9 Leica Workshops in 29 Days – The Highlights!

October 2022 was my busiest month to date for running Leica workshops, hosting photographers from Mexico, Arizona, NYC, San Francisco, Germany as well as the UK. This article shares some of the highlights with sample photos, info and observations. Leica Q, Leica M11 and more! (+YouTube video)

Leica Q workshop UK (Cotswolds)

My first appointment for the month was a Leica Q workshop. No models or anything fancy, just how to use a Leica Q camera and get the most from it. We met in a beautiful village in the Cotswolds and after a very enjoyable day (and lots of note taking) the photographer was ready to take on the world with his Leica Q. I didn’t take any special photos to share but thanks Peter for lunch and great to meet you!

London – Leica M11 workshop

For the second workshop, I was back in central London teaching. Jose flew in from New York for work and blocked out a day for a Leica M11 workshop before flying home. Firstly, I must thank Jose for letting me test some of his amazing lenses and for being a valued Patreon! Thanks to Jose I was able to make the following 2 videos to share on the YouTube channel –

Leica Summilux-M 90mm f1.5 ASPH

Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f0.95 ASPH

Leica M11 + fast glass

Jose preferred Leica setup was the new Leica M11 + fast prime lenses (plus Leica grip and Leica Visoflex 2). This gives a near SL2 shooting experience in terms of EVF focusing and is perfect for model photography and portraits. (I would say, if like me you shoot mostly portraiture, you’d probably be better with a dedicated EVF camera such as my Leica SL or the SL2 / SL2-S). We also both had our Hasselblad film cameras with us. I still need to develop the film! Here are a few digital photos from the day shot with my Leica SL.

Jorge visits again from Mexico!

If you recognise the name, Jorge visited me for a 2-day Leica workshop in London, from Mexico, earlier in the year. He was back in London so we met up for another model photography workshop. Here are a few sample photos from the shoot. First photos shows the hair how the model normally looks (except I moved it all to one side), Second photo was me styling the model to be a bit more something.

Jorge kindly leant me his new lens so that was shot with the Leica APO Vario Elmarit SL 90-280mm f/2.8-4. (The first photo was shot with a vintage 50mm). Click any photo in the article to view full res and to see the camera equipment I was using. Thanks Jorge!

To see the full write up from the first session with Jorge click the link below –

Visit London for a UK Leica Workshop

Sony vs Leica workshop

It wasn’t setup to be a Sony vs Leica workshop but Carlos brought his Sony cameras and I had my Leicas. Carlos visited me from Germany and it was great to finally meet in person after we’d spoke via the monthly Patreon group zoom calls. (Note – You don’t need to use Leica cameras to be a Patreon or to come to a workshop). Yes most people have a common interest in Leica but not everyone. Carlos’s back story, if I remember it well, he’d followed me on Flickr for years for my model photography and finally decided it was time to meet me for a model photography workshop. Carlos arrived armed with multiple Sony camera bodies and lenses and even a Rotalight (LED light if you are not familiar). Carlos has some model photography experience and it really showed when it came to lighting. Well done Carlos! Here are a few sample shots from the day. (I must say the models were on fantastic form and we had such a great day. We were smiling from ear to ear!)

Leica M10 Monochrom workshop + Others!

Max, another valued Patreon, visited me from San Francisco with his Leica M10 Monchrom and bag of more Leica cameras and lenses. Thanks to Max I was able to share the footage of the rare Leica Q2M Reporter camera and the Leica Noctilux 50mm f1.2 lens re-issue. Thanks Max!

Available light photography

Max is definitely a Leica nut but he joined me for a day of model photography in London. As with most of my full day model photography workshops, we met one model in the morning and another girl after lunch. We shot with available light only and the low autumn sun gave us some really nice shapes to play with.

Assisting a UK Leica photographer/ workshop

Over the years I’ve noticed it is common to receive repeat bookings for my Leica/ model photography workshops. A photographer I’ve worked with quite a bit in 2022 is Laurence. I help with the camera side of things – Leica Ms, Leica SL, Leica Q and non-Leica such as Hasselblad, the lenses and accessories for these systems and then lighting/ posing. His idea for this shoot was to create a 1920s theme. I setup the lighting and suggested the best lenses to use. He bought full outfits for the 2 models/ dancers and paid to hire a studio in London to be able to shoot indoors. (See the Leica workshop prices for details). I was assisting as much as taking photo but here is one example.

Two bookings on the same day and Covid

I would have had 11 Leica workshop days in October but 2 bookings came in for the same date so Jo kindly postponed. Following that, another workshop was pushed back after Dave tested positive for Covid. Those workshops to come in future months.

Leica M10-P Reporter workshop in Notting Hill

My next workshop was another late request. (I fit people in at short notice if I’m available so always feel free to ask). Nathan is another New Yorker but had been living in London. He’d come from a film school and DSLR camera background but bought a Leica M10 as enjoyed street photography. He then sold the M10 as wasn’t getting on well with in but later bought the Leica M10-P Reporter to give it another go. Nathan then reached out to me to try to get the most from his Leica M10-P. After the workshop and after looking through my Leica SL EVF the plan was for him to sell the Leica and go back to Nikon. (I later reported this in a YouTube video – “someone moved away from Leica”) but a week later Nathan got a great shot with the M10-P and that was enough to keep it and stick with Leica. Leica wins again!

Leica M cameras are king for street photography

Even though I don’t do a huge amount of Leica street photography, I feel many street shooters use Leica for a reason. They are a great tool for street photos. After the workshop I was chatting to another US photographer in the street, explaining why Leica cameras are better for street photographers. It seems non-Leica photographers are often not aware of the Leica benefits.

Another Leica M11 photography workshop (+ Sony!)

For my next trip to London I would have another Leica M11 workshop (Leica M11 photographer) but also a 2-photographer workshop. (I offer discounts for multi-person bookings so if your friend/ partner is a photographer too then book together!). Jim and his wife Marie travelled from Phoenix Arizona. Jim is a Leica photographer – M11, M10M, M9 and Marie likes her Sony cameras. Both are experienced photographers with a published book but have less experience working with models and working with UK light (less light than Arizona!). Jim only recently got his Leica M11 so needed some help getting that setup to take sharp photos with his Leica Noctilux 50mm f0.95 lens.

Two-day workshop

Jim and Marie did the same as Jorge last time and booked a 2-day workshop with me while they were in London. Two models each day so four girls in total. I always aim to book a mix of looks to make for a more interesting portfolio. We had a Polish brunette, a British blonde, a British-Jamaican and a Chinese model. Here are a few sample images from the 4 models.

Booking a London studio for photos

As mentioned above, photography studio hire is not included in my workshop rates but I can facilitate the booking if you would like some studio practice. Jim and Marie asked for half a day in the studio and that worked well with the British weather. Working indoors also lets us tackle new obstacles too. In addition to lighting Jim wanted to recreate some of my mirror portraits (without being in the photo himself).

Learn how to photograph models

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MrLeica Workshop Selfies!

Often I forget to take group photos but here are a few outtakes from the October workshops!

What I learnt from the 9 Leica workshops!

Leica workshops worldwide – I can fly to you

Most of the Leica workshops I mention on the blog are people flying to the UK and me teaching in England. I’ve taught two workshops in Poland in the last 12 months (I still need to do a blog post!) and before that i’ve been flown to New York twice to teach and to Zurich twice (if I remember well), and Amsterdam.

Dubai Leica workshop 2022

If you are reading this article and have a group of photography friends that want to learn model photography why not do the same as Asif. Asif is a forward thinking Leica photographer in Dubai. He and 2 close friends funded a Leica workshop in Dubai where I will teach 10+ people. They raised enough money to cover my expenses and pay my discounted day rate for a group booking. I will share more info (and photos) after the event but it shows what is possible. (If you want to attend in Dubai please get in touch asap as it is filling up quick).