Photography Mentoring & Workshops in London
I love working with creative and ambitious photographers who want to grow their own potential.
For portrait and headshot photographers who want to grow — their craft, their portfolio, and their business.
I currently offer four types of photography education; in person group workshops, in person one-to-one workshops, 2hr one off Strategy Calls, and one-to-one mentoring on an ongoing basis.
I've been teaching for over twelve years. Before I picked up a camera professionally, I was a lecturer at Goldsmiths, the University of Creative Arts, and the University of Brighton — teaching undergrad and postgrad students in art, curating, and cultural studies. I know how people learn, and I know how to make difficult things make sense.
When I started my photography business in 2021, I threw myself into every course, programme, and YouTube rabbit hole I could find. Some of it was useful. Most of it wasn't. What actually moved the needle was finding people who'd already solved the problems I was struggling with and learning directly from them.
That's what I offer here.
Whether you're looking for ongoing 1:1 mentoring to develop your practice and build a sustainable business, or an intensive studio workshop to level up your technical skills, I work with a small number of photographers at a time — so you get proper attention, not a conveyor belt. I am also a mentor at Headshots Matter.
UN/WOVEN 2026
A PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY RETREAT TO HELP YOU UNRAVEL THOSE PREWRITTEN SCRIPTS
This intesive retreat is for photographers who want to go deeper, to learn how to develop their creative vision, align their business with their values, and create a lead generating practice. Convened by Sissela Johansson and me!
ONE TO ONE ONGOING MENTORING
Most photographers who come to me aren't struggling with the basics. They know how to use a camera. They can light a subject. They've been shooting for a year or two, maybe longer. But something is missing — and they can't quite put their finger on what it is.
Sometimes it's creative: they don't have a style they'd call their own, and every shoot feels like they're borrowing someone else's aesthetic. Sometimes it's commercial: they're busy but not profitable, or they know they're undercharging but don't know how to change it. Sometimes it's both.
That's who this mentoring programme is for. Photographers who are capable of more, and who want someone in their corner to help them figure out what more actually looks like for them.
TESTIMONIAL
Anasta Fo
I had a 3-month photography mentorship with Tom, and it was a really fulfilling journey. He helped me shape my offer, challenged me, and gave me lots of ideas on how to improve it
What was most valuable was seeing his perspective and absorbing his mindset around photography and business. He also helped me rethink my home studio and gave me completely new ideas on how to use the space, which was very insightful. I’ve now moved to a new home studio and set it up using his recommendations and tips, and I love it. He was even open to a video call long after we finished working together to help me with some technical things around the new studio, which was very cute.
I would highly recommend working with Tom, whether as a mentor or a photographer. He’s an amazing and inspiring person!
2HR STRATEGY CALL
Sometimes you don't need a full mentoring programme. You need two hours with someone who's already solved the problem you're stuck on.
The Strategy Call is a focused, one-to-one video session built around a single challenge in your photography practice or business. You bring the question - I bring honest, direct perspective from five years of building a portrait and headshot business and twelve years of teaching people how to think differently about creative practice.
What people bring to a Strategy Call:
Some recent examples of what we've worked through:
"My portfolio isn't converting — I can't figure out what's wrong with it"
"I don't know how to price my work and I keep undercharging"
"I want to move into headshot photography but don't know where to start"
"My studio setup feels limiting and I don't know how to fix it"
"I've been shooting for two years and I still don't feel like I have a style"
If you've been sitting with a question like one of these — going around in circles, asking friends who don't quite get it — this is what the Strategy Call is for.
How it works:
When you book, I'll ask you to send me a short brief beforehand — two or three sentences about what you want to get out of the session. That means we start on day one with direction rather than spending the first half hour working out what we're actually talking about.
The session runs for two hours on video call. I'll give you my honest read on your situation, specific things to try or change, and - where relevant - things to stop doing. You'll leave with a clear next step, not a vague plan.
Sessions are occasionally available in person, so if you'd prefer to meet face to face — get in touch to discuss.
Price - £350
Email studio@tomtrevatt.com to book the call today.
TESTIMONIAL
Gareth Morton
I recently had a 2 hour strategy call with Tom about the portrait aspect of my business and how I could position myself in the market. We discussed the business, where I fit in, my branding and how to stand out in the market. I found Tom very personable and he took the time to look at my work, learn about me and what drives and motivates me as well as looking at the aspects of my work that help me stand out in the market.
We made a solid plan with actionable tasks that I could take forward an implement immediately including pricing strategy, marketing as well as focussing on my USP as a portrait photographer and what I could bring o the market that helps set me apart.
I highly recommend booking in with Tom if you feel at a bit of a crossroads or are unsure of your next move with your business.
ONE TO ONE WORKSHOPS
I also offer One to One in person Workshops to help you develop your phtoography skills.
Hosted in my well equipped studio in central London, you will get to learn and experiment with a range of lighting techniques, use of backdrops, furniture and props, and posing strategies to help you build an amazing portfolio. This workshop is designed to help you practice your photography, so I book a professional model and we work together to produce amazing portraits.
For more information on One to One Workshops, click here
Email studio@tomtrevatt.com to book a One to One Workshop
TESTIMONIAL
Sheena Sabharwal
As a fellow photographer, I'd been meaning to develop my studio lighting skills for some time — and given that I love Tom's style, attending one of his workshops made sense. Tom was fantastic at simplifying the whole process of working with studio light. He took time to explain his key lighting choices, how they worked and why he chose them. There was plenty of time to experiment with different setups and really understand how they worked. Tom is excellent at keeping things simple yet effective
GROUP WORKSHOPS
I run group workshops periodically throughout the year — smaller, collaborative sessions bringing together a handful of photographers to work through specific areas of portrait and headshot photography together. These cover similar ground to the 1:1 workshop but with the added dimension of learning alongside other photographers at a similar stage.
Group workshops are announced via my mailing list and social channels when dates are confirmed. They sell out quickly, so the best way to make sure you hear about them first is to get on the list.
For more information about Group Workshops, click here.
Email studio@tomtrevatt.com to register your interest and be notified of upcoming dates
TESTIMONIAL
Sisi Burns
Tom is a wonderful host. He was very open and generous in sharing his expertise. I love learning from other photographers and always come away with new ideas, and Tom’s workshop was ideal in that respect. The small group size meant it felt focused, while still allowing plenty of time to shoot for oneself. It was a wonderful opportunity to share in his process. Thank you!
Email at studio@tomtrevatt.com to book a Discovery Call
I only take on a small cohort of mentees per quarter in order to make sure I give everyone proper attention, so please message me to enquire about my availability or to get added to the waiting list.
Why work with me.
Why work with me
Most photography education is technical. It tells you how to set up a three-point lighting rig or what aperture to use for a headshot. That's useful up to a point — but it's rarely what's actually holding photographers back.
What I bring to mentoring that most photography educators can't is a genuine background in both education and art theory. Twelve years of university teaching across Goldsmiths, UCA, and Brighton taught me how to help people think differently about their creative practice — not just what to do, but why to do it, and what it says about them as an artist. My PhD in art theory informs the way I look at images and the way I help others develop their own visual language.
I've also built a portrait and headshot business from nothing over the last five years — through a pandemic, through multiple studio moves, through the slow and sometimes painful process of finding my own clients, my own style, and my own way of doing things. I've made the mistakes. I know which ones are worth making and which ones to avoid.
I'm also still an active photographer — not someone who used to shoot and now teaches. The work I share on my mentoring calls is work I did last week. I think that matters.