Often described as the most beautiful island in Greece, if not the world, Santorini is steeped in intriguing history, encompassing an incredible volcanic landscape, breathtaking sunsets and its deep blue sea.

September provides superb weather with magnificent sunrises, sunsets, and gloriously clear, warm days.

Spending seven days exploring and capturing the energy of this incredible place is a photographic experience like no other.

The Location

If you enjoy photographing colourful patterns, graphic shapes, curves and abstract details, this island is a glorious haven for photographers of all kinds. Looking at the images on the slideshow above will give you a flavour of the photography you can expect to create on this beautiful island.

Santorini is a relatively small island in a set of islands called the Cyclades, right in the middle of the Aegean Sea. A barren, rocky island with black and red volcanic beaches and towns situated on high cliffs, it offers breathtaking views. The island of Santorini, as we know it today, was formed of lava from a volcanic eruption in 1660 BC. Today it is the world's only inhabited caldera (volcanic cauldron). Unlike other islands in Greece, the towns and villages sit densely on top of the massive cliffs of the caldera and, from a distance, appear like snow-capped mountaintops. Small alleys feature traditional Greek Cycladic architecture buildings, all with colourful patterns, graphic shapes, abstract details and a superb combination of white and blue colour. Add to this the varied light, which ranges from being beautifully diffused before dawn to superbly warm around the golden hours, and one can clearly see why this place has become my endless source of inspiration.

The cost for this workshop is £1950 GBP or €2495 EUR or $2895 USD per person. A deposit of £500 GBP or €600 EUR or $700 USD is required to book your space. The outstanding balance will be requested 12 weeks before the tour date. The price includes accommodation, breakfast and all transport during the photo tour.

The workshop starts on Tuesday 12 September 2023 and ends on Tuesday 19 September 2023 after breakfast.

The group size for this tour is limited to five people. Due to its small size group, this photo tour is designed with inspiration in mind, allowing plenty of time for individual attention by the tutors, making sure you photograph the island under the best light and the best time of day.

All transport during the tour is included in the price. Collection and drop-off at Santorini Airport are included in the price but only for designated arrival and departure times (details in due time). Collection and drop-off outside the designated times will bear an extra charge of around €30 for each trip (hotel staff will pick you up and/or drop you off).

Please make sure you know how to use your camera or at least the basic functions – make sure you bring the camera's manual along with you. Focal length of wide angle to 300mm will be required.

A sturdy tripod is strongly recommended. If you need advice on purchasing a tripod, we recommend the Manfrotto 055 or similar. If you own a low budget light aluminium tripod and you are wondering if it is good enough, no, it is not. It will not allow you to trust your gear on it and it will not allow us to help you with tuition.

Neutral Density Graduated filters are highly recommended for balancing exposure difference between land and sky. We recommend a 1.5 stop hard and a 3 stop soft (if you are just starting with filters). Full instruction can be given during the workshop to help you with the correct use of filters.

To get the very best out of your images and the locations, we suggest that you bring a good Neutral Density filter with you such as the Lee Little Stopper or Big Stopper or the Singh-Ray Vari-ND filter for long exposures.

You will need one for longer than 30 seconds exposures.

The weather on Santorini this time of year is mild, dry and warm; cool summer clothing will suffice. Saying that, you will probably need a light jacket for those cool early mornings. Walking shoes or trainers/sneakers will be fine.

We highly recommend that you take your own travel insurance.

This photo workshop does not offer post processing tuition, please see here for further details.

Your Tutor

Dimitri Vasileiou is a highly acclaimed landscape photographer, writer and photographic workshop leader. A professional photographer for several years, he was born in Greece and currently resides in Scotland.

Some of his work has been reproduced in the Daily Record newspaper and he has also had work published in a number of photography magazines and books.

In 2011 Dimitri founded Landscape Photography Magazine. He is the editor and currently writing articles every month for the publication.

Agapi Villas
Our accommodation is located in the centre of the island, which offers excellent and quick access to all location we will visit.

Michael Collins

Nice hotel, excellent Greek food and endless photo opportunities.

Photo tours are about being ferried around the photogenic viewpoints and having expert advice available if required. The Santorini tour didn’t disappoint. While there are few traditional landscapes, there are numerous photogenic features, pristine churches and sunrises and sunsets to die for.

A very enjoyable tour.

Jan Herremans, Portugal

Another week of fun and great photography. Dimitri Vasileiou and Mike Bell are wonderful tutors.

Jan Herremans from Portugal

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23502939@N02/sets

Valerie Saiki, USA

I had a great experience on this photography tour on the beautiful island of Santorini. The instruction was very helpful, the food was really great and the camaraderie was unexpected.

I would do it all over again if it wasn't so far from Oregon, USA. I appreciated all of the time Dimitri and others spent setting up the areas to shoot during the perfect times of day. I enjoyed seeing the sights in the small villages and harbors, as well as the crazy happenings in the high tourist areas.

Thanks again for the most wonderful photo experience. I shall never forget this beautiful island.

Felicity Martin, England

I joined this photo tour with Dimitri on the recommendation of friends and it lived up to my expectations. It was a great holiday as well as a valuable learning experience. Instead of taking too many “okay” photos, Dimitri encouraged me to slow down and concentrate on capturing a handful of images that I would be very pleased with. Before the tour, I’d never used LiveView; now I wouldn’t be without it and feel ill-equipped without a tripod.

My “non photography” partner joined me and also enjoyed the week. Andrew came out on most of our trips and either took photos with his compact or wandered off sightseeing (or to a bar!). He too feels that he is a better photographer for having been on the tour.

The Greek food was the highlight of the trip – we loved our relaxed, sociable lunches and the fresh, flavourful food (tomatoes will never taste the same again). I was impressed by how patient and tactful Dimitri was as a leader. He did an excellent job of balancing our different demands and worked very hard to give us a good time.

Kate Cummings, Scotland

Apart from a learning workshop, this trip to Santorini proved to be a wonderfully social experience. We were a group of six women and the social interaction was great.

Instead of “Tea with Mussolini”, ours was” Dinner With Dimitri”. We had lunch and dinner out in different restaurants every day, which was a great holiday experience. Dimitri ordered the food and we enjoyed it all so much.

What you gained from the workshop element of the trip depended on your knowledge level but Dimitri mostly demonstrated to us how to find an image looking for curves and textures. Since composition is paramount to having a great picture, this should stand us in good stead for life.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I’d love to do all of the trips advertised in Inspiring Photography website.

Dimitri was fun to be with and knows how to handle all kinds of people.

Martin Farrow, England

I’d like to thank you for a most enjoyable and enlightening holiday on Santorini.

I had a wonderful time with great company and a very knowledgable tutor. Being taken to the right places at the right time resulted in some very pleasing images, including a number I would not otherwise have taken. Despite the few early mornings, I think you hit the right mix of photography and holiday fun, not to mention the superb food and wine!

I must have enjoyed it, I have just booked another Inspiring Photography tour.

Alan Melling, England

Hi Dimitri.

Thank you for a wonderful week on Santorini. Great photo locations, lovely company and superb food.

I learned more about photography in one week than in the previous five years. I hope to come on another photo tour,in the near future.

All The Very Best

Elizabeth Restall, England

No sooner are we back from Mykonos, than next year’s tour is being advertised. You must have enjoyed the trip, Dimitri, as much as I did.

I love the old town of Chora with its narrow streets, and brightly coloured paintwork set against the white of the buildings, which are delightful to walk through in the quiet of early morning as well as in the evening when they are lively and bustling with colourful characters.

The hotel was charming and the food surpassed expectations. It was another very good photographic tour. Thank you so much.

Carrie Bradley, Canada

No words can describe the awesome workshop you presented on Santorini in Greece. The locations you brought us to were stunning and I learned a lot about composition, exposing for the light and learning to see intimate details.

You are an artist. I appreciate the time you spent with me during some down time to give some Lightroom tips. You are a patient teacher and always eager to give advice and challenge everyone’s technical skills no matter what level.

This was the first photo workshop that I’ve been on that also included quite a social aspect. I was pleasantly surprised by the outstanding breakfasts and gourmet lunches. I always looked forward to these times because of all the laughter and great conversation.

Our final dinner in the panoramic sunset setting will always be high in my memory. What a wonderful group of people! The final presentation you gave of our most memorable photos was done with class and elegance. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone with photography interests. I hope to do another workshop with Dimitri and Inspiring Photography in the future.