical towns across the region.
I have selected the itinerary very carefully and worked with a translator, to supply you with a mix of ruins, hidden architecture, stunning Turkish food, and scenery. – Please click the button below for more information:
RADIANT ROMANIA
- Price £1729
- Dates 6th - 13th April 2024
Romania is a fascinating nation, although it is frequently disregarded for tourism and photography. But if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll find abandoned spas, casinos, palace ruins, and wooden churches that are more than a century old.
This is an opportunity to embark on an 8-day adventure journey with a group of like-minded photographers and urban aficionados. While visiting some of these hidden jewels, we travel across some breathtaking landscapes. Please click the button below for more information:
ANCIENT CAPPADOCIA
- Price £1499
- Dates 6th - 11th May 2024
Did you want to join me on a trip to Cappadocia – the original 2023 dates sold out in less than 6 days! I expect these 2024 tour dates to do similar.
Join me as we take a look at a mixture of hidden gems, cave cities, lost churches, and historical towns across the region.
I have selected the itinerary very carefully and worked with a translator, to supply you with a mix of ruins, hidden architecture, stunning Turkish food, and wonderful scenery. Please click the button below for more information:
LEBANON UNCOVERED
- Price £1555
- Dates 18th - 25th May 2024
A very off-the-radar photography country and destination that combines beautiful landscapes, ruins & stunning architecture.
My 8-day photography tour across Lebanon provides a multitude of image opportunities. This trip’s main focus is a broad overview of the country as we hit the highlights – think of this as a retreat, as you call an apartment in the heart of Beirut your home for the duration of our tour.
Please click the button below for more information:
HIDDEN GEORGIA & ARMENIA
- Price 3497 Euros
- Dates TBC
A chance to join a group of like-minded photographers as well as learn from TWO hosts. I have teamed up with travel photographer and master videographer Greg Snell for this 8-day photography adventure tour through some of the most eye-catching landscapes and the best in hidden architecture across Georgia. We have also built a whole new website for this experience.
This trip includes food, drink and twin accommodation. An exciting trip, where you will learn from two creatives. Please click the button below for more information:
REMARKABLE ROMANIA
- Price £1789
- Dates 21st - 28th September 2024
Romania is a fascinating nation, although it is frequently disregarded for tourism and photography. But if you look a bit closer, you’ll see abandoned spas, gambling halls, mansions, and wooden churches that are over a century old.
This is an opportunity to embark on an 8-day adventure journey with a group of like-minded people. We travel through some breathtaking scenery and stop at some of the best-kept secrets, with a few tweaks to the first route as we include a visit to Bucharest.
Please click the button below for more information:
GEORGIAN ADVENTURE
- Price £1,789
- Dates 10th - 20th October 2024
A chance to join a group of like-minded photographers for a mega 10-day extended photography adventure tour through some of the most eye-catching landscapes whilst taking in the best derelict and hidden architectural gems across Georgia – as we undertake total new routes in the South regions.
As usual, this trip includes food and accommodation, but also a fine art print of your own to take away with you – that we prepare together on day 5. Please click the button below for more information – and to join the waiting list please email me:
HIDDEN LEBANON
- Price €2997 Euros
- Dates 1st - 10th November 2024
A chance to join a group of like-minded photographers as well as learn from TWO hosts. I have teamed up with travel photographer and master videographer Greg Snell for this 9-day photography adventure tour through some of the most eye-catching landscapes and the best in hidden architecture across Lebanon. We have also built a whole new website for this experience.
As usual, this trip includes food and accommodation. You will learn from two creatives. Please click the button below for more information:
TIMELESS CYPRUS
- Price £TBC
- Dates Late November 2024
More than just party spots, stunning beaches and hot weather, Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey – that views itself as part of Europe. There are historic monuments, churches, ruins, and history around every corner – this is my new test destination for 2024!
Join a passionate group for a unique urban photography adventure, over 7 days as we take in both the Greek & Turkish sides of the island – seeking out extraordinary photography spots!
A new destination for 2024 – more information coming soon.
Want to know about the release of new tours?
I aim to release tour dates and destinations 12-18 months ahead, so that we can all plan for the future – you will be the first to know by signing up to an exclusive tour news-only email here:
WORKSHOP FAQ'S
AND CONDITIONS
I have the following refund terms on all experience and tour bookings:
- If the participant cancels 165 days before the start date, a full refund minus a £75 admin fee will be given back/refunded – this is just to cover losses on the fees taken by Stripe/Paypal etc.
- If the participant cancels within 165-90 days of the start date a full refund minus £249 for losses and administration fees will be offered.
- If the participant cancels within 60 days of the trip, no deposit will be offered unless the tour space can be filled. If the space is filled a refund minus the website fees will be given. Unfortunately, if any cancelled space can not be filled before the start date – a refund can not be provided.
- If the participant cancels within 30 days of the trip start date no refund will be given.
By signing up for a trip you automatically give me an exclusive choice of law (England and Wales) and jurisdiction clauses in the England and Wales courts.
Wales courts.
Flight prices are not included in my photography tour package prices. However we can suggest flight options and also recommend you use tools such as Skyscanner to find the best prices.
Due to the nature of the tours and the locations we visit in some of my workshops/tours the minimum age is 18 – unless a child has an accompanied adult and a waiver is signed.
Check the full itinerary of the workshop that you are interested in and a full welcome pack shall also be emailed out to you soon after you have reserved your place.
Some very basic knowledge would be an advantage, however please read the details of the specific course/trip.
The following list of equipment are an essential requirement:
- A digital SLR or ‘Bridge’ camera.
- Spare camera batteries and memory cards.
- Tripod (loans can be arranged – sometimes at a fee).
- Small day rucksack or camera bag.
- On my architecture workshops a wide-angle lens or any sort a lens in the 16-35mm range for full-frame cameras or 10-20mm range for ‘cropped sensor’ cameras is a great place to start.
For the week-long tours, you may wish to bring a selection. Other great lens options include:
- A super-wide angle lens, such as an 11-24mm
- A prime lens such 24mm/35mm
- 24-70mm
- 70-200mm on the ‘Adventure Tours’ could be beneficial.
Additional items you may wish to bring:
- Filters – if you are undertaking a photography tour – as we include some landscape photography spots.
- Water bottle.
- Torch.
- If you are taking a Lightroom & Photoshop workshop add on or a week long trip, ensure that you bring:
- A laptop (with Adobe Creative cloud installed alongside Lightroom & photoshop).
- Your laptop charging cable.
- A mouse or similar tool.
- A back-up hard drive (optional).
Yes, if the course you are booked on mentions it. I will also talk about this a little during any workshop and give tips where necessary.
We plan to go ahead with the workshops even if it’s raining. Participants need to make sure they bring appropriate clothing for the weather and make sure their camera and equipment is properly protected from the elements. In the extremely unlikely event that a tour is cancelled due to unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances (such as illness to myself) I will book you on another suitable date of your choosing or arrange a full refund if the issue lays with myself.
Yes, especially if we are running a course containing editing and post processing tips. I can then use these images during the next day’s session. I will occasionally get a third person to film the courses and in addition I may also film the occasional vlog or youtube video whilst on tour.
Usually we will start at a decent time each day, this will be communicated at the start of the tour – but yes, expect to be up and shooting well before 8am on any given day. If we are running an adventure photography tour, then of course we must use the light – this may affect sleeping patterns as well. Please check your workshop itinerary, we also send you through a welcome pack once a space is reserved.
Wear comfortable and sturdy shoes or boots. Prepare for the weather – bring a hat and suntan lotion on sunny days, and layers and waterproofs if it’s looking rainy – the usual common sense items!
My business is covered for taking photography parties/groups on workshops and photography tours. I hold public liability insurance with full accidental cover – but this covers my team and equipment only, unless I break something belonging to another person (For example I knock over somebody else’s tripod).
You should ensure that you have adequate personal insurance to cover yourself and your equipment. And as of March 2020, it is a requirement to join one of my tours and I’ll be verifying this it at the start of the tour.
As I rely on my income as a travel and photography business to pay my way, I urge people in my terms and conditions to take out comprehensive travel insurance when booking trips. I have overheads that are instantly taken from the pot when people book on trips, including fees such as my own insurance, website and paying locals on the ground (for vehicles) and of course hotels.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a list of countries it believes it is not safe to travel to. The FCO calls these ‘restricted destinations’ and regularly updates the list.
1. If you choose to cancel a trip to a destination that’s not on the restricted list, you won’t be covered by your travel insurance unless you cancel for reasons covered by your policy, such as illness
2. Trips to restricted destinations might be covered either by your tour operator/travel agent or travel insurance – assuming you had travel insurance before the FCO updated their advice
3. If you travel against FCO advice, you won’t be covered by your travel insurance
4. Make sure you get travel insurance as soon as you book a holiday. If you’ve already booked and haven’t got insurance, get it sorted as soon as possible.
The kind of cover you need depends on whether you’ve booked a package holiday or flights and accommodation separately. If you book a package holiday, you should have ATOL or ABTA protection and your travel agent should refund you. When buying insurance for any holiday, look out for cover for cancellation, travel disruption, medical treatment and scheduled airline failure. If you’re unsure if you’re getting the right cover, call the insurer first.
From 2021 it is a workshop condition that you send proof of travel insurance or you must sign a waiver to allow costs to be transferred back to you (or your family in the case of death) in the event of any accidents, baggage issues, pandemics or international incidents (such as internal conflicts).
Yes I usually send out a location and trip waiver a few days after each booking – this is to protect myself, the tours and most importantly the land/building owners.
My contract contains some basic terms of condition as well – such as travel insurance liability.
TESTIMONIALS
CHECK OUT AIRBNB & TRIP ADVISOR FOR MORE
This is especially true if you're pressed for time. An excellent photographer with knowledge to share!

If you come on a tour as a customer and leave as a friend, I think that says it all about my experience.

