The Masterclasses by National Geographic Traveller (UK) returned in March 2023 with a series of one-hour writing and photography sessions.

The first events took place on 7 March, with our photography class treated to a beginner’s guide to travel photography. The audience discovered how our expert photographers got started on their career journey, with a range of practical advice shared during the session.

From seeking out a coherent story to the importance of being persistent, here are some top tips from day one:

• Photographer, director and Leica ambassador Holly-Marie Cato talked about the importance of creating the type of content you want to get paid to produce. “You have to create the work you want to get paid to do,” she said. “Nobody’s going to know what you’re passionate about unless they’ve seen that work.”
• Tristan Bejawn, a professional photographer who’s shot portraits for many major UK publications, emphasised the value of finding a narrative. “As I became a better travel photographer, I understood that story is everything,” he explained. “Instead of just finding the pretty pictures, you want to try and piece together the narrative. Shooting a coherent story is the difference between being good at taking pictures and starting to get commissions from travel magazines.”
• The panellists also agreed that persistency is key — from pitching to shooting. “A fear of failure holds you back more than a lack of creativity,” suggested Tristan. “If a picture is bad, it doesn’t really matter — you learn how to take a better one, move on and keep growing.”

Tickets are still available for the remaining sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. Click here to learn more and here to buy tickets.