There is nothing nicer than holding and looking at a professionally presented photo book of your own work. They are the perfect product for a project and a great way to fund your photography if that's your goal. Photo books promote your work at the highest level and give you that professional edge. They're also a real talking point for friends and family when sat on your coffee table.

If you need tuition on all matters relating to professional book-making using Affinity Publisher,  I can provide help and advice from initial concept through to getting your book published and printed by my recommended online publisher.

Affinity Publisher is the perfect software for creating beautiful photobooks due to its low one-off purchase fee and intuitive user interface. With support for accurate colour reproduction, you really can create a book that meets your highest expectations. Affinity Publisher offers a range of layouts including master pages and templates as well as allowing you to create your own design from the bottom up if you wish. With my help, you could be holding a self-published beautiful photo book in no time!

Typical sessions

1-2-1 sessions can be tailored to your personal requirements. Here are some example sessions you may wish to cover...

Session 1: Getting Started with Affinity Publisher

1. Introduction to Affinity Publisher's interface and tools.
2. Setting up a new project and choosing the right document settings.
3. Overview of basic functionalities: layers, text tools, and image placement.

Session 2: Planning Your Photo Book

1. Defining the purpose and theme of your photo book.
2. Organising and sequencing your photo selection and creating a narrative flow.
3. Understanding layout principles and design considerations.

Session 3: Editing and importing Images

1. Preparing and exporting images for print using Lightroom Classic
2. Importing images into Affinity Publisher.
3. Creating image masks and using clipping paths for creative effects where applicable.

Session 4: Typography and Text Layout

1. Choosing appropriate fonts for your photo book.
2. Text placement and alignment.
3. Incorporating captions, quotes, and other text elements.

Session 5: Designing Page Layouts

1. Master pages and page templates for consistency.
2. Balancing images and text on each page.
3. Creating visually engaging spreads.

Session 6: Advanced Design Techniques

1. Using gradients, shadows, and other effects to enhance design.
2. Incorporating graphic elements and shapes.
3. Exploring advanced typography features.

Session 7: Printing and Exporting

1. Setting up the document for print.
2. Exporting your project using my recommended online publishing house.
3. Tips for working with printing services.

Payment must be made in full when booking a single day workshop (you will be sent an invoice). For residential workshops, a deposit of £500 is required (unless otherwise stated) and the balance is payable 12 weeks before the course commences.

The balance of the cost of the workshop will be due 12 weeks before the workshop starts. If a booking is made less than 12 weeks prior to the beginning of the workshop, the full cost is payable at the time of booking.

If you, the client, cancel a booking any money you have paid (including the deposit) is non-refundable unless I can find a replacement to take your place after all other places have been filled. If a replacement is found an admin fee of £100 will be deducted from the refund. If I cancel a booking any payment received will be refunded in full. Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance in place. It is a term of the contract between us that you will obtain the appropriate travel insurance cover before you set out on the workshop. The insurance must cover the loss, expenses and damages arising from, including but not limited to, the cancellation of the workshop (whether in whole or in part), personal accident and injury, medical and repatriation costs, loss of baggage and personal money and belongings, flight cancellations and delays as well as your inability to arrive at the workshop destination due to fuel shortages and other such disruptions out of my control.

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, I regret I cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of my obligations under my contract with you is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature as a result of “force majeure”. In these booking conditions, “force majeure” means any event which I or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include, (whether actual or threatened), war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire, epidemics/pandemics, fuel shortages and all similar events outside my control.

Please note, I cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to me by you concerning your booking prior to me accepting it, I could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if I breached the contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by myself where I am responsible for them, my suppliers. Additionally, I cannot accept liability for any business losses.

You will be allocated either a single room or a double/twin room for single occupancy. There is no single occupancy surcharge. Where double or twin rooms are available, they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at the time of check-in.

Mark Banks Photography reserves the right to cancel any workshop. In the event of any cancellation, I will offer either a total refund or a place on an alternative workshop. If the alternative workshop is cheaper, I will refund the difference, and if it is more expensive, you will be required to pay the balance.

All applicants participate at their own risk and Mark Banks Photography accepts no responsibility for injury or damage done to their persons or property. It is recommended that applicants hold their own personal Public Liability Insurance.

The type of workshops I offer require flexibility and must allow for alternatives. For this reason, the outline itinerary and workshop description must be taken as an indication of what may take place on the workshop, and not as a contractual obligation on the part of Mark Banks Photography.

I do not accept responsibility or liability for death, bodily injury or illness caused to you during the workshop, unless arising from the negligent act and/or omission on my part or on the part of any of my employees (providing they were at the time acting within the course of their employment). Please note that any itinerary noted on the workshop description is subject to change due to weather conditions and/or the capability of participants.

By booking a workshop with Mark Banks Photography you are agreeing to accept all of the above conditions.