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iPhone Photo Workshop | Sonoma County, CA
Jolene's Sanctuary, Occidental, CA
10am-4pm, Saturday, January 24th, 2026
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FOR ONE OF OUR RECENT FARM ANIMAL WORKSHOPS
Meet Gertie the lovable young cow - AND learn to take better photos with your iPhone! (Or Android smartphone.) This is the next "JackPhoto iPhone Workshop" - down on the sanctuary farm Edition!
Today's iPhones/smartphones have an amazing built-in camera (meaning sensors and lenses combinations). They are the default "point-and-shoot" camera you're always carrying around. So, in just one fun afternoon down on the animal sanctuary farm, get quickly up to speed with basic techniques, plus tips & tricks pros know to use it wisely... and make better photos in just one day!
Learn how to take better, even great, photos of your friends, your kids; in your backyard, in nature, on a road trip, out 'n about anywhere & everywhere. Make your photos snappier, sharper, better composed, more shareable (and printable) — and treasured. You’ll learn your iPhone's limitations, too.
You'll learn photos fundamentals to improve your photography with ANY camera: composition, lighting, exposure, and how to capture “the moment."
Despite what so many people think, it’s your knowledge and developing your perception of light and composition — not the phone's camera — that consistently creates better photographs.
These fun, outdoor outings are led by Jack Gescheidt, professional photographer and founder of The TreeSpirit Project, (aka, "Jack of All Trees”). Jack is a Marin County-based professional photographer for over 35 years, and a lifelong nature and animal lover. He makes images (seen in the galleries of this and others websites) with both iPhones and DSLRs. He is at home with modern digital gear, but has a history and foundation in photographic fundamentals that transcend the tools — making him ideally suited to teaching regular folks overwhelmed by all the tech.
Meet Jack in VIDEOS on his "TreeSpirit" website.
"Wow, what an incredible day out in the woods and on the trail with Jack, taking his beginner's photo class. I've had a good digital SLR camera for years but until now had no clear, concise knowledge of how to use it to capture images and moments any better than I can with my iPhone. Books and Youtube videos really did nothing for me, I was still confused on the most basic principles. I had resorted to feeling photography just wasn't for me. This class changed everything.... Jack has an uncanny way of explaining complicated technical concepts in an engaging way that makes you want to soak it up and ask for more.
Not only did he explain so well the technical aspects of photography but he gave such a beautiful lesson of a more philosophical nature on 'how to look, and how to imagine'. For me, that was the biggest Aha moment, when he engaged my creativity so I looked at photo subjects in a different way. Within a few hours I was able to capture images that were way beyond anything I had been able to do before.
Moreover, just the joy of being out there with a 'real' camera with a purpose, to capture beautiful creative images rather than just document whatever I saw with a basic phone camera was thrilling. And just to have funI
I highly encourage anyone with a desire to light up their imagination to take a class with Jack. He is a Zen master. And also one of the nicest, most engaging people you'll ever hang out with. - Sean
"Real Camera" (DSLR, mirrorless) FIELD TRIPS:
Point Reyes National Seashore lighthouse AND Marin Headlands GG Bridge
10am-4pm, Marin County CA DATE: Saturday or Sunday TB
Spend a delightful day learning while photographing goats, pigs, sheep & chickens.
Enjoy the best of 2 wonderful worlds:
1) being around loving animals; and 2) photographing them! My iPhone Photography Workshop at a farm animal sanctuary.
10am-3pm, DATE TBD, Sonoma County, CA
Meet "Poppy the Pixie Goat" (actually a Pygmy goat, pictured above) got a 2nd chance at life at Goatlandia farm animal sanctuary in Santa Rosa, CA. Goatlandia paid for veterinary care that saved her life. Now, Poppy is a happy, people-friendly, affectionate, 3-legged animal ambassador. She's even a celebrity with her own Instagram account — @poppythepixiegoat
FOR ANIMAL LOVERS, this is the ultimate fun way to LEARN TO MAKE BETTER iPhone PHOTOS while hangin’ with Poppy and dozens of other loving, gentle goats, pigs, sheep, chickens who’ve “lived and gone to Heaven” at Goatlandia.
ENJOY 5 HOURS with them all, from 10-3pm, on a Saturday or Sunday, DATE TBD, while learning:
FEE INCLUDES A DELICIOUS VEGAN LUNCH, prepared by the restaurateur who just happens — lucky us! — to run Goatlandia.
SEE MORE farm animals PHOTOS from this workshop.
$125 fee includes: Goatlandia sanctuary admission, and buffet lunch.
Only space for 10 people, so you'll get 1-on-1 instruction, and we don't all crowd the critters.
To reserve a space, pre-pay on Jack's PayPal page: https://www.PayPal.Me/JackGescheidt
Your iPhone snapshots can become creative photographs!
In one single fun session, your iPhone (or Android) photos will improve dramatically: sharper, snappier, better composed, and more treasured.
Maximize the potential of your iPhone’s handy little camera — the one you usually have with you! I’ll bring you up to speed on the best after-market iPhone apps - and show you how to make iPhone photos confidentally and wisely! Learn to exploit the iPhone's potential, and avoid its limitations.
Plus, you'll learn photographic fundamentals — composition, lighting, exposure, and “the moment." This knowledge is more important than any camera; it's why a pro with a phone makes better photos than an amateur with a DSLR.
Bonus: you'll learn tips to improve your photos with ANY camera - because your knowledge and your eye, are what ultimately make the best photographs.
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Such a splendid day with you Jack. We both learned so much and so deeply appreciate you taking so much time with us and sharing your expertise, you are such a great teacher and it was so lovely just to hang out with you. With much appreciation, Sean, (March 2020)
Jack, thank you SO MUCH for your generosity and your skill today. And for keeping us laughing non-stop! I feel so grateful to have really gotten those clear basics from you and the overall philosophy. We were saying on the way home just what a great teacher you are. Thank you thank you!
Keep us posted on future events. Meantime I’ll be practicing and you can see my masterpieces on Instagram soon. Love and hugs, Amy (March 2020)
DSLR Photography Workshop
EXACT SF Bay Area LOCATION TBA
Imagine having a professional photographer — Jack Gescheidt — over your shoulder all day as you photograph in constantly different and changing environments. Someone you can ask all those pesky camera/photo questions that can stymie you in the moment. Well, ask away! Jack will work with you, hence the small group, all day in the field — answering all your questions and giving you tips to improve your photos you never thought to ask.
Each outing is a full, rich day filled with great photographic subjects which may include scenic views, people, the SF bay, boats, the SF skyline, and whatever creatures we may encounter in nature. It's the perfect, enganging way to practice seeing and making images in constantly changing environments while getting individual attention. With plenty of time to get any and all stray photo-related questions answered, and practicing what you learn.
PREVIOUS LOCATIONS have included: Mt. Tamalpais, the Marin Headlands, Point Cavallo, and scenic towns in Marin County, CA, a scenic hilltop 130-year-old seminary with dramatic architecture and a stunning view of Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County's tallest mountain. All the while you'll be photographing — and learning — under Jack's watchful eye. Exact location and details are emailed to paid participants.
Fee: $125, or $95 (48+ hrs. in) Advance Discount.
Payment with credit/debit cards via PayPal secure payment on Jack's payment page: https://www.PayPal.Me/JackGescheidt
Reserve your place - click here!
Workshops are small (usually 4-8 students), so you'll receive individual attention and get answers to all your questions as they arise. Quickly learn how to operate your camera effectively. Think about what you're doing, and why, before you do it — the open "secret" to consistently making more compelling photographs!
Introductory Level workshops cover all camera basics with emphasis on learning: depth of field, the choices and effects of shutter speeds and aperture (f-stop) values, the components of a compelling photograph, with lots of hands-on practice. Have all your questions answered by a pro with over 20 years experience (that's me), as you're learning.
For most people, this kind of in-person, real-world, hands-on, personalized teaching and learning is far superior to books and online tutorials.
Intermediate Level workshops: you know camera basics (shutter speeds, aperture, ISO, manual settings), but want to hone your skills, more understand and exploit depth-of-field, and then learn more about seeing, finding, and working with light, composition, and subjects.
Imagine having a professional photographer — Jack — over your shoulder all day as you photograph in constantly different and changing environments. Someone you can ask all those pesky camera/photo questions that can stymie you in the moment. Well, ask away!
Because the group is small, Jack will work with you, individually, during your day in the field, answering all your questions and giving you tips to improve your photos, including many you'd never even know to ask.
It's the ideal way to increase your ability to understand and operate your camera, practice seeing subject matter and thinking about light, and making images in constantly changing environments while getting individual attention.
Plus time to get all your questions answered, and practicing what you learn as you go.
Learn how to capture your devoted furred friend who is always around yet often hard to get a great photo of.
BYOD—Bring Your Own Dog (if you have one)—and quickly improve your dog (and cat and animal) photography skills.
Everyone who BYODs will come away with a good photo of his pooch.
Just some of the topics Jack covers:
This workshop focuses on making better photographs of people, one of the most engaging, varied, fun and challenging subjects for the photographer. Making images of people is great fun if you enjoy being around them and, if you don't, I'll question why you'd want to take this class. :-)
Topics include the basics of camera operation, as all workshops do, but then we focus on:
For people who, like me, are simply, inexplicably, in love the natural world and all its varied, wondrous non-human critters. So you like photographing it, and them.
"Photograph what you love," is some of the simplest, best advice I was given decades ago as I turned pro.
We'll spend the day away from cities and towns (and most people), to explore a beautiful setting in Marin County or the SF Bay Area.
Learn to "see the light" and make the best of existing light when you're in a beautiful, natural setting, and how to create with a camera what you feel with your emotions.
Not all of nature's beauty is easily recorded at all times, yet there are always ways (tips, tricks, post-capture processes) to make a compelling photographs even on days or times of day when you might think to pack it in until more typically reliably photogenic sunrise and sunset.
Due to limited space, only advance payment guarantees your space.
email :jack@jackphoto.com
415-488-42-zero-zero -- landline; no texts
Pay w. CREDIT/DEBIT CARD on Jack's PayPal page: https://www.PayPal.Me/JackGescheidt
Pay w. CHECK (pay to "Jack Gescheidt") mail to:
JackPhoto Workshops, c/o Jack Gescheidt, 640 Bamboo Terrace, San Rafael, CA 94903
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