Monthly Recap 🔴 Dec25

Newsletter: Photography related posts, videos and hopefully a source of inspiration!

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Founded in 2013, I share my experiences and reviews of Leica, film cameras, lenses + more. View the last 100 blog posts and search 400+ articles. Photos? See Flickr and Instagram.

Last month

Despite being ill for half of November I still managed to get some stuff done. New eBook, photobook zines for Patreons and remote working in Spain. I also managed to set up the Leica Club website to facilitate the wider Leica community. All that plus links to articles and YouTube videos shared in the last 30 days.

New Travel Guide eBook

After over a decade of regular travel (500+ flights) it was time to sit down and write the book. What started out as short 10 page check list soon developed into a 60+ page full travel guide with photos. Every tip and trick I could think of which might help you replicate my photographer-travel lifestyle. Now available to download on the eBooks page.

Patreon photobooks arrive!

Thanks to Mike and the team at ExWhyZed for helping me print my photobook zines. (Maybe I’ll write a future blog post explaining the process of making a photobook). Books include my annual photobook zines for Patreons (Girls on Film) plus two new books, “Travel Memories” and my 14 year passion project, “Gdansk”.

Each book design was a limited print run and all books will be numbered and signed before shipping. See more HERE (to view the Patreon post).

Want to feature on the blog?

As mentioned previously, my plan is to eventually merge Patreon, Leica Club members and Blog Insiders all into one new do-everything platform. A mix of free access and tiered access and bringing all services into one place. For this I’ve setup a new sister website – LeicaClub.org (which is still in its infancy and evolving).

When I do portfolio reviews via Zoom I get to see some fantastic images. If I can help Leica photographers share their work to a wider audience via the new Leica Club platform this will help inspire the wider Leica community.

I invite you to write a guest post for the Leica Club. If you’re a passionate Leica user wanting to share your experience with Leica (together with sample images), get in touch!

Read the first Leica Club guest post submitted by Patreon Michael –

• Better photos with a rangefinder – By Michael Schmidt

Leica Owner? Join the Leica Club

• See full info here or enter your details below:

The Netherlands trip – Recap

Quick shout out. If you remember, last month I was in The Netherlands teaching a Leica workshop. One model we worked with was Eva. I just wanted to give Eva a mention as our photos together made for the 3 most liked portraits of November on Flickr.

Shot on both film and digital our portraits seemed to appeal to a wider audience. (The first photo you might remember from last month plus the photo of the month (above) is also Eva*). Well done Eva!

Model photography eBooks

If model photography is something you’ve always wanted to try check out my eBooks.

Remote working in Spain

If you’re like me, I really suffer from a lack of sunlight in the UK winter months. I was ill for two weeks at the start of November which is unlike me so I was like screw this, I need some sunshine. I booked a cheap trip to Spain for some much needed vitamin D and worked from there instead.

I’ve done a full write up on “How to travel the world taking photos” so read that article for more details. You can also check out my Travel Guide eBook.

Below are a few photos from one of the photoshoots in Spain –

Back in Gdansk

I will cover this trip more next month, but on the last day of November I flew to Gdańsk to meet Patreon friends for a few days. (Thanks Tobi and Thomas for an enjoyable trip!)

I continue to document Gdańsk and despite just publishing my A5 Gdańsk zine book for Patreons I plan to make a larger more premium coffee table book with extra photos in the future. The photo below is one of the images in my new Gdańsk book and it was also my most liked image on Flickr in November, surpassing all portrait images.

Leica workshops

My Leica and model photography workshops are usually in London but I teach in Europe too. Often European or US photographers meet me in London as was the case this month.

London workshops

Jean Marc joined me from Paris for an afternoon of Leica portraits in London. I booked Nicola for our half day workshop and below are a few sample photos.

Jean Marc kindly let me borrow his new Leica Q3M to try so perhaps I can put a short YouTube video together to share my thoughts. Despite him owning the SL3 and Q3M, once Jean Marc tried my Leica M10-P he was immediately impressed. I think he’ll be moving to a Leica M camera next!

Help via Zoom

Zoom calls let me assist you remotely if have questions on buying new cameras/ lenses, portrait lighting techniques or need help mastering your new Leica camera. Students ask for mentorship and portfolio reviews so I offer these too. Check my availability and feel free to get in touch. See Zoom testimonials.

Workshop survey

Complete the survey to register your interest in a MrLeica workshop near you.

Future travel plans

Here are my provisional travel plans. Maybe I’m coming to a city near you or somewhere you’d like to visit. Feel free to contact me to organise a workshop –

DECEMBER 2025

• Poland, Gdańsk – Meet-up + Photoshoots (Gdańsk trip – YouTube)
• Lanzarote – Photoshoots (Lanzarote – YouTube)
• Valencia, Spain – Remote working + Photos (Valencia – YouTube)

JANUARY 2026

• Alicante, Spain (near) – Remote working + Photos (Alicante trip – YouTube)
• Prague and Pilsen – Photoshoots

FEBRUARY 2026

• TBC

Coming to London?

Now you can check my availability if you’d like to meet up while you’re in London –

Digital photographers

If you follow me you know I love Leica cameras and my preference for film vs digital.

• Digital cameras – Leica CL, SL 601, SL2S, M262, M10P + Lumix S9
• Lenses – See all lens reviews. I’m testing a few I can’t mention yet
• Editing with presets – All my images are RAW + LR preset

View GearList for recommended products & discount codes

Film photographers

• Film – I’ve almost caught up with my B&W film developing from 2024/2025
• Cameras – Really enjoying the Leica M4 (will sell my Leica M2)
• Film Developing – I use 1:3 Kodak Xtol + dash if Rodinal in 3 reel tanks
• Film Scanning – See this video for how I scan film using a Valoi Easy120
• Printing – Darkroom prints in my bathroom – Interested?
• Photobooks – Access my five new A5 zine photobooks on Patreon

Directory: Leica Repairs + Leica YouTubers

Have feedback following a Leica service, repair or CLA? See the Leica Repair Directory page. What are your favourite Leica YouTuber channels?

Latest YouTube videos 

Catch up on YouTube videos (Last 30 days) –

New FLASH For Leica (Godox iT30 + v480)

BEST IN CLASS | Affordable 35mm Summicron v4 KOB (Mandler 35mm f2)

When CHINESE Lenses Beat LEICA Lenses

Leica Cameras ON SALE (Leica SL vs SL2-S) + Leica SL3

How I’m LIGHTING My Leica Photos (New Lights from SmallRig)

Why I’m selling my Leica M2 (+ Hello Leica M4)

Latest blog posts

400+ written posts (+ full res images) to supplement my YT videos –

• Leica M4 –  Is this the best rangefinder camera for film photographers?
• The Evolution of Lightroom Presets + How I Edit
• Leica News – Nov25
• How Good Are Chinese Lenses for Leica? (35mm Leica-Inspired Replicas)

Patreon post (shared)

Join over 1000 members to see more content. Here are some Patreon articles you may have missed (Join us today!)(Patreon testimonials) –

• “It’s always worth asking! Venues, photoshoots & social media” – Free to view
• “New Photobooks for Patreons! (Preview)” – Members

Coming up next month..

My label printer arrived (plus my custom ink stamp) so now I need to get signing, stamping and posting out the Patreon zine photobook orders. I’ve already sold half of the “All books bundle” so if you think you might be interested, act soon.

I have a few more overseas trips before I visit family for Christmas. Look out for the new article on “How To Travel The World Taking Photos” and check out my Travel Guide eBook if you want to see how I do all these trips.

YouTube video – spotlight 

The first video in December will be.. a surprise but likely a short video on the Leica Q3M or a classic Leica lens review. I’ll see how much time I have!

Black Friday discounts!

I think the Black Friday sales have almost finished but check out these website for possible deals – Thypoch, Light Lens Lab, Funleader, TTArtisan, 7Artisans, Sirui. *I pre-ordered my Light Lens Lab 35mm f2 AA lens. Can’t wait!

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