Street photography masterclass LONDON
London feels like a city that never quite stands still; you hear it in the rattle of the Underground, in the murmur of the markets, and in the endless procession of people each carrying a story of their own.
€ 695
Pick your dateIncluding 21% VAT
€ 200 deposit when booking, total price € 695.
2 spots left on 20 and 21 November
- two days
- 10.00 – 15.00 (2 x 5 hours)
- max. 5 people
- book included
Book your workshop in London
A maximum of five participants, so there is time for everyone.
€ 695
Including 21% VAT
€ 200 deposit when booking, total price € 695.
London is wonderful!
I would love to invite you to my street photography masterclass in London this year. Immerse yourself in two days of street photography in this world city.
London is overwhelming, huge and sprawling. For a photographer on their own it can be a little imposing, hard to get a grip on. So come with me. I will take you through the city along a varied route with focused assignments. Learning, photographing and good company.
I would love to take you on a proper walk from Barbican via Southbank to Seven Dials and Soho, and then send you into Oxford Street with your eyes open. The route may change; in street photography you never know what you will run into. It is a mix of old London, the banks of the Thames and the touristy but hugely photogenic centre.
A fantastic workshop with Michiel. He is a very capable photographer and passes on his knowledge in a warm and enjoyable way. I would happily do it again.Rianne, group street photography workshop
London keeps on giving photographs
London always gives. The city is never empty, never dull, never finished. Whether you are walking down the crowded shopping streets of Oxford Street or losing yourself in the narrow lanes of Soho, there is always something to see, someone to photograph, a moment to catch that looks just a little different from what you expected. Time to get out on the street.
London is a city that never stands still. During this two-day masterclass we explore how to keep from being overwhelmed by the crowds, and how to find calm in observing instead. How do you move through the rush of Oxford Street without losing your eye? And what happens when you shift your position in the geometric structures of the Barbican, change your pace and let the architecture work as a stage for human scenes? We are not hunting for spectacular moments, we are looking for meaning in the everyday, among people, lines and light.
We work our way through the streets of London’s different neighbourhoods. We visit hidden gems like Neal’s Yard and Leadenhall Market. We fish for good pictures in Southbank and Soho, where the crowds make it impossible to come home with bad photographs. If we have the time and the route allows it, we will of course visit Camden.
With focused assignments and shared reflection you learn to look more sharply and to make more deliberate choices. You develop your own way of being on the street: sometimes a shadow, sometimes a participant. The variety of places, from modernist squares to chaotic shopping streets, keeps challenging you to work out where you stand.
November
November is the month when London gets ready for Christmas. The shops light up, the Christmas markets are beautifully set out, and people pull on smart, heavy coats. Cheer and Christmas shopping. That rhythm, that determination on the street, is completely different from summer and at least as interesting. The city is busy in another way, more concentrated, and that gives you very different photographs.
The light in November is low and dramatic. When it rains the streets become mirrors. Reflections in the puddles, people with umbrellas, neon and Christmas lights bouncing red off wet cobbles. Anyone who knows how to work with light will find that London in November gives them everything. And if you do not know yet? This is where you learn.
In 2027 I am also running this workshop on 19 and 20 November.
July
Early July is perhaps London at its very best. The days are never as long as they are now: the light comes up early and hangs around well past nine. For a street photographer that means hours of extra playing time. The city still belongs to Londoners themselves, because the great wave of holidaymakers has not arrived yet. Office workers settling into the park after work, market traders shouting over the music, the first tourists seeing the Thames for the first time. Everyone is outside, and everyone has a story on their face.
And then the light. In July you are given two golden hours that last longer than in any other season. Early in the morning you have Southbank almost to yourself, with low light brushing across the river. Late in the afternoon the shadows slowly stretch and every street corner turns into a set. In between there is always something to see: street performers, people waiting, a glance, a gesture. London in July does not give you a moment to put your camera away. Which is exactly the idea.
Masterclass in conceptual street photography in London
Street photography comes alive in the streets of London. During the workshop we focus on four locations in particular, while seizing every photographic opportunity along the route:
Barbican
This architectural wonderland gives you a futuristic backdrop. Concrete brutalism, geometric shapes and the play of shadow make for intriguing compositions.
Southbank
Along the Thames you find the Southbank, a cultural hotspot. The Millennium Bridge, the Tate Modern, street performers and the lively bustle make it a feast for the eye.
Soho
The heart of the West End, where creativity and diversity come together. Narrow alleys, neon lights and old pubs give Soho its character. Here we meet artists, musicians and colourful people.
Oxford Street
The busiest and best known shopping street in London, a paradise for anyone who likes to shop. And for street photographers. The street is too big to capture in one go, so we let ourselves sink into the crowd and see where the flow of people takes us.
The plan for this photography masterclass in London
2 days · 10.00 to 15.00
In this workshop I teach you to hunt and to fish. I get you looking differently at things you would normally walk straight past. The workshop runs for two days, on Friday 20 November and Saturday 21 November 2026.
Day 1 Friday 20 November
We start in the park at Charterhouse Square
Barbican Underground station · Google Maps
- 10.00
Meeting and introductions
A short talk about street photography
- 10.30
Into the streets with the first challenge
- 12.30
Lunch break (at your own expense)
- 13.15
Into the streets with the second challenge
- 15.00
End of day one
Day 2 Saturday 21 November
We start in James Street
Covent Garden Underground station · Google Maps
- 10.00
A short recap of day one
Room for your questions
- 10.30
Into the streets with the first assignment
- 12.30
Lunch break (at your own expense)
- 13.15
Into the streets with the second assignment
- 15.00
We close the masterclass with a drink
Photo review
After the masterclass you can email me up to eight photographs you took during the two days. I will give you personal feedback on them, and tell you what I would try next.
We start both days at ten and finish around three, so you still have time to explore London yourself. Most of the places we visit are within walking distance, which does mean you need sturdy shoes. We will probably take the Underground for part of it to save time, and if you have Apple Pay on your phone you can simply tap in.
What this masterclass costs
This two-day masterclass costs € 695 incl. VAT. That includes my book De Straatfotobijbel 🇳🇱.
Five people at most, so there is time for everyone. Price excluding travel and accommodation, which you arrange yourself to suit your budget.
Halfway through we stop for lunch (at your own expense). London is full of Pret A Mangers for a sandwich, but you are of course free to pick something else.
What are you waiting for? Treat yourself to this two-day masterclass in London. See you there.
Included
- Two days of guidance, 10.00 to 15.00
- Guided assignments with assignment cards to take home with you
- My book De Straatfotobijbel 🇳🇱
- A free month of access to all Photofacts courses with the book
- A short review over coffee or tea
- Feedback by email on up to eight photographs
Not included
- Travel to London, which you arrange yourself to your own budget
- Accommodation, which you arrange yourself to your own budget
- Lunch on both days, at your own expense
- Getting around the city, a short stretch of Underground along the way
Five people at most, so there is time for everyone. Price excluding travel and accommodation, which you arrange yourself to your own budget.
Details of the masterclass
- Guided assignments using assignment cards you can take home with you.
- I share all my experience with you, and help you learn to look differently.
- A free month of access to all Photofacts courses with the book.
- I take you to the best spots.
- Groups of up to five people, so there is time for everyone.
- Recommended camera: any camera, ideally with a prime lens.
- You do your own editing at home, as you see fit. I am happy to give you feedback by email on eight photographs.
- Day one focuses on technique, day two for instance on building a series.
- You get my book Straatfotobijbel so you can keep practising after the masterclass.
- This masterclass runs over two days from 10.00 to 15.00 (2 × 5 hours).
- A short review at the end of the workshop, with coffee or tea of course.
- Level: all levels.
- Recommended lens: whichever lens you feel comfortable with, but 28 to 50mm full frame is a good guide.
This masterclass can be given in Dutch or in English. The group workshop goes ahead with a minimum of two participants.
About Michiel
I am Michiel Heijmans, professional photographer. I run street photography workshops in the Netherlands and abroad. I wrote the photography books De Wet van de Straat, The Observer and the course book Straatfotobijbel. In 2025 I appeared in Het Perfecte Plaatje op reis. I am also co-host of the popular photography podcast 30 Minuten Sluitertijd.
