The Masterclasses by National Geographic Traveller (UK) returns this week with a series of one-hour writing and photography sessions.

The first events took place last night, with our photography class exploring how to get started as a travel photographer. The audience discovered how our expert photographers built their careers, with a range of practical advice shared during the session.

From crafting your portfolio to developing your photography skills, here are a couple of top tips from day one:

• Travel and documentary photographer Annapurna Mellor talked about the importance of using personal work to develop your career. “When doing personal trips, act like you’re on assignment,” she advised. “[I think about] what could be added to my portfolio so I can show different clients in the future.”
• Lauryn Ishak, a lifestyle and travel photographer, offered tips on staying relevant to help secure new work. “I update my work on my website and on my Instagram and make sure I stay in touch with editors I know,” she explained. “I also try to stay ahead of the market by thinking about what destinations might be on the radar for the next year of travel.”
• Both panellists agreed that looking at work by other photographers is a great way to learn and be inspired. “If you’re really passionate about photography, you naturally look at a lot of other people’s work,” said Annapurna. “It’s really nice to get ideas about different ways to use light and different ways to shoot stories.”

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