One-to-one tuition · Old Leigh and Leigh-on-Sea
A practical photo walk with your own camera. Learn to notice light, frame a scene and catch everyday moments, with guidance suited to your experience.
★★★★★
“Jonathan has attended several of our Essex Roller Derby games and taken outstanding photos every time.”
Jennifer A
★★★★★
“We had the absolute pleasure of working with Jonathan for our corporate festival, and he was fantastic from start to finish!”
Freya Jones
One-to-one tuition · Old Leigh and Leigh-on-Sea
A practical photo walk with your own camera. Learn to notice light, frame a scene and catch everyday moments, with guidance suited to your experience.
Learn by taking photographs
These are one-to-one street photography lessons around Leigh-on-Sea and Old Leigh. We’ll work with the camera you bring and the things you’d like to improve, whether you’re moving beyond automatic settings or looking for more interesting photographs.
As we walk, I’ll help you look for a useful viewpoint, a cleaner background and the right moment to press the shutter. You’ll put the ideas into practice there and then, with time to look at your results and try again. Camera settings make more sense when you can see what changing them does to the photograph.
The lesson is suitable for beginners and enthusiasts, including visitors who want a creative way to explore Leigh. If your main goal is a broader introduction to camera controls or editing, see my Southend photography lessons.
Your lesson options
One hour: £90. A focused introduction in one area, such as Old Leigh, with practical help around your camera and one or two priorities.
Three hours: £185. More time to explore, practise different approaches and review what’s working. You can split the three hours across two sessions if you prefer.
A single lesson is paid in full before the session. A tuition block is normally paid before the first session; payment per lesson can be agreed if preferred.
One-to-one lesson
1 hour · 3 hours £185
Organisations and venues I’ve worked with
Old Leigh: fishing boats, cockle sheds, narrow lanes and the waterfront give us plenty to work with. We can practise choosing a viewpoint, finding details and fitting people into a wider scene.
Leigh Broadway: shopfronts, reflections and everyday street activity offer a different pace. It’s a useful setting for looking at backgrounds, shapes and the way a scene changes as people move through it.
Leigh Cliffs and the estuary: a broader view gives us a chance to work on light, composition and deciding what to leave out of the frame.
The route is agreed around your interests and the time available. If you’d like a more landscape-led session, we can discuss Two Tree Island or Hadleigh Castle. Southend seafront and the pier are other possible settings for a longer or separately arranged lesson. These are options, rather than stops promised on every walk.
For other photography in the area, visit my Leigh-on-Sea photography page.
From a photography student
Georgina booked lessons to develop her photography. Here’s what she said about learning with me.
★★★★★
I booked for lessons with Jonathan to improve my skills in photography. We started with a phone call to get to know each other and what my main aims were, he then built a plan of things to target in our lessons and was very thorough, but also such an easy person to get on with! Would highly recommend to anyone looking to learn, great guy and expert teacher!
Georgina Moylan
Your photography tutor
I’ve spent more than 20 years photographing people and events, where noticing a changing scene and reacting quickly are part of the job. Those same observational skills are useful on a street photography walk.
Leigh-on-Sea is my hometown. I’ll combine that local knowledge with practical guidance, giving you time to ask questions and get comfortable with your own camera. The aim is to help you make decisions for yourself, rather than just copy the photograph I would take.
20+ years photographing people
DBS checked
Public liability insured
Yes. The walk is one-to-one, so I can adapt the pace and guidance to you. Bring the camera you want to learn to use and tell me what you find difficult. We can start with straightforward settings and build from there.
A DSLR, mirrorless, bridge or compact camera can all be suitable. Bring your camera, a charged battery and a memory card with space available. Comfortable footwear and clothing suited to an outdoor walk are sensible too. If you’re unsure about a camera or lens, ask before booking.
A one-hour lesson is £90, or three hours is £185. The three-hour option can be split across two sessions. A single lesson is paid in full beforehand; a block is normally paid before the first session, with payment per lesson available by agreement.
We’ll agree a meeting point and route before your lesson. Old Leigh and Leigh Broadway are useful starting points for street scenes, details, reflections and people within their surroundings. The route depends on your interests and the time booked; nearby landscape or Southend locations can be discussed if that is the direction you’d prefer.
Lessons are most often available at weekends and bank holidays, with some flexibility for early mornings or evenings. Send your preferred dates and I’ll check my diary. No particular date is confirmed until we’ve agreed the booking.
Yes, from age 12. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The accompanying adult can join in with the lesson at no extra charge.
Yes. Digital photography tuition gift vouchers are available and valid for 12 months. Tell me a little about the recipient so we can check that the lesson is a suitable gift.
Yes. Camera and equipment advice can be part of your tuition. This page focuses on the practical Leigh-on-Sea photo walk. For a broader grounding in aperture, shutter speed, ISO and editing essentials, see my Southend photography lessons.
Event photography shadowing may be possible for people aged 18+, subject to my availability, the organiser’s permission and a suitable opportunity. It must be agreed before booking. Ask about event photography shadowing if that is what you’re looking for.
Plan your photo walk
Send your preferred dates, the camera you use and a short note about your experience. Let me know whether you’re considering one hour or three, and any particular place or skill you’d like to focus on.
I’ll check availability and help you choose the session that suits you.
You don’t need to know all the technical terms. Describe what you’d like to improve in your own words. I usually reply within one working day.
Prefer email? Email me about a lesson. Read my privacy policy.
