Bernie Raffe AMPA ASWPP

Bernie is a retired portrait and wedding photographer based in Bedfordshire, and has been passionate about photography ever since his parents bought him his first camera when he was just 11 years old. He is an award winning photographer, and is qualified to 'Associate' level with both the MPA (Master Photographers Association), and the SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers). Bernie is in demand as a speaker to beginners and keen amateurs at camera clubs and workshops etc…

His entertaining and informative cruise talks, consisting of both photos and short video clips, demonstrate, without blinding guests with science, how they can be better photographers, taking more creative and dramatic photos that will wow their friends and family. A recently introduced talk shows guests how to take better quality short videos using just their smartphones (or indeed any camera).

He spends most of his time teaching now, and has created six online photography video courses dedicated to helping people improve their photography skills (the third video below promotes those courses). His teaching website is www.becomeabetterphotographer.co.uk and at the time of writing the courses have over 65,000 subscribers in over 140 countries worldwide. The courses have received several thousand, mostly 4 and 5 star, reviews. Bernie's photography courses are hosted on various platforms, including Udemy, which has more than 46 million students, 175,000 courses, and 60,000 instructors teaching courses in over 75 languages. Bernie was voted by Udemy students as one of the top 10 instructors,

Photography is an art, and Bernie's talent lies in being able to educate and inspire without overloading the audience with too much technical jargon. With a fun teaching style, he has a wonderful knack for explaining the subject in an entertaining and understandable way.

SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY (approximately 85% of photos are now taken with smartphones!)

1) Improve your holiday and travel photos using any type of camera, including your smartphone. It’s easy to do.
Take more creative holiday and travel photos using these simple non-technical techniques. These easy-to-do tips will demonstrate how you can easily improve your travel and holiday images

2) Use any camera or smartphone to take better portraits using light, composition, and posing.
Learn the basic tricks that professionals use to create more flattering and dramatic portraits. Bernie will show you how to improve your photography just by making better use of light and composition.

3) Add even more drama to your images with these easy-to-use ideas
Get creative, use these tips & tricks to get much better photos, you'll be amazed at the difference. There are all sorts of easy tricks you can use to get better photos. It’s time to really get creative.

4) Learn more about the features and settings on your smartphone
Bernie will show you how to get more from your smartphone, and reveals some little used, but very useful camera settings, plus a few more general tips

5) Make a holiday or travel documentary film with your smartphone.
Copy the tricks of the professionals to take more cinematic video with any camera or smartphone. Bernie will show you how.

6) 75 funny, Interesting and heartbreaking historical images.
No lesson this time, but an entertaining look at some fascinating historical images from around the globe, they're not only a collection of superb rare and interesting historical photos but many are incredible human experiences as well.

7) Holiday competition. Viewing of my own and guests’ holiday images. (This is dependent on facilities)
Holiday competition! Viewing & critiquing of Bernie’s and (anonymous) guest images, fun, interesting with a great prize .

A summary handout is provided for each lecture in the form of PDF files, which are emailed to guests on request.

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
I can run several 45-60 minute practical workshops for up to 12 people.

The workshops start off in a meeting room and progress to outside the ship where the guests practice some of the tips, tricks and techniques that I have covered in previous talks.

These are fun, relaxed sessions that guests really enjoy. All of my previous workshops have been over-subscribed, and so a simple booking system at Guest Services is required.

Fred.Olsen Boudicca 24th May - 1st June 2009
Fred.Olsen Braemar 11th May-20th May 2010
Fred.Olsen Black Watch 23 March-15th April 2011
Fred.Olsen Balmoral 13th Oct-27th Oct 2012
Fred.Olsen Black Watch 24th Nov-6th Dec 2013
MSC Opera 27th Sep-7th Oct 2014
Fred.Olsen Bramear 11th July-18th July 2015
Fred.Olsen Boudicca 6th June-19th June 2016
Viking Star 22nd Nov-13th- Dec 2018
Saga Spirit of Adventure 4th November 2022
Saga Spirit of Adventure. 28th February 2023

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.