If you’re looking for a guest speaker for your camera club or photographic society, then please get in touch! I’m an experienced public speaker and am never fazed by the prospect of standing up in front of a busy lecture theatre (or presenting online using Zoom)!
“One of the best speakers to date!”
LIVINGSTON CAMERA CLUB
“Gobsmacked!
SANDY YOUNG, PRESIDENT, CROMARTY CAMERA CLUB
A travelogue with a difference. Compelling watching. We were all blown away.
Excellent!“
Landscape photography, wedding photography & a travelogue with a difference!
I have a choice of photography presentations for you.
Let’s assume you’re looking for a guest speaker to fill a two-hour slot, with a short break half way through, and a Q&A session at the end. In this scenario, I’d give you a choice of the following photography talks:
- A Travelogue with a Difference: A Photographer’s Professional and Personal Journey
- Scottish Landscapes and Wedding Photography
However, if it’s just 45 minutes to an hour, including a Q&A session, I can offer you the following photography talks:
- A Travelogue with a Difference: A Photographer’s Professional and Personal Journey*
- Scottish Landscape Photography
- Scottish Wedding Photography
* This would be a condensed version of the full length presentation
Let me provide you with a bit more detail on each presentation and pricing…
A Travelogue with a Difference: A Photographer’s Professional and Personal Journey
If you’re looking for something a bit special, then this is the photography talk for you. It will have your members crying one minute and laughing out loud the next. In this presentation, I’ll tell the story behind my first five years as a professional photographer. It’ll be split into two sections: my professional journey; and my personal journey.
With my professional journey, I’ll reflect on the enormous challenge that was presented to me in 2017, when I set up my photography business after being made redundant. Although I was super busy, I certainly wasn’t ‘living the dream’ in those first few years. However, all of that changed in 2020 when the first lockdown hit and I revamped my business. I’m excited to tell you the rest of the story!
With my personal journey, I’ll recount the horror of my dad’s premature death coinciding with the peak of my first full season of wedding photography. I’ll contrast that dark time with the joy of my childhood, with a selection of photographs from my family albums. I’ll then take you through my ongoing ‘Before and After’ photography project, in which I travel around Scotland to ‘re-create’ some of these old family photographs, as a tribute to my dad. Expect to be moved by this story, but I promise that it’s uplifting as well as poignant.
Scottish Landscape Photography Presentation
With my landscape portfolio, I’ll tell the story behind the images, show maps with the locations, and provide numerous tips on composition and planning. I’ve travelled extensively throughout the Scottish islands, but I’ve also built up a portfolio of my local area, the Black Isle peninsula near Inverness.
I’ll pitch this talk at a level that will appeal to everyone, i.e. not overly technical but not overly simplistic either. This presentation will encourage your members to set their alarm clocks early and get out and about!
Scottish Wedding Photography Presentation
I’ve shot well over a hundred weddings, so I’ve no shortage of images to show you and stories to tell! In this presentation, I’ll tell you about how I broke into the wedding industry, how I go about shooting a typical wedding, and what I deliver to my clients. I love to blend my love of the outdoors with my weddings, so you can expect to see lots of couples braving the elements in scenic locations for their photographs!
Photography Guest Speaker Fees
In-Person Presentations
If you’d like me to attend your club or society in person, then I’ll provide a customised quote based around the length of the talk, travel time, mileage and any other expenses.
Online Presentations to Small Groups
Online presentations to camera clubs, photographic societies and other small groups will be priced at the following rates:
1 hour Zoom session: £55
2 hour Zoom session: £85
This applies to my pre-existing talks, detailed above.
Online Presentations to Larger Audiences & Other Exceptions
Additional fees will be applied for large audiences and for bespoke presentations, e.g. where an existing presentation has to be restructured to fit a particular remit.
“I loved your dedication to get ‘the shot’;
STACI MCNEIL, MEMBER, INVERNESS CAMERA CLUB
very inspirational.
I found your talk extremely informative and easy to understand, and I enjoyed listening to your enthusiasm and passion.
Thank you very much for sharing your pictures!”
Photography guest presentations in Scotland
I’ve travelled the length and breadth of Scotland in recent years, in order to present to the organisations listed below. Most of my talks have been to camera clubs and photographic societies. However, I can also pitch my work at a non-technical level. Maybe your group is interested in photography but isn’t familiar with the jargon! Regardless of the audience, I try not to be overly technical. Instead, I prefer to focus on the stories behind the images, and less so on camera settings. I’ll be happy to answer questions and get chatting to your members during the interval.
Photography presentations on Zoom or Skype
I’ve also given a number of presentations to camera clubs on Zoom and Skype, particularly during the pandemic, including the ones listed below. This has even allowed me to reach groups beyond Scotland from the comfort of my office here in the Highlands! It’s no problem at all if there’s a time difference, as I can pre-record my presentation for you, which you can then either download or stream online.
“Glenrothes Camera Club was delighted to invite Karen to our club where she entertained our members with a display of her stunning work.
ALAN SINCLAIR, PRESIDENT,
Karen’s presentation was not only informative but she managed to keep everyone’s attention throughout with her dedication and passion for photographing our beautiful country.”
GLENROTHES CAMERA CLUB
Upcoming photography talks
- Gordonstoun School, 4th September 2023, Scottish Landscapes
- Leeds Photographic Society, 10th October 2023, 7:30pm: A Travelogue With A Difference
- Brechin Photographic Society, 12th December 2023, 7:00pm: Scottish Landscapes and Wedding Photography
- Inverness Camera Club, 17th January 2024, 7:30pm: Portraits & Commercial Photography
- Clackmannanshire Camera Club, 30th January 2024, 7:30pm: A Travelogue With A Difference
Practical landscape photography sessions
Maybe you’re looking for more than just a guest speaker. If so, I’d be happy to discuss the possibility of organising a landscape photography workshop for your members. I typically run photography workshops for individuals and couples (you can read more about this here). However, I’ve hosted a couple of camera clubs in the past. I can accommodate groups of up to 10.
Of course, I’ll not be able to provide the same level of one-to-one tuition with a group. Nor will I be able to feed everyone, or fit the group into the back of my Skoda Yeti! You’d be welcome to organise a minibus. But, the simpler (and cheaper) option would be to car share and have a couple of your members volunteer to drive, and I’ll lead the way between the locations. Your members just need to bring a packed lunch, be ready to pick my brains, and have an average level of fitness!
“Just had to say what a fantastic time Nairn Camera Club members had on the Black Isle workshop.
DAVE FREEMAN, PRESIDENT, NAIRN CAMERA CLUB
Your smiling, easy-going way relaxed even our newest members and had them producing better quality work in a short space of time.
Thanks again and I am sure we will be booking another workshop for the club in the near future!”
I’d love to hear from you if you’re in need of a photography guest speaker or workshop leader, and I still have some space in my calendar for the coming season. Please drop me a message by clicking the link below.
© Karen Thorburn Photography
All rights reserved
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Home | About
Wedding Photography | Family & Portrait Photography
Commercial & Property Photography
Landscape Photography Workshops
Contact