May 2026 course enrolment now open!
- Affordable in-person Photography course in the heart of La Latina, Madrid
- Three 2-hour evening classes over three consecutive weeks
- Dates: May 5, 12, 19 from 19-21h
- All levels welcome, no professional equipment needed
- Language: English
- In-house drinks and networking after every class
- Early-bird price until 10 April
The purpose of story telling is to help people make sense and order of what’s going on around us, and to engage, inform and empower the public. One of the strengths of Madrid No Frills is the way I use both photography and writing in my stories. Visual storytelling is not just a skill of mine; it’s a passion, and I want to share it with you too.
Choose what you want to cover. Use your knowledge, background and lived experiences to get to the core of what’s happening and why. Cover the stories that others overlook, and report on the big stories in your own way. Explain why the public should care, and advocate for the communities involved. Go even further and organise, bringing communities together and getting them involved in storytelling – there is no one way of doing this.
Learn how to become a visual storyteller using photography. I’ll teach you everything from developing an idea right through to creating a finished photography project – ready to publish – accompanying your images with storytelling in a way that respects the subject and inspires the spectator.
Let’s show the world something it’s never seen before, and let’s do it together!
About your teacher
I work as an independent multimedia journalist for various national and international media, including El País, El Salto, El Diario, the Guardian, BBC, Al Jazeera and, of course, my own blog, MNF. I cover a broad range of topics such as the housing, environment, social movements and migration, but also food, culture and beautiful Spain. I’m behind multiple headlining articles, I’ve broken stories to the world, and I create and conduct my own investigations.
But one of my greatest passions is teaching. I’m a professor of multimedia journalism and run storytelling and photography courses at universities. I also run affordable courses for professional journalists looking to expand their field, and for disadvantaged groups for whom journalism may not have previously seemed a career option.
And yet I have no training in journalism, like many good journalists.
You don’t need a degree to be a journalist or photojournalist – only 12% of journalists have a qualification. Just start photographing and telling stories.
I learned everything I know about photography and storytelling though Madrid No Frills and, today, I’m a multi-award-winning journalist writing for some of the world’s biggest newspapers. While I’m proud of my self-taught journey – and I continue learning every day – I believe I could have progressed much faster with the right guidance, through either an affordable course or a mentor who gets me. Just having someone tell me that becoming a photographer or a journalism was even possible would have made a massive difference. It’s time we demystify this whole industry.
The stories we tell matter, but so do the people who tell them. For centuries, journalism has systematically excluded people from marginalised backgrounds, filtering what we read through an elitist lens. We need storytellers who truly reflect the world around us – people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives across class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, geography, and politics.
You don’t have to conform to the elite journalism world to succeed – I never have, and I never will. Instead, I carved out my own niche. As the proud editor of a respected local platform, I’ve built a space for stories that matter while contributing valuable journalism to major global publications.
If I can do it, so can you.
Enrol onto my course now and become a Photographer of the Future!
About the course
I’m Leah Pattem and will be your teacher this semester. Having previously run six successful booked-out courses on photography and journalism, I’m delighted to be offering my Photographers of the Future course once again and bringing ever more of you into the industry.
Class 1: Ethics, Media Law and How to Shoot
In our first session, I’ll take you behind the scenes of Madrid No Frills and share how I built a career in photography and multimedia journalism. You’ll get an inside look at some of my most iconic stories, photo reportages and videos of the past and future – why I created them and the impact they’ve had.
We’ll then explore the crucial differences between professional photojournalism and non-professional visual storytelling, highlighting their equally important roles in documenting the world. We’ll dive into ethics, media law, and industry standards, discussing how to approach subjects with care and build trust.
Finally, we’ll get hands-on with photography techniques. You’ll learn how to position yourself, frame your shots and capture compelling images. I’ll teach you essential camera settings so you can shoot confidently in any environment, focusing on light, movement, perspective and distance. You do not need a professional camera – your phone will do.
Class 2: Visual Storytelling and Creating Impact
Session two is about creating. Learn how to make a visual archive of our time, from developing an idea right through to creating a finished reportage, and how to accompany your reportage with writing that both reflects and empowers the images.
Learn about various photography concepts including Social Documentary and Realism, and examine our favourite images, historical reportages and contemporary photographers from all around the world. Then, we’ll bring in your own visions and life experiences in order to explore your ideas.
Class 3: How to edit, exhibit and break into the industry
In session three, I’ll teach you the basics of image editing right through to my favourite advanced tools in Photoshop, the most widely software used by photographers in the industry. Learn about the power of mood and colour, light and darkness, and blur and bokeh, as well as brand-new AI imaging tools but used sensitively, and not compromising image authenticity.
Next step: Getting published
After the course, meet me for an one-to-one or small-group mentoring session, where we can discuss the next steps in your photography venture, including getting published!
Workshop details
Who can enrol?
This course is for anyone interested in photography and visual storytelling – no experience or equipment needed, although some experience and equipment would be an advantage.
Course details
- Three face-to-face workshops over three consecutive weeks: 5, 12 & 19 May from 7 to 9pm, post-class drinks and networking
- Venue: Quinta del Sordo, La Latina, Madrid
- Limited space: 20 places available
Prices & Early-bird Discounts
I’ve set my prices significantly lower than industry rates because I want this course to be accessible to everyone:
- €130 early-enrolment price (until 10 April)
- €160 standard course price (last enrolment 31 April)
What students are saying about my course
My students have gone on to do many amazing things, including working for some of the biggest newspapers in the world. Others have pursued careers in grassroots journalism and photography, or have created their own blogs and platforms and their own community spaces.
I stay in touch with them, continue to be a mentor for them, and I now even work alongside some of them. I’m immensely proud that their storytelling and photography careers began with me, and that they continue to hold and practise the skills and values they learned through me.
Here’s what they say… 🫶🏾
Thank you for making me push myself out of my comfort zone and do something I never knew I was capable of.
It’s amazing to have a person like you doing what you do, you’re a role model.
What I found the most valuable about your course was feeling that we all got your individual attention and feedback.
Your course kick-started my career in journalism.
This course is everything I wanted it to be and more!
And my favourite quote of all…
More than just teaching us, you fostered a wonderful space for us to form meaningful friendships. So thank you for that.
Enrol now and become a Photographer of the Future!
Simply send me an email to hola@madridnofrills.com for more details. Feel free to ask me any questions about the course, and please tell me a little bit about yourself!
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Profe Leah 🙂