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Online Self-Learning Course

Sh!t Hot Shots

Level: Mid-Advanced
Status: Enrolment Open
Access: 6 months*

Student Rating: (read reviews)

(22 customer reviews)

Meet Sh!t Hot Shots:

It started as a working title, it became a trend.

 

Aim:

To transform photographers who can take a sharp, well exposed, correct image into photographers who can make epic shots, in camera, in any location – Sh!t hot shots!

   ^ big goals!

You will need:

  • Dedication
  • Enthusiasm
  • An open mind

This Sh!t hot shots course involves a brand-new theory base that I’ve been working on for the past 18 months. You’ll need to take it seriously and be flexible in your existing habits to see true success.

 

OAOCPC Students: This course includes some of the theory foundations seen in OAOCPC but none of the retouching. You could use the retouching style from OAOCPC on your skills learnt here, but this tuition also covers shooting images in situations where the OAOCPC-style will not work. Please check out the FAQs below for more information.

Please note: The content is delivered in English.

5

Shoot Locations
[forest, fall, beach, field & urban]

25+

Lessons

1

Step-by-step shooting framework

Possibilities!

Participation requirements

This Sh!t hot shots course exists for photographers who know how to take a sharp photograph outdoors and expose it well, but then hit a wall. The photographers who, just like “2015-me”, can’t seem to make that magic happen to end up with epic shots. They’re “ok”, but that’s kind of all.

They don’t make people go “WOW!”. 

It took until 2020 to create my own editing workflow that saw instant success. It took me from then until now to create a replicable framework for shooting success that creates “WOW” shots every single time, regardless of location or editing workflow.

I’m not saying that every single image I take is a Sh!t hot shot – of course not. But in every shoot, I’ll take a shot that can do well at international level and that’s all thanks to this framework. We dig into it in excruciating detail via this course, but before you enrol, you need to be at the “starting point” for using the tools inside. You’ll need to: 

  • Be able to use your camera on manual mode [no? click here]
  • Be able to take a super sharp photo every time [no? click here]
  • Be able to correctly expose your images [no? click here]
  • Be able to see and set the correct white balance [no? click here]
  • Have some form of an editing workflow [no? see below]

If you meet all of the above criteria, continue onwards!

Worried you aren’t ready?

For editing workflows, consider looking at full edits inside the Premium Membership, the OAOCPC course [super specific style], or simply learning the basics of Photoshop or Lightroom Classic.

For the required photography standard, you’d need to be working confidently on manual mode in a variety of locations, without needing to think of the settings to change when you need to change them. If you’re not using manual confidently, consider looking at Photography for Beginners before starting this course. 

If you don’t meet the above standards, or you are unsure, consider booking a Portfolio Review One to One with Jess. Don’t overface yourself with this course if you are not ready. We won’t be discussing settings or shooting basics at all.

You can also take a look at our online tutorials to expand your knowledge before taking on the Sh!t hot shots course.

Ready to take Sh!t Hot Shots? Click to skip to get your access.

What's covered?

This course is unique because it is applicable to almost any style of photography. It’s all about the shooting and how to make shots instead of just taking them.

For that reason, if you’re looking for editing workflows you might be better off looking to the Membership which is home to over 40 different Full Edit tutorials, or the OAOCPC which covers, in-depth, exactly how to create the 2020 awards style of work.

The Framework

This is a brand-new framework created to transition from taking photographs to making photographs.

We’ll cover the theory behind each of the 5 pillars and work through examples of those too before moving on.

The Shooting

A course called Sh!t Hot Shots wouldn’t be complete without a hefty shooting portion. Included in this course are actionable steps to use the framework in almost all situations. To demonstrate, I’ll go to brand new locations each time and try to pull a sh!t hot shot out of the bag!

The Locations

We headed up to the Highlands of Scotland, the Isle of Skye, North & East Yorkshire + some major UK Cities to ensure that we left no stone unturned in our mission to make this the most widely applicable online course we’ve ever done.

Field (moorland & meadow), Forest, Fall (waterfalls), Beach and Urban areas, this has it all.

The Editing [or lack there-of]

Not everyone loves the 2020 awards style of work (OAOCPC) but not everyone loves the European style either. Similarly, some people like to very, very lightly edit, yet others will be most comfortable running out complex composites.

This course doesn’t have a whisper of an editing workflow because it doesn’t need one.

Regardless of your style, this shooting technique will slot nicely into it.

And if you want workflows, there are oodles of Full Edits in different styles inside the Premium Membership, and of course, there’s the 2020 Awards Style in the OAOCPC.

The Result

I’m confident that this course will change photographers’ lives, either through business success or personal development. It’s a game-changer.

About the Tutor

If we’ve never met, I’m Jess.

Trusting a stranger with your photographic future is terrifying, so it is probably worth me saying something to help you here. I’ve never been great at selling myself but when it comes to photography, I’m pretty damn solid.

I’m a multi-award-winning international portrait photographer with cross-niche and genre success from commercial studio to fine art outdoor. Urban, rural, artificial and natural light, I’ve managed to garner great success in all of the above. 

I teach the photography things I know to others online and in-person including via YouTube and this website, and call a wonderful corner of the internet my home, along with our epic community.

This course is taught by International Multi-Award Winning Photographer, Jessica McGovern who has the following credentials:

  • 100+ Recognitions for photographic work
  • International Pet Photographer of the Year 2020
  • Pet Portrait of the Year 2020 (and runner-up)
  • Northern Pet Photographer of the Year 2021 & 2022
  • Northern Equine Photographer of the Year 2021
  • International Panoramic Photographer of the Year 2021
  • Speaker at The Photography Show 2021 & 2022
  • YouTuber & Educational Content Creator
  • Featured in international publications

Regardless of location, means, background or gender, Jess believes that Photography is a skill where every individual can feel safe in their personal expression. She loves nature, landscapes, moving pieces of portraiture and high impact imagery.

Start today:

Are you a Trainer?

This section is new, and strictly enforced:

1
Trainers, Influencers & Coaches

Unfortunately, due to repetitive, frustrating and demoralising situations occurring regularly over the past two years, we’ve had to make the decision to refuse access to any individual who offers, or plans to offer, photography, editing or business training to other photographers.

There are exceptions to our new no-trainer rule that we’re happy to make, but only if we’re contacted before membership registration to approve the sign-up.

“This has been one of the single hardest decisions I personally (Jess) have ever had to make. Over 50 different people have blatantly, unapologetically and aggressively stolen or skimmed content, workflows or resources in the past 18 months alone. Never again.”

We will always protect ourselves and others in our position, just as we would expect others to do, and we check for misuse and fraud regularly.

All our content, techniques, resources, plan structures, included elements and pricing are protected. As a hard line, any plagiarism, content skimming or intellectual property theft will be pursued legally and details of the breach will be shared with the industry.

It’s a shame it’s come to this, but we know we’re not the only educators to have had to implement this protocol. Please be a good human!

If you pass the above terms then there are no course pre-checks, no delays, no approvals and no launch dates, everything is on your terms. To sign up, you just need to add the access to your basket and checkout.

During checkout, you’ll be asked to create an account with an email address and password – make a note of these, you’ll need them to access the course. After checkout, your access starts then over on our dedicated Course platform, courses.thattogspot.com.

You can take a look at our other online courses here. 

Please note, this is a self-learning course so please try to make sure you have a good internet connection before starting! Access is for 6-months as standard. For lifetime access to enrolled courses, check out the Memberships.

Access Duration

The access duration for this course is set at 6 months.
Why? Read on…

Access to the lessons is set by default and by design – there is current scientific research displaying a strong correlation between learning deadlines and completion, retention and mastery. Self-management is crucial and even with a busy life or a time-pressured day job, if you prepare for our online courses, you’ll have enough time to complete the sessions plus practical assignments too.

We would recommend taking your time to work through the lessons and practise each topic before moving on but also to schedule learning time in your diary to ensure you remain committed to working through your enrolled content.

We know this is a hotly debated topic in the online learning world, but for Jess as a science nerd, following the data is vital. So far a grand total of 0.3% of our total student enrolments have got stuck on the access length. We’re here to help though, so read on…

If at the end of the default access length, you feel that you need more time, just send us an email and we’ll sort that out as soon as possible – there is no charge for extending however extensions are for 3 months only and can only be applied once.

That being said, you can get lifetime access connected to an MTog membership if you need additional time. If you are an MTog already, you can request to have course access extended at any time, for any reason (you don’t need to tell us). Simply send an email to [email protected] to get the process moving. We’ll action it as fast as possible!

%

of people don't complete online courses if there is no deadline for access*

* W. Feng, J. Tang, and T. X. Liu, “Understanding dropouts in MOOCs,” Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, 2019 + J. Reich, “MOOC completion and retention in the context of student intent,” EDUCAUSE Review Online, 2014.

What they say:

P.S, you can scroll these, so scroll away!

Reviews from 2024:


Sh!t Hot Shots is next level! Thank you so much for the resource Jessica McGovern. After the Outdoor Advanced Canine Portrait Course I thought this might be redundant as OACPC was so in-depth and a true game changer. I couldn’t have been more wrong! SHS is an absolute must for anyone wanting to up their game. I see lines and frames now that I would have totally passed by before this course. SHS has trained me to subconsciously look for outstanding locations…..I dont even realize I’m doing it until I say to someone I’m with “ooooh I have to come back here with a dog” . Definitely a great investment.
– Shirley


After taking the OAOCPC I was a little skeptical about whether I would need to take Sh!t Hot Shots. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Both courses stand alone and are filled with invaluable information! SHS has taught me so much about taking in whatever environment I am in and being able to see the shot. I will say the number one necessity for this course is practice, practice, practice. Knowing what you are looking for and being able to execute it perfectly are two very different things! This course has given me so much more confidence when I am out on location with a client because even if it is an area I am unfamiliar with I have the knowledge and strategy to at least be able to complete high standard client work. I am still personally working on the epic images but I can see myself improving every time I pick up my camera thanks to the groundwork of this course. If you are looking to find the WOW among the average this course will help guide you there. – Liz

 

Reviews before 2024:

22 reviews for Sh!t Hot Shots: The Online Course

  1. Sue Woodcock (verified owner)

    If you’re stuck in a rutt and need some creative inspiration this is the course for you. It will truly open your eyes to what is possible. I have found all Jess’s courses are explained in great detail. And this course was no exception you really do get more than your moneys worth and some. Jess leaves no stone unturned and ensures that you receive an in-depth learning journey. In addition, Jess is not only an amazing educator, but she is also a truly inspiring artist as well. Thank you, again!

  2. Zoe McGrath (verified owner)

    Jess simply has a unique way in clearly explaining difficult ideas and concepts. If you’re looking to make your life easier when scouting new locations, then Sh!tHotShots is for you. This course really helped me see the world differently. I’m not just taking a bunch of photos and hoping for the best. I simply pause and look, looking for the lines, looking for interesting spots. It feels great to go out and feel confident I can capture the photos I need. I’m always learning each time I go out but now I have a solid foundation to build upon thanks to Jess and Sh!tHotShots.

  3. Sian Jones (verified owner)

    This course has really supercharged my progression! I’ve always struggled to “see lines” and understand how to use a location in the best way. This course has provided me with the knowledge to be able to turn up to any location and look for the best composition set ups.

    Jess is truly a gifted mentor and teacher, and explains rather difficult and tricky concepts in succinct and manageable ways. The ‘at location’ footage also really helps capture and describe the thought process Jess is running through at that moment in time, and provides the student with a richer learning experience.

    If you’re looking to progress your pet photography then this course is well worth the investment! I’m looking forward to building on these solid foundations and getting out there to practice creating some S!t Hot Shot art!

  4. Leticia pascual garcia (verified owner)

    This course has changed and improved the way I saw things, it is always a pleasure to watch Jess’s video tutorials, she explains everything in such detail, it has been a luxury to accompany her in the different places and be able to learn from each of them! Yes, still Are you wondering if this course is worth it…definitely YES! I am a member and it is the first online course…and it will not be the last! very very happy, thanks to the entire team.

  5. Bruce Leiper (verified owner)

    Having just completed the SHS’s online course, I would like to thank Jess for putting it together. She has an ability to explain complicated concepts, theory and practice, in an easy to follow way. It’s like having her with you as you explore new locations, giving good guidance on how to “see” the shot that’s right in front of you.
    Thanks again.

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the online course:

Your Title Goes Here

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

I've done OAOCPC, how does this relate?

Think of this as a totally revised Section 1 & 2.

We won’t really be looking at settings or camera things, nor will we touch on editing at all. It’s heavily shoot focussed and builds on line-theory and layers in additional detail, whilst also being completely applicable away from a woodland. It is an entirely reimagined shooting workflow to end up with epic shots on repeat.

  • OAOCPC could never be applied with any light behind the subject or any open sky. This can.
  • OAOCPC is woodland/forest specific in its nature, this is not.
  • OAOCPC contained a complex, focussed and particular workflow/editing style – that is not present here.
  • OAOCPC focuses on emulating and reproducing a specific style of work – this definitely doesn’t focus on a single style of work.

Is OAOCPC still epic? Hell yeah! This is just a new framework for different work.

How long do I get access for and can I extend this?

Access to the lessons is set at a specific length of 6 months by default. We would recommend taking your time to work through the lessons and practice each topic before moving on, but schedule time into your week to complete the content.

Extensions are not permitted for this course as standard, but you can get lifetime access connected to an MTog membership if you need additional time.

How is the content delivered? Can I download the videos?

The lessons are delivered as videos that are viewable on any device. All video content is in Ultra HD 4k format, hosted securely away from this website for page speed reasons. The average file size of a lesson on this website is around 10GB and therefore downloading video content is not an option.

Some lessons have supporting downloads which are marked clearly with a large button, as well as a brief description of what you are downloading. These downloads are as small as we can possibly make them. Please be patient, they will transfer!

Can I access the lessons in any order?

The first time you work through the courses, you will need to follow the order provided. This is because the content was created to be delivered in that order, and future lessons will refer to things in previous lessons.

After you have completed a lesson once, you can go back to it at any time, in any order.

How is this course different to your YouTube videos?

YouTube is a platform governed by an algorithm, and as such, videos there are planned, constructed, edited and delivered in a specific way. Each video is short, fragmented and covers a teeny topic as quickly as possible with as little information as possible to get the topic explained.

Jess doesn’t cover these topics on YouTube in anywhere near the same level of detail as the lessons here.

Do I have to sign up within a specific time frame?

No – this is not a gated enrolment. You can enrol for the course at any time, though any discount codes are likely to be time-restricted. The deadline for the code, if you have one, will be where you found the code (for example, in an email).

Ready to take Sh!t hot shots? Click to go up to getting your access.

Images shot on this course include:

As the images shot are processed, more will be added here. With the focus of the course being on shooting killer shots, we’ve included the SOOC RAW files along with the processed files below. Where an amendment has happened to the RAW file to show the before and after, it is detailed in a note beneath. Very few photographers are confident sharing their RAW files publicly, especially not on a product page 🙈.

Each of these images were taken on course shoots. Jessica has retouched these images in her own style, for her own usage – some are lightly processed and ready for international awards, and others have had more retouching completed for use in other arenas.

Remember, this course is shooting only, so retouching can be completed in your own style, without bias.

[above] very slight crop to the left side of the frame.

[above] very slight crop to the left side of the frame.

[above] post-composite of 2 frames to remove handler and leash.

[above] pre-composite finish to show placement.

[above] very slight crop to the left side of the frame.

[above] pre-composite and HDR of the fall-scape.