lean timms

t w o d a y

p h o t o g r a p h y w o r k s h o p

b y r o n b a y a u s t r a l i a

5 t h / 6 t h a u g 2 0 2 6

TWO DAY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

BYRON BAY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

EDIT: SOLD OUT!
Please email Lean if you’d like to go on the wait list for this or a future workshop

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

Workshop Dates: Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th August, 2026

Workshop Location: Lo Scoglio, Coopers Shoot, New South Wales ( 12 minutes drive from downtown Byron Bay). Bundjalung Country.

Two Day Workshop Tickets: $2900 + GST. Please note we will be taking payments in two instalments - half when you book and the final half a week before the workshop, due Wednesday 29th July 2026.

Workshop Time: 8:30am - 6:00pm both days.

Guest Speaker: Emilie Hill / @helloemilie - Photographer, Author, Creative Director

Suitable For: All photography lovers and levels - including small business owners keen to upskill and create their own content, absolute beginners ready to dive in and learn, photography lovers wanting to step up and improve on their skills, those wanting to become professional photographers, and fellow photography professionals already in the field who are interested in furthering their industry insight, networking opportunities and creative nourishment. As a teacher it's my absolute priority to provide value for everyone, at all photography levels.

Catering: Delicious morning tea, lunch and aperitivo will be provided on both days by Attilio Maiorano of Convivio, Byron Bay.

Please Note: Airfares, accommodation and transportation to and from the workshop are not included in the ticket price.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:

Join me in the beautiful Byron Bay hinterland for an immersive and fun two days of learning, as I openly share everything I know about the art of photography with you. This two day photography workshop will be absolutely packed to the brim with educational, creative, inspiring and insightful content. It's the perfect opportunity to launch into the world of photography, or to give your current photography skills a confidence boost, some guided direction, or some delicious nourishment. As a small group we will explore the art of visual storytelling by embracing light, creative composition and working through your own photography style. We will study the subjects of lifestyle and editorial photography with a focus on interiors and travel. We will explore your camera’s manual settings and together work through the skills and secrets of editing/post processing. We will lift the curtain and have candid chats about industry insights and thriving in a creative business. I will share the ins and out of my own personal photography style and process, but most importantly will be there to help guide yours. The workshop will be part theory and part practical, to cover all learning styles, and with plenty of time to play and photograph during the workshop.

After two days together, you will go home with an abundance of photography knowledge, the ability to shoot your camera on manual settings, the confidence to approach and capture a scene using natural light, inspiration to photograph, curate and share your own stories through imagery, a new group of creative friends and an experience so special you won’t ever forget it. Two full days means so much to cover! I can’t wait to share everything I know and love about photography with you!

TOPICS WE WILL BE COVERING:

Natural light digital photography 101
We’ll dig into photography and camera basics, and why it’s important that you understand them. You’ll walk away with a thorough understanding of the (magical!) exposure triangle and be able to use your camera’s manual settings to help you confidently capture a number of different subjects and styles. For the professionals, I will provide lots of juicy layers here, and will share my own personal professional tips, creative decision making, and go to settings.

Light
Nothing gets me more excited than reading and embracing natural light. We’ll explore light direction first, and how to use it to enhance your photography. We’ll find light and shadow and all the ways they can both make a photograph sing. We’ll work with harsh light and soft light and learn how to love and manipulate the outcome of both. We’ll follow it around inside Lo Scoglio, and go hunting for it outside in the beautiful stone courtyards and gardens. I’ll share with you all my tips on light and bright photography along with the contrasting moody chiaroscuro style.

Composition
The way a photograph is framed can completely shift the way a subject is viewed. It’s a really fun game. We will play with lots of different perspectives, angles, and formulas and I’ll give you plenty of helpful guidance to develop your own composition style, too.

Storytelling
No matter the subject, a story is always worth being told. We could spend the whole two days on storytelling alone. I have a special formula, you’ll love it. I can’t wait to dig into this with you.

Interior Photography
Photographing interiors is a beautiful and fun process, and Lo Scoglio is an incredible place for us to learn and play. I’ll share all the tips I have for taking a photograph that helps to make an interior space look delicious and inviting for storytelling and editorial purposes.

Lifestyle/Travel Photography
This one makes my heart sing. It’s really all about sharing a genuine sense of place. We will adventure through our stunning surroundings, using our light and composition skills to capture transportive photographs.

Post Production/Editing
I will step you through my editing flow, both on Lightroom and phone. We will cover basics, explore your style, exporting tricks, and how to develop your own preset.

Industry Chat
Let’s chat openly - the best type of industry chat. Marketing, pricing (actual numbers!), getting published, pitching, image licensing, editorial insights, creative inspiration etc, etc. This part is always juicy, insightful, and fun. Anything and everything is on the table. It’s all about an abundance mindset and sharing everything I wish I knew starting out. The best way I can think to help create transparency and nourishment in this community of ours.

Q&As
I want to answer any and all of your questions. We will have plenty of time for questions throughout the workshop, and special allocated time toward the end of our second day. I am an open book and want you to go home with loads of information and value no matter what your level in photography - so please bring your questions and we can chat through them as a creative group together.

photo 2 by Sophie Bellard, photo 5 by Jane McCormack

ABOUT LEAN:

Lean Timms is an Australian travel, lifestyle and food photographer working across editorial, commercial and publishing fields. Lean is currently based in Sweden.

Forever exploring and full of curiosity for this world, Lean’s greatest love is to discover and document inspiring places and stories. Lean’s approach to photography is driven by natural light, in situ spontaneity, storytelling and capturing a genuine sense of place. 

A once upon a time creative arts high school teacher, Lean loves to teach and share, and has been lucky enough to teach photography at workshops and retreats all around the world.

Select Photography Clients and Publications:

Tourism Australia
Condé Nast Traveller
QANTAS
Australian Traveller
Vogue Living
Murdoch Books

Photo 1 of Lean by Alicia DeSario, photo 2 of Lean by Hugh Stewart, photo 3 of Lean by Doreen Kilfeather

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER:

Emilie Hill

Australian photographer, creative director, and published author Emilie Hill is the visual storyteller behind @helloemilie, with a global audience of over one million. Over the past decade she has worked across every continent on our planet, creating cinematic destination campaigns and editorial stories. Her work blends fine art sensibility with strategic storytelling, offering end-to-end creative direction across photography, film, and campaign development to craft immersive visuals that evoke emotion, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

We will have the golden opportunity to sit in on a q&a with Emilie, where we can ask questions about Emilie’s creative approach, and be inspired by her incredible photography career.

@helloemilie

ABOUT THE FOOD: ATTILIO MAIORANO:

Attilio Maiorano is a fourth-generation chef from Abruzzo, Italy. He and his sister Daniela were raised in their family restaurant, where food was a way of life. Beginning his culinary training at fourteen and spending five formative years in Rome under Alessandro Miocchi of Retrobottega, Attilio later joined Daniela in Australia, where the siblings launched Convivio. Sadly Daniela can’t join us (she’ll be in Abruzzo!), but Attilio will be bringing the Italian family spirit cooking up a storm for us, blending tradition with fresh, seasonal Byron Bay deliciousness.

photos of Convivio and Attilio by Savour Duo

ABOUT THE LOCATION: LO SCOGLIO

A luxury Italian-style villa nestled in two acres of picturesque hinterland 12 minutes drive from the centre of Byron Bay, Lo Scoglio will be a dream private playground for our two days together. Designed and created with expert artisans, Lo Scoglio will have us (and our cameras) feeling as though we’ve been transported straight to Europe. Head to Lo Scoglio’s website or instagram to see more photos and to read more about this beautiful location.

August is a wonderful time of the year to visit Byron Bay - the crowds have thinned, the days are clear and crisp and the whales are making their way past Byron’s iconic beaches. You’ll have plenty of incredible vistas to photograph both within and outside of our workshop.

Photo 2 of Lo Scoglio by Rebecca Bana, photo 4 of Lo Scoglio by Alicia Taylor

PAST WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS:

- Lean's workshop truly exceeded my expectations. Lean is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, providing personalized feedback and guidance throughout the course. Set in a stunning location, the workshop offered a perfect blend of theory and hands-on practice, covering everything from shooting in manual mode to composition, storytelling and editing techniques. The small group size fostered a supportive atmosphere and each day was well-structured. Stepping into this experience as a beginner, I left with a newfound confidence. I highly recommend this workshop to photographers of all levels. It's an investment but it’s worth it and is an experience not to be missed. Thank you Lean for sharing your knowledge, creativity and patience. - Chelsea Furtardo @__smell.the.roses__

- I got so much out of this class. It was thoughtfully structured and exactly what I didn’t know I needed. Even though I’ve spent years shooting in manual, Lean helped me slow down, reset, and see things differently. I met the most wonderful group of people - it genuinely filled my cup. It wasn’t just about learning (though there was plenty of that); it was about connection, too. Having time with Annabel Hickson and Hugh Stewart was such a privilege. Their generosity and insight were incredible. Honestly, I feel like a new person. My love for photography has been reignited, and I’m feeling freshly inspired and more confident to create in a way that feels true to me. - Lydia Napoli @_lydianapoli

- I wish I had done this sooner... Lean has given me the greatest gift - creativity and the confidence to use it. To embrace imperfection, to see light when it's dark and to stop letting the camera get in the way of the photo I want to take. To celebrate what I see rather than what I don't see. A born again photographer. Lean is a gentle teacher, kind and nuturning. She teaches witout ego or authority, and for this, I feel about curious, inspired and creative. Thank you Lean. - Nicole McLeod @nicolemcleodphotography

- I’d been dying to attend one of Lean’s photography workshops for years. When the stars finally aligned it was too perfect to pass up. I already knew Lean was a phenomenal photographer and storyteller. What I didn’t know was just how generous, insightful, and energising she would be as a teacher. Her kindness and the creative patrons she attracts are a true testament to who she is, and how deeply she cares about helping others find their voice. Lean has a warmth that somehow makes everyone feel like they belong, even when you’re deep in existential creative angst (guilty as charged). Despite having almost a decade of experience running my own production studio, something clicked during this workshop that hadn’t in years. I realised the work I’d been making was feeling too clean, too precise, and no wonder I felt disconnected. Lean reminded me what I loved most in the first place: places that feel lived-in and loved, pictures that breathe, and stories with dirt under their fingernails. I left with a full heart, a fresh creative fire, new friendships… and a personal Instagram account I’d abandoned for two years… resurrected within hours. It turns out, sometimes all it takes is some time away, a camera in hand, and the right guide to help you remember who you are. Thank you, Lean for sharing your magic with us. - Nikki Malvar @nikkimalvardotcom

- Lean’s workshop was 2 of the most enriching and joyful 2 days I have had in my photography journey. Her generosity and delivery in sharing her incredible creative and industry knowledge is amazing! If you have the opportunity to do a workshop with Lean - don’t think twice it’s just the best - Katie Carmichael @katiecarmichael.studio

Are you keen but not quite sure yet? Do you have some questions for me? Please send me an email and I would love to chat more with you!

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Please kindly note that this is a strictly non-refundable workshop. However we do understand that things change and life happens, so should you need to reschedule we are more than happy to rebook you to another workshop at another time. Valid travel insurance is also encouraged for your trip. Thank you for understanding.

It would be a joy to learn, create and connect with you at Lo Scoglio in August. I hope so much to see you there.

Lean. X

photo 1 & 2 by Sabine Bannard