How many people are on each tour?

Just you, should you want it that way. We only book a maximum of six people, you and up to five friends. There won't be any strangers on the tour so you can ask as many questions and get maximum attention. We find that smaller numbers are best if your attention is on improving your photography.

How long does a tour last?

Tours are usually 4-hours in length. We do provide longer tours from day to week-long around Ireland, on request.

I am a beginner, what can I expect from a photo tour?

We ask that you send us a sample of your images to let us assess your abilities and tailor the day perfectly for you prior to your arrival. At the beginning of your tour/workshop, you will have the chance to ask any questions. We will then head off for some initial shooting and if you're shooting digitally Darren will provide instant feedback. Depending on your level, your equipment and the weather, Darren will tailor the instruction to suit.

I am an advanced photographer, what will I gain from a photo tour?

Again, we ask that you send us some of your images to let us assess your abilities and tailor the day perfectly for you prior to your arrival. Depending on your level, you may want to focus on a specific aspect of your photographic technique, learning to use a new lens or you may just want to spend the day getting an insider's perspective on Dublin.

You can use any camera be it digital, film, SLR or compact. You don't need to buy any special equipment for the tours but we ask you to provide brief details of your camera equipment to let us work on the best itinerary for you. Some prefer to work using compact digital cameras with creative controls, while others want the ability to change lenses to suit subject matter. Good comfortable footwear is a must and a light rainjacket should be seriously considered. We can provide one tripod for the duration, at no extra cost as we are aware of the high cost of carrying extra equipment on many airlines. This is particularly suitable for early morning or late evening workshops.

How far in advance do I need to book a tour?

Ideally two weeks minimum notice, as you can see in the price section below we have priced our tours to encourage early booking. For a 4-hour dublin tour, booked 21 days in advance then the price is €155 for one person, but if that same tour is booked less than 7 days in advance the price is €180. The reason we try to encourage early booking is to make sure everyone has a chance to get one-to-one tuition, it is easier to plan our schedule and it helps to keep prices down. Remember, not only is early booking cheaper, it is also easier to book your preferred date and time. We can't guarantee availability on short notice bookings.

How do I book and pay for a tour?

To check availability and make a booking follow the link here or use the menu above by navigating to Photo Workshops then choose Book a Dublin Tour. Use the calendar to check for available days then choose a time of day that you prefer, after that you can add to cart and confirm before proceeding to PayPal to pay and book. As always, if you have any problems please do not hesitate to contact us.

Where do we meet?

We can meet at the entrance to St. Stephen's Green opposite Grafton Street, or we can meet at your hotel. Just let us know where you are staying and we can meet you there (certain restrictions apply).

What is the price for a photo tour?

For a standard 4 to 5 hour tour in Dublin city centre the price is currently €215. This is a private tour so we'll make it to suit your interests.

There is an extra charge of €20 for additional participants in your group.

Are there cancellation charges?

Yes, due to the time commitment of organising and running a tour only a partial refund will be given.
For a Dublin photo tour, cancelled more than 28 days in advance - 50% may be refunded. Inside 28 days no refund can be given.
I do remain committed to making every effort to reschedule tours if your schedule changes - delayed flights, illness etc.

Can I choose a longer tour and make my own itinerary?

Absolutely, Darren has a lot of expertise in locations all over Ireland and can design a bespoke tour featuring all of the popular sights, the hidden Ireland or a mixture of both. Please use the form on the Contact Us page to inform us of your requirements.

Do I get feedback?

Yes, on the day Darren assesses your abilities in order to suggest ways to improve your photography. After you go home, contact Darren with a few of your images to get a critique. For a fee we can make further suggestions for improving your photography and Darren will answer questions on your digital workflow including Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.

Can you give me some advice on where to stay and where to eat?

Dublin is a big city in terms of its geographical size, even if it only has a small population by international standards.

That means there are a lot of hotels spread over a large area; we don't ever get any chance to stay in hotels in Dublin - it wouldn't make much sense to! But we have started photo tours and workshops from most of the city centre hotels and if we could give one piece of advice, it is to think about how close your hotel will be to what you want to see and do. Oh, and book in advance!

Sometimes hotels fill up quickly when big events are on, Dublin is home to a thriving sports scene with Leinster Rugby, the all-island Irish Rugby team and the Republic of Ireland soccer team playing in the city's stadia.

Then there are the dozens of big events at Croke Park, an 82,300 seater stadium that is home to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) including the all-ireland finals in hurling and gaelic football. Add to this the fact that Dublin sees a lot of big name performing artists, sometimes at the same time as sports events so availability becomes scarce.

As is usual for a city with lots of international visitors, from Britain, Europe and the USA, Dublin has a huge range of places to stay, from hostels for the young, energetic or more adventurous travellers, guesthouses or chain hotels for the business traveller, boutique hotels for couples and quite a few five star hotels capable of looking after visiting dignitaries - Dublin hosted the EU presidency for the first six months of 2013.

Film stars have been coming to Dublin for years and Grace Kelly had a particular fondness for a particular room in one city centre hotel, overlooking St. Stephen's Green. You don't actually need to have starred in a blockbuster or been elected as Prime Minister or President to stay in these hotels though!

Don't forget that we can meet you at your hotel and start your photography experience in Dublin from there. We can finish our itinerary in the city centre or return again to your hotel. If you are delayed or need to postpone your tour please contact us at the first opportunity so that we can reschedule.

We love Dublin and we want you to enjoy your time in our city!

Eating in Dublin has become a much better experience in recent years, there have always been good restaurants but today there are so many different types of cuisine, it's hard to give recommendations in general but I do like the George's Street / Drury Street area for the range of food on offer. Ask me when you are here and I can point you in the direction of a good vegan / vegetarian / burger joint / Michelin starred restaurant. In general the food is good enough to Instagram, if you like that kind of photography!

Have a look at momondo's Dublin Guide for more travel information for Dublin.