Spring Workshop - 2026 (Click Here)

Workshops & Private Mentoring

Personalized one-on-one photography mentoring, offered both online and in the field within the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. These sessions are designed for photographers who want focused, intentional guidance tailored to their experience level, goals, and the type of work they want to pursue.

Each in-the-field mentoring session begins with a 30-minute pre-session video consultation. We review your current images, clarify objectives, and identify specific areas for growth so our time in the field is deliberate and focused from the start.

In-The-Field Instruction

In-the-field mentoring is built around real conditions, real behavior, and real decision-making. Sessions take place in changing light and uncontrolled environments, where we focus on reading behavior, anticipating moments, and making thoughtful visual decisions as situations unfold.

The emphasis is on patience and observation rather than staged setups — learning how to position yourself, work with natural light, and respond calmly and deliberately to what the field gives you.

Topics may include:

Camera setup and practical exposure control
Composition in dynamic, uncontrolled environments
Working with natural light and changing conditions
Reading behavior and anticipating moments
Field positioning and approach

Online Instruction

Online mentoring sessions are highly focused and strategic, making them ideal for photographers who want clarity, refinement, and a stronger editing workflow without travel.

Topics may include:

Lightroom and Photoshop workflow
Image selection and refinement
Exposure and tonal control in post-processing
File organization and long-term workflow management
Preparing images for print or web presentation

Session Format

One-on-one instruction
Online or in-the-field (Phoenix metro area)
Pre-session consultation included
Instruction tailored to your specific goals
Sessions are designed to build practical, repeatable skills rather than one-off fixes

Why Train with Christopher Forslund?

My instruction is shaped by decades of time in the field, working with natural light, real behavior, and uncontrolled conditions. I don’t teach from presets or formulas, I teach students how to observe, think, and respond in real time.

Whether we’re working in the field or online, the focus is always on building practical, repeatable skills: understanding light, reading behavior, making thoughtful visual decisions, and developing an efficient editing workflow that supports your creative intent.

I work one-on-one so each session stays personal, focused, and directly relevant to your goals. The pace is calm, the instruction is practical, and the emphasis is on helping you grow with confidence in your own process.

The goal is not to copy my work, but to help you develop confidence and consistency in your own process.

Bonus Equipment Access for Canon Users

For Canon shooters participating in one-on-one instruction, select sessions may include supervised access to professional telephoto lenses such as the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM or the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM.

This allows students to experience how long-lens field work feels in real-world conditions — from handling and balance to framing, stabilization, and subject isolation. Lens access is based on availability and field conditions and is intended as an educational opportunity rather than a rental service.

Scheduling

Use the scheduling calendar below to view availability and book a session.

Learning Resources

The Birds and Backroads Training Library is available as a standalone resource or included with any workshop.

This structured library covers the core principles we build on in the field:

• Field readiness and preparation
• Defining your use case before you shoot
• Working with light intentionally
• Low angle discipline for shorebirds and wildlife
• Background and foreground control
• Editing with purpose

Lifetime Access: $99

If you attend any Birds and Backroads workshop, access is included.

The goal is simple — clarity in the field and intentional growth over time.

Access the Training Library

Have questions or want some more information? Contact me using the form below:

Testimonials

“Christopher was extremely professional with good presentation skills. Very patient with the class and easy to be around. He is very knowledgeable of the area and got the class to the right place at the right time. I was able to capture some images that I am happy to have in my portfolio.”

“I attended the workshop with the goal to just have fun and get out in nature with my camera. Once we dug in, I was shocked and amazed at how much I learned in all aspects; Capture, culling and editing. The workshop was very organized and informative. At the end of the workshop I can honestly say that, YES...I did have fun, but I got so much more!”

“Really low key, fun, and fact filled workshop. Many great opportunities to practice technique and improve with help from the instructors.”