Junior Academy of Photography

Private Photography Tuition

for young people aged 11 and above. 

I also guarantee an immediate improvement in photography, confidence, creativity, self esteem, motivation and technical abilities.

The history of the junior academy.

Founded by myself (Paul Hands) in 2023 on the back of a single Parent requesting support with home educating her son who had expressed an interest in photography. I took my first student under my wing, having 12 years experience of running 1:1 and group photography workshops for adults. After having lots of success and bearing witness to the rapid growth seen in my students and noticing a dramatic increase in parents making contact to request the same service for their children, I have now opened up this special education to everyone.

I’ve been shooting professional photography for 12 years successfully for some major corporate organisations including The Treasury, Diabetes UK, Cineworld and Leicester University plus with celebrities like HRH Prince Edward, Sir David Attenborough and Chef Marco Pierre White.

I have my own studio in Burbage, Leicestershire and am a father myself to a hyper active 7 year old daughter.
I’m a patient teacher and love passing on creative information and know how to find the creative genius in others.

1:1 private photography tuition.

Lessons available are booked in blocks of three hourly sessions on an ongoing basis and focus on teaching the practical aspects of modern photography.

DBS checked with certificate available for viewing upon request.

The kind of things your kids will learn is:

  • How to handle, set up and use a modern DSLR

  • Photographing safely in public

  • Seeing, reading and measuring the light

  • Designing professional compositions

  • How to read and understand a photograph with contextual referencing

  • Historical photography research

  • Post production using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop

  • Documenting their progress visually in Sketch Books

  • The production of physical prints including framing

  • Outdoor excursions for photography

  • Genres’s covered include; Landscape, Street, Portraiture, Studio, Astro, Sunrise and Sunset and more

  • Exhibition visits

  • Future advice and guidance on career paths.

The skills your children will pick up on these private workshops will be totally transferrable throughout their lives but will give them the gift of nurturing their creativity, design and critical thinking skills for the best start in moving towards adult life.


Parents Reviews:

My daughter enjoyed an amazing workshop with Paul this weekend, in the workshop she enjoyed learning how to use her camera, composition techniques and even some post production.
Paul has a great way of explaining the complex and daunting subject of photography to kids in a way that makes it easy to digest and apply whilst not losing any of the real substance of the subject.
Thank you Paul for igniting a spark that I am sure will be burning for many years to come!!
— Joel Spencer
My son attended an all day workshop with Paul, and not only learned the mechanics of his camera, but how to take shots that will go on the wall!
Can’t recommend Paul enough. His manner is professional yet calm and his own passion for photography is expressed through his own amazing work.
— Sarah Beale

The Paul Hands Junior Academy of Photography Students Gallery

All photographs below have been made by kids attending my private photography classes.


How it works and pricing:

Start by choosing how many sessions you would like your child to begin with.

Parents can stay with their child for reassurance free of charge, if desired and can even participate for a small additional fee.
Camera hire is also available.

You can save money by block booking 3 sessions at a time.

Ongoing Course:

The ongoing course is booked in blocks of 3 sessions at a time.

Ongoing course (block booking of 3 x 4-hour sessions - £140 each) = £420

Ongoing course (block booking of 3 x full day sessions - £225 each) = £675

Parental participation is £50 per mini session and £75 per full day session.

Camera hire = £25 per session.

Tripod hire = £15 per session

Usually the child will enrol on to an ongoing course following a successful one off mini session, to ensure the workshops are right for your child.

One Off Workshops:

4 Hour Mini Session = £175

Parental participation = £50  

Full day Workshop = £275

Parental participation = £75

Camera hire = £25

Tripod hire = £15

Contact me directly to discuss your child’s private photography tuition, hit the button below, call me on 07854 956 970 or email: paul@paulhands.co.uk