Personalized Photography Coaching in Los Angeles, California, and the Western United States.
Elevate your imagery with premier private photography workshops in Los Angeles and across Southern California. Tailored completely to your skill level, each custom 1-on-1 field intensive combines hands-on masterclass instruction with private digital post-processing to help you master your camera, capture dramatic light, and realize your creative vision.
Explore our premium private workshops below, each fully customized to unlock your creative potential and master your gear. Prefer a shared learning environment? Dive into our Group Workshops to collaborate and create alongside a community of fellow photography enthusiasts.
Private Workshop Selections
Immersive All-Day Landscape Masterclass
Premium Multi-Location Itinerary // Sunrise to Sunset: $800
The ultimate 12-hour field masterclass covering the complete photographic lifestyle from sunrise to sunset across multiple locations. Includes a private 3-hour Lightroom & Photoshop screen-share editing tutorial.
Sunrise & Sunset Landscape Masterclass
SoCal Coastal, Urban & Mountain Locations // Private Field Coaching: $350
Master dynamic coastal, urban, or mountain light during a targeted 3-hour private field session. Perfect for mastering long exposures, compositional depth, and manual exposure balancing.
Night Sky & Astrophotography Masterclass
Certified Dark-Sky Locations // Milky Way & Star Tracking: $450
Escape the city lights and learn to capture the Milky Way, pin-sharp stars, and advanced tracking techniques. Includes dedicated night-sky noise reduction post-processing coaching.
NiSi Filter Starter Session
On-Location Field Training // Long Exposure Mastery: $150-250
Take control of challenging dynamic range. Learn how to slot, stack, and expose using high-end Neutral Density (ND) and Graduated ND physical glass filters to capture motion seamlessly.
Private Photo 101 & DSLR Basics
Los Angeles & Orange County // 1-Hour Focus Session: $75
Demystify your camera menus, autofocus, and the exposure triangle in a zero-stress environment. Offered in flexible 1-hour focus blocks, this hands-on workshop is perfect for beginners and casual shooters looking to confidently move past automatic mode.
How to Customize Your Experience
Create a truly unique photographic experience by mixing, matching, or expanding sessions to perfectly fit your creative interests and schedule:
Day & Night: Combine a Sunset Masterclass with an Astrophotography session.
Extended Exploration: Stretch an All-Day Masterclass deep into the night.
Multi-Day Itineraries: Spend multiple days exploring rugged destinations or plan a seamless multi-location tour across California
The Private Advantage: Features & Benefits
1-on-1 coaching is the fastest way to bypass technical frustration and fast-track your creative growth. Every session is built around:
Tailored 1-on-1 Coaching: Hands-on guidance in beautiful outdoor settings focused entirely on your unique creative goals, camera gear, and artistic vision.
Complete Technical Mastery: Expert instruction on camera fundamentals, advanced in-field shooting techniques, and creative composition.
Immersive Post-Processing: Personalized, interactive screen-share instruction to bring your raw images to life in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Zero-Stress Learning: A deep emphasis on exploration, confidence-building, and having fun under the guidance of an insured, permitted professional.
Where Are We Going?
From iconic coastlines to remote mountain passes, our classroom is the great outdoors. Locations are carefully selected based on your physical comfort level and photographic goals:
Local Los Angeles Sessions: DSLR/Photo 101, Sunrise/Sunset Masterclasses, and NiSi Starter Sessions take place across diverse settings within a 2-hour radius of Los Angeles, including local Malibu and South Bay beaches, Downtown LA landscapes, or a custom location of your choice.
Wilderness & Night-Sky Safaris: Astrophotography and All-Day Masterclasses utilize pristine, dark-sky locations within a 6-hour radius of Los Angeles—such as the Eastern Sierra Nevada, Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego State Park, Death Valley, Yosemite National Park, Big Sur, or San Francisco and the Bay Area.
Note: Chris holds deep geographical expertise across the Southern California backcountry and Western States, including commercially secured permits. Some specific locations require advance permitting and paperwork, which may occasionally affect custom workshop pricing.
How to Secure Your Private Masterclass
Browse the Offerings: Review the curated custom experiences above to find the format that matches your current skill level and goals.
Submit Your Inquiry: Click into any workshop to learn more, or head directly to our main Scheduling & Consultation Hub to share your preferred timeframes and creative vision.
Curate & Invoice: We will collaborate via email to cross-reference local tide, moon, and weather charts to select the perfect date before finalizing your reservation with a secure digital invoice.
Give the Gift of Creativity
Private workshops make unforgettable, thoughtful gifts for anyone passionate about photography. If you are looking to purchase a session for a loved one, friend, or colleague, reach out via our contact form. I am happy to help you select the perfect experience level and ensure a seamless, memorable surprise for the recipient!
What Do Customer Say?
”Hey Chris. I purchased your sunset workflow tutorial and I just wanted to say thank you. Awesome Video and for someone who pretty much knows nothing about photoshop and used lightroom exclusively, you made it pretty easy to follow. Had to pause and rewatch things to make sure I was doing it right, but like I said it was an awesome tutorial. Thanks again!”
— Jason Williams - @jayrock26
”Again I can't thank you enough for everything yesterday. I learned so much.”
— Melinda Canny
“I just wanted to say thank you for last nights class. It was really informative and thanks for helping me with my additional settings.”
— Abigail Sperber
“ Thanks again for a very helpful class.”
— Jerry Chapman
“You have certainly been an outstanding teacher and trainer gathering any processing these astro-photos!!!
Thank you again for all your dedication, patience and step-by-step instructions!!!
All the Best!”
-Greg
“Chris, I'm sending you a big thank you for your class yesterday. I enjoyed learning something new.”
-Michael Harriel
“Kathy and I had a great time in both your workshops, and learned a lot. Please put include us on your mailing list for other workshops you will be running.”
-Don Lueder & Kathleen Isenberg
“A bit late but thank you so much for the amazing Death Valley trip! I learned so much and had a ton of fun during the trip.”
-Brian Shih
Private Workshop FAQ
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All skill levels are welcome, from complete beginners to advanced photographers seeking to refine their techniques.
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Absolutely! Each workshop is tailored to your goals, whether that’s mastering camera basics, landscape techniques, night photography, or advanced post-processing. Reach out to Chris discuss how customization can fit your needs.
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Most standard sessions are held at curated locations across Greater Los Angeles and Orange County (including Malibu, Redondo Beach, and local mountain overlooks). However, full-day or multi-day workshops can be expanded into custom travel itineraries to California’s premier backcountry destinations, such as Yosemite, Big Sur, Death Valley, or the Eastern Sierras.
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Workshop lengths can vary quite a bit, ranging from a brief one-hour session to an immersive full-day experience, all tailored to fit your specific focus, availability, and personal preferences.
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Yes! Most premium private masterclasses include a dedicated, private online editing session via screen-share. We take the exact RAW images you captured in the field and walk step-by-step through Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop workflows.
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Bring your camera, lenses, tripod if possible, and comfortable clothing suited for outdoor shooting. Specific gear recommendations will be provided upon booking, but each workshop page provides a description for necessary equipment.
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Review the tailored workshop options above and submit an application through our main Scheduling & Inquiry Page. I will personally review your goals, check local outdoor conditions, and get back to you via email within 24–48 hours to coordinate your custom date and location. If you feel like you’re ready to purchase right now and figure out the details later, workshops can be purchased on their respective pages. After your purchase I will be in contact within 24-48 hours to find out your goals, desires and all the information we need to get the workshop scheduled.
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Yes. Because every workshop is bespoke, we do not follow a rigid template. Your session will be dynamically scheduled around the optimal time of day or night to capture the absolute best light, conditions, and scenery for your specific subject matter.
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Participants use their own DSLR or mirrorless camera systems (including Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, and OM System). For landscape filter sessions, a full suite of NiSi filter systems can be provided for real-time field testing during our workshop.
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Because I reserve specific dates and optimal tide windows exclusively for you, reschedules are reserved for absolute emergencies. If dangerous weather conditions or unsafe surf make shooting impossible, I will contact you directly to coordinate a new session date at no additional cost to protect the quality of your experience. You can view terms of service for further details as well.
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Yes, if desired, Chris can review your images and provide constructive feedback and editing tips following the workshop. Any extensive reviews may be subject to fees for his time.
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Private workshops are one-on-one or with very small groups, like family or friends, to ensure personalized attention and tailored instruction. Reach out to discuss your small group.
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Yes, gift certificates are available and make wonderful presents for photography enthusiasts. Contact Chris for details.
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Transportation is typically the responsibility of the participant, but Chris can advise on logistics and provide carpooling options if applicable and arranged prior to booking.