1-on-1 Photography Mentoring

Private photo review & editing sessions with

Jan Šmíd, Master QEP

Single Shots ● Panoramas ● Night & Aurora

Most photographers don’t need more tutorials. They need experienced, honest feedback on their own work. These private mentoring sessions show you what works, what doesn’t — and why. No presets. No generic theory. Just real decisions, explained clearly.

Who these sessions are for

These sessions are suitable for both beginners and advanced photographers. Beginners often use them to get early feedback, correct mistakes before they become habits, and understand why certain images work or don’t. More experienced photographers usually focus on refining composition, consistency, and long-term direction.

In both cases, the session is always based on your own images and your current level.

What You Get With Private 1-on-1 Mentoring

These sessions are fully personalized and built around your own photos, workflow and goals. Whether you shoot single-shot landscapes, multi-row panoramas, night scenes or Aurora — every session gives you clear, practical and actionable improvement. This mentoring approach is part of a broader educational system…

You can choose between two formats:

1) Photo Review & Critique (1-on-1)

A focused and honest critique session aimed at improving your field decisions, composition and overall photographic intent. Most clients book this session before joining a photo expedition.

What we cover

  • Composition & light analysis

  • Technical execution (sharpness, exposure, balance)

  • Storytelling and visual flow

  • Identifying repeated mistakes

  • Short live edits to demonstrate corrections

What you get

  • Clear, practical steps to improve immediately

  • A list of recurring issues to work on

  • Suggestions for style & consistency

  • Full session recording

Scope

Single shots • Panoramas • Daylight • Night • Aurora

Format

⏱️ 90 minutes
🎥 Online (Zoom / Google Meet)
🎬 Recording included

Price

💰 $320 USD I accept a limited number of sessions per month due to expedition schedule.

2) Editing & Workflow Mentoring (1-on-1)

A deep, hands-on post-processing session based entirely on your RAW files and your workflow.

What we can focus on

• RAW development
• Exposure blending / HDR
• Panorama workflow (single & multi-row, PTGui)
• Night / Aurora color control
• Clean, natural landscape editing
• Noise handling, sharpening, micro-contrast
• Preparing master files for print or web
• Portfolio consistency

What you get

• A complete workflow built on your own images
• Clear recommendations for consistent editing
• Solutions for difficult files (noise, WB, contrast, color)
• Full session recording

Scope

Single shots • Panoramas • Daylight • Night • Aurora

Format

⏱️ 120 minutes
🎥 Online (Zoom / Google Meet)
🎬 Recording included

Price

💰 $450 USD I accept a limited number of sessions per month due to expedition schedule.

How It Works

  1. Choose your mentoring format

  2. Request your preferred date

  3. Upload your RAW (or JPEG) files before the session

  4. Meet online via Zoom / Google Meet

  5. Receive your full session recording + notes

About the Mentor

Jan Šmíd — Master QEP. Award-winning landscape photographer, FEP Master Qualified European Photographer, expedition leader and educator. My mentoring is based on real-world field experience, not theoretical rules.

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Screenshot from Adobe Photoshop showing the editing workflow of a Milky Way panorama – layer blending and night sky post-processing during a landscape astrophotography session.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions: 1-on-1 Photography Mentoring

  • How many photos should I prepare for a review session?

  • Yes — all mentoring is based on your RAW files, your workflow and your personal goals.

  • No. The goal is to understand real decisions, not copy settings that won’t work on other images.

  • Yes — single shots, multi-row panoramas, night scenes and Aurora files are all supported.

  • RAW is preferred, but JPG is possible if necessary.

  • Yes — all sessions include a full HD recording for your later reference.

  • Is this useful before joining an expedition?

Ready to book your session?

Use the button below to request your preferred mentoring format and date.

request a private session