Street photography masterclass LONDON

London constantly gives you too much to look at. On Oxford Street everything flows through everything else, while a few streets further along you suddenly find space. It is that difference that teaches you to choose.

In this two-day masterclass you learn to find calm in a crowded street. We work with layers, gestures and timing, and talk about why one image holds and the other is merely busy.

€ 695

Pick your date

Including 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

A woman sitting on a windowsill surrounded by other people, with a Christmas tree visible outside the window, in a warm café.

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

Changes to this schedule are possible during the workshop/masterclass, in consultation.

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 (in Dutch) 🇳🇱.

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 (in Dutch) 🇳🇱
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
An invoice and certificate of attendance for your funding application, available afterwards if you ask for them

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 (in Dutch) 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.

Before you come: the preparation page says what to bring and what we do over those two days. Still wondering about something? Have a look at the frequently asked questions. Does this date not suit you? The schedule lists every date, and the same masterclass also runs in Paris.

LONDON: two-day street photography masterclass, 20 and 21 November

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.

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 (in Dutch), The Observer (in English) and the course book Straatfotobijbel (in Dutch). In 2025 I appeared in Het Perfecte Plaatje op reis. I am also co-host of the popular photography podcast 30 Minuten Sluitertijd.

Two mannequins in formal tuxedos in a shop window, with buildings and the evening sky reflected in the glass.

Black and white photo of a small café with people at the bar and a Christmas tree outside the window.

A man in a dark coat and trousers walks along an empty street at dusk, with a colourful wall and an overhanging awning behind him.

Black and white photo of a person standing on a riverbank, with a city building in the background.

Two young women looking at a smartphone together on a busy city street, surrounded by other pedestrians and shopfronts.

A person in a long coat and hat walks with an umbrella along a snowy, glistening street in a busy city, surrounded by buildings and traffic.

Two people walking down a London street: a woman reading a book, and a man in a hat and glasses holding a book and a notepad.

Black and white photo of St Paul's Cathedral in London, flanked by modern glass buildings under a heavy, clouded sky.

Graffiti of a young girl with her eyes closed and beads of sweat on her face, surrounded by flowers and leaves in neon colours on a black wall.

A young woman with headphones sits on the step of a wooden door with stained glass, blowing out smoke while holding her phone.

Three workers in yellow high-visibility vests stand against a concrete wall, waiting, in an industrial setting.

A young boy in a helmet and rain boots rides an orange balance bike along the street. Crates and goods stand on the pavement and people walk in the background.

A young woman with blue hair and black glasses stands on a busy city street, holding a pink rose.

City street scene with people, cars and a Ferris wheel in the background.

A woman with red hair in a fur hat and a checked coat stands on a bridge, with a funfair and a Ferris wheel behind her.

Five people walking along a busy city street: on the left a woman in a beige coat and hat, in the middle a man in a hat and scarf, on the right a young woman in a grey coat holding a cup.

A London street with people walking under a canopy. A sign reads 'Best coffee in town!'. A museum stands in the background and the street is wet, most likely from rain.

Two women walking down a street in a modern part of the city, glass buildings behind them. Both wear striking clothes and have dyed hair.

Frequently asked questions

What level do I need?

If you know how your camera works, you can join in. You learn by doing, by looking and, now and then, by simply having no idea what you’re doing. That’s part of it.

It doesn’t matter whether you normally shoot landscapes, documentary work or portraits. Street photography mostly asks you to look, respond and dare to try.

The assignments grow with you. If you’re just starting out, I’ll help you with calm, choices and technique. If you’ve been photographing for longer, the challenge is often in looking more sharply, getting closer and working less on autopilot.

What about portrait rights and the law?

Respect comes first, always.

Photographing and publishing are two different things. In public space, quite a lot is allowed, but not everything. A covered shopping centre may have its own rules, covert photography is not allowed, and in places where people can expect privacy, you really shouldn’t be photographing. A café terrace is a good example.

Portrait rights mainly come into play when publishing. During the workshop I share the knowledge you need, with examples from practice. The rules differ per country: this applies in the Netherlands, elsewhere it’s different. On the two-day workshop in London or Paris, I’ll explain what applies there.

If you want to read more about how that works in the Netherlands, have a look at De Wet van de Straat (in Dutch), the book I wrote with legal expert Charlotte Meindersma.

What if it rains?

Well, the weather is always a bit of a gamble, especially in autumn. But in principle, we keep photographing. Rain is image. Umbrellas, reflections, people suddenly moving differently. I’ll show you how to make use of that.

Sun brings its own challenges, like backlight and hard shadows. Every kind of weather has its own hassle. And sometimes its own little gift.

All right, a snowstorm may not be the handiest weather to photograph in. But no snowstorm = yes, workshop.

Is the workshop suitable for me if I come alone?

Yes. Many participants come alone. That actually works well. You focus more on your own photos and usually settle into the group quite easily.

My experience is that we get used to each other quickly. Everyone is walking around with roughly the same doubts: am I seeing enough, do I dare to get closer, why didn’t that one photo work? The ice is often gone sooner than you think.

All questions about workshops