Prop Hive, newborn workshop, maternity workshop, Maternity and Newborn Summit

In-Person Workshop VS Online Workshop: Which one is BEST?

In-Person Workshop vs Online Workshop???

Deciding between an in-person workshop or online workshop depends on what you value most. Building a strong reputation in the photography community is key to growing a successful business. It shows clients and peers that you’re more than just a hobbyist. To get there, you need to focus on the basics of photography, networking, and improving your skills through workshops—all aimed at creating better portraits.

It’s massively important that a professional photographer attends workshops or conferences with the intent to learn and improve. 

As a new photographer, I was only able to charge what I was comfortable with paying.   Like many of us, I hadn’t yet learned the value of my work. Going to workshops improved my portraits.  It also allowed me to see the much bigger picture…

I run a legitimate, woman owned, small business. I charge for my worth, not necessarily, what I would be willing to pay. 

This “transformation” is almost exclusively due to in-person workshops. And yes, I have purchased online classes and “workshops”.

Prop Hive, newborn workshop, maternity workshop, Maternity and Newborn Summit

Why have online workshops been so popular? 

  1. Ease and comfort– on your own time and in your own home makes it easier to swallow the cost.
  2. Cost– online workshops can be less expensive.
  3. Continual Education– yes, you should ALWAYS be learning and improving!

I don’t intend to de-value many of the great online workshops available.  There is a value to purchasing them and learning from them.  Continual education is important and they can assist with that too! 

There are significant benefits to working with peers and instructors in-person workshops.

  1. Networking Opportunities– workshops are a great environment to make connections with vendors. It’s an opportunity to develop your brand and get hands on with potential products that reflect your specific style. 
  2. Engagement and focus– Being in person requires your undivided attention. This focus will force your learning a larger degree than online workshops.  No more the dreaded “Oh no! My dog is barking, I have to pause the video to feed them”  or “Shoot, I’ll finish this later, I need to pick up the kids!”.
  3. Hands on learning– Especially when it comes to the arts, it’s massively beneficial to get hands-on experience engaging with materials, tools, subjects, and instructors. 
  4. Community and energy– This is largely where your value is received. Interaction with my peers taught me – pushed me to increase my pricing. Your community gives you confidence!  It’s also helpful to learn how to be successful and how far you can grow.  When you are around like-minded people in your industry its easy to share experiences and learn from each other.  This industry can be isolating, and therefore, it’s good to meet “your people.”
  5. Access to resources– Some in-person workshops may provide access to materials or equipment that would be difficult or costly to buy and test yourself. This offers a more hands-on, resource-rich experience. See how tools and products are used by instructors and develop a familiarity with the industry standard tools. 
  6. Motivation and accountability– Being physically present in a workshop will foster a greater sense of commitment and accountability. The structured environment and social pressure can encourage better participation and goal completion. This could be reflected in your time management, interaction with clients, perfecting the schedule that will best accommodate your home life. 

Prop Hive - Destash your Gear! Workshop, Maternity and Newborn Photographers Summit

Our MOST recommended workshop is ACTUALLY a conference – The Maternity and Newborn Photographers Summit.  It is a new conference, as of 2025, the second year is happening in July.  And just to plug it a little bit – you don’t need to be a maternity or newborn photographer to attend!

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