Photography Workshops in Uruguay with William Hereford

Jemison Thorsby
William Hereford is a long-time Tom Beckbe collaborator. If you’ve enjoyed our outdoor, lifestyle, and travel photography over the years, then you’re already a fan of his. In addition to Tom Beckbe, William has photographed stories for the worlds leading publications including Vanity Fair, Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Departures, Food and Wine, Bon Appetite, as well as commercial campaigns for household names like Le Creuset and All Clad. Learn the secrets to filling your own portfolio with beautiful photography.

The Class

While photographing Chef Francis Mallmann's cookbook "Green Fire," William first visited Uruguay and the tiny pueblo of Garzon in 2021. William fell in love immediately. The light in the southern hemisphere is an inspriation and a fantastic place to grow as an artist and photographer. William has subsequently made a home in Uruguay, splitting time between Garzon and New York. This course will be a guided tour through what first drew William to this part of the world as well as his approach to documenting a place and its inhabitants.

The workshop is for amateurs and budding professionals alike. The classes are limited to 6 students to ensure an intimate environment. Whether you're expanding the use of your phone's camera and/or an up and coming professional with a full camera kit, you will have the opportunity to learn at whatever technical level meets your needs.

Each day we will focus on a new subject: landscape, portraits, and food with afternoons reserved for group discussions on our work. This course will be a very personal experience inside William's home and the wonderful country of Uruguay.

Garzon - Uruguay

With rolling hills and empty countryside, Uruguay offers visitors a unique setting unlike anywhere else in South America. The country is ranked first in Latin America in democracy, peace, low levels of corruption, and press freedom, making it a very comfortable and friendly place for visitors. Like its neighbors Argentina and Chile, Uruguay is known for its hospitable culture, food, and wine. Because the three countries are so close, travel between Argentina, Chile and Uruguay is quick and easy, making Uruguay a fantastic option for visitors planning trips in South American and Patagonia. Also, if you're traveling from North America, there is no jet-lag!

The Pueblo

Pueblo Garzon is often called the Marfa, TX of South America. The small town's proximity to what the locals refer to as "The Hills" or "Las Sierras" provides a vibrant background for international artists, gauchos, and expats seeking sun and warmth during the northern hemisphere's colder months. The Pueblo is home to many art galleries and wineries as well as acclaimed chef, Francis Mallmann's flagship restaurant and hotel "Garzon."

Tuition: $3,000

Accommodations, Meals and Airport Transfers are included.
FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED.

The Itinerary

Day 1

TBD: Airport Transfer from MVD Airport to Garzon

8:00pm: Welcome Dinner: Restaurant Garzon/Francis Mallman

Day 2

9:00am: Breakfast

10:00am: Portraits/Interior
*lighting with natural light

2:00pm: Catered/Restaurant Lunch

3:30pm: Post Production/Group Discussion

8:00pm: Catered/Restaurant Dinner

Day 3

5:30am: Landscapes/Drone Operation
*intro to landscapes
*drone tutorial

10:00am: Breakfast/Personal Time

1:00pm: Catered/Restaurant Lunch

2:30pm: Post Production/Group Discussion

8:00pm: Catered/Restaurant Dinner

Day 4

9:00am: Breakfast

10:00am: Food Photography
*tethering to a computer
*artificial lighting

2:00pm: Catered/Restaurant Lunch

3:30pm: Post Production/Group Discussion

8:00pm: Catered/Restaurant Dinner

Day 5

9:00am: Breakfast

TBD: Airport Transfer from Garzon to MVD Airport

Travel & Accommodations

Flights should be booked to Montevideo (Airport Code: MVD). Transfers will be available from the airport to Garzon. It's a 2 hour drive. If you're interested in exploring the area after class, it's recommended to rent a car which can be reserved online before your flight.

The cost of tuition will cover accommodations. A private bedroom for each student will be provided between 4 separate properties. Two of the properties include a shared kitchen and bathroom. All properties are elegantly furnished and well reviewed. More details on the properties are available upon request and bookings are first come first served.

Restaurant/Hotel Garzon is a boutique hotel available to students with a larger budget. A $500 discount will be provided to any student who wishes to book private accommodations.

Suggested Equipment List

(NOT REQUIRED)

DIGITAL CAMERA BODIES
William uses mirrorless Canons for their image and build quality but more importantly for the muscle memory he's development using Canons over thousands of hours. Bring the camera you're most familiar with whether it be film camera or a phone. Most full-frame digital cameras have incredible sensors these days. You don't want to be stuck in the menu settings during an important moment.

FILM CAMERA BODIES
William regularly shoots with film and encourages anyone interested to bring along their film gear. Time permitting, you will have the opportunity to process your black and white film and scan the negatives. There will not be time to process color film nor an extended tutorial on black and white film processing, however, chemicals and equipment will be available for folks with experience.

SMART PHONES
If you're love of photography is routed in the use of your phone please do not fret, you are welcome. Thousands of successful content based businesses are created every year with just a phone - they are an important part of our reality and understanding how to use the camera has never been more important.

LENSES
The 2 cheapest lenses in William's bag product 99% of his professional work.
*Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 ($1,299 USD)
*Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 ($649 USD)
There are instances when specialty lenses are required, but it is rare they are carried for everyday use. Most lenses are project specific and when shooting for travel magazines William only carries the 2 lenses above. Please feel free to bring your full kit but 2 zoom lenses covering roughly 24mm-200mm will cover 99% of your needs.

COMPUTER
The industry standard for editing digital photographs on the road is an Apple MacBook Pro. This course will cover how to tether a camera directly to a computer for instant color correction.

Contact & Booking

A full booking concierge service is available upon request. Additional information can be found at workshops.williamhereford.com.

Please email William Hereford directly for reservations and questions.