Introducing Karen Thorburn, an Inverness photographer who works across the Scottish Highlands and Moray, as well as travelling throughout Scotland. She also hosts photography tours and workshops in the Black Isle peninsula, taking guests out across the Scottish countryside to learn more about capturing the best of their time exploring the country.
In this blog, we’ll be taking a deep dive into Karen’s inspiring photography in Scotland, the variety of experiences she has to offer, and what she loves most about spending the day with our clients.
karen’s story
Karen was six years old when she first picked up a camera, after which it blossomed into a hobby. Eight years ago, she began working professionally as a photographer, building Karen Thorburn Photography into what it is today.
Despite setting up her own business in 2017, the idea of being self-employed had always been at the back of Karen’s mind. She was also inspired by living in the Scottish Highlands, a region and landscape that she loves to capture in her photos.
what is a typical day with karen?
Karen’s workshops are all about meeting your needs, providing tailored 1:1 or 2:1 tuition for couples and families. Not only will you leave the day with the ability to take better photos for life, but you’ll also be able to capture much more impressive photos throughout the rest of your Celtic trip.
During your workshop, you’ll learn all about composition and camera settings, visiting several breathtaking locations to practise and build your skills. You’ll develop your understanding throughout the day as Karen shares her genuine passion for photography and the Scottish landscape with you.
If you’d prefer a half-day workshop, she can offer more flexibility with smaller groups, even adapting plans according to the weather. Due to the 1:1 focus of each session, Karen focuses on the particular wants of the group and can assist you with a camera you already own, whether this be a DSLR or an iPhone. There’s also the option to borrow some photography equipment, such as tripods and gauge levels.
Karen’s full-day workshops include a local cafe break for lunch, where you can relax and absorb everything you’ve learnt so far.
karen’s favourite parts of the workshop
Karen loves seeing people’s skills develop over the course of the day, and often finds that they start by using the automatic mode but end up manually changing settings once they’ve found their ‘eye’. She’s all about seeing people’s joy at improving their photography skills, and aims to make her attendees feel at ease, pacing the workshop so they don’t get overwhelmed.
One of her favourite aspects of working in the Scottish Highlands is that the scenery is always changing, depending on the light or time of day. She loves the winter as much as the summer, and her favourite places to travel are Assynt and Coigach, due to the beautiful mountain landscape.
creating a bespoke workshop experience
When it comes to photography tours in the Scottish Highlands, Karen is all about creating a bespoke experience depending on what you want to get out of the day. She’s happy to provide different options for all levels of experience and confidence.
For instance, she recalls two ladies who came up from Northumberland to do a workshop with her in Wester Ross. They were complete beginners, so she spent time with them in the morning using compact cameras and mobile phones, then switched to DSLRs to build on their knowledge.
Karen also tailors her workshops for clients depending on their level of mobility and fitness, such as with wheelchair users. “I once had a chap from Norfolk who’d had a hip replacement, so needed to take it slowly – he booked for two half days instead of the whole day to pace it out. On the second day, he enjoyed it so much that we cracked on and he did an extra half!”
She loves to host a variety of clients from all over the world, such as a lady who visited from Australia. In this case, she booked onto two workshops on consecutive days: one on the Black Isle near Inverness; and a bespoke workshop at Loch Ness.
karen’s nc500 photography workshop
There’s a reason why Karen sees repeat travellers in her workshops – not only do they enjoy learning something new from her each time, but they also enjoy visiting different locations across the Highlands and discovering the best hidden gems during their tour.
For Karen, photography is about more than just the skillset; it’s also about enjoying the great outdoors and capturing its beauty through the art of photography. When you book onto her North Coast 500 Photography workshop, not only will you receive expert tuition, but you’ll also spend an unforgettable day exploring the Scottish Highlands together.
If the idea of photography in Scotland with a bespoke tour has piqued your interest, why not experience it for yourself? Get in touch with us today to begin planning your own Scottish adventure.
