Mobile Magic: Mastering the Art of Smartphone Photography Mini-Workshop (June 5-8, 2025)

Registration is now open

PRICE:

Early Registration: $695 NANPA Members, $895 non-members by April 15, 2025

After April 15, 2025: $795 NANPA Members, $995 non-members

Price includes entrance fee to Denver Botanic Gardens on June 6 & 7

Maximum number of attendees: 18

Last date to register: May 15, 2025

DATES:

• June 5, 2025 at 6 pm (Mountain Time) to June 8, 2025 at 12:00 pm (Mountain Time)
• Tuesday, May 13 7-8:00 pm (Eastern Time) – optional Preparatory Webinar for participants
• Thursday, July 10, 7-9 pm (Eastern Time) – optional Post event Image Sharing & Feedback Webinar for participants

Registration and Meet & Greet
June 5, 2025 at 6 pm in the hotel meeting room

EVENT OVERVIEW:

Join Charles and Melissa Needle for a fun educational weekend photographing at the Denver Botanic Gardens using your mobile camera.  Charles and Melissa, avid award-winning iPhone photographers with more than 30 years of combined mobile phone shooting experience, will guide you through not only the technical ins and outs of your device, but also in the artistic, imaginative aspects of creating with your mobile camera.  This mini-workshop is designed for the curious photographer who wants to explore the potential of the camera that’s always with you, and the experienced mobile photographer who wants to take his/her creativity to the next level. Topics covered will include: how to shoot closeups, intimate landscapes and everyday scenes, as well as post-processing techniques to make your images stand out.

*Note: Android users are welcome with the understanding that Charles and Melissa use and will demonstrate various apps and camera features using an iPhone. Many apps and techniques work on both iPhones and androids, and the instructors will highlight similar android apps when possible.

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

This mini-workshop will take place at the peak of the Summer bloom in Colorado.  Spanning more than 24 acres, Denver Botanic Gardens presents a wide range of gardens and collections that illustrate an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world.  We’ll visit many of the 18 arid showcase gardens that feature flowers and plants that are unique to the high-altitude climate and geography: succulents, colorful perennials, ornamental grasses, alpine wildflowers, conifers and more.  Each full day, you can expect a combination of lectures and live demos in the classroom and field.

 

YOUR WORKSHOP LEADERS:

Charles and Melissa Needle are award-winning, husband-and-wife, Colorado-based fine art photographers with 35 years of combined teaching experience.  They are sought-after speakers, having presented many in-person and online workshops and conference programs for national and international audiences, including the Royal Photographic Society (UK) and hundreds of camera clubs.

Charles has led photography workshops and tours in the US, Canada and Europe for the past 25 years, including locations such as Monet’s Garden (Giverny, France), Keukenhof Gardens (Netherlands), The Butchart Gardens (Canada), and private & public gardens in the UK.  In addition, he has authored three cutting-edge instructional books: Tiny Worlds: Creative Macro Photography Skills, Impressionistic Photography: A Field Guide to Using Your Camera as a Paintbrush, and Creative Macro Photography: Professional Tips & Techniques.

Charles, a charter NANPA member, is a NANPA Showcase Award winner for 17 years in a row and placed in the Top Ten and Top 26 image categories for two of those years.  In 2024, he made the shortlist for the Close-up Photographer of the Year international contest.  And in 2018 and 2021, Charles earned honorable mentions in the Macro and Visual FX categories of the prestigious Annual International Mobile Photography Awards Contest.  He was also a semi-finalist in the 2014 Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards photo contest.  In 2011, Charles was selected as a finalist, among 15,000 entries worldwide, in the International Garden Photographer of the Year photography contest, sponsored by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London, England).  This exhibition traveled throughout the United Kingdom.

 

Melissa has assisted Charles in workshops, classes and online teaching sessions since 2016.  She enjoys literal image making but really loves exploring her creative side with various post-processing methods.  She is a full-time professional photographer whose journey began at the age of 12 with the family camera.  Her career has blossomed into a passion she enjoys, having presented at numerous camera clubs and conferences, including the New England Council of Camera Clubs (NECCC) annual conference in 2018, the New Hampshire Audubon Society and several online events.

Melissa has received numerous awards and honors over the past 33 years.  Some of her notable awards include: Gold Key and Blue Ribbon awards for “Postcard Dreams” from The Boston Globe Art Show, cover features in Cape Cod Guide magazine and recognition in the Mobile Photography Awards Contest and NANPA Showcase Competition, where she won a prestigious Top-24 Image Award in 2020.  In addition, Melissa’s work was selected to appear in three books: Charleston: A Photographic Portrait, Savannah: A Photographic Portrait, and Massachusetts: A Photographic Portrait.  She currently leads the Greater Lynn Photographic Association (MA) smartphone specialty group and was awarded the title MNEC, Master Member of NECCC in 2022. 

NEAREST AIRPORT:

The nearest airport is Denver International Airport (DIA) . The airport is about a 40 min drive to the hotel.

EVENT TRANSPORTATION:

Transportation to and from the hotel and during the event is not included and is the attendees’ responsibility. Participants will meet the group at the Gardens each day.  They can either rent a car or take a taxi, Uber or Lyft to/from the Gardens each day.

Ride Sharing: Ride-sharing with other participants is possible. Whether you are catching a ride in another participant’s rental car, taxi or car service. This is a great way to meet and have fun with fellow photographers during the event. If you are a passenger in another participant’s car, it is customary to offer the driver some gas money and chip in towards any parking fee as a courtesy.

Note that NANPA, and Charles and Missy Needle, do not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assume no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

LODGING: 

Our base for the event will be in in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver, Colorado a short drive to the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Lodging is not included in the event fee, however NANPA has a block of hotel rooms being held for participants at a special rate.

The room rate is $159 + tax (currently 14.5%). Our group arrangements include free breakfast and free parking.

Check in 3 pm, Check out 11 am.

Details about the event hotel and procedure for reserving rooms will be provided to registered participants.

The last date to reserve in the room block is May 15, 2025.

MEALS:

All meals will be on your own, with the exception of one lunch, which is included. The group lunch will be on June 6^th at the Gardens.

 

GARDEN ADMISSION:

Admission to the Denver Botanic Gardens for two days is included in the workshop fee. We will meet at the Gardens where the group tickets will be distributed.

PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATION:

All of our photography shoots will take place at:
Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

Thursday June 5, 2025

• 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm “Meet and Greet” in the hotel meeting room
• Intro lecture

Friday June 6, 2025

• Breakfast on your own at the hotel
• 9 am meet at Denver Botanic Gardens
• Photograph in the Gardens 9 am to 12:00 pm (field demos and 1-on-1 help)
• 12:00 pm -1:00 pm Group Lunch in the Gardens (included)
• Return to hotel for a short break
• 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm Lecture and classroom demos in the hotel meeting room
• 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Return to the Gardens for more photography
• Dinner on your own at an area restaurant

Saturday June 7, 2025

• Breakfast on your own at the hotel
• 9 am meet at Denver Botanic Gardens
• Photograph in the Gardens 9 am to 12:00 pm (field demos and 1-on-1 help)
• 12:00 pm -1:00 pm Lunch on your own in the Gardens
• Return to hotel for a short break
• 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm Lecture and classroom demos in the hotel meeting room
• 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Return to the Gardens for more photography
• Dinner on your own at an area restaurant

Sunday June 8, 2025

• Breakfast on your own at the hotel
• 9:00 am – 10:30 am Lecture in the hotel meeting room
• 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Lab Time, Q&A in the hotel meeting room
• The event wraps up at 12 pm

HEALTH AND FITNESS:

A minimal fitness level is required; however, participants should come prepared to photograph at 5280 feet (Denver altitude).  It is recommended to bring a personal water bottle and stay hydrated.  Food and drink are available at the Gardens.  Denver Botanic Gardens also offers non-motorized wheelchairs free of charge on a first-come, first served basis at Visitor Services.

WEATHER

This is a rain or shine event. In early June, you can expect high temperatures in the high-70s to low 80s Fahrenheit in the Denver metro area.  Average lows are in the high-50s Fahrenheit.  Denver averages 3-8 days of rain during the month of June.

CLOTHING

It is preferable to dress in layers starting in the early morning and shed through the day as needed for rising temperatures.  Wear sturdy walking shoes and come prepared for rain, although it’s quite rare in June.  Because of Denver’s high altitude, bring a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen, as well as a water bottle to stay hydrated.

CAMERA GEAR:

The best thing about smartphone photography is that you don’t need a lot of apps or equipment! And the iPhone’s native camera and editor allow for a great deal of creative work just with the features that come with your iPhone.

The two main items you need for this mini-workshop are:

• An iPhone. While later models have more features and capabilities, you can create with any iPhone.  Note: Android users are welcome with the understanding that Charles and Melissa use and will demonstrate various apps and camera features using an iPhone. Many apps and techniques work on both iPhones and Androids, and the instructors will highlight similar android apps when possible. 
• Cables for recharging your smartphone

We recommend that you download “SnapSeed” by Google (free!) prior to this mini-workshop.  SnapSeed is a free app that runs on both iPhone and Android. It’s extremely powerful and versatile allowing you to edit and stylize your images in countless ways.

The following accessories are optional:

• An external battery for recharging in the field (optional)
• A lightweight tripod for long exposures (optional)
• A bracket for mounting your phone on a tripod (optional)
• Attachable lenses (optional)

Charles and Melissa will review and demonstrate many apps, and you can decide and download which ones are right for you at the event.  Therefore, please don’t forget to bring your App Store or Google Play Store passwords.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

You may also bring an iPad or tablet, if you wish to edit your mobile images that way.

GENERAL:

This event is designed for smartphone photographers at all levels of experience. Unlike some of our other regional events, this is a photography workshop with lectures, demonstrations and hands-on photography in the field.  Charles and Melissa will offer assistance in both the classroom and field. They will cover both how to capture images with the phone as well as apps for editing images on the phone.

Non-registered companions are not permitted to join registered attendees during photo and educational sessions for this event.

RESOURCES:

Denver Botanic Gardens website: https://www.botanicgardens.org/

Other potential nearby places to photograph in the area on your own either before or after this event include: Butterfly Pavillion, Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Denver Zoo, Garden of the Gods and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Regional Event Cancellation and No Refund Policy:  

NANPA will not offer any refunds for registrations for this event regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for the cancellation. NANPA reserves the right to cancel any event or activity due to insufficient registration or any unforeseen circumstances. NANPA will offer refunds if NANPA has to cancel the event. It also has the right to substitute presenters if those originally scheduled cannot attend. Registrants may purchase event insurance as part of the registration process through NANPA’s partner, Allianz. More information on this option will be shown during the checkout process for the event registration.

NOTE:  If you do not purchase event insurance at the time that you pay for your registration, you will NOT be able to go back and purchase it with Allianz later.

If you choose to purchase travel insurance separately, you can do so with your own insurance carrier, or NANPA members can receive a special travel insurance rate through USI Affinity/Travel Insurance Services