“The Raw Society put a lot of thought into their workshops; in providing the best locations, great topics and quality mentoring on offer. The are relaxed and friendly but they are working hard to optimise the experience for the workshop attendees. They are really sincere and encouraging and it shows how much they care about our outcomes. Couldn’t recommend them highly enough.”
“This storytelling workshop really pushed me to do more than just street photography. Focusing on one person and telling his story through photographs made me work hard at getting to know my subject and deciding the different ways to represent his story through different types of photographs, which sometimes were not easy to get. But I received encouraging and honest advice from Jorge, Christelle, and Rory along the way that resulted in a story I am proud of. And although it was challenging, it was also really fun. I know there is no better workshop if you want to experience a week as a photojournalist (and if you like Blues music!)”
“Great workshop! The small group size means each of us received maximum personal attention in terms of workshop organization and photography education. I also enjoyed the informal setting of our group critique sessions. The zine making assignment was unique to most workshops and truly beneficial.”
“The Raw Society helped me evolve my photography by attentively noting how I worked the scene, using my camera and giving me tips of how, where and what. The whole process with putting together the magazine gave me a whole new perspective on photography. Thank you Christelle and Jorge, you are awesome!”
“The Raw Society runs one of the best workshops around for Cuba. The small group size, their local knowledge, and their invaluable instruction throughout the workshop made for an incredible experience. Some instructors might spend an hour or two one-on-one with you during a 8-9 day workshop. Jorge and Christelle spend entire mornings and afternoons with you. Highly recommended.”
“The Cuba workshop was special in so many ways. Having local photographers as part of the group created a very unique situation where I could get a more in-depth understanding of how the country works. It was also wonderful to see the country through the eyes of someone who lives there. Also, the access provided during the workshop not only by Jorge and Christelle but also by the Cuban people was incredible. The time Jorge and Christelle spent with each of us individually was invaluable and helped move each of our projects along in the way that we uniquely wanted. The logistics and the organization of the time, accommodations, and instruction could not have been better. I will travel again with the Raw Society.”
“Uncovering New York with The Raw Society and guest mentor Ed Kashi absolutely provided one of the best experiences in my photo journey. We were to focus our energy on one location over three days and capture the essence for a visual story, which meant seeing a location in all light and life situations. I chose to photograph Times Square and the assignment made me “see” the location as more than a nighttime wonderland for tourists. Jorge, Christelle and Ed were amazing instructors who recognized my style of photography, taught me how to critique and edit my images and finally, to sequence the images to reflect my story. I am grateful to have learned from these three talented and supportive people!!!”
“As always, The Raw Society did an amazing job on this tour! My photography improves after every trip with them! They made sure everyone stayed safe and healthy during Covid too. I’ll be going on another tour very soon!”
“Everything is thought out and organized so that the only thing I had to do was think about photography. If I had a problem or question in the field, the Raw Society was there to answer and help on the spot. The locations were scouted in advance and the programming was streamlined so that the good light was available. Each photographer had free reign to learn as much or as little as they chose. And, the workshop was just over-the-top, FUN!”
“After getting to know Jorge and Christelle through their online workshops, I decided it was time to book my first photo tour with them in Lisbon. This tour was centred around street photography and storytelling and done together with documentary photographer José Sarmento Matos. Still being a relative beginner in street photography, I was a bit unsure whether I would fit into the group. However, when we finally all met, these worries were quickly dispersed. Indeed, our diverse backgrounds, styles and levels of experience contributed to making this workshop so instructive and so much fun.
The workshop was a great mixture of short theory lessons, supplemented with plenty of helpful examples, lots and lots of time for shooting, as well as sessions for selecting and reviewing our pictures.
Christelle had flawlessly organised everything and was making sure that every single participant was well and at ease. Jorge and José were the most helpful (and patient) teachers you can imagine, providing us with as much help and input as we needed and could wish for, including the occasional pep talk. Having had two such experienced and gifted photographers for such a small number of students was really a massive benefit. And Christelle’s insights on colour theory were truly eye-opening.”
Over the course of the workshop week, my photography skills have made a substantial leap forward. I now take photos more consciously and deliberately, patiently waiting for the decisive moment to arrive. This was for sure not my last tour with The Raw Society and I am already looking forward to seeing them again.
“The Lisbon workshop was an inspiring, beautiful and exciting experience. I learned a lot from Jorge and José, as well as from everyone else in the group. Everything was very well organized by Christelle with so much attentiveness toward us. It was really a wonderful week. I enjoyed every moment and met a great group of photographers. I am a beginner and I found that my photographs improved so much during these days. I am just sorry the week has ended. Hopefully I will be joining another Raw Society Workshop soon!”
“The photo tour to Nepal was my first one with RAW Photo tours. Christelle and Jorge led us through the chaotic streets of Kathmandu as well as to the lesser touristic parts of rural Nepal. And while some of the daily assignments were challenging, it was always a great fun. Thank you, Christelle and Jorge, for the perfect organization of the tour and the photographic input you gave us, which made the tour a big success for me.”
“A great experience that lived up to my expectations and more. Enjoyed the photography, place and group. Christelle and Jorge are experienced and knowledgable with good insights that helped me improve my photography. The trip was professionally organised, with good accommodation and convenient locations. Also good research, planning and company to learn from and with.”
“This was my second RAW photo tour and I loved it. Jorge and Christelle are gifted photographers and great teachers, as well as two of the nicest people you will ever meet. The tour and lessons were beautifully planned. They go above and beyond in making it a wonderful experience.”
“These Photo Tours are worth every penny spent! Jorge and Christelle are the best teachers and can really help take your photography to the next level! They will push you because they know what you are capable of, as that’s what teachers are meant to do! I will be going on another tour! My photography has never looked so good!”
“A great experience, esp. for a confirmed northerner like me. It was an excellent opportunity to shoot and work on story-telling through photography in an environment that i have never had much intention of working in: rural, southern, and environmentally-challenged. highly recommended.”
“Completamente recomendable, he repetido con ellos este viaje y volveré a hacerlo. La atención personalizada y la organización del viaje son insuperables. Sólo hay que atenerse a los hechos: ¡todo el grupo repetíamos con ellos menos uno!”
“And another Photo Tour with The Raw Society…this time in Cuba, and again, it was fantastic!! All the elements were there, the 7 photonerds, the beautiful and interesting places(loved Trinidad),the interactions with people, and of course, the flawless organization by Christelle, and the priceless insight and support by Jorge. What more could I ask for :)”
“I went to Cuba with The Raw Society seeking to take my photography to the next level. As I told Jorge on the first day, while walking through the streets of Old Havana, “I can take a pretty photo, but I want to take great photos.” And after an intense nine day workshop, I’ve come home with some pretty great photos (and the skills to take more).
Christelle gets a lot of well-deserved credit for her organizational skills handling the tour’s logistics, but Jorge comes prepared as a teacher. He had already reviewed my photos on Instagram, which meant the guidance he provided throughout the tour was tailored to my personal style. And don’t discount Christelle as a photographer, either; her insights will challenge you to take your photography to the next level.
Photography is so often a solo activity, and being able to travel with like-minded enthusiasts is a wonderful learning experience. Seeing how other people can photograph the same scene and end up with extremely different photos will reveal your perspective of the world and how it shapes your photography. And in the end, you will leave Cuba with a greater understanding of not just street photography, but also yourself.”
“If you decide to go with The Raw Society – be ready. Be ready to learn, to experience, to see, to really open your eyes and your heart – it will reflect on your photos. It’s intense, exciting, fun, exhausting, authentic, something out of the ordinary, hard work and an experience you will not soon forget. And what you learn is something you take with you for the rest of your life. The teachers’ patience is worth a medal and Jorge will quickly take your photography skills to the next level. I cannot recommend these guys enough!”
“The tour to Morocco was a great experience. Having previously been on The Raw Society’s tour to Cuba, this tour pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to expand my street photography skills. Christelle and Jorge are the perfect team to travel with. Christelle took care of all the logistics and Jorge was encouraging, knowledgeable, and patient. I came home exhausted, but with lots of images I am proud of thanks to the instruction and support I got. And even though the tour is over, Christelle and Jorge continue to provide advice and support regarding my photography.”
While departing on my first photo tour ever, and my first trip to Morocco, I really did not know what to expect, so I decided to lower my expectations and hope for the best…Boy, was I in for a treat. I spent 9 days traveling around Morocco in the company of 5 amazing photo nerds (just like me), and it was wonderful! It was all about photography and the beautiful and exotic Moroccan land and it’s marvelous people. I loved it! Jorge was an excellent (and very patient) teacher and Christelle was the epitome of efficiency, always making sure everything and everyone was fine. Never during the 9 days did I regret my decision to go on the Raw Photo Tour, to the point that I am now looking for excuses to justify signing up for the next one (Nepal or India?) Thank you Jorge and Christelle, and yes, you’ll definitely see me again!
This RAW photography tour is the real deal for anyone looking for an in-depth, intensive course in street photography. This isn’t a usual meandering tour, but one that challenges you to learn, do better and become a better photographer all while being in an incredible country. Jorge is a patient and interested teacher, whose passion for street photography and the creation of unforgettable images is contagious. Looking back from my first day of tentative photos through to the end, under Jorge & Christelle’s tutelage, I feel I’ve grown as a photographer and learned so much. Amazing experience.
Jorge and Christelle provided more than I expected on their Cuba photo tour. It was well organized and communication was great from the beginning. The casas where we stayed were great and the meals were tasty and filling. Jorge is a great teacher and observer and provided individualized critiques and helped me try to define the “story” I was trying to tell through my photos. Although the travelers on the tour were at different stages in terms of photography skills Jorge was able to help take each of us to the next level and even remained accessible after the tour for photographic guidance. With Christelle in charge of the logistics of each day, the tour felt relaxed, but well planned and organized. We had busy days and some late nights reviewing photos, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. As I am editing the many photos I took, I am reliving each moment in Cuba and hoping that I have the opportunity to travel with Jorge and Christelle again in the future.
“Cuba has been a great tour, well organised by Christelle & Jorge. Christelle pays attention to every last detail in order to make your experience a great one and Jorge always gives great advice and constantly helps you to improve your photography skills. They are a great team and wonderful travel mates. Looking forward to my next trip with them!”
“Christelle and Jorge offer a great experience with lots of encouraging guidance on how to improve your street photography by leaps and bounds.”
“I came out not knowing how to use my camera and I’m going home with photos I never thought I’d ever be able to take. Morocco is a beautiful place and Jorge and Christelle are lovely people and very, very good teachers.”
“This amazing photo tour allowed me to combine two great passions, photography and travel, in a way that enhanced both in seeing people and places with a fresh eye. My photography skills improved greatly under Jorge’s patient and knowledgable guidance and Christelle is the perfect guide – fun, organised and also a great photographer. Both are lovely people and I highly recommend this tour. You won’t be disappointed.”
“Christelle and Jorge are the perfect team. Christelle goes above and beyond to accommodate you and make you feel comfortable, while Jorge’s knowledge and experience in photography is very extensive, any questions I had he explained to me in a way that was easy to understand. Their passion for photography and travel is very inspiring. Way to go guys!”
“Era mi primer viaje de fotografía, fuera del país y sin ningún interés por la fotografía. Pero me han animado un montón y han sido unos muy buenos profes. Me lo he pasado super bien y espero poder repetirlo pronto.”
“Una experiencia totalmente recomendable para todo aquel que quiere sacar el máximo provecho de un viaje tanto a la hora de absorber la esencia del país como de mejorar los conocimientos fotográficos, se tenga el nivel que sea. Muchísimas gracias Jorge y Christelle.”