Olympus Ambassador and Principal Educator Damian McGillicuddy will open four Academies around the UK. The McGillicuddy Training Academies are situated in Gateshead in the North East, Royston in the East, Birmingham in the Midlands and Chester, the flagship Training Academy which is Damian McGillicuddy’s own studio, in the North West. The Academy courses have been created around a practical, hands-on experience, designed for all skill levels and held in a working studio. The courses and workshops cover a range of genres from still life to beauty, traditional portraiture to studio lighting. One of the important aims of the McGillicuddy Academies is to make sure that everything learnt during their workshops can be repeated as soon as photographers get back to their home or studio. To celebrate the launch of the McGillicuddy Training Academies, Olympus will run a special promotion on all new OM-D cameras - £100 off the 'Get to know your OM-D' workshop, now only £49. Promotional vouchers will be included in all OM-D camera boxes, with full terms and conditions.

Olympus Press Release

Olympus announce McGillicuddy Training Academies

Shoot and learn at the McGillicuddy Training Academies in association with Olympus

Southend, 9th December 2015 – Olympus reveals the launch of the McGillicuddy Training Academies. Olympus Ambassador and Principal Educator Damian McGillicuddy will open four Academies around the UK.

The McGillicuddy Training Academies are situated in Gateshead in the North East, Royston in the East, Birmingham in the Midlands and Chester, the flagship Training Academy which is Damian McGillicuddy’s own studio, in the North West.

The training courses will be co-curated by the Academy Principals, Guann-Yeu Chin and Alan Clarke, delivering the same standard of education at each Academy. McGillicuddy – Grand Master, five-time Master Photographer and seven-time Photographer of the Year – has mentored the Principals over many years to ensure that they have a direct and detailed understanding of his methods and philosophy.

The Academy courses have been created around a practical, hands-on experience, designed for all skill levels and held in a working studio. The courses and workshops cover a range of genres from still life to beauty, traditional portraiture to studio lighting.

The Academies will share classic, contemporary and cutting-edge photographic techniques at pocket-friendly prices and with the help and support of Olympus, photographers can experience commercial-scale shooting for a fraction of the cost. One of the important aims of the McGillicuddy Academies is to make sure that everything learnt during their workshops can be repeated as soon as photographers get back to their home or studio.

McGillicuddy said, “Training and education are the backbone of great photography. Without training there is no progress and without education there is no knowledge”.

Enjoyment while learning is key to the Academies’ educational style. McGillicuddy went on to say, “I honestly believe that if you’re having a good time, if you’re enjoying yourself and having fun taking pictures, you will learn so much more”.

McGillicuddy and all the other Principals are proud Olympus users. “We are passionate photographers and we love what we do”.

However it is important to stress that the Training Academies are not just for Olympus users, they welcome all photographers, shooting on any make of equipment.

McGillicuddy points out that “Olympus are very progressive in the way they think, so the courses are ‘camera agnostic’”. Each Academy will carry a good range of Olympus cameras and lenses, giving non Olympus users the opportunity to test and try their range of cameras and lenses in a live studio.

To celebrate the launch of the McGillicuddy Training Academies, Olympus will run a special promotion on all new OM-D cameras - £100.00 off the 'Get to know your OM-D' workshop, now only £49.00. Promotional vouchers will be included in all OM-D camera boxes, with full terms and conditions. Photographers should visit www.olympusimagespace.co.uk/mcgillicuddy-training-academy/ to book the course using their voucher code to take advantage of this special offer.

McGillicuddy hopes that the Academies will foster a sense of community and photographic camaraderie, encouraging photographers to drop by, have a coffee, share their photographic experiences and enjoy the process of learning.

Launching with six new workshops, currently the Academies will run courses over half and full days. To find out more about the training available and for a full list of exciting courses and workshops please visit www.olympus-imagespace.co.uk/mcgillicuddytraining-academy/

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