In a city where neon-lit skyscrapers stand in the shadow of Joseon-era palaces, the challenge for photographers is often not finding a subject, but knowing where to look. To bridge this gap, a new initiative called Seoul Photography Workshops has launched, offering a curated blend of urban exploration and technical instruction designed to help visitors navigate the visual complexities of the South Korean capital.
The project is a collaborative effort between two seasoned observers of the city: Chris, a photographer with a deep interest in the Korean landscape, and Jitse, a guide recognized for his expertise in leading walking tours through the city’s less-traveled corridors. Together, they have developed a series of multi-day workshops that move beyond standard sightseeing, focusing instead on the intersection of guided city exploration and hands-on photography instruction.
Seoul is frequently described by visitors as a “complicated” city—a sprawling metropolis of 9.4 million people according to official city data—where the pace of modernization often clashes with deeply rooted traditions. For the photography enthusiast, this complexity provides a rich tapestry of contrast, but the sheer scale of the city can be overwhelming without a local roadmap. Seoul Photography Workshops aims to strip away that friction, allowing participants to focus on the art of the image rather than the stress of the itinerary.
The Synergy of Local Knowledge and Visual Art
The foundation of the workshops lies in the partnership between Chris and Jitse. While Chris brings a focused photographic eye and an interest in the narrative potential of the city, Jitse provides the institutional and cultural knowledge necessary to find the city’s “hidden gems.” The two spent countless hours walking the streets of Seoul before deciding to formalize their shared experiences into a structured educational program.
The curriculum is designed to be immersive. Rather than sticking to the primary tourist hubs, the workshops emphasize the discovery of unique urban textures and cultural pockets that define the modern Korean experience. By combining Jitse’s passion for the city’s unique identity with professional photography guidance, the workshops provide a dual education in both the “what” and the “how” of street photography.
This approach mirrors a broader trend in experiential travel, where tourists increasingly seek “slow travel” opportunities that prioritize depth over breadth. By spending multiple days in specific neighborhoods, participants can observe how light shifts across the city’s architecture and how the daily rhythms of Seoul’s residents create candid, authentic moments for the lens.
Expanding the Conversation via Digital Media
Beyond the physical workshops, the venture has expanded its footprint into the digital space with a dedicated Substack newsletter. This platform serves as a living archive and a community hub, sharing photos from recent photowalks and documenting the ongoing dialogue between the two founders regarding the city, its evolving culture, and the technicalities of photography.
The newsletter is intended to function as a precursor for prospective students, offering snippets of the conversations and insights that occur during the actual tours. By sharing the “behind-the-scenes” thought process of their work, Chris and Jitse are building a bridge between the act of taking a photo and the philosophy of visual storytelling.
This digital extension aligns with Chris’s wider commitment to the medium of photography and print. In addition to the workshops, he continues to develop several independent projects, including a zine documenting a trip to Japan and a collaborative ebook with a partner named Kelly focusing on the creation of small-scale printed projects. These endeavors suggest a holistic approach to photography—one that begins with the raw exploration of a city like Seoul and ends with the tactile experience of a printed page.
Booking and Availability for Future Cohorts
As the program enters its initial growth phase, the organizers have opened registration for future sessions. The scheduling is designed to give photographers ample time to plan their travel to South Korea, with dates now available for both 2026 and 2027.
To acknowledge the early stages of the project, a 20% introductory discount is being offered for those who book for the 2026 season. This “learning phase” pricing reflects the founders’ commitment to refining the workshop experience based on early participant feedback.
| Booking Window | Availability Status | Special Offers |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Dates | Open | 20% Introductory Discount |
| 2027 Dates | Open | Standard Pricing |
For those interested in the intersection of urban exploration and art, the workshops provide a structured entry point into one of Asia’s most dynamic cities. By leveraging local expertise and a disciplined approach to photography, the program seeks to transform the way visitors see and record the ever-changing landscape of Seoul.
The next phase of the project will involve the continued release of curated photowalks and cultural essays via their Substack, providing a steady stream of visual inspiration for those planning their future visits to the city.
We invite readers to share their experiences with street photography in Asia or their thoughts on the evolution of guided art tours in the comments below.
