The Blackthorn Centre School of Photography provides expert training courses in digital photography, black & white and colour film photography in our professionally equipped lightroom, darkroom and lighting studio. The Blackthorn is a UK based professional photography training centre, located near Cricklade in the south-west of England.

We cater for the complete beginner through to the professional photographer. We have a photography course to suit your requirements whether you are looking for a day, weekend, evening course, or a group or One to One session. Learn all the important fundamentals of photography with our Starting Photography courses. Each course has been carefully designed to guide students through every aspect of the subject in a clear and logical way, yet encouraging individual creativity.

Each pupil is constantly monitored and assisted. Students are encouraged to look upon their work with a critical yet constructive eye. You will quickly learn to appreciate the effect a lens or exposure will have on the finished print.

All courses are limited in the number of students allowed to enrol to ensure maximum learning and individual attention. It is therefore advisable to book courses well in advance.

Our Beginners courses cover the camera and its controls and composition, editing and printing.

Learn the magic of Landscape Photography course on this popular photography course.

With our Portrait Photography course you will learn about studio lighting and the techniques involved in producing high quality portraits.

For the photographer working professionally as a wedding photographer, or the person who has been asked to take a wedding and wants to get it right on the day there is our creative wedding photography course. 

We also specialise in travel photography courses, wildlife photography courses, and arrange trips abroad capturing those special images.

The Blackthorn Centre School of Photography is located just outside Cricklade on the Wiltshire - Gloucestershire border, South-West England, UK. We are within easy travelling distance from Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Oxford, Bristol, Bath, Reading, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. If travelling a further distance such as London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle or Kent, we can arrange accommodation for weekend courses.

Will I be out of my depth?

What equipment will I need?

What do the courses involve?

Each course has been carefully designed to guide students through every aspect of the subject in a clear and logical way, yet encouraging individual creativity.
Whether in the studio or on location, attention is always paid to picture composition, depth of field, choice of lens, film, exposure, last but not least, print quality.
Each pupil is constantly monitored and assisted. The emphasis is always on making students look upon their work with a critical yet constructive eye. In this way you will quickly learn to appreciate the effect a lens or exposure will have on the finished print. Mistakes are quickly identified and corrected.
The Photoshop courses, which run in our purpose built lightroom, allow the student to learn the use of techniques such as RAW conversion, use of layers and masks. Learning how to build up your pictures to produce exciting and creative images. It is fun learning!
All courses are limited in the number of students allowed to enrol to ensure maximum learning. It is therefore advisable to book courses well in advance.

Why are our students so successful?

Our team of highly experienced lecturers have been teaching photography locally for fourteen years and during that time we have made many friends whilst teaching students. Several continue to enrol on courses purely to enjoy their photography and friendships made whilst attending our courses. Since opening the Blackthorn has encouraged ‘cascade teaching’ so any student having difficulties can be given individual tuition on a one to one basis.

'My first visit to this centre. A very high standard of work & an obviously enthusiastic team. Refreshing to see!'
Ian Kent-Robinson, City & Guilds Assessor 20th July 1998