China Photo Workshops

I have been on three workshops with Thierry, the fourth is scheduled for 2020 and the fifth is in the planning. Thierry is a great photographer and a wonderful photography teacher, finding the best locations for photography and assisting us with the technical and artistic issues. Not less important, I found Thierry to be a real gentleman, listening very carefully to us, the customers, and both him and his assistant bent over backward to fulfill our requests very professionally. Besides, I found China to be a very safe and hospitable place to travel - much to my surprise - which contributed a lot to the success of the workshops.

Thierry is a unique workshop leader as he speaks fluent English, French and Mandarin and he has also lived in China for 10+ years! Not only does he know the country and its photographic opportunities well, but he can also provide you with insight into the people and culture in a way that other foreign leaders may not. On my trip, I was able to eat dinner with a local, highly acclaimed photographer that was part of making Xiapu famous, see his photography studio and also get a small tour of Shanghai as it's Thierry's hometown in China. Photographing in China is a unique experience because the sights are magical but also because there are so many more people in China. Thierry will always try to get you to place early for a good spot and/or have your own space but sometimes, you should know, there is no avoiding the crowds. He also has an extensive network of local sources that are plugged into the scene which is crucial to getting you to the best locations. China is changing fast, so sometimes a location, say in Xiapu, may no longer exist as it's been demolished but a newer one has developed, and Thierry will be in the know. Finally, Thierry is also accommodating of the groups wants and needs, where possible, doing everything from modifying routes for those with physical ailments, to splitting the group up if there are disparate interests, to finding someone a MacDonalds when they are really missing home. For those of you who join a tour with Thierry, I wish you the very best adventure and, as always, great light!

To Thierry: After safely returning home, I want to thank you in writing for your great China workshop in March 2017. You are not only a brilliant photographer but at the same time a good teacher and an excellent organizer. I learned more from your workshop than from all my other photo tours together. You’re not simply offering a photo tour like most other photographers, but a real workshop. You place teaching the participants higher than taking pictures of yourself. You care about people. You work with each person to try and overcome their weaknesses. This is why I recommend your workshops to anyone who seriously wants to improve their photography and are not afraid of criticism, long days, and tiring travels.After safely returning home, I want to thank you in writing for your great China workshop in March 2017. You are not only a brilliant photographer but at the same time a good teacher and an excellent organizer. I learned more from your workshop than from all my other photo tours together. You’re not simply offering a photo tour like most other photographers, but a real workshop. You place teaching the participants higher than taking pictures of yourself. You care about people. You work with each person to try and overcome their weaknesses. This is why I recommend your workshops to anyone who seriously wants to improve their photography and are not afraid of criticism, long days, and tiring travels.

Thierry’s photo workshop was amazing. We saw awesome landscapes, beautiful old cities, and learned so much about the treasures of China. Thierry is one of the best guides I have ever had. He is fantastic at teaching photography at its best. Thanks for a wonderful journey. I hope to go again with him.

To Thierry, I wanted to say, Thank you! for a great trip! It was fun, exciting, and above all great to meet and travel with you. Your photo workshop made for a fantastic first trip to China, and I’m looking forward to many more!

We moved around and chased the best light and weather conditions every day. Every bit of downtime was put to good use with a workshop, where we reviewed pictures and post-processing techniques. Thierry gave good suggestions in the field, and I very much appreciated his willingness to teach and explain things clearly and straightforwardly. Whether a picture was good or bad, he would just tell the truth, suggest deleting the rubbish, and then teach how to get results in post-processing with the good ones. The itinerary and transfers were well-planned, with the best possible comfort achieved, especially since some locations were in rural, undeveloped areas. I thought it would be quite a challenge to find decent accommodations, but Thierry’s partner, Yangzi, managed to surprise us all. Based on this positive experience, I have already booked another one of Thierry’s workshops for next year.

Thierry shares so much information and tips during the workshop, about thinks I have never heard or read about anywhere else. He shows how to set his knowledge into practice with the camera. And what’s more, he teaches with a light-hearted and considerate style that makes everything easy to understand and fast to pick up. Thanks, Thierry.

Thierry is an outstanding landscape photographer. His pictures are just amazing! He shared his rich experiences with us and was always there to help, to explain, to teach. He did everything he could to make everybody happy. We felt like we were traveling with a good friend.