UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES with Sarah Marino
This page includes information about my upcoming online and in-person nature photography classes, workshops, and conferences, along with how to get in touch with me if you would like to invite me to speak in person to your group, my approach to teaching, and some feedback from previous students. If you would like to be notified about my future educational offerings, please sign up for my mailing list below (I will only use your email address to let you know about classes and workshops that might interest you).
Outdoor Photo Alliance Women’s Winter Photo Conference, February 6 to 9, 2025 in Estes Park, Colorado. I’ll be speaking at this conference along with an inspiring line-up of colleagues including Charlotte Gibb, Michele Sons, Viktoria Haack, Franka Gabler, Dawn Wilson, Beth Young, Suzanne Mathia, Jen Walton, and Sherri Mabe.
North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Summit, May 14 to 17, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona. I’ll be teaching a breakout session (topic TBD) at this conference.
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival Photography Workshops, July 2025 in Crested Butte, Colorado. I will be teaching two, 2.5 day photography workshops as part of the 2025 Festival schedule. The first session (July 13 to 15) is a general nature photography workshop, focusing on grand landscapes and smaller scenes around Crested Butte. The second session (July 16 to 18) is focused exclusively on smaller scenes, including photographing plants and flowers, abstracts, and intimate landscapes. You can download the full information packet here and can register through the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival website. Feel free to reach out with questions or if you would like to learn more about these workshops.
If you would like to invite me to be part of an in-person conference, workshop, or other photography gathering, please reach out. I am not accepting invitations for Zoom-based talks for photography clubs during 2024 and 2025 to allow more time for personal projects.
Invite Me To Speak In Person To Your Photo CluB or Conference
If you would like to invite me to speak to your photography conference, photo club, or other in-person gathering, please get in touch using this contact form. I have experience sharing keynote presentations, delivering educational talks, facilitating panel discussions, and teaching field sessions. If you have a date, topic, and budget in mind, please include that information with your submission. My talks resonate most with nature-focused groups whose members value personal expression and creativity in their own photography. I charge a fee for all presentations. You can see my approach to teaching in my recorded webinars.
A sampling of my favorite teaching topics:
Beyond the Grand Landscape: Lessons for Photographing Nature's Smaller Scenes
Making the Most of Any Light
Composition and Visual Design for Nature Photographers
Black + White: Bold Interpretations of Nature
Creative Approaches to Photographing Plants & Flowers
The Power of Observation: Creating Opportunities By Seeing More Deeply
Slow Down & Wander Around: Lessons for a More Meditative Approach to Nature Photography
Photographing Desert Landscapes
SARAH’S APPROACH TO TEACHING
I am a full-time nature photographer, photography educator, and writer, splitting my time between a home base in rural southwestern Colorado and nomadic traveling in an Airstream trailer. My portfolio features a diverse range of subjects including grand landscapes, intimate landscapes, abstract renditions of nature, and creative portraits of plants and trees.
I enjoy teaching photography almost as much as I enjoy creating my own photographs. I always strive to create a supportive, encouraging learning environment for participants, with a focus on personal attention and helpful coaching.
For sessions in the field: Although technical assistance is always available, my teaching focuses more on personal expression, creativity, improving your ability to identify photo opportunities, and connecting with a landscape. And, unlike many nature photographers offering workshops, I have an extensive background in offering professional and personal development coaching. For field sessions, you can expect inspirational locations, top-notch instruction, personal attention, professionalism, and a well-organized agenda when participating in one of my offerings.
For sessions in the classroom: Before transitioning to full-time photography, I owned a busy, well-regarded consulting business focused on leadership and strategy within nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations. Through this work, I taught hundreds of professional development sessions, worked as an executive coach, and regularly facilitated a broad range of sessions with clients. I brings this background in my approach to photography education - experience that helps set me apart in terms of developing inspirational, well-organized, and effective sessions full of information that participants can immediately integrate into their own photography practice.
Feedback from WORKSHOP, WEBINAR, and CONFERENCE Participants
“I wanted to reach out and let you know how much I enjoyed your presentation last night. You were so informative and passionate about your photographic process. I am a relatively new photographer... and have found myself drawn to trying to capture the mundane in such a way that it becomes truly interesting.
I have missed the mark on many occasions, and watching your presentation has helped me to understand what I need to do to get the results that I strive for. I was also inspired to see the images that you felt missed the mark, because that helps too, to see your creative process. Thank you so much for the inspiration!”
“Thanks so much, Sarah, for spending time with us tonight, and sharing your vision and expertise. I hope it will help to encourage our members to shoot for themselves, and to find some of those intimate landscapes the next time they are out with their cameras. You work is beautiful and truly inspiring.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed your very interesting and educational presentation tonight with outstanding, exciting examples to express your points… Thank you again. ”
“Thanks for your inspiring presentation! Since it was a warm, sunny afternoon, I decided to go outside and listen on my iPad... As you spoke, I began to see several shots in my front yard that I had totally missed seeing before (and I’ve lived here 10 years). The second you said “are there any questions” I dropped my cigar and ran and got my camera and took some shots in the front yard, which, after editing, have yielded 7 decent photos! Thanks so much for opening my eyes!”
“I really loved Sarah’s presentation. Her delivery style is excellent. Very down to earth and simply put. Awesome!”
“I saw another of your webinars yesterday and it was great. You are a gifted teacher and photographer, and an excellent communicator. Keep up your good work.”
“Your presentation this evening was very well done and inspiring. I look forward to taking a walk in the woods to practice some of your techniques. Thanks for the inspiration.”
“It was such a pleasure meeting and getting to know you last week... Thank you for taking the time to work with me 1:1 and helping me to see the smaller, more intimate scenes in the grand landscapes. Having now gone through my images from the week, I can tell you that the one we worked to compose together and those I took subsequently are among my favorites from the trip and represent a whole new avenue of photographic exploration for me. ”
“Thanks so much, Sarah! Your presentation was one of the very best. So well organized, so much information and so many beautiful images! We’d love to have you back!”
“I wanted to say thank you for your excellent presentation. Your careful and thoughtful approach came across very clearly. I agree completely with your get out there and experience nature approach. It is pretty amazing what you can find if you keep an open mind.”
“Thank you Sarah! You explain things so well. I loved the webinar... ”
“What a joy it was to have you with us for our final presentation of the year. Your clear, thoughtful, and beautifully illustrated presentation not only reminded us of many of the basic [composition] concepts to consider, but you also gave us several new ideas to incorporate in our photography. All in all, you gave us a great deal to think about and put into practice, including our “homework.” I’m already thinking about which five photos I want to describe and critique… Thank you again for the generosity of your time and vast experience. ”
“I just wanted to thank you again and let you how much we enjoyed your presentation last night. It was outstanding as I knew it would be. Your philosophy resonated with me and many others, I’m sure; and your images are truly breathtaking!”
“Your presentation [on black and white nature photography] was so well done. It was evident to me that your coaching experience has beautifully informed your teaching of the craft of photography. Very impressive!”