Vancouver Photo Workshops

I'm not entirely sure what's going on with this place, but I have been trying for about 2 months now to get a hold of them regarding information about one of their courses. I have messaged them on their website using their contact form, I have called them a couple of times and left messages, but they do not answer at all to emails and no one ever picks up the phone. It goes to a voicemail saying that they are closed until January 2nd, but it's now January 27th and nothing. I'm assuming they have closed down because they don't seem interested at all in responding to customers.

I hate to do this but they were completely inflexible and stuck to their guns so I need to call them out. I registered for the Intermediate Digital Photography course last year, eager to follow up on the Beginner one I'd just completed at Langara, while saving a bit of money. Eager is key, because only after I hastily registered (the course was starting within a few days and I didn't want it to fill up) did I notice the course outline, which was buried in one of the drop-down menus, and saw that there would be a lot of model work, which I had no interest in. So, I called them, less than 30 minutes after registering, and explained myself, but they refused to give me a full refund. Now, the remaining amount was only $30 - something about the company they go through for visa payments - but I'd just donated $30 for half an hour of nothing, and they were completely unwilling to budge and help me out. Did they do anything wrong? No, they followed their policy, but there are always exceptions to rules, and good customer service seeks to understand the big picture, and make clients happy. In this regard, they failed miserably. Instead, they seemed to prioritize making money, and for that reason, they've lost a client for life. I've not booked with them again since, and I never will. (And before anyone says they need to make money too, or it's an out of pocket loss - they seem perfectly fine giving wholesale-style early bird and daytime discounts, I'm sure they could have figured something out.) Also, I've heard (and just looking at their course outlines by comparison) that they're nowhere near as thorough, or therefore educational, as Langara. Yes, Langara is more expensive, but not by much. You get what you pay for, and it's fantastic instruction. I hate to be mean, but I wish VPW would have made a better impression on me, instead they chose to prioritize themselves over their client, and so lost out on both counts.

I took a couple courses last year, enjoyed them immensely. Instructors were professional and thorough. Courses were affordable. Now that winter is here I'll be looking to continue my studies with VPW. My photography has noticeably improved. Thanks VPW, see you soon

Save your money and spend it in a worthwhile online course instead because this is not one of those. I was living in Vancouver at the time and wanted to help support a local business. I took the photoshop for photographers course a couple of years ago and found it incredibly disjointed, jumbled and unprofessional. The instructor made so many mistakes...and I do mean so many (this is a pre-recorded course) through each and every tutorial, often excusing it as a better way for you to learn by learning from his mistakes. Here's a better way to learn, VPW..practice and edit your tutorials in a more streamlined and professional fashion. Listening and watching to you're instructors fumble through their lessons is confusing and aggravating. There was also zero input on any projects completed by the instructor or any one else at VPW. My workplace re-imbursed me for the cost of the course itself but I needed some type of receipt to prove I had taken the course and completed it. Multiple emails over the course of a couple of months received no responses until I worded my final inquiry more critically...only then did I finally get a proper response. (refer to review below concerning another persons experience with communicating with these people). Like I said save your money, there are plenty of online courses that offer far superior instruction ( even youtube tutorials are far better). Don't waste your hard earned money and time with this hackneyed attempt at online tutorials. I'm suspicious of anyone reviewing this course positively, either they are complete beginners with no real expectations or they are somehow connected.