2025 course dates – see below.
Our most popular course – with many returning and first rate feedback – gives students a solid footing in photography and teaches you how to become master of your camera, whether you’re using a compact or digital SLR. It’s fun, practical and covers all the basics. From photographing friends to creating eye-catchy compositions this course will provide you with the basic skills to make your photography stand out from the rest.
Teens will learn how to:
- use different camera settings for creative effect
- set a correct exposure in different modes and various situations
- create strong images and unusual pictures
We get to shoot out on location with fun briefs and projects, with a brief introduction to photo editing in Photoshop depending on the group.
Locations visited are likely to include Covent Garden where we are based, and may also include:
- Greenwich by boat
- Piccadilly Circus
- South Bank
- Camden Market and more.
This course can be used as a Skill for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. It also leads on to our Teens Intermediate and Saturday courses where skills are refreshed and developed.
Our 6:1 ratio means spaces are limited, so book early to secure your space for dates that suit you.
Camera requirement: None, but bring a camera (DSLR or compact) with Manual mode (usually M, Av/A, Tv/S, P on the “mode dial”). FREE loan cameras available (Nikon/Canon), so please contact us to enquire/ reserve if required.
Average age: either 12-15 year olds (and a a year or two either side, so from about 10 years and we arrange groups in similar ages where possible) OR 16 years and upwards. For older groups, please see our 16-19 year old/Sixth Form/Gap Year student courses.
Level: Beginners
Class size: 6
All our Teens photography and media courses run during school holidays, half-terms in-person and online, and during term-time also online as one-to-one sessions. All very popular!
Phone us for more information, to chat about how we run our courses or to reserve your space.
We suggest starting with our Beginners and then you can choose from any of our Beginers Plus/Intermdiate courses to extend and grow your breadth of skills!
What students are saying:
“SOOOO glad I found you!”
“I wish I could do this course every day!”
NA, 13 years old
“I have continued to the advanced course right after the introductory course because I enjoyed it so much! The course was wonderful, Julia was so professional and nice. She taught us so many tricks and tools to become more creative. I especially liked our days outside the Lab, photographing in the streets and looking for creative angles and perspectives.”
IG, 15 years old
Please call us on 0203 002 4991, email info@themangolab.co.uk, or book below on our website to secure your place.
Book online and see below, ring us on 0203 002 4991, or email us at info@themangolab.co.uk
All our courses start and finish at our meeting space in Covent Garden, London, unless otherwise advised.
For Cornwall courses please see the Cornwall section below.
SUMMER-AUTUMN COURSES | LONDON 2025
COURSES | 2025
Summer holidays 2025: Mon 7 July – 21 / 22 Aug 2025
Term-time Saturdays, 2025: Saturdays: September, October, November, December – dates to be announced
October Half-term 2025: Mon 27 – Thurs 30/Fri 31 October 2025
BEGINNERS Photography & Camera. LONDON in person.
All our courses start and finish at our meeting space in buzzing Covent Garden, London, unless otherwise advised. Lots of practical in surrounding central London with expert, DBS-checked tutor.
Max. 6 students per group.
12 hours total £355 inc. VAT / where applicable: 9 hours £270 inc. VAT / 6 hours £180 inc. VAT
All courses include: Free DSLR CAMERA loan, lenses, tripods and editing software use as part of the course where applicable, plus completion certificate. Let us know if you need to borrow a camera and we will reserve one for you!
For Cornwall courses please see the Cornwall section below.
HOLIDAY COURSES | LONDON:
SUMMER HOLIDAYS 2025
12-15 year old Teens, BEGINNERS Digital Photography | LONDON SUMMER HOLIDAYS COURSEI
Mondays – Thursdays or Tuesday – Friday if there is a Bank Holiday.
(Courses will be running in London and West Cornwall. See below for Cornwall courses.)
Mon 7 – Thurs 10 July 2025 √
Mon 14 – Thurs 17 July √
Mon 21 – Thurs 24 July √
Mon 28 – Thurs 31 July √
Mon 4 Aug – Thurs 7 Aug √
Mon 11 – Thurs 14 Aug
Mon 18 – Thurs 21 Aug
Please contact us to reserve a space or book here.
Places for group courses are limited, max. 6 students per tutor, so please book in good time to secure the dates that suit you!
AUGUST
Monday 11 August – Thursday 14 August (11, 12, 13, 14 August) | LONDON
Mon 11 Aug – Thurs 14 Aug, 10am-1pm, MORNINGS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
Mon 11 Aug – Thurs 14 Aug, 2pm-5pm, AFTERNOONS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT – SOLD OUT!
AUGUST
Monday 18 August – Thursday 21 August (18, 19, 20, 21, August) | LONDON
Mon 18 Aug – Thurs 21 Aug, 10am-1pm, MORNINGS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
Mon 18 Aug – Thurs 21 Aug, 2pm-5pm, AFTERNOONS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
Go ahead and book your spaces here – limited places available – or contact us with any questions on:
0203 002 4991 and please leave a message as we are likely to be busy running workshops and will ring you back later! Or email us on info@themangolab.co.uk. We look forward to seeing you!
AUGUST: 12-15 year old Teens, Beginners Digital Photography | London
Monday 11 August – Thursday 14 August (11, 12, 13, 14 August) | LONDON
Mon 11 Aug – Thurs 14 Aug, 10am-1pm, MORNINGS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
Mon 11 Aug – Thurs 14 Aug, 2pm-5pm, AFTERNOONS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
AUGUST: 12-15 year old Teens, Beginners Digital Photography | London
Monday 18 August – Thursday 21 August (18, 19, 20, 21, August) | LONDON
Mon 18 Aug – Thurs 21 Aug, 10am-1pm, MORNINGS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
Mon 18 Aug – Thurs 21 Aug, 2pm-5pm, AFTERNOONS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
Contact us to book for courses or with any questions, or if you are looking for diffferent or additional dates: +44 (0)203 002 4991 / info@themangolab.co.uk.
These and all our courses can be used as a Skill for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. It also leads on to our Teens Intermediate and Saturday courses where skills are refreshed and developed.
The more experience you gain, the better you become!
Our 6:1 ratio means spaces are limited, so book early to secure your space for dates that suit you.
Camera requirement: None, but bring if you have a camera (DSLR or compact) with Manual mode (usually M, Av/A, Tv/S, P on the “mode dial”). We offer FREE LOAN CAMERAS if you need (Nikon/Canon), so please contact us to enquire/ reserve if required.
Average age: either 12-15 year olds (and 1+ year either side, so from approx. 11/12 years – we arrange groups in similar ages where possible) or join our 16 year olds and upwards or our younger 8-11 year olds. See appropriate pages via the menu, top right menu tab.
Level: Beginners
Class size: 6
We look forward to inspiring and training you soon, with lots of fun!
TERM-TIME: SATURDAYS – AUTUMN
SATURDAYS TERM-TIME, Spring 2025: BEGINNERS Photography for 12-15 year olds
Saturdays | LONDON:
SEPT: … Sept 2025 – dates to be announced soon
OCT: …Oct 2025 – dates to be announced soon
NOV: …Nov 2025 – dates to be announced soon
DEC: …Dec 2025 – dates to be announced soon
Choose to add Saturdays – great if you can start in January, and build your skills as you add more experience! And if you can’t do one date, we’re flexible for you to mix and match and join a course session later to make it up.
While we arrange the dates, please contact us to register your interest! Just email or ring us to discuss and find out more: 0203 002 4991 or email us at info@themangolab.co.uk.
SEPT
Saturdays … 2025 – dates to be announced
10am-1pm, MORNINGS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
Saturdays … 2025 – dates to be announced
2-5pm, AFTERNOONS, 12 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £355 inc. VAT
MARCH – after February Half-term
Saturdays … Oct – dates to be announced
10am-1pm, MORNINGS
Saturdays 22, 29 March
2-5pm, AFTERNOONS
NOVEMBER
Saturdays … Nov – dates to be announced
10am-1pm, MORNINGS
Saturdays … Nov – dates to be announced
2-5pm, AFTERNOONS
DECEMBER
Saturdays …December – dates to be announced soon
10am-1pm, MORNINGS, 9 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £270 inc. VAT
Saturdays …December – dates to be announced
2-5pm, AFTERNOONS, 9 hours. Max. 6 students per group. £270 inc. VAT
2026 | CORNWALL HOLIDAY COURSES
Watch this space!
Ring to chat through options, to check camera equipment, or with any questions.
We always love to have a chat!
+44 (0)203 002 4991, or email us at info@themangolab.co.uk.
ONE-TO-ONE TRAINING / PHOTO MENTORING
in person and/or online with expert tutor
Custom times and custom subjects, divided over days, weeks or more: you let us know what works for you, how frequently, etc. We suggest sessions of 1-1.5 hours for most younger students.
3 hours Beginners Photography & Camera online training with tutor £135 inc vat.
6 hours Beginners Photography & Camera online training with tutor £270 inc vat.
12 hours Beginners Photography & Camera online training with tutor £540 inc vat.
Our one-to-ones and group courses (all our courses) can be used as a Skill for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.
Book here online or phone us to find out more or to book directly: 0203 002 4991. Or email us at info@themangolab.co.uk
GIFT VOUCHERS available: Christmas, birthdays, festivals, or just because…!
Give the gift that keeps on growing – growing your vision, and a whole range of new skills alongside just photography! Courses, one-to-ones, book projects, mentoring, portfolios, software set-up and training (or doing – we import and organise your photos for you), archiving of photos, repair of old photos, and lots more…
One to Ones – photography, media, design, computer skills, software – Everything is flexible with customisable dates, times & course material. Subject to availability. Just get in touch: 0203 002 4991/info@themangolab.co.uk