BEGINNERS PHOTOGRAPHY AT MELBOURNE ZOO
with Matt Krumins Photography
START WITH BABY STEPS
Manual settings on day 1? I don’t think so. I’m going to show you how to get incredible control without getting bogged down in the hard stuff!
This photography workshop is perfect for those just starting out who want to learn to take control of your camera in a casual setting without the stuffy tech jargon. It’s an amazing foundation for those wanting to grow their photography in the future or the perfect solution for those wanting to get better happy snaps.
GET TO KNOW YOUR CAMERA
Sick of reading manuals and getting nowhere? I cover all brands and models focusing to the buttons, dials and features that matter to you!
TAKE CONTROL
We don't rocket into manual settings on this course, instead we look at the practical settings to get immediate improvement and control. We look at brightness (exposure), colour and focus.
EXPERMENT WITH COMPOSITION
Learn about the basics of composition with fun analogies and easy to remember guidelines.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Small groups = More Personalisation.
ALL BRANDS ALL MODELS
Do you want a personalised approach specific to your camera? You’ve found it. With years of experience and thousands of workshop participants you’d be hard pressed to find a camera brand or model that I don’t know my way around.

WORKSHOP PLAN
1. DISCUSSION
2. THEORY
3. SHOOT
4. SUPPORT
EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
You’ll need a camera… yep. This course is perfect for almost any type/size/brand/model of camera. I should mention though that being at the zoo, having a little bit of zoom can be very handy as not all animals are close so whilst you can do this workshop with a phone, its usually best to have a stand-alone camera :-)
If you have them, bring them. If you’re camera doesn’t have interchangeable lenses then your lens is already travelling with you :-)
Outside of a charged battery and a memory card I don’t suggest you will need any extra gadgets or gizmos for this workshop. If you have a polarising filter bring it along but if no I have some to loan out.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Whether you’ve been playing with your camera on auto for years or if you’re camera is fresh out of it’s box this workshop is for you. No experience, a bit of experience honesty I think this workshop is perfect for anyone who wants a great foundation without the fluff.
Melbourne can be a funny place when it comes to weather so regardless of the forecast I always recommend bringing a waterproof jacket as even on a sunny day Melbourne can show it’s unique ability to change on a dime! If we have minor drizzle or patchy showers we will be out shooting still as many parts of the zoo are undercover and as a bonus we will have less people to contend with!
If we do have significant forecast rain you will be invited to book onto a different workshop date that suits your schedule.
The Melbourne Zoo Photography Workshop covers entry to Melbourne Zoo for the day and can also be contributed towards a full zoo membership at the end of the session. The workshop its self includes a quick reference guide to the settings and composition ideas covered.
Your workshop has a limit of just 6 people giving you plenty of one-on-one instruction as well as personal attention relevant to your camera brand and model.
Also, I believe that photography concepts take practice and time so at the conclusion of your workshop you will be invited to an exclusive online support group on Facebook where you can continue to grow your photography alongside other Matt Krumins Photography Workshop participants!
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?






Thanks again Matt.








I highly recommend Matt’s workshops.
Cristina






😊





Lightroom is something that I have struggled with for a few years and just could not grasp the basics. They way Matt breaks it down and the friendly, informative way it was presented, all suddenly started to make sense.
Matt could not of been any more helpful and displays an outstanding knowledge of the subject. It was my first course with Matt but certainly won’t be my last. Looking forward to doing more of the wide range of course he offers.

Highly recommend!






Matt made the process of learning and understanding fun and very helpful.
Now to go practice.
Thanks for a great time and all your help.



Matt showed our small group some tips and tricks, explaining everything very easily and then gave us all real time feedback on how to capture a better, different or better composed shot.
Highly recommended any of Matt's workshops!


I came away with a better idea of what I needed to do to help myself. He provided a convenient set of tips on laminated cards as a takeaway support tool. Best thing was his help on settings for my camera; but he seemed to know enough on all the makes and models in our group.
Highly recommended.













Adding to my review, since completing the beginners course I also completed the Street and Travel which was fantastic! The pandemic restrictions hit but that didn’t stop Matt. He found a virtual way to deliver some of the courses. So I gave it a shot with the Compositions workshop and it was truly worth it. Following that we were able to be out and about so I completed the all day Seascapes and Peninsulas workshop. We learned to use ND filters and become more familiar with our cameras, well worth it! I also attended a four day photography festival where Matt was one of the organisers and presenters. Needless to say it was jam packed and has kept me busy during ISO. Most recently I completed the mastering manual workshop and it did not disappoint and is well worth it. If you are looking to learn more about photography in a practical way, just book in with Matt, you won’t regret it!





Would definitely recommend others to attend his workshops and 10/10 would attend more of his workshops.
Thank you so much once again!











Additionally he seems to know how every camera works so even if you don’t it’s okay because he does.
Thanks Matt.


The most recent addition was a 3 hour 1 on 1 workshop with Matt to recap and cover off ideas for an upcoming trip to Sri Lanka.
Matt is incredibly patient and a great teacher and has an ability to be able to explain complex explanations in a way that is easily relatable and you will remember.
The 1 on 1 workshop allowed me to ask as many questions as possible.
I also had the opportunity to explore filters and Speed lighting which I had never even considered before.
Would highly recommend Matt’s workshops he goes above and beyond for each and every one of his students !



Matt's small group workshops are the best way to enjoy life in small groups and get out and about while the public is sparse.
He's got plenty of sanitizer available and all classes are contactless.
Never stop learning! It's a great opportunity!




I attended his very helpful city night photography class and hope to do more with him in future.





great tips funny and easy to understand
highly recommend








This was a fantastic workshop. Learnt heaps and stepped out of my comfort zone. Matt is a great teacher and I am looking forward to doing more of his courses.





> Matt has a way of explaining technical jargon in layman’s terms.
> Matt breaks down the course into bite size chunks in a very logical order.
> well structured so that you can understand key components of any camera such that when you go out and take pics you apply what you have just learned and maximise your cameras settings
> Matt spends one on one time with participants in a small group to answer all your questions in full.
> gives you instant feedback on your photos so that you can take that pic again with better knowledge
5 out of 5 stars. Great course. I’ll definitely recommend Matt’s course to my friends and family.



I highly recommend this workshop with Matt.



Matt is a very talented and creative man.
as a beginner I couldn't believe how much I have learned in only 3 hours.
I really liked his approach to photography and how he teaches to see and observe everything around us.
I was in a small group of very nice people, so it wasn't crowded and easy to get individual guidelines from Matt.
highly recommended guys!





















Matt is a fabulous teacher and host. Learnt heaps, had lots of fun and have some very very cool photos.
Thanks heaps Matt - will be back for more.


Very knowledgeable and a great teacher who explains photography very well.
Explained a few things on our camera that we had no knowledge of.
Very excited for more workshops throughout the year! Thanks again Matt 😊





He is giving very quick response. sometimes i realised even in the midnight or in between some of his events he is replying.I am so much appreciated your work and looking forward to join 2019 workshops and wishing you very Good Luck !

His vast experience in photography means he speaks from personal experience.
His ability to communicate is startling and can convey complex concepts in a way that is very easy to understand.
I only wish he was located in South Australia.






After sitting the Advanced UW Photography Course, & using his wealth of experience to improve my images, I cannot thank Matt enough for his help & guidance 😍































Matt well covered this in the course yesterday along with exposure control , giving me more confidence with these settings.
Framing and photographing from different angles was also covered, opening my eyes to different options and vastly different outcomes.
In summary a great course, but what I now need to do is to get out and make use of the knowledge gained and to have more confidence with the settings.
Once i do this i will be signing up for further courses.
And lastly Matts easy going attitude and willingness to answer what must seem like quite basic questions from me made the course all the more enjoyable. Thanks matt.



Naoise and Jeevan




Just wish I lived in Melbourne so I could do more workshops!







I have now done 3 of Matt's courses and found excellent value in all of them. My first was seascapes, then histograms and Melbourne by Night. Matt has a way of breaking information down into bite sized chunks and delivers it in a way that it seems to really stick. He finds time for everyone and so I come away feeling I have had great individual attention as well as learning from what advice he has given others. We also covered completely different skills and approaches in each class. Highly recommend him.

Thanx again Matt,








I would recommend Matt without hesitation and shall be attending other workshops in the future. Thank you Matt :-)





He was very accomodating in organizing them to fit around our limited time schedule.
We did the Melbourne Zoo, Street & Travel and Melbourne by Night workshops.
Matt was an excellent teacher who freely shared his tips and tricks of the trade with all, he spent alot of 1 on 1 time with each person in the small group environment and was extrememly helpful to us with recently upgraded cameras.
His teaching style and personality is truly an amazing gift.
Along with Matts personal assistance, he provided us with handouts and flashcards to assist in getting the camera settings right when on location.
Matt also provides great after course information with links to tutorials, facebook group assistance and his popular critique videos.
We would highly recommend any of these tours and look forward to visiting Melbourne again to partake in some of Matt's other workshops.
Thank you for your time, patience and sharing your expertise with us Matt.
Donna







Matt's explanations were easy to understand (and remember) and we all improved significantly and enjoyed ourselves.
He was able to relate the photos we were taking at the Zoo to the photos we needed to take for work, and I would not hesitate in recommending him.

Matt explained and showed me how to enjoy my camera and that the art of taking photos is a great tool to create lasting memories of what we experience every day.
Have already booked “Melbourne by night” workshop.
My 3 “cheat sheets “ will be with my camera always.

I would not hesitate to recommend his workshops and actually hope to do his travel workshop later in the year.
Thanks heaps Matt!!


Thank you for your time and commitment.
I am very tempted, now, to join my son in another workshop :-)


I have came away from this workshop with enthusiasm to tackle some long exposures near home at Point Lonsdale & along the coast at Torquay. I was very impressed with the size of the group (4 in our case). Matt was so obliging to give us one-on-one attention to what we needed, to ensure we understood how to compose our photo and to follow our supplied chart, to achieve some great long exposures of the waterfalls.
Thanks Matt - I'll be booking another date soon.



The group environment was friendly, relaxed and non-threatening, and we were given enough space to try the techniques before moving on rather than being rushed through. Worth every penny :)




Finished the day with enough confidence to try new things and actually understand a few things I could do to improve my photos.
Thanks Matt much appreciated

It was a great morning, Catherine Carrick



Thanks Matt

He's a really nice guy and good company, and the notes he made along the way on his notepad were tailored specifically to my level of talent (ha!) and the camera I have purchased.
Value for money, very friendly and the level of information was brilliant - maximum level of technical information delivered in an easily-digestible way.

The class was enjoyable with a small group size. Matt has a neat way of explaining things and is always ready to help. Highly recommend.

Precisely the approach a natural teacher the calibre of photographer Matt Krumins takes with his students.
After three hours of tuition with Matt and in the convivial company of five other students we toured the environs of the Melbourne zoo and came away wanting more.
Matt's conversational style tuition ensures you don't get hung up on your camera or photographic theory. Most of us delay taking a camera course because we are daunted by our camera's abundant settings. Matt imparts all the basic building blocks camera newbies require. More than enough to get you started on your photographic journey. But not just any building blocks. These are well chosen for their simplicity but with an eye to the future. They are the fundamentals you'll need to imbibe others more advanced. So they're essential.
As for theory, Matt believes a little is great to get you going, but practise is better. So we went from enclosure to enclosure effortlessly taking in what is required for a "good" photograph and snapped away.
Confident now with basic camera program settings, we listened for his experienced tips for the best shot outcomes.
"Animals are creatures of habit and highly territorial,'' Matt advised at the tiger enclosure. Good nature photographers know this and work out the stomping ground of their animal and try to predict where they'll appear. So they'll already have their composition worked out before the animal arrives.''
At the Leema enclosure we were asked to observe this creature's grotesque hands. Cute animal but the hands stand out by their lack of empathetic cuteness.
The Butterflys were as beautiful as they were fragile. Who would have thought that capturing their eyes would make for a great photograph. And as for the Elephants...
"How many pictures of elephants show their size and gait?" Matt asked. And how many hone in an elephant's eye lashes? And this kind of close shot, generally gives you the animal's skin texture as well. Much more interesting photograph..."
So it went for the three hours as the "doing" prevailed over theory. By the end of the session this friendly group was inspired to start getting creative with their cameras and to take their imagination off the leash.
So glad I decided not to put off a basic camera course because I felt daunted by my camera's high tech settings. Even happier I took the punt to enrol in one of Matt's courses.
I look forward to the next one.


Great experience
One to one learning .No rush , no pressure. Friendly. Good teaching method. Small group setting and easy to learn.
Recommend for any beginner


The small group atmosphere was awesome. Matt ensured all of us was given one on one time and again he didnt rush or push. He has a wonderful sense of humour and just a down right easy going bloke.
I will definately be doing more of Matts workshops. (PS was the best brithday present, thanks kids :) )






Sometimes,it takes times to relazied my photography is not good enough.
Although my original thoughts about street photography are completely different.Matt has opened another door for me.
Great three hours,but fruitful.





I learned a lot about composition and a different way of taking pictures.
It's a really fun way to learn and practice photography.








I really appreciate that he was so flexible in allowing me to alter the booking date - most companies would not be so great about it.
I really loved that the tips were easy to digest and apply, and that no question was too silly.
Thanks for such a great workshop!




Personally it was a first for me shooting (intentionally) in black and white and I'm now totally obsessed. The filters were a steep learning curve but a great start. And thanks very much for putting me on the Queenscliff ferry Matt - such a nice way to end a great day.





Matt is incredibly patient, which is so important when you're just a beginner. Having said that several people in the class had done previous classes with Matt and were there to learn more or just to refresh skills learnt prior.
I can't wait to start practising and sharing some of my images for feedback, which was encouraged on the night.
Great to enjoy an evening with other peeps with the
"Shutter Bug"
Thanks Matt, I will look forward to more workshops with you.

Thanks very much Matt for the superb lesson. Cheers, Justin and Michelle

From the get go Matt made it super easy and used lingo that I understood, and best of all he made it Fun! Learning is fun, and learning something new is always hard at the beginning. Photography takes time to master and I look forward to learning more tricks of the trade in future MK workshops.
Thank you for helping me to capture photos to tell my story.





Loved every minute.
Got some great tips and tricks.
Well paced. Good amount of content.
Matt is very helpful, patient and a genuinely nice bloke.









The course was brilliant. It covered everything I needed to learn in order to move forward with my photography.
The subjects were broken down into segments, that were easy to digest, and the explanations were in both plain English, and technical speak. So much better to be able to relate the two, rather than just getting the easy version.
It's incredible that so much information was transferred, and that I've been able to retain it.
That speaks volumes on matt's ability to teach!
The dives were great, even though visibility was poor. Matt was on hand, and ready to change settings and explain them after.
All in all, it was a fantastic course that I would strongly recommend to anyone who wants to improve their underwater photography skills.


He gives you lots of notes so you have references to hang onto, and invites you to call with any subsequent problem (does he realise what he's letting himself in for?)
So I'd recommend that you stop faffing about, driving yourself crazy and cursing the technology, and give Matt a call.









Matt has found the perfect mix of theory (that is presented in a way that makes it less intimidating than it seems) and the practical of just getting out there and shooting - with all the support you need.
As a beginner to photography, the skills I've learnt have been easily transferable to conditions/environments outside the course and I've left the workshops confident to practice by myself!
The small sizes mean regardless of your experience level there is always something you can take from these workshops. I've attended the Zoo and Seascapes workshops and will no doubt book into another one soon!










Love your Street and Travel Photography on May 17th. Your approach was both fun and educational. I particularly enjoyed your creative suggestions - use of reflections and looking at scenes from new angles / perspectives.
Will certainly see you again soon on another workshop
Cheers
Lex

Despite it was a grey rainy day, Matt made it colorful and interesting!!
I learnt a lot about my camera and my surroundings and I want to learn more and more!!
Matt.you have been fantastic conducting the workshop and explaining in a way everyone can understand!
Thank you!




Recommended




Needless to say, when my partner & I found out that Matt was also available for wedding photography we were very excited and booked him in to capture our special day. His work well & truly exceeded all of our expectations & we are in love with all the stunning images. Matt was a delight to have around on the day, barely noticeable during all those special moments yet very engaging with the guests & our dogs to make sure everyone & everything got captured in the best possible light. Besides the standard repertoire he pulled quite a few tricks out of his photography hat and expertly used his drone & remote flash for some very special shots. Some of our favorite images on a pier & the tidal rock pools also required quite a bit of adventure style photography on Matt's end, but luckily we DIDN'T loose him in that swamp after all :)
Thank you Matt, for being part of our special day at the beach and for beautiful photographic memories that will last a lifetime!
Anne & Ralf

Would definitely book another work shop. Thanks for the mini tripod. Cant wait to put it to use. Fantastic!!




Looking forward to the next one!













Thanks again Matt I'll definitely be doing another one. Top Bloke ����







March 2017 Zoo workshop. I attended this with my 12 year old son, who learnt an amazing amount during this time. Thanks Matt for your patience and skills in teaching such a wide variety of people and experience.
14th Feb 2017 Last night I attended a one-on-one session with Matt to familiarise myself with my new mirrorless camera (it's changed a lot from my old DSLR!). He was fantastic! He went through the camera and my queries in a clear manner with great explanations. He has a number of analogies which really help to cement the learning. I was really impressed with this session and am looking forward to booking in another workshop with my son soon. Thanks!




Matt's little stories have helped me to understand all the workings of my camera, I had a great day, took some fantastic photos and had a laugh along the way!
I would recommend Matt's courses to anyone regardless of their level of proficiency :)

The Street work shop CBD was fun packed begining to end. It was amazing how much I could learn in this amount of time and retain the information.
There was 6 in the group and each one of us were made to feel welcome and comfortable. Huge thank you!




Would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn how to use there camera, other than just auto mode. I learnt so much in our 3 hour session was basic and easy to understand. Matt was helpful throughout the session and made us all feel welcome. Thank you Matt looking forward to another experience and thank you Penny Smith for a very valuable Christmas present. :)





































































































































