lean timms

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

s o u t h e r n h i g h l a n d s

n s w

a u s t r a l i a

11 t h / 12 t h f e b 2 0 2 6

Photo of Lean teaching by Jane McCormack.

TWO DAY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

OSBORN HOUSE, BUNDANOON, NSW

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

Workshop Dates: Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th February, 2026

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 4 February, 2026.

Workshop Location: Osborn House, Bundanoon, Dharawal Country.

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

Guest Teacher: Hugh Stewart - Photographer | Director

Suitable For: This workshop is formatted 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 a new art form, 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 and delight to provide value for everyone, at all photography levels.

Catering: Delicious morning tea, lunch and cocktail hour will be prepared for us both days by the in-house chefs and incredible hospitality team at Osborn House.

Please Note: Airfares, transportation to and from the workshop and accommodation are not included. However, the team at Osborn House have generously offered a discount for anyone who would like to stay at the hotel during the workshop - a hotel discount code will be sent to you once you book your workshop ticket.

WORKSHOP TICKETS WILL BE RELEASED THIS SUNDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 6PM AEDT

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:

Give your new year a creative boost and join me in the picturesque Southern Highlands of New South Wales for an immersive and fun two photography workshop where I will be openly sharing everything I know about the art of photography with you. These immersive two days of learning 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, no matter what level, 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 focus in on the subjects of food, travel and lifestyle photography. We will explore our 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 insight 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 our two days together.

Our esteemed guest teacher Hugh Stewart will be gracing us with his wisdom, humour and experience as one of Australia’s foremost portrait and editorial photographers. Hugh will lead us in an open Q&A session on his impressive career path in photography and directing, which I promise will have you engaged and entertained on a whole new level. Hugh will also share with us his iconic portrait shoot set up and will demonstrate how he works in a very special practical session. This is raw, fun, and directly insightful goodness that you don’t want to miss.

We will also have the privilege of exploring and photographing Osborn House - having photographed the hotel myself, I can’t wait for you to see and capture the lush interiors designed and styled by former Soho House Design Director, Linda Boronkay. We will have a guest suite open to us, as well as the many common spaces of the hotel, both indoors and outdoors. This is the perfect opportunity to add to your portfolio, or to have the opportunity to practice your interiors and storytelling photography in an aesthetically stunning setting.

Throughout our two days together we will be delighting in the best seasonal produce from the local area, prepared in-house by Osborn House chefs. This will be two days of celebrating pure indulgence. Nothing but a treat. You’ll arrive every morning to barista coffee and loose leaf tea, and throughout the day the food will flow from morning tea, lunch and through to a very special cocktail hour. This will all be set up for you in different locations around the hotel to make the most of the beautiful house and its grounds.

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!

Photo 7 by Sophie Bellard

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 and use 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 for you to reflect on here, and will share my own personal professional tips 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. It’ll blow your mind. 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 light around inside, and go hunting for it outside. 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 and challenge 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. This might be my favourite part of photography. I have a special formula to share with you, you’ll love it. This session will really lift your photography game. I can’t wait to dig into this with you.

Portrait Photography
Hugh Stewart will be talking through his portrait photography journey and also guiding us through one of his famous portrait sessions.

Interior Photography
Photographing interiors is a beautiful and fun process, and the interiors of Osborn House are the absolute perfect place for us to play. Together we will explore ways to make an interior space look delicious and inviting, for both commercial and storytelling / editorial purposes.

Travel/Location Photography
This one makes my heart sing. It’s really all about sharing a genuine sense of place and we will get to do this together by shooting our own personal travel ‘assignment’ photographing Osborn House. We will have endless stories to tell, from the unique interiors and charming hotel grounds, to the dramatic scenery provided by the Southern Highlands in late summer - I can’t wait to show you all the incredible spaces and moments I discovered on my recent visit, and uncover some new ones with you!

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 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.

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.

ABOUT LEAN:

Lean Timms is an international travel and lifestyle 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 Doreen Kilfeather, photo 2 of Lean by Jane McCormack, photo 3 of Lean by Lynda Gardener

ABOUT OUR GUEST TEACHER - HUGH STEWART

Hugh Stewart grew up on a farm in New Zealand. He left for Europe straight out of school and was living in a notorious London squat in the early 1980s when he first picked up a camera and started taking portraits of his friends. After a few years of travel, he found himself in Sydney in need of a job so put together a portfolio and received his first assignment for Australian Vogue. This led to further commissions for magazines and advertising agencies which encouraged him to head back overseas resulting in a couple of decades working as a professional photographer in London and NYC.

Particularly well known for his celebrity portraits, Hugh has photographed Johnny Cash, Michael Caine, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Paul Newman, Ed Harris, Kenneth Branagh, Naomi Watts, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Catherine Deneuve, Clint Eastwood, Julian Schnabel, Rod Stewart, Sir John Mills, Sir Ian Mckellen, John Updike, Leonardo Dicaprio, Bill Nighy, David Hare, Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Emma Thompson, the Duchess of Devonshire and five Australian prime ministers.

His portraits have been exhibited internationally including in the national portrait galleries of London and Canberra. In 2020 he was highly commended in the national photographic portrait prize in Australia. Another of Hugh’s specialties is shooting on-set portraiture and stills for movies, having worked extensively with director Baz Luhrmann on films like Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge and Elvis. He also directs tv commercials and short films and has recently completed work for clients such as RM Williams. Glenfiddich Whisky, ACON, The Commonwealth Bank and Bill Granger. Commercial clients include Sony, Microsoft, Levis, J.Crew, Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airlines, Australian Tourism, RM Williams, HBO, Netflix, Warner Bros, Sydney Theatre Company, Mastercard as well as two campaigns for Chanel No.5. The Maverick Soul is a book co-created by Hugh and Miv Watts. Published by Hardy Grant in the UK and available worldwide.

Hugh lives in Sydney with his wife and three children and continues to work between Australia, the US and Europe.

See more of Hugh’s work on his website and via @hughstewart_

Photos of Hugh Stewart by Hugh Stewart.

ABOUT OUR LOCATION - OSBORN HOUSE

Surrounded by rolling hills, sweeping bushland and lush gardens, escape to a world away from the world where a one-of-a-kind, truly bespoke experience awaits in the Southern Highlands. Pairing understated elegance and laidback luxe, Osborn House is a unique boutique hotel offering where relaxed retreat and playful guest house meet. Steeped in history dating back to the 1890s, Osborn House is a lovingly restored, impeccably styled 5-star luxury boutique hotel in the heart of the Southern Highlands. Designed and styled by former SOHO House Design Director, Linda Boronkay, Osborn House pays homage to the past with a contemporary twist. Recently awarded a coveted Michelin Key. Osborn House provides a world class, highly personalised experience unlike any other hotel offering in Australia.

Throughout the workshop we will be dining at George’s Osborn House and treated to the hotel’s exceptional hospitality. With a focus on seasonal and local produce, the menu changes regularly with a commitment to great food and exciting Latin American food experiences and flavours remaining at the very core of Osborn House.

We will be in photography heaven here, with the hotel as our playground for two full days.

PAST WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS:

- What can I say other than wow! I didn't really know what to expect before embarking in this course, but Leans x2 day photography workshop absolutely blew my sock off. Lean is such an incredible teacher, no stone was left unturned, and the beautiful work book we got to keep has been a really lovely reference to return to. Lean was able to teach a broad range of students with different backgrounds and photography knowledge and keep everyone highly engaged. I honestly couldn't recommend this course more highly. I have walked away far more confident behind my lens and it was simply the best two days with like minded creatives. If you get the opportunity to do this course, just book the ticket. you won't be disappointed. Sarah Miles @sarahmiles.studio

- I'll admit I was hesitant to book Lean's photography course due to the cost. What I now know is that was an error! I received so much value and personal growth from this course and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life. Lean is genuinely an amazing human full of positive energy and is pure joy to be around. The group dynamics were encouraging and kind, due to Leans calming fun loving presence. Plus, the food, drinks and styling were absolutely beyond! Lean stands out in a world of people selling photography courses as she is also a qualified teacher, think organised, structured learning with the added experience of also being one of the best (if not the best) current Australian professional photographers. No questions are left unanswered and no-one is left behind. Trust me BOOK NOW! You won't regret investing in yourself. - Kristen Shaw @kristenshawphotography

- 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 - the right dates, the dreamy Southern Highlands location, a bucket-list stay at Osborn House, and guest speaker Rhiannon Taylor on the agenda - 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

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 Osborn House in February. I hope so much to see you there.

Lean. X

Photo 1 by Sophie Bellard, photo 2 by Sabine Bannard