At a Glance

Duration

3 Days / 2 Nights

Group Size

Max 4

Tuition

AU$1,950  AU$1,750 Early-Bird
AU$350 deposit secures your seat; balance due 30 days prior.

Location Preview

Why the Sunshine Coast?

Golden beaches, volcanic headlands and easy access to dark-sky hinterland make the Sunshine Coast one of Australia’s most diverse photo playgrounds. You’ll chase first light at Point Cartwright, frame silky wave action at Coolum’s hidden bays, then pivot inland for pristine Milky Way reflections over Borumba Dam. We adapt to tides, swell and cloud to keep you in the right place at the right moment — sunrise, sunset and under the stars.

Why Choose Us

Fully Permitted & Insured

We’re one of the few operators on the Sunshine Coast who partner directly with Council and SEQ Water to bring you workshops that are fully permitted, insured and responsible. Every moment of your experience is backed by $20M public liability cover and structured safety planning.

Why it matters: Your investment deserves more than great photos — it deserves protection, professionalism and the confidence that everything is done the right way.

  • All council and national park permits secured
  • $20M public liability cover
  • Small groups, max 4
  • Structured risk management and briefing
  • Drone rules and site guidelines followed
  • Ethical, low-impact footprint

Before You Book Anywhere:

  • Do they hold a current Commercial Activity Permit for these locations?
  • Is their insurance valid in council and national park areas?
  • What is the group size cap and risk plan?

If the answer isn’t clear, it’s worth double-checking. Choosing a compliant operator helps ensure insurance responds if something goes wrong — so you can focus on creating unforgettable images.

Daily Flow

  • Pre-dawn meet-ups & composition walk-throughs
  • Golden-hour & blue-hour shoreline drama
  • Mid-morning edit labs — RAW ➜ hero image in 3 hrs
  • Afternoon recharge / scouting new angles
  • Pastel sunsets over headlands & tidal pools
  • Milky Way tracking & stacked panoramas (weather permitting)

Skills You’ll Master

  • Precise exposure for noise-controlled astro
  • Focus/aperture stacking for front-to-back sharpness
  • Wave-timed shutter speeds — freeze vs silk
  • In-camera colour & custom white balance
  • Planning with PhotoPills, Clear Outside & tide charts
  • Tracker basics & multi-frame Milky Way blends
  • Lightroom workflow & presets
  • Photoshop noise-stacking, masking & export

What’s Included

  • 3 full days of small-group field mentoring
  • Daily Lightroom/Photoshop edit labs
  • Star tracker introduction & use
  • Free Composition eBook & laminated Seascape Cheat Sheet
  • Personalised gear advice & partner discounts
  • Lifetime access to workshop editing videos
  • Post-workshop Zoom critique & email support
  • Comprehensive pre-workshop planning guide

What’s Not Included

  • Accommodation, meals & drinks
  • Transport to / between shooting locations
  • Flights or long-distance travel
  • Travel insurance / medical cover

Why tuition-only? Locals often drive or stay with family; interstate guests use points or house-sit. Keeping lodging flexible lowers the fee and lets everyone book to suit their budget.

Travel Logistics

OptionTravel Time to BaseDetails
Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY)≈ 15 min (10 km)Closest airport; direct flights from major cities.
Brisbane Airport (BNE)≈ 1–1.5 hrsAirtrain + Sunshine Coast line, shuttle, or rental car.
Self-DriveVariesFree parking at meet-ups and most sunrise/sunset sites.

Accommodation Picks

Stay anywhere between Caloundra and Coolum Beach to be within ~30 min of every meet-up. Favourites include Surfside on the Beach, Beachcomber on the Spit, Landmark Resort & Spa, Mantra Mooloolaba Beach, Coolum Seaside, Element on Coolum, Maleny Lodge, and Narrows Escape.

Secure Your Spot

AU$350 deposit today — three days of sunrise, sunset & astro mentorship to transform your portfolio.

Reserve Your Spot

If fully booked, join the waitlist via the contact form.

FAQs

What fitness level is required?
Walk ~1 km on sandy/rocky terrain with gear at a relaxed pace.
Can I rent gear?
Yes — reserve wide-angle lenses, tripods and batteries from our local partner.
Cancellation policy?
Full refund up to 60 days out; partial credit if we rebook your spot within 60 days.
Weather backups?
Cloudy nights → deeper edit labs; stormy seas → dramatic long-exposures. We adapt.
Beginner friendly?
Know Manual mode basics; we lift you from there.
Drone rules?
Keep 30 m from people & wildlife, stay <120 m AGL, maintain line-of-sight (CASA).
Travel insurance?
Strongly recommended — protect yourself and your gear.

Testimonials

★★★★★

"Dylan has put a lot of time and effort into this workshop. He is easy to understand and ensures each student gets the time they need to grasp the concepts. I really appreciated that there were only four students—Dylan spent plenty of time with each of us. The follow-up eBooks he created and published are a terrific way to reinforce the weekend and make sure the new techniques and knowledge really stick. Thank you Dylan—I really enjoyed the weekend and can’t wait to see what’s next."

– Jo

★★★★★

"Highly recommend Knighty’s Photography! You won’t be disappointed! I’ve done a few private workshops with Dylan over the last five years and it’s been great! Looking forward to my next workshop with Dylan!"

– Wendy K.

★★★★★

"Knighty's Astro photography session was an amazingly transformative and immersive experience as a beginner photographer... I came back with marvellous photos and newfound confidence."

– Amber

★★★★★

"I was absolutely stoked with the workshop... Dylan clarified a lot of the questions I had. Would love to do this again!"

– Workshop Participant

★★★★★

"Dylan was an attentive and knowledgeable instructor who was prepared to put in extra time... He made sure to check on all photographers and provided tailored advice."

– Participant Feedback

★★★★★

"The workshop was excellent. Dylan was very knowledgeable and professional. He went over and above to ensure we all had a great experience."

– Nikon School Attendee

★★★★★

"Even with the constant rain, Dylan kept me up to date and gave me peace of mind. The workshop clarified so many things that YouTube never could. Highly recommended!"

– Workshop Attendee

★★★★★

"I would highly recommend a Nikon School Workshop and Dylan Knight. He followed up with extra resources and provided a professional experience from start to finish."

– Nikon Workshop Participant