Have you always wanted to learn how to photograph the Milky Way and star-trails? Then this Astrophotography Workshop for Beginners is the one for you.

The night sky has always fascinated mankind through the ages. On a clear night and away from light pollution, you will see a few thousand stars with your naked eye. Counting them is like trying to count the grains of sand on a beach. It is estimated there are 100 to 400 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone. Thanks to modern camera technology, it is now possible to photograph in the night sky beyond what our eyes can see.

In this Astrophotography workshop, you will learn the skills and master the technique on how to take amazing Astro images and raise your night sky photography standard to the next level.

This Astrophotography workshop is fully practical and conducted in the field. We will show you how set up your camera and have a trial go at photographing the night sky before the actual shoot itself.

This Astrophotography workshop is limited to 6 people. Besides being seasonal, it is also dependant on the weather, so we will only take bookings for 6 people at a time. If there is an overflow, you will be put on a waiting list.

FAQ

What camera gear do I need?
A DSLR or mirrorless camera. f/1.8 to f/2.8 wide-angle lens (for example, 10-20mm, 14mm, 16-35mm or 18-55mm) and a lens hood. Tripod, tripod head and L-bracket. Remote trigger or intervalometer. Spare fully-charged batteries and spare memory card.

I’m a beginner to Astrophotography, is this workshop for me?
Totally. This workshop is designed for absolute beginners in Astrophotography who are comfortable shooting in Aperture Priority with a tripod. Even if you are an amateur with some experience in Astrophotography, this workshop will help solidify your skills and take your night sky photography up to the next level.

How do I book and how much does it cost?
Click the BUY NOW button at the top or bottom of this page to view the cost. This Astrophotography Outdoor Workshop for Beginners will last for around 4 hours. However, we normally run slightly overtime based on the number of questions clients have.

What time does the workshop start and end?
This depends on the time of year - check next to listed dates when you book.

Where is the workshop held? How fit do I need to be to attend?
Depending on the time of year or weather conditions, it will be held somewhere along the North Dublin coast, Wicklow Mountains, Copper Coast or Cliffs of Moher. Occasionally, it may even be held elsewhere in Ireland, depending on the interest and flexibility of clients. This workshop is suitable for all fitness levels.

Is the workshop weather dependant?
Yes. The ideal conditions for photographing the milky way and star-trails are clear skies free of cloud. Due to this, we ask you to be flexible within a timeframe in order to maximise the chances of getting a clear sky. We will notify you the night before and on the day of the workshop to confirm. If it is slightly cloudy, the workshop will still go ahead as there might be a gap in the clouds.

What if the weather’s bad?
If the forecast is for rain or is very cloudy or unsafe the workshop will be postponed to the next weather window. Once booked, you will be offered a new date at the earliest opportunity at no extra cost. However, you many also use your credit on one of our other workshops, gallery products or books. If you wish to completely pull out, we will refund the cost of your booking less the credit card booking fee (which is around 3% of the total cost).

Do you cover the use of a Star Tracker in the workshop?
Sorry, we do not as this is an Astrophotography Workshop designed for beginners - both in the interest of time and to ensure that everyone masters the basic skills of taking the best Astro images with the camera only.

Do you do any Astrophotography Post Processing Workshops?
Yes, if you'd like to brush up and solidify your Astro editing skills, then sign up for our Astrophotography Zoom Workshop for Beginners by clicking here. In this Zoom workshop we also explain what gear you need, how to effectively plan a Milky Way or star-trails shoot and the technique you need to come away with the best Astro images.

Your Tutor
As well as being an experienced photographer, your tutor Adrian Hendroff is fully insured and is a fully qualified Mountain Leader. He is also Garda Vetted and a REC3 First-aid holder. Check out some of his Astrophotography work by clicking here or visit his pages on Instagram, 500px and Flickr. Adrian won the DIAS (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies) 'Reach For The Stars' photography competition in 2023 in the Back On Earth and Public Choice categories. Read the press release here. Another two of Adrian's images were shortlisted in the same competition in 2022, with one emerging as runners-up. Another of his astro images also emerged as runners-up in the Clean Coast 'Love Your Coast' photography competition in 2021 and one more shortlisted in 2023. Two of his astro images has also been used in the Fotovue publication Photographing The Night Sky.

What's Included And What's Not
The workshop fee includes location guiding and photography tuition. It also includes a 15% discount code for Cotswold Outdoor and a 10% discount code for Great Outdoors. It does not include transport, equipment, accommodation, insurance, food and drink.

Why Us
We will always give you our 110%. Sharing what we know and making sure you go away with the right skills, great memories and that special image is really important to us. Moreover, we are meticulous in our location planning and our intimate knowledge of the photo-locations mean that we can quickly adapt to the conditions presented on the day. Safety is also of utmost importance and we will never risk anything to get 'that' shot. We work with small groups so everyone gets an equal amount of attention and coaching during the day. You can be rest assured of a fun and relaxed environment where the craic is mighty.

Cancellation and Refund Policy
If you cancel more than 15 days before the workshop commences, you'll get a 50% refund. However, if you cancel 15 days or less, no refunds are made but you will be allowed to choose an alternative workshop date. We will need a minimum of 3 people for the workshop to go ahead. In the event we postpone/cancel the workshop due to insufficient numbers or due to bad weather, we will offer you an alternative worshop or workshop date, or refund the cost of your booking less the credit card booking fee (which is around 3% of the total cost).

Read Our Blog
We wrote a blog on shooting meteors and the milky way along the Dublin coastline. Read it here.

What You Can Expect to Photograph

Clients In Action

If you have a group of 6 people, we can also run a private workshop anywhwere in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Alternatively, if you prefer a smaller group at short notice, bespoke workshops for 1-3 people can also be catered for. Please email fabulousviewpoints@gmail.com for details or if you wish to be put on a waiting list for any upcoming workshop.

NOTE: We need the clearest skies possible at night so we cannot set a date in advance. Once you book, we will give you a day's notice as a "heads-up". Following that we will issue a final confirmation at around noon on the day itself. We ask you to be flexible in this respect in order to get the clearest skies possible. For our cancellation and postponement policy due to the weather please read the FAQ above.

Our next workshop will be held between 14th-27th September 2025 in the Wicklow Mountains or the Copper Coast from around 6.45/7.30pm to 11.30/midnight. Email with your mobile number if interested.

Click on the BUY NOW button below to book. Please email your mobile number to fabulousviewpoints@gmail.com after you book.

Astrophotography Workshops