Average Customer review
Based on 35 reviews
Average overall rating for this holiday location
Quality of tuition received
K Beauchamp, Stone, United Kingdom - Aug 2015
I feel a very luck girl to have expereinced the sights and sounds of Essaouira as well as recieving the coachng from Darren to be able to record this with my photography. His local knowledge and technical skills are excellent. There was more information than I could take in - homework for me
K Georges, Brockham, England - Jun 2015
M Falcon, Bath, UK - Jun 2015
Essaouira was a great place to visit with lots of photographic opportunities and a fantastic tutor. I would highly recommend it.
B Anscombe, West Derby, United Kingdom - Apr 2015
As a beginner, nervous of how much I'd get out of one week's photo tuiton. But Darren struck a very good balance between tuition, visits & relaxation. The riad and restaurants he'd arranged for us were all in the medina & good to relax after busy day. Really pleased with how much I learnt, recommend
M Doyle, Cork, Ireland - Dec 2014
Darren is a superb photography teacher; I am amazed at what I was able to learn from him during the week.
K McCleave, London, England - Aug 2014
Darren was an excellent tutor. As a beginner, I was unsure about the technical aspects of photography, but Darren took me through the most important things and I felt that I quickly progressed from there. Darren also went beyond the tutor remit and was willing to help me out with anything during my stay. The accommodation was great, as were the staff at the riad. Would recommend that anyone pondering a photography holiday starts here!
K McCleave, London, England - Aug 2014
Darren was an excellent tutor. As a beginner, I was unsure about the technical aspects of photography, but Darren took me through the most important things and I felt that I quickly progressed from there. Darren also went beyond the tutor remit and was willing to help me out with anything during my stay. The accommodation was great, as were the staff at the riad. Would recommend that anyone pondering a photography holiday starts here!
A Mathers , London, UK - Apr 2014
A great course, where I feel I learnt an enormous amount, but had a wonderful, relaxing time. Would thoroughly recommend Darren's course to anyone - whether a complete beginner, or someone looking to further improve.
M Mr-Quintin-RAYER, Guernsey, Channel Islands (British Isles) - Apr 2014
An excellent photography course with real content as well as a holiday. The course included theoretical elements followed by practical applications in great locations. I was new to DSLR and found this course ideal.
A Tyley, LONDON, UK - Sep 2013
Great week - I learned alot, both from the tutor and from my fellow students. But it would have been even better if I'd booked directly and not through GoLearnTo! I was given information that at worst was wrong (eg a 4pm start time) and at best misleading (eg what we'd be doing and where we'd be going).
Reply from Supplier: Thanks for your feedback, I so pleased to hear you had such a great holiday! The 4pm start time is just a guideline for your arrival day as you can check into your room at the Riad from this time and your lessons don't begin until day 2 of the holiday. We've updated our information online now to ensure this is clear for all future guests, sorry for any confusion caused.
M McInnes, Banbury, UK - May 2013
In the course of making my booking I spoke to several Go Learn staff and all were very helpful, courteous and knowledgeable. The booking process was straightforward . The holiday met all my expectations with regard to tuition. It was fun and informative. Darren was always willing to help and advise
P Wyles, Kingstone, United Kingdom - Feb 2013
Great location and Darren is a first class tutor as well as being very friendly. Will remember about key lines and Darren's tips about placement of people within the frame. It was also great to be pointed in the direction of some brilliant locations/people. Also has the benefit that his lovely wife Niama can teach cookery for those interrested. We all had a great time and learned a lot.
E Nolan, Dublin, Ireland - Jan 2013
It would have been good to have some formal photographic theory and tutorials mixed in to the curriculum. I felt I could have learned more in the week if these had been provided. It was good that Darren provided approach strategies when photographing strangers or photographing anonymously
T Corry, Bexhill on Sea, United Kingdom - Nov 2012
A good experience in terms of a friendly and interesting group of fellow photographers and the opportunity to visit Morocco for the first time. I was disappointed however that our tutor provided very little feedback and critique on individual photography technique.
Reply from Supplier: I am glad you enjoyed the overall experience but I was sorry to hear you were dissappointed with the quality of Darren's feedback. Darren wanted me to mention that the photography holiday is about progression, & each day up is set up with tips & pointers, & at the end of the day, guests all look at their photos & comment on their strengths. If people get better then everyone is happy but if guests have bad days, Darren will provide them with feedback for the next day & they will use this feedback constructively in order to produce better quality images. Every day presents new challenges - though Darren assured me that he doesn't like to analyse too deeply as it can get too intense & it is just a holiday after all. He assured me that if you didn't get many technique pointers then it's because he felt that you were already pretty good with your camera though he was very sorry if you felt his tuition was sub-standard because of this, especially as your images were so good.
P Ann Hudson, London, UK - Oct 2012
I learned so much from this course. Darren was an excellent tutor, helpful and patient. He took us to a variety of locations to practise different types of photography. The wonderful colours in and around Essaouira were just made for photography.
A Edwards, Wickford, UK - Sep 2012
As this was my first solo holiday, I was very nervous, but I had a wonderful time. Everyone was so friendly and I feel much more confident with my camera and my ability to get the shots I want.
J Fellowes, Hemel Hempstead, UK - Jul 2012
Brilliant tutor and fantastic location. I came away with an increased knowledge and passion for photography and yet felt very relaxed from the holiday.
K Rittinger, London, UK - Jul 2012
This is an excellent course! Darren is a great teacher - very enthusiastic and patient and I enjoyed all the different styles of photography that were covered in the course. I would recommend it to anybody with an interest in photography. Very nice hotel in a great location.
B Meek, Stafford, Uk - Jul 2012
Excellent course!
J Milward, Islington, UK - Jun 2012
Specific comments: - 6 days photographing round the medina felt too much; more trips would add to the learning. - the tutor was slightly too 'hands off' at the start; more involvement at the time of photographing would have helped. - need to think about those not cooking & how to fill the time.
Reply from Supplier: The week is advertised as 5 days in and around the Medina (not 6) plus a day trip to a country market and we guarantee a minimum 30 hours contact time. The course is more intensive at the beginning with image reviews at the end of each day. Learning is also checked throughout the day and the tutor is on hand for support. Students are allowed their own space which is appreciated. Jennie had one independent project morning on day 3 instead of on day 7, which is advertised as the normal day of independent learning, during which she found willing subjects to photograph in a portrait style which she successfully did. Her week´s images were excellent and her feedback was positive at the end of the holiday.
T Moller, Cambridge, UK - Apr 2012
Darren was a fantastic teacher and gave us a trip to remember taking us to places which were “hidden Gems”. I have learnt a lot from him, composition and framing has improved massively and i have regained my passion for Photography. I would recommend this trip in a heart beat.
S Burns, Prenton, England - Aug 2011
Darren is a great teacher and managed to get me taking the photographs that I had always dreamed of taking but never thought I could! I would recommend the Riad for a holiday, the photography course for anyone wishing to progress with digital photography and Essaouira itself for a releaxing break!
g tredgold, Kaiserswerth, Germany - Mar 2012
Wonderful vacation, excellent locations, fantastic people and inspirational tuition. Darren was an absolute pleasure to work with he was patient, pragmatic and fun. Photography can be made to seem hugely complex, Darren boiled things down to the fundamentals and built up from there, making it easy.
M PETER ISAAC, LONDON, UK - Feb 2012
I cannot find fault with Darren Lewey, the instructor, at all. Both my wife and I were new to DSLR photography but Darren was both patient and thorough. We not only a gained knowledge of the basics but Darren stimulated in us an enthusiasm to pursue DSLR photography further.
C Shepherd, Dubai, UAE - May 2011
gave 5 staars to each category and my comment was "I have read a number of books on photography but somehow just did not get it. Darren offered one on one tuition in a number of styles (portrait, lanscape, abstract, etc) that was practical, sensible and focused (pun intended). He was an enthusiastic and hands on tutor. 10 out of 10. "
T Elliott, Kent, UK - Nov 2010
A hidden gem of a hotel, beautiful & great location and the staff were just wonderful - Said and Brahim especially. Was part of a group on a photography course for 7 days - would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn how to take great photos & really get to see the whole of the Essaouira area beyond what tourists would normally see