Creative Workflow Course: Vision to Capture and Beyond

Who is Scott?

Want to know more about me before joining the workshop? Watch this short video where I share a bit about my journey, my passion for photography, and what drives my creative process.

Want to see more of my work? Check out my latest shots on Instagram:

@scottjonphotography

Overview

Are you looking to gain creative insight and learn skills to bring your image making to a new level? Join me for an extended 5-hour intensive workshop that takes a deep dive into my creative process. This workshop is designed for photographers looking to refine their approach to image-making—from conceptualizing a vision to capturing breathtaking images and crafting them into thought-provoking works of art.

With a special focus on editing in Lightroom and Photoshop, I’ll share insights gained over 12+ years of experience, including achieving Master status with the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) and winning numerous national and international awards.

This isn’t just a technical workshop—it’s an adventure into creativity, where you’ll not only learn the tricks of the trade but also explore how to craft images that tell your story. Expect a blend of practical advice, storytelling, and a few laughs along the way. (Let’s be real—photography isn’t just about perfect settings; it’s also about embracing the chaos when things don’t go to plan!)

We’ll delve into the creative mindset, explore artistic fundamentals, and tackle post-processing techniques that will help you craft images that evoke emotion and resonate with your unique style. Whether you’re an aspiring aerial artist or just looking to take your photography to the next level, this workshop will leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to create.

What You’ll Learn

• Scott’s LAB Colour Editing Techniques: Learn Scott’s unique approach to LAB colour editing, a technique he uses on 90% of his images. Discover quick and simple methods to tease colour out of your files naturally, avoiding the pitfalls of blown-out colours often caused by traditional methods like HSL adjustments.
• Separating Colours and Tones: Explore Scott’s methods for separating colours and tones within an image, allowing you to work on them individually. This technique helps achieve colour harmony throughout the image and supports the storytelling process, creating the emotional impact Scott is known for.
• Balancing Colour in Aerial Photography: Understand the importance of colour balance in aerial imagery and how to eliminate unwanted colour casts—a common challenge in aerial photography.
• Highlight and Shadow Balancing: Master simple and effective methods to balance highlights and shadows and why it can be difficult in aerial photography to do so, ensuring your images are print-ready and professional for digital presentation.
• Streamlining the Shoot Process: Gain insights into Scott’s core fundamentals for deciding where, what, and how to shoot. Learn the do’s and don’ts of aerial photography to optimize both time and expense, whether you’re using aircraft or drones.
• The Process of Elimination: Discover Scott’s approach to determining what to exclude from an image to strengthen storytelling. From capture to post-processing, you’ll learn how to remove distractions with simple yet powerful techniques.
• Creating a Narrative in Your Imagery: Learn how to craft a narrative around your images, from using colour to evoke emotion to building a deep connection with the subject matter. Scott will guide you on how to read your subject and shape your post-processing approach accordingly.
• Basic Lightroom and Camera Raw Adjustments: Understand the core fundamentals of Lightroom or Camera Raw, including exposure, contrast, white balance, and sharpening to create a solid foundation for your edits.
• Instagram and Portfolio Presentation: Gain insights into creating a cohesive and visually pleasing Instagram feed, helping to build an audience and present your portfolio effectively.
• Recommended Media and Books: Discover Scott’s go-to books and resources that inspire and inform his editing process, offering valuable insights and creative guidance.
• Photoshop Core Techniques: Scott will demonstrate core Photoshop techniques, including quick masking, quick colour selection, and using tools like Liquify to manipulate subjects. Learn how to desaturate and saturate specific areas effectively to enhance storytelling within your images.
• Exploration and Embracing Failure: Scott will discuss the importance of exploration within the creative process and the need to embrace failure and creative dead ends without fear. Learn how to dive into the unknown to uncover hidden potential within your images.
• Open Discussion and Questions: Throughout the workshop, we’ll open the floor to questions, allowing for other subjects to be discussed as we move through the presentation.

Who Should Attend?

This course is perfect for photographers with some experience using Lightroom and a basic understanding of Photoshop. Whether you’re a landscape photographer, an aspiring aerial artist, or someone looking to push the boundaries of your creativity, this workshop will provide invaluable tools and insights. Beyond it all this seminar/workshop is designed to inspire and give you some of the tools I use in my image making to help tell your story.

Workshop Details

• Duration: 5 hours
• Location: Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, 290 Pitt St Sydney (right in the centre of town, beautiful venue)
• Includes: Light snacks and drinks at the halfway point
• Cost: $390.00 Per Person

Workshop Breakdown

Introduction (30 minutes)

• Welcome and overview of the workshop
• My journey in photography: From beginner to AIPP Master and international award winner
• The importance of a creative mindset

Part 1: Vision and Planning (30 minutes)

• Understanding light and composition
• Researching and scouting locations
• Developing a creative vision and goal for your shoot

Break (20 minutes)

• Enjoy a light meal and refreshments
• Networking and informal Q&A

Part 2: Capturing the Image (20 minutes)

• Techniques for aerial and landscape photography
• Working with challenging conditions
• Essential camera settings and gear tips

Part 3: Editing and Bringing the Vision to Life (2.5 hours)

• LAB colour editing: Natural colour enhancements without over-saturation
• Colour separation and harmony techniques for storytelling
• Balancing highlights and shadows for print-ready results
• Removing unwanted distractions for cleaner compositions
• Eliminating colour casts in aerial photography
• Crafting a narrative through colour and subject interpretation
• Core Lightroom and Camera Raw adjustments
• Alternative editing software for medium format files
• Preparing files for social media and print
• Instagram and portfolio presentation
• Recommended media and books for inspiration and learning
• Photoshop core techniques: Quick masking, colour selection, Liquify, and targeted desaturation/saturation
• Exploration and embracing failure: Creative dead ends and the unknown
• Practical demonstrations with step-by-step guidance

Q&A and Wrap-Up (30 minutes)

• Open floor for questions
• Key takeaways and next steps
• Farewell and final thoughts

About Me

I’m Scott Jon McCook, a professional aerial photographer with over a decade of experience capturing the beauty of Western Australia and beyond. My work has earned me Master status in the AIPP and recognition on both national and international stages, with awards spanning from print to digital categories. My passion lies in creating images that provoke thought and stir emotion, and I’m thrilled to share the knowledge and techniques I’ve honed over the years to help you bring your own vision to life.

Reserve Your Spot

Spaces are limited to 20 for this intimate seminar to ensure a hands-on and personalized experience.

To reserve your spot please click “Book Workshop” above where you will be taken to our checkout page.

The seminar will be held at the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts a historic venue located in the heart of Sydney.

If you would like to view my workshops for 2026 and beyond please visit here

We look forward to seeing you there!