312 Love courses in Swanley delivered Live Online

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Nicky Lovick has worked as an editor for over twenty years, working for top five publishers. She is now an agent at WGM Talent, building the books list. She is looking for commercial fiction, from upmarket women’s fiction, bookclub, romance, domestic noir and psychological thrillers, to crime series. She loves hooky stories such as Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid and Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware set in confined settings, such as hotels. She’s always on the lookout for romcoms with a fresh, contemporary feel to them such as Emily Henry’s Book Lovers. Also historical fiction with a twist and sweeping family sagas. Nicky wants you to make her laugh, make her cry or keep her hooked.  Nicky would like you to submit a covering letter, 1-2 page synopsis and the opening three chapters of your manuscript in a single word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Nicky is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 21st April 2025

Online Course now available via Teachable Platform – How do People Learn? Learn at your own pace… with text and videos to support your learning experience. Inclusive Education: Neurodiversity Course Presented by Inclusive Solutions  About This Course: Designed for educators, psychologists, and teachers, this course offers an immersive experience in inclusive education strategies specifically for neurodivergent children. Two leading experts—Dennis Rollins MBE, celebrated trombonist and teacher, and Colin Newton, an experienced inclusive educational psychologist—will guide you through practical approaches and proven techniques to improve inclusive education.  Key Benefits of the Course:  Understand learning processes tailored to neurodivergent students with learning differences. Explore dominant psychological models of learning and their practical, real-world applications. Participate in engaging, hands-on activities to reinforce inclusive teaching strategies. Gain strategies to foster motivation, confidence, and a sense of autonomy in learners Meet the Instructors: Dennis Rollins MBE Dennis Rollins MBE is a renowned trombone player and award-winning educator with over three decades of experience. Known for his unique approach, Dennis has collaborated with top artists worldwide and has received prestigious awards for both performance and jazz education.   Some of Dennis’ recognised lifetime achievements are as follows:  Worked with artists such as Jamiroquai, Courtney Pine, Maceo Parker, The Brand New Heavies, Blur, US3 and Monty Alexander. Won BBC Best Band with Badbone & Co, 2006. Trombonist of the Year, British Jazz Awards and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Awards, 2007. X2 nominated in the 2008 Parliamentary Jazz Awards: Musician of the Year and Jazz Education, winning the latter category. JazzYorkshire Award Best Band for his band Velocity Trio, 2012. British Trombone Society (BTS) Player of the year Award, 2013. Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, 2022. Recently honoured with an MBE, Dennis brings a creative, real-world perspective to teaching music, particularly for learners with complex needs.  Learn more about Dennis Rollins: Dennis Rollins Website   Colin Newton Colin Newton is a seasoned educational psychologist and passionate advocate for inclusive education. With over 40 years in the field, working across the UK and internationally. Colin is known for his passion for promoting the inclusion of all children in mainstream schools, and for his practical applied work around person-centred planning, restorative justice and in-depth problem-solving. His work has inspired a shift toward inclusive practices across the UK, as he brings both experience and innovative thinking to the world of education.  Colin says: ‘Instinctively from an early age I was against children being sent away to boarding schools and later to special schools and settings. Later I was inspired by disabled activists and Canadian and North American inclusionists who were working to change the world of education with radical innovative thinking and approaches - the work was political, social and spiritual - I was in and never looked back!’  Colin’s career has been values-driven, but also practical using applied psychology in training and real-life problem-solving with schools, families and individual children and young people.     Learning Objectives: By participating in this course, you’ll be able to:  Gain a deeper understanding of inclusive learning processes for all children and adults Differentiate approaches to address the emotional complexities of teaching and learning Master techniques to support effective teaching and meaningful learning Explore the role of relationships and engagement in successful learning Analyse psychological models and identify their real-world applications in education Reflect on the practices of outstanding teachers to inspire deeper learning   Course Topics: Learning Through Imitation Learn how social learning theory (Bandura) highlights the power of imitation. Discover how learners naturally gravitate toward peers and key adults as role models, absorbing skills and behaviours. Contextual Learning Explore Jerome Bruner’s view on context in learning. Understand how learning is always connected to a broader context, which makes it meaningful and applicable. Motivation and Structured Steps Discover techniques to ignite motivation in learners. We’ll discuss how structured, step-by-step support and person-centred encouragement can make a profound difference, particularly for those with learning barriers. Building Self-Efficacy in Learners Understand how educators can nurture self-efficacy, encouraging learners to set their own goals and take charge of their learning journey. Who Should Attend? This course is ideal for:  Educators and psychologists aiming to enhance their understanding of learning processes Teachers who want to develop inclusive teaching strategies for neurodivergent and learning-different students Format A dynamic, hands-on workshop blending lectures, real-world insights, and practical exercises. 

Time for you to talk, explore and work through challenges you are facing... I help individuals find / reconnect with their passion & purpose, so they get up & do what they love! Giving people direction, self-confidence and belief to do the thing they want to do... Through 1:1 coaching, I create a space that supports people to explore and find solutions; giving clarity, confidence and energy to move forwards. ​If you feel stuck in your life or career, frustrated or unsure of how to move forwards, don't know what you want to do next... that's ok - we can work through your challenges at your pace over a series of coaching sessions that works for your time and budget.

These lessons are created for students ready to delve into diverse aspects of English. Students will enhance their reading and analytical skills through studying a variety of texts, including novels, plays and poetry from different genres and historical periods. They’ll develop their creative and non-fiction writing abilities, focusing on grammar, punctuation and effective communication. In addition, students will engage in discussions, improving their spoken English and listening skills. This comprehensive course aims to foster a love of reading and writing, making learning both fun and enriching! 6 children maximum fully interactive weekly 55 minute lessons qualified, expert teacher optional homework set weekly additional resources set via online classroom lesson recordings for absent students written progress reports three times per year Classes are £90 per month. Variety of times and dates available. Enquire to find out more!

These sessions are created for students eager to explore more complex texts and refine their analytical skills. Students will enhance their ability to critically evaluate literature, comparing themes and characters across a wide range of texts. They'll advance their creative and non-fiction writing, taking it to the next level by focusing on sophisticated language use and technical accuracy. through engaging discussions around fascinating topics, such as moral issues and social contexts, students will develop their oral communication. The overall aim of thios course is to deepen their love of language in an enjoyable environment. 6 children maximum fully interactive weekly 55 minute lessons qualified, expert teacher optional homework set weekly additional resources set via online classroom lesson recordings for absent students written progress reports three times per year Classes are £90 per month. Variety of times and dates available. Enquire to find out more!

– how to react, support and move forward Discover how you can best help a young person who self-harms – gain the insights and skills you need to approach this distressing subject respectfully and safely, a better understanding of what self-harm is, why young people self-harm, and much more… Date: Tues 14th May 2024 Accredited CPD Certificate: 3.5 hours Length: 3.5 hours (with breaks) Start time: 9.15am GMT (until 1.30pm) "This is one of the best self-harm trainings I’ve had, honestly..."EMILY LOVE, PRIMARY PREVENTION WORKER Live Online Webinar – Join Emily Gajewski – an expert in helping people overcome self-harm – for her live webinar on Tuesday 14th May 2024. All you need is a quiet place to watch, a computer or tablet and a strong internet signal, the rest is easy. Book your place and we’ll email you confirmation – you’ll receive your Zoom link the day before the event. RECORDING – the training is recorded in case anyone experiences technical difficulties – or you can’t attend on the day – so you will also get a recording for a limited time afterwards to maximise your learning. Want to attend but can’t make this date? Then please register your interest below – and we’ll email you when a new date is available. The aim of this live online training with Emily Gajewski, a highly experienced psychotherapist specialising in treating self-harm, is to give you a thorough, in-depth understanding of why young people self-harm and how to approach/react when helping someone in both the short and long term, including the essential skills most likely to effectively support the young person on their journey to find less harmful ways of coping – the webinar focuses on the most evidence-based knowledge and skills in this area. It will also help you find ways of calming yourself in moments of overwhelm to ensure that you can be as supportive and helpful as you’d like to be. Why you should attend With the ever changing, uncertain world we live in creating a vast amount of pressure on children – emotionally and physically – more children and teenagers are experiencing extremely stressful, distressing situations, with many looking for coping mechanisms to help them deal with their negative thoughts, feelings and emotions. Self harm (including self injury) is hugely on the increase and rates are higher than ever since Covid-19 and the long periods of isolation and uncertainty young people have experienced in ‘lock downs’. A survey of 61 secondary school children by charity Place2Be, shows self-harm reports increased by 77%, from 48 to 85, from August to September 2021. Finding the right words to approach self-harming can be difficult – this online webinar was created to help you (parents, carers, teachers) approach this topic with empathy and confidence. Discovering that a young person you are caring for is self harming can be an extremely stressful situation. When we are highly emotional, it can cause us to react in desperate ways, which are often not helpful or supportive to the young person, even if our intentions are totally well-meaning. “A really helpful, caring approach – it has clarified so much for me and I can now see a sensible way forward.”MARTIN, PARENT. This course is relevant to a range of self-harming behaviours including: self-injury cutting, ripping or carving skin burning skin punching or hitting themselves scratching or pinching (including dermatillomania) poisoning themselves with tablets or liquids (or similar) over-eating and under-eating (anorexia or bulimia) biting yourself (dermatophagia) inserting objects into your body overdosing, exercising excessively pulling your hair (trichotillomania) getting into fights where you know you will get hurt What you will learn What is self-harm? Why young people self-harm How common is self-harming How to approach the subject (building rapport, trust…) How to react if your child (or any young person) tells you they are self harming (what not to say and do) The distinction between self harm and a suicide attempt The addictive element to self harm How to help a young person break the addictive pattern Helping a child in the short- and long term The influence of social media and peers Keeping your child safe Looking after yourself (managing stress, anxiety and worry for the household) Finding professional help View booking details Who this training is suitable for Parents, other family members and/or carers of children and young people who are at risk of self harming or currently self harming. Anyone who works with young people and needs to know how best to help when someone discloses that they self-harm or who they suspect may be self-harming. Therapists and counsellors who want to gain a better understanding so they can support families with a member who self harms. Course Programme The ‘How to help young people who self harm’ live online webinar starts at 9.15am and runs until 1.30pm (GMT). 9.15am Join the Zoom meeting 9.30am Understanding self harm 10.45am Comfort break and discussion 10.55am How to approach self harm and be most helpful 12.00pm Comfort break and discussion 12.10pm Creating the optimal conditions for recovery 1.30pm Webinar ends This course has been independently accredited by the internationally recognised CPD Standards Office for 3.5 hours of CPD training. On completion of this training you’ll receive CPD certificates from the College and the CPD Standards Office.

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION / NON-FICTION Ciara McEllin is building her list as a Junior Agent at Watson Little. She reads widely across book club, upmarket and literary fiction. Within these areas, she is drawn to novels that examine family and relationship dynamics, sexuality, identity, and vulnerability. Ciara is keen to hear from writers who take a fresh approach to these themes, whether that be a new perspective on a traditional narrative or a focus on characters and voices that remain underrepresented: think Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday or Monkey Grip by Helen Garner. She will always want to read beautifully written novels with a strong sense of place, tangible characters and an essence that stays with you – living deep in your bones – long after you’ve finished reading. Recent reads Ciara has enjoyed include: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad, Close to Home by Michael Magee, Siblings by Brigitte Reimann, Trespasses by Louise Kennedy, The Idiot by Elif Batuman, Highway Blue by Ailsa McFarlane and My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley. At the moment Ciara is particularly eager to see: - Sexy, sensual and seductive stories that explore desire and sexual boundaries not often represented in literature such as Little Rabbit by Alyssa Songsiridej, Cleanness by Garth Greenwell and Mrs. S by K Patrick - An atmospheric and existential thriller in the vein of Intimacies by Katie Kitamura, In The Cut by Susanna Moore and Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk - An intoxicating coming of-age-tale that captures the aliveness, intelligence and wildness of girlhood like Brutes by Dizz Tate, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides and The Girls by Emma Cline - Books that are joyful or brutal, particularly those that are both, similar to Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel, Kick the Latch by Kathryn Scanlan and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan - Stories exploring an Australia or Ireland that is rarely seen in literature for example A Loving, Faithful Animal by Josephine Rowe and Wild Houses by Colin Barrett In non-fiction, Ciara enjoys narrative, memoir and essay collections. She is interested in hearing from experts, academics, critics and journalists writing about society, culture and food, and excited by writers seeking to revise, reshape or revolutionise the conversation in their area of expertise. Some of her favourite non-fiction titles include How To Survive A Plague by David France, The Transgender Issue by Shon Faye, the Living Autobiography Series by Deborah Levy, Last Witnesses: Unchildlike Stories by Svetlana Alexievich, King Kong Theory by Virginie Despentes; and she particularly enjoys the work of M.F.K Fisher, Annie Ernaux, Natalia Ginsburg and Helen Garner. Ciara is not looking for Children’s, YA or Fantasy. Ciara would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 -2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Ciara is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Friday 14th March 2025

Click to read more about this training, in which we demonstrate a live problem solving approach which is based on the active participation of family members. Course Category Inclusion Parents and Carers Behaviour and relationships Problem Solving Description In this training we demonstrate a live problem solving approach which is based on the active participation of family members. ‘Family Circles’ is an evolving new approach to problem solving with families and is based on our years of family work and the development and use of the Circle of Adults process. Inspired by our own Parent Solutions work and the Circle of Adults process as well as Family Group Conferencing and other Restorative Interventions we bring you Family Circles. Essentially the approach involves gathering a family together for a process that is facilitated but majors on the family members offering each other their wisdom and ideas. The approach is capacity focused, person centred approach to working with families rather than the dominant deficit oriented and ‘medical model’ of viewing and planning for or doing things to families. This training can be modelled with a group of professionals or better still with a family. In our work with families we develop the importance of naming stories or theories and seeking linkages and synthesis between what is found out and explored about the family situation and its history. We like participants to sit with the uncertainty, to reflect on the question ‘why’ but without judgement of each other. Deeper reflections may span a whole range of perspectives from ‘within person’ considerations, to situational or systemic possibilities. Health or emotional issues can be reflected on alongside organisational or transactional aspects of what is going on for the family. The better the shared understanding the better the strategy or actions which emerge from these meetings. Quality hypotheses with a close fit to reality lead to more effective implementation in the real world. We encourage ‘loose’ thinking, a search for connections, deeper listening, an ‘open mind’, speculation and exploration without moral judgements. From this stance self-reflection as well as reflection on the situation can produce remarkable insights. The quality of theories or new stories generated is directly influenced by family members’ experiences and the models of learning, behaviour and emotion, systems, educational development, change and so on that they have been exposed to.  Learning Objectives To provide opportunities for: Shared problem solving in a safe exploratory climate in which the family will find its own solutions. Individuals to reflect on their own actions and strategies An exploration of whole-family processes and their impact Emotional support and shared understandings of issues at a child, parent, family, school and community level. Feed back to each other on issues, ideas and strategies that are agreed to be worth sharing with them. Who Is It For? Anyone interested in working with families in a way that builds and makes use of their capacities rather than focus on their challenges and difficulties. Social Care teams School staff Community organisers Educational Psychologists Course Content True family empowerment Deepening shared stories and understandings Facilitating groups Problem solving process Handling family group communication Allowing direct feedback and challenge between participants in a safe way Building relationships Process: Family members are welcomed: Introductions are carried out, ground rules and aims clarified whilst coffee is drunk. A recap from the last session is carried out: To follow up developments and reflections after the last meeting. One issue is selected for the main focus Issue presentation: The family member who raised the concern is asked questions to tell the ‘story’ of the issue or problem. Additional questions/information from the group about the problem are gathered: Ground rules may need to be observed carefully here. Individual participants need to be kept focused and prevented from leaping to premature conclusions or to making ‘helpful’ suggestions about strategy. Relationship aspects to the problem are explored. Metaphors and analogies are invited. How would a fly on the wall see your relationship? If you were alone together on a desert island, what would it be like? Impact of previous relationships/spillage from one relationship to another are explored. Eg what situation they are reminded of? For instance, does this situation remind you of any of those angry but helpless feelings you had with your other son when he was an adolescent? This provides opportunities to reflect on how emotions rub off on other people. The parent feels really frustrated, and on reflection we can see that so does the child System/Organisation factors (Family system/school and community systems and so on): What aspects help or hinder the problem? For instance, does the pastoral system of the local school provide space, or time and skilled personnel able to counsel this young person and work actively with their parents? Synthesis. At this stage the Graphic facilitator summarises what they have heard. They then go on to describe linkages and patterns in what they have heard. This can be very powerful. The person doing the graphic work has been able to listen throughout the presentation process and will have been struck by strong messages, emotions and images as they have arisen. The story and meaning of what is happening in the situation may become a little clearer at this point. Typical links may be ‘mirrored emotions’ strong themes such as loss and separation issues, or repeated processes such as actions triggering rejection. This step provides an excellent grounding for the next process of deepening understanding. What alternative strategies/interventions are open to be used? Brainstormed and recorded. ’Either/ors’ need to be avoided at this time also. This needs to be a shared session in which the family member who is presenting the concern contributes as much as anyone. Care is needed to ensure that this person is not overloaded with other people’s strategies. The final selection of strategy or strategies from the brainstormed list is the problem presenter’s choice. Strategies might include: a special time for the young person, a meeting with the child’s parents to explore how she is being managed at home and to share tactics, a home-school diary, counselling, or an agreed action plan that all are aware of, agreed sanctions and rewards and so forth. Strategies may productively involve processes of restitution and restoration, when ‘sorry’ is not enough. Making it right, rather than punishments or rewards, may then becomes the focus. First Steps. The problem presenter is finally asked to agree one or two first steps which they can carry out over the next 3-7 days. It can help to assign a ‘coach’ who will check in with them to ensure they have carried out the action they have named. This is a time to be very specific. Steps should be small and achievable. The person is just ‘making a start’. A phone call, or making an agreement with a key other person not present at the meeting would be ideal examples. Final reflections. Sometimes referred to as a ‘round of words’ help with closure for all involved. Reflections are on the process not the problem. In large families this is best done standing in a circle. In smaller groups all can remain sitting. Passing around a ‘listening stick’ or something similar such as a stone or light heighten the significance of the process ending and improve listening. Finally the problem presenter is handed the ‘Graphic’ this is their record of the meeting and can be rolled and presented ceremoniously by the facilitators for maximum effect! If you liked this course you may well like: Parent Solutions

Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is relevant to anyone who needs to work with and understand data including: Business Analysts, Data Analysts, Reporting and BI professionals Marketing and Digital Marketing professionals Digital, Web, e-Commerce, Social media and Mobile channel professionals Business managers who need to interpret analytical output to inform managerial decisions Overview This course will cover the basic theory of data visualization along with practical skills for creating compelling visualizations, reports and dashboards from data using Tableau. Outcome: After attending this course delegates will understand - How to move from business questions to great data visualizations and beyond How to apply the fundamentals of data visualization to create informative charts How to choose the right visualization type for the job at hand How to design and develop basic dashboards in Tableau that people will love to use by doing the following: Reading data sources into Tableau Setting up the roles and data types for your analysis Creating new data fields using a range of calculation types Creating the following types of charts - cross tabs, pie and bar charts, geographic maps, dual axis and combo charts, heat maps, highlight tables, tree maps and scatter plots Creating Dashboards that delight using the all of the features available in Tableau. The use of analytics, statistics and data science in business has grown massively in recent years. Harnessing the power of data is opening actionable insights in diverse industries from banking to tourism. From Business Questions to Data Visualisation and Beyond The first step in any data analysis project is to move from a business question to data analysis and then on to a complete solution. This section will examine this conversion emphasizing: The use of data visualization to address a business need The data analytics process ? from business questions to developed dashboards Introduction to Tableau ? Part 1 In this section, the main functionality of Tableau will be explained including: Selecting and loading your data Defining data item properties Create basic calculations including basic arithmetic calculations, custom aggregations and ratios, date math, and quick table calculations Creating basic visualizations Creating a basic dashboard Introduction to Tableau ? Part 2 In this section, the main functionality of Tableau will be explained including: Selecting and loading your data Defining data item properties Create basic calculations including basic arithmetic calculations, custom aggregations and ratios, date math, and quick table calculations Creating basic visualizations Creating a basic dashboard Key Components of Good Data Visualisation and The Visualisation Zoo In this section the following topics will be covered: Colour theory Graphical perception & communication Choosing the right chart for the right job Data Exploration with Tableau Exploring data to answer business questions is one of the key uses of applying good data visualization techniques within Tableau. In this section we will apply the data visualization theory from the previous section within Tableau to uncover trends within the data to answer specific business questions. The types of charts that will be covered are: Cross Tabs Pie and bar charts Geographic maps Dual axis and combo charts with different mark types Heat maps Highlight tables Tree maps Scatter plots Introduction to Building Dashboards with Tableau In this section, we will implement the full process from business question to final basic dashboard in Tableau: Introduction to good dashboard design Building dashboards in Tableau

“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” – George Eastman" - Photography For Parents - Shooting With Flash Next course starts on Monday 12th Feb 2024 Scared of Flash? Never got good results from it? Not sure how it works with your camera? Thinking it’s bound to be complicated and just for studio work? This is the course for you! We show you how to work your flash and your camera – on and off camera! - to get great, natural looking results. In this course you'll discover how to use flash not just to supplement light in dim spaces, but to use it creatively, to help you create images you wouldn't be able to capture with just natural light.  KEY COURSE INFO: Course type: Instructor-led Course duration: 4 weeks Course format: Online course with interactive live webinar classes, feedback on your learning and support group WHAT YOU LEARN: You will learn how to make your flash work with your camera and how to control it so that it gives you beautiful, natural looking light You will learn to work with the flash off camera - giving you the freedom to position your light wherever it will most suit your subject rather than relying on what you have with natural or indoor light You will learn to play with flash to capture a variety of creative outcomes and apply it to lots of shooting situations - from learning to fake pretty window light to freezing motion with Flash understanding flash equipment learning to shoot with on-camera flash earning to shoot with off-camera flash learning to bounce the light for natural looking results using flash as a sole or supplementary light source freezing movement with flash where the shutter speed wont allow it THIS IS THE COURSE FOR YOU IF : You find yourself struggling with light especially in the darker autumn / winter months, and there never seems to be enough ISO or aperture to get you what you want You can already use your camera in manual and want to add mastery of detachable flash to your skillset - so you can never worry about insufficient or poor light wherever you are, or whatever unknown space you go into You want to be able to make flash images look natural rather than sporting that famous 'deer in the headlights look. A good flash image never 'looks' like a flash image You want to learn how to capture creative images using a flash - such as freezing motion, creating dramatic shadows, or adding a splash of light to specific areas of the frame. You want to add this versatile skill to your toolbox so you can adapt it to different shooting scenarios. ESPECIALLY if you're considering taking up photography professionally or semi professionally, this is an immensely useful skill to have. Next Shooting with Flash course starts on 12 Feb 2024  4 core course modules Support Facebook group Weekly live webinar Weekly practice assignment Feedback on your images Why shoot with flash in the first place?  “Don’t use Flash – it will wash out your child”“Flash will make your photos look horrible”‘You can’t control flash – no control over what your photos will look like” You may have heard those statements, maybe even uttered them yourself. And to a degree – they can be true – but only because, if you don’t know how to control and work any tool, it’s likely to give you terrible outcomes – remember how much poorer your photos were when you first started with your camera on full auto? Here is how I see Flash, and what this course is about: Flash lets me bring light where there would normally be not enough light available to take a well exposed photo – and let me tell you – in glorious British weather, that’s more often that I would like! Flash lets me shape the light to suit my needs – I can make it moody or bright, I can even make it look like natural light ( yes really) Flash lets me neutralise ugly light and make it look good ( anybody else cursed with ugly spotlight lights in their home? no? just me? ) Flash lets me be in control, especially in unknown venues and locations, spaces where I won’t get a chance at that second shot. Flash helps me fill in shadows when shooting in very bright light – the goal is not to stop using natural light, but to help create a balanced image where natual light alone can't cut it COURSE PREREQUISITES YOUR SKILLS: We recommend that you are comfortable in shooting in full manual mode. It's possible to use flash in priority modes of course, but you don't have full control of its strength and level. YOUR EQUIPMENT: You will need to have a detachable flash for your camera make. This could be the same brand as your camera or a compatible third party flash manufacturer.  You will also need a way of triggering your flash OFF camera - in some cases, you may be able to do this directly from camera or via an additional remote trigger / controller. Click here to see our Flash buying guide below Shooting with FLASH Book your space now: COURSE STARTS : 12th Feb 2024 ( 4 weeks)COURSE COST : £179 ( payment plans available )What’s included: 4 weekly modules with step by step tutorials weekly live class online class ( also recorded) - on Tuesday evenings feedback and advice on your photos private support group PDF workbook Join our next group to learn how to never have to deal with insufficient light and discover a whole new area of photography! INSIDE THE MODULES - aka WHAT DO YOU LEARN? Module 1: Getting Started with Flash In this module we introduce you to the principles of making your flash work with your camera. We show you how the two work together in layering exposures, how you can control both the flash and natural light side and how to achieve predictable outcomes from your flash. This is the biggest learning curve because the way you work your camera with flash is very different to how you do this with just natural light and understanding the control side of things will let you get creative afterwards.  Major Takeaways: At the end of the module you will have gained an understanding of how to work your flash ON your camera. With that, you will have learned how to balance your key light and your fill light, how to combine flash exposure with a natural light exposure, how to supplement or even replace light with flash light. You will also make first steps into bouncing the light to give it a more natural appearance.  Module 2: Taking your flash OFF camera  In this module we teach you how to make your flash work when detached from your camera. We look at different techniques and methods or shooting off camera as well as any additional equipment you may need for this. We teach you how to use that off camera flash for a number of practical and creative examples Major Takeaways: You will be able to use the flash off camera - whatever your preferred off camera methos. We will explore using off camera flash as the key light - creating low key and high key images, as fill light and as a supplementary light to provide additional dimension to the images.  Module 3: Making flash look natural  In this module we learn to recognise how you can adjust the very quality of your flash to create natural looking images. We learn how to bend - or bounce the light - on and off camera, to create the kind of images that noone would ever suspect of being taken with flash. We also introduce you to a number of light modifiers and show you what you can expect from them as well as what might work in the way you take the photos.  Major Takeaways: Learn how to modify your flash to achieve soft or hard light look. Discover how to bounce your flash and where from and how the angle of those flash bounces will give your subject very different looks. Learn about light fall-off and how to apply this principle to achieve more or less contrast filled images when using flash/  Module 4:Flash and motion In this module we show you how to use flash when trying to freeze your subject - whether it is your child bouncing on the soufe in dim Novemeber light or an inanimate object making a splash. We also introduce you to a few way you can play with flash and your shutter speed to achieve fun and creative outcomes. Major Takeaways: You will learn how to freeze movement with flash - even on very slow shutter speeds or in very poor light. You will learn how shutter and flash work together and how you can achieve great creative outcomes such as high speed photography or freezing rain.  Next course starts on 12 Feb 2024