Practitioners first.
Educators always.
Every session at Belfast Photo Workshops is taught by working professional photographers. Not just educators — people who shoot commercially every day and bring that real-world experience into every class.
Belfast Photo Workshops has been running from our studio on Springfield Road since 2010. What started as a space to share professional knowledge has grown into Northern Ireland's dedicated photography education studio — but the philosophy has never changed.
We keep groups small because we believe that's the only way learning actually happens. You'll work on your own camera, on subjects that matter to you, with an instructor who can give you honest, specific feedback — not generic advice for a room full of strangers.
Whether you're a complete beginner or a working photographer looking to sharpen a specific skill, you'll leave with something you can use the very next time you pick up a camera.
We teach what we use. Every technique, every workflow, every piece of advice comes from active commercial practice — not a textbook.
Belfast Photo Workshops · Teaching Philosophy
Meet the people
behind the workshops.
Rob Durston
An advertising and commercial photographer with more than three decades of experience across stills and production, shaped by technical precision and a calm on-set presence.
Rob trained formally in photography in Canada and began his career working across Canada and Southern California, dividing his early years between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. He built a portfolio spanning advertising, lifestyle, travel and product campaigns — working as a photographer, director and producer across international assignments.
Working from a 1,300 square foot studio in Belfast and on location throughout Ireland and the UK, Rob brings a balanced understanding of creative intent, production workflow and the demands of high-level commercial work. His images are defined by clarity, measured simplicity and a focus on the character of the subject.
Rob lives on a small farm in Northern Ireland with his partner Olivia, where they run an animal sanctuary. That grounded, thoughtful approach informs everything he teaches.
Christopher Barr
A highly skilled and versatile unit stills and portrait photographer with over twenty years in the film industry, whose work spans gallery and key art shoots throughout the UK and Europe.
Christopher's career has taken him across some of the most recognised productions in recent television and film. His expertise covers unit stills, gallery shoots, key art and portrait work — combining technical skill with an ability to capture authentic moments under the pressure of a working set.
His dedication, technical skill and ability to evoke emotion through visual storytelling have established him as a respected and influential figure in the creative industry. That same instinct for the decisive moment is what he brings to every workshop he teaches.
Where we teach.
Our studio is based in the Blackstaff Mill Building on Springfield Road — a 1,300 square foot professional space with full lighting equipment, backdrops, tethering infrastructure, and everything students need for a proper hands-on session.
We also teach on location across Belfast and Northern Ireland for workshops that benefit from the real world — landscape sessions, street photography, and corporate training delivered at your premises.
Blackstaff Mill Building
81–129 Springfield Road, 3rd Floor
Belfast, BT12 7AE
Northern Ireland
Ready to learn from
the best?
Browse our workshops or get in touch — we'll recommend the right session for where you are right now.