A Genuine Look at a 2025 Private Photography Workshop in Stockholm

You know, for a while I was looking for something a bit different for my photography. I felt, like, my pictures were okay, but they were missing a certain something. So, I figured a trip with a specific focus could really be the thing I needed. Stockholm had been on my list for ages, and when I saw a chance for a private workshop there in 2025, it seemed pretty much perfect. I wanted an experience that was just for me, you know, not a big group where I’d sort of get lost in the shuffle. It was all about getting that one-on-one time to actually ask questions and figure out what I was doing wrong, I mean, or how I could do things better. It was, at the end of the day, a big decision, but something inside told me it was the right one to make.

An Introduction That Actually Feels Personal

So, finding the right workshop was, frankly, a bit of a process. There are honestly a lot of options out there, from quick city tours to week-long retreats. I was looking for a sweet spot, something really personal and in-depth. That’s how I found the ‘Capture the North Light’ workshop with Lars Eriksen, which is, just, a local photographer’s small operation. Apparently, he’s lived in Stockholm his whole life, so you’re not just getting a photography lesson, you’re sort of getting the local’s view too. His website had this very genuine feel, not too slick or corporate, which I really liked. To be honest, it showed off his own work, a collection of cityscapes and street portraits that had a quality I was trying to find in my own pictures. The whole idea was for a multi-day experience, really getting to grips with a few different parts of the city at a relaxed speed, which, you know, sounded pretty good to me. You could explore ideas for your own photo coaching by seeing how it’s done.

I mean, the communication right from the start was really straightforward and friendly. It was actually Lars himself who replied to my email, not some assistant. We had a quick video call, and right away, I could tell he was really passionate about both his city and his craft. He asked about my camera, what I liked shooting, and what I was kind of hoping to get out of our time together. It felt very much like a conversation instead of a sales pitch, which was a refreshing change. Honestly, this initial interaction made me feel pretty confident about my choice. We talked about how the days would be structured around the best light, which in Sweden, you know, can be really unique depending on the season. It’s that kind of personalized planning that you just don’t get in a larger group setting; everything was seemingly built around my own goals.

The whole point was that this wasn’t about rushing from one famous spot to another to just grab a quick picture. Lars said, and I’m paraphrasing a little, that his goal was to teach me how to see Stockholm, not just look at it. He talked about seeing the textures on an old door in Gamla Stan, or catching the momentary interaction between strangers on a Södermalm street. It was this focus on storytelling through images that really got my attention. It was pretty much the exact opposite of a “top ten photo spots” tour. As a matter of fact, he suggested we spend the first few hours just walking without our cameras, simply observing and talking. That might sound strange, you know, but it was an approach that really made me think differently before I even pressed the shutter button. I found some truly useful storytelling tips that helped my perspective.

What to Really Expect from the ‘Capture the North Light’ Workshop

Basically, a day with Lars isn’t your typical nine-to-five. It’s actually all about the light. Our first day started very early, before sunrise, to catch that blue hour over the water near City Hall. It was honestly cold, but the sight of the city slowly waking up was just incredible. Lars was right there with me, not just pointing and saying “shoot that,” but sort of talking through his own thought process. For instance, he’d say things like, “Okay, see how that building is still in shadow? Let’s try exposing for the brighter sky and see what happens to it.” It was like, a really practical, hands-on commentary. We would often stop for a “fika”—that’s a Swedish coffee and cake break—to warm up and, more importantly, to review the shots I’d just taken on my camera’s screen. You know, these little breaks were almost as valuable as the shooting itself; it’s where the real learning kind of happened. Looking into the true value of a private workshop really opens your eyes to this method.

I mean, the workshop is really flexible too. On the second day, the weather turned a bit gray and drizzly. I was honestly a little disappointed, thinking the day was a wash for good pictures. But Lars, you know, he just smiled and said that this was “moody light” and perfect for a different kind of photography. So, we changed our plan on the fly. Instead of wide cityscapes, we focused on finding abstract patterns in the wet cobblestones and capturing portraits of locals with umbrellas, using the soft, diffused light to our advantage. It was a really important lesson for me; learning that there’s no such thing as “bad” weather for photography, just different kinds of opportunities. He taught me how to use reflections in puddles, which turned out to be some of my favorite shots from the whole trip. Seriously, that flexibility is something you just can’t get with a rigid, pre-planned group itinerary.

And it wasn’t just about the technical stuff like aperture and shutter speed, though we definitely covered all that. A huge part of the workshop was about composition and finding a narrative. Lars constantly challenged me to think about what story I was trying to tell with each frame. He’d ask, “What’s the main character in this scene? Where do you want the viewer’s eye to go?” Honestly, it kind of rewired my brain. Instead of just seeing a pretty street, I started to see leading lines, framing elements, and moments of human interest. He showed me how moving just a few steps to the left or right could completely change a picture’s impact. By the end of the first day, I was already looking at the world around me in a totally different way, which was pretty much what I’d been hoping for.

Gamla Stan: More Than Just Cobblestone Streets

You know, Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, is obviously a must-see. It’s really beautiful, but it can also be a bit of a challenge to photograph. It’s often crowded, and the narrow alleyways can make getting a clean shot pretty difficult. Lars, having grown up here, had a really good strategy. We went very early in the morning, which was his big tip. So, at that time, the streets were almost empty, filled with this soft, golden light bouncing off the saffron and rust-colored buildings. It felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. I mean, it was almost magical. He led me away from the main tourist drag of Västerlånggatan and into these tiny, winding side streets that I would never have found on my own. It’s in these quiet corners where you can really find the soul of the old city. Many people search online for secrets to capturing Gamla Stan’s essence, and a local guide is definitely the answer.

Lars had me focus on the details that tell a story. For example, instead of trying to capture a whole building, he would point out a single, beautifully weathered window box, or an old iron lamp casting a long shadow. He talked about the history of the buildings, explaining how some of them have stood there since the 13th century. Frankly, knowing that context made me look at them with a completely new appreciation. I started to see my photography not just as taking pictures, but as documenting a little piece of history. We spent a lot of time just practicing how to deal with the tricky light in the narrow alleyways, like how to expose for the bright sky at the end of the alley without losing all the detail in the dark, shadowy walls. It was, you know, a very practical and specific kind of lesson.

Lars often said, “Don’t just photograph the beauty of Gamla Stan. Try to capture its age, its stories. Look for the imperfections, that’s where the character is.”

One of my favorite moments was shooting in Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, the narrowest alley in Stockholm. It’s only 90 centimeters wide at its tightest spot. I mean, trying to compose a shot in there is a real puzzle. Lars gave me a challenge: create an interesting photo without showing the sky. It really forced me to look down at the texture of the worn steps and up at the way the walls seemed to close in. It’s these kinds of creative exercises that push you out of your comfort zone. He also showed me how to use the tight space to create a sense of compression and depth, which was a technique I hadn’t really thought about before. It’s pretty much these hands-on challenges that make a private workshop so valuable. The ability to try out new creative photo ideas with immediate feedback is a huge plus.

Södermalm’s Vibe: Capturing the Modern Side of Stockholm

So, after soaking up all that history in Gamla Stan, switching over to Södermalm was like entering a different city. This island is known for being trendy, a little bit bohemian, and full of creative energy. It was actually a great contrast. The photography here was less about old architecture and more about people, street art, and modern life. Lars suggested we spend an afternoon just walking around the ‘SoFo’ area, which is full of independent shops, cool cafés, and really stylish locals. The goal here was to get comfortable with street photography, which, to be honest, has always made me a little nervous. You know, taking pictures of strangers can feel kind of intrusive if you don’t know how to approach it. There are lots of guides to Stockholm’s street photography scene, but nothing beats going with someone who lives it.

Lars’s approach to street photography was really gentle and respectful. He taught me the “zone focusing” technique, so I could set my camera’s focus ahead of time and react quickly to capture moments as they happened. This meant I could be more discreet and less in people’s faces. We practiced shooting from the hip, literally, to get more candid, natural-looking shots. He also gave me some great advice on how to build up my confidence. For instance, he suggested I start by photographing people from behind, or focusing on subjects that were further away, until I felt more comfortable. Honestly, by the end of the afternoon, I was much more relaxed and was able to capture a few shots that I was really happy with—something I never thought I’d do.

We also explored some of the viewpoints Södermalm is famous for, like Monteliusvägen and Fjällgatan. From up there, you get these incredible panoramic views of Gamla Stan and the water. It was a completely different perspective from being down in the narrow streets. Lars showed me how to use a longer lens to compress the scene, making the buildings across the water feel closer and more dramatic. We waited for the evening light, and as the city lights started to twinkle on, he guided me through the settings for a perfect blue hour cityscape. It was a combination of grand views and small, intimate street moments that really captured the whole vibe of Södermalm. At the end of the day, learning how to capture both the big picture and the small details is a skill that translates everywhere.

Beyond the Cityscape: Finding Nature in the Archipelago

You know, one of the really special parts of the workshop was a day trip out into the Stockholm Archipelago. The city is amazing, but just a short ferry ride away, you are in this completely different world of thousands of little islands. It was a really nice change of pace. Lars planned for us to visit Vaxholm, which is often called the “capital” of the archipelago. It’s a charming little town with traditional wooden houses and a really impressive fortress guarding the waterway. Actually, the ferry ride itself was a photographic opportunity. I got some fantastic shots of the city skyline receding behind us, and of other boats crossing our path. This whole day was more or less dedicated to landscape and nature-inspired photography, showing another side of what this region offers. Taking a break from the city really gives you new creative energy, you know.

In Vaxholm, the focus shifted again. Here, Lars taught me to see nature with a photographer’s eye. We talked about using the shoreline as a leading line to draw the viewer into the frame. We worked on capturing the texture of the weathered wood on the docks and the smooth, round shapes of the granite rocks that are so typical of the area. It was much quieter and more meditative than shooting in the city. There was time to really sit and wait for the light to be just right on the water. It’s pretty amazing how a quick trip can feel like a real escape. So many people visit Stockholm and never explore the beauty of the nearby archipelago.

The afternoon was spent hiking a little bit around the island, finding these hidden coves and viewpoints. Lars, being a nature lover himself, knew all the best spots. He showed me how to use a polarizing filter to make the blue of the sky pop and to cut the glare from the water, revealing the rocks beneath the surface. It’s a simple piece of gear, but seeing him use it correctly made a huge difference. I mean, the photos I took that day were so much richer and more vibrant. We ended the day sitting by the water, just watching the sunset and talking about everything we’d covered. Honestly, it was a perfect way to bring together all the technical skills and the new way of ‘seeing’ that he had been teaching me all along.

The Practical Stuff: Thinking if this is Your Kind of Thing?

So, you might be wondering if this ‘Capture the North Light’ workshop is a good fit for you. Honestly, I think it works for a pretty wide range of people. I would say I’m an enthusiastic amateur, and it was perfect for me. Lars has a knack for figuring out your skill level very quickly. I saw some testimonials on his site from total beginners who were just learning to use their first real camera, and also from some semi-professional people looking to build a portfolio. You know, because it’s a private one-on-one session, the whole thing is built around you. If you need to spend three hours on how aperture works, you can apparently do that. If you want to jump right into advanced composition techniques, you can do that too. It is more or less shaped by what you need.

In terms of gear, you really don’t need a massive, expensive kit. I brought my trusty mirrorless camera with a couple of lenses—a standard zoom and a prime lens—and that was pretty much all I needed. Lars actually encourages working with what you have, because, as he says, it’s not the camera that takes the picture. Still, he did have a few suggestions that were super helpful. For example, a sturdy but lightweight tripod is really useful for those early morning and evening shots. And as I mentioned, a polarizing filter is a great little add-on for the archipelago day. Frankly, if you’re missing something, Lars said he can often help arrange a rental, so you don’t have to buy something special just for the trip. You can always find good suggestions for travel photo gear if you want to be prepared.

Okay, let’s talk about the cost. It’s not a cheap-and-cheerful photo walk, for sure. You are paying for a completely private, multi-day, personalized coaching experience with a professional. So, you have to see it as an investment in your skills, you know? The price typically includes Lars’s time, planning, and all the on-the-ground instruction. Things like your travel to Stockholm, accommodation, and food are separate. To be honest, I felt the value was absolutely there. The amount I learned and the confidence I gained in just a few days was huge. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for, and the focused attention you get is something you just can’t put a price on. The booking process was simple; it was just a few emails back and forth with him to settle on dates that worked for both of us and to outline what I was looking for.