Frequently Asked Questions

Q: WHAT IS THE STUDENT/INSTRUCTOR RATIO?

A: We rarely have more than six students per instructor. As we have two instructors the group size usually around 10 workshop participants.

Q: IS SAN MIGUEL SAFE?

A: This will be our thirteenth annual San Miguel workshop, and we have never felt unsafe or experienced any crime. A world leader in travel publications, Lonely Planet, rates San Miguel very high as a safe and enjoyable destination, as do most other major travel publications.

Q: WHAT LEVEL OF PHOTOGRAPHER DO I NEED TO BE TO JOIN THIS WORKSHOP?

A: As we have two instructors we are able to welcome complete beginners who do not even know how to operate a camera, to working professionals who want to expand their horizons. All cameras are welcome, from DSLR’s, mirrorless, iPhones and Androids.

Q: WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD THAT WE WILL EAT?

A: For those who are staying overnight in our villa, we will have a daily home-cooked traditional Mexican breakfast by our very talented cook. We will also have cereal, bread, jam, peanut butter, tea, and coffee. Lunches are free time, so most students purchase an inexpensive but delicious meal at a local restaurant, or they return to the villa to fix a sandwich. We will always have fresh fruit and sandwich food items in the kitchen for people to make use of. Every night we will eat an excellent dinner at a different restaurant that we have already pre-determined based on previous workshops.

Q: WHAT LEVEL OF HEALTH DO I NEED TO BE AT FOR THIS WORKSHOP?

A: There is a fair amount of walking up and down slight hills and on cobblestones, so the ability to walk on non-smooth surfaces each day would be helpful. However, please contact us directly and we can give you a more detailed opinion based on your exact health concerns. There is an option of more taxi transportation for those who feel they need to make use of such a service.

Q: CAN I ACCESS MONEY FROM MY BANK ACCOUNT AT HOME WHILE IN SAN MIGUEL?

A: Yes; most all ATMs are tied into the North American banking system, and for Canadians there is a Scotiabank and HSBC in the city that works with Canadian bank cards. Almost all transactions in the city can be done via credit card, except for smaller souvenir shops and family run small restaurants.

Q: WILL THERE BE TIME FOR ME TO RELAX OR EXPLORE SAN MIGUEL ON MY OWN?

A: Most days there is free time for lunch and another break mid-afternoon. On Friday you will also have the option to have the afternoon free for shopping.

Q: HOW DO I KNOW IF THIS WORKSHOP IS A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS?

A: Please Google search the instructors Mark Hemmings Photography (and check his website, www.markhemmings.com) and James Wilson Photography (website: www.jameswilson.ca) to get a sense of who the instructors are, and their on-line reputation.

Q: HOW MANY YEARS HAS THE SAN MIGUEL PHOTO WORKSHOPS BEEN IN BUSINESS?

A: We started international photography workshops in 2004 in Japan, and expanded annually to include Korea, Hungary, Romania/Transylvania, and England. In 2007 we formalized our workshop name to be San Miguel Photography Workshops. This coming San Miguel workshop will be our 17th annual Mexican workshop, and we only have plans for expansion!

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico