Frequently asked questions

I know very little about my camera, are your courses suitable for a beginner?
Absolutely, you do not need any prior camera knowledge to book into either our all-day workshop or SLR course as we will explain the camera features to you and guide you on how and when to use them for best results. For the Practical, Studio courses and Advanced SLR workshop however it is recommended that you first attend either our SLR day workshop or SLR course.

Which course is right for me?
If you are a complete novice or are unfamiliar with your camera then the all day SLR workshop is our most popular course and includes a morning of essential camera theory followed by an afternoon of practical photo taking around the Southbank Parklands in Brisbane. Alternativley the SLR course is short four hour theory only course and is also a great place to start understanding your camera with the optional Practical course (SLR pt2) also available as a follow-on course. The Advanced SLR workshop is for anyone who has either attended our SLR course or SLR workshop and has a good understanding of the basics of exposure. Finally we also offer One-to-One private tuition either at our training room on the Wynnum bayside, your home or a location of your choosing, with One-to-One we can also help you with any Photoshop issues you may also have.

I'm not sure if my camera is suitable / Is my camera an SLR camera?
Our courses are designed for users of digital SLR cameras and 'mirrorless cameras' (also called 'micro four thirds cameras'). Put simply, if your camera allows the lens to be changed then your camera is an SLR camera (or similar) and is suitable. If you have a 'bridge camera' then you are also very welcome to join us on any of the courses but we recommend that you contact us first as there may well be some topics covered that will not apply to your camera type. If you are unsure if your camera is suitable please do not hesitate to email or call us anytime. Sorry but our courses or workshops are not suitable for compact digital cameras.

How do I book into a course?
For the SLR, practical, studio and workshops simply click on the 'book course' button next to the course date you would like to book. If you wish to book more than one person into a course change the 'quantity' and the totals will automatically update. Payment can then be made via credit card with transactions handled via PayPal which protects your financial information with industry-leading security and fraud prevention systems. Once your payment is complete, you will be emailed a receipt for this transaction and we will also be in touch via email or phone to confirm the booking. You DO NOT have to be have a PayPal account to make payment.
PLEASE NOTE for one-to-one tuition you need to contact us in advance of making a payment.

Tell me more about the tutors?
We have two experienced tutors, for more details on Photo Genius tutors please visit our about page.

Can I purchase a gift voucher for someone special?
Yes, we offer gift vouchers valued at $99 and $199 which are redemable against any of our courses or workshops (including private One-to-One tuition), just visit the gift voucher page for more details and to purchase online.

I have been given a Photo Genius / Learn Photography gift voucher, how do I book a course?
Simply choose which course you would like to join and select a date you would like to attend, then call or email us with your voucher details and we will book you in - easy.

What should I bring with me to the course?
Your camera with a fully charged battery, lenses, memory card plus camera manual is also sometimes handy for quick reference.
For practical courses and workshops please also bring a tripod, if you do not have one let us know and we will provide one upon request (this is a free service, we do not charge for loan tripods).

Do you offer Photoshop lessons?
We can provide tuition and help with Photoshop on a one-to-one basis, at present we do not run group Photoshop courses.

What if I have to cancel my course booking?
If you have to cancel then we will be happy to offer a place on another course providing we are given at least 5 days notice. Sorry but we are unable to offer refunds (or re-bookings) on cancellations made within 5 days of the course date or for no-shows.

What if it rains on the day of a practical course or workshop?
Despite living in the 'sunshine state' it does of course sometimes rain. If a practical course or workshop has to be cancelled due to bad weather then participants may choose to attend another course/workshop at a later date as listed on our website.
Sorry but we are unable to offer refunds on courses re-scheduled due to bad weather.

Got a question not answered here?
If you have any questions or concerns please phone or email