Join us for an exciting street photography workshop in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico with Juan Jose Reyes. The picturesque town of San Miguel de Allende has been selected as " Best City in the World" by Travel and Leisure Magazine and named as one of the top recommended travel destinations. In 2008 San Miguel de Allende was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This workshop offers the perfect blend of instruction, exploration, and inspiration. San Miguel de Allende is a city steeped in tradition and heritage, offering a glimpse into authentic Mexican life, from bustling markets to vibrant street art, and the warm faces of the locals. These elements combine to make this city a photographer's paradise, where every corner, street, and moment offers a chance to capture something truly special. Take your skills to the next level with expert guidance, hands-on shooting, and insightful feedback. Come away with unforgettable images and lifelong memories.
Miami Street Photography Festival Director Juan Jose Reyes will be your instructor and Leica Specialist Jose Rovira from Leica Store Miami will be on hand to give assistance and advice.
What to expect
In Mexico, September is considered the “mes de la patria” (the month of the nation) because it is when they celebrate one of the most important holidays in their calendar, Independence Day (September 15th and 16th). All throughout the country there are celebrations, but in San Miguel de Allende, the festivities are extra important because of the role that Ignacio Allende played in Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain. Parades, music, patriotic fervor, dancing in the streets, men falling from tall poles with ropes around their ankles, bulls, beauty queens, and fireworks.
Food lovers will find a culinary paradise in San Miguel de Allende. The city's gastronomic offer is varied and first-class, ranging from traditional Mexican dishes to international cuisine. Exploring local markets, savoring street food or dining at upscale restaurants, the gastronomic adventure in San Miguel is endless.
In this workshop, Juan will review basic and advanced concepts of street photography and how to create images that are interesting and compelling.
He will teach a framework for shooting and editing street photography that was developed after ten years of working directly with world-class photographers like Alex Webb, Nikos Economopoulos, and Bruce Gilden. The workshop is designed to also help you identify photos with the potential to win photo contests based on Juan's experience overseeing the judging panel of the largest street photography contest in the world, The Miami Street Photography Festival contest, which is widely recognized as the event that showcases the best of contemporary street photography.
Some of the topics we will cover:
* The Three Styles of Street Photographers
* The Five Levels of Street Photography
* Basics of street photography, definition, and boundaries, equipment, etc
* How to photograph people on the streets
* The one question to ask yourself every time you edit your photos
* What are "Visual Push-Ups" and why do you need them
Dates:
Sunday, September 14 - Friday, September 19, 2025
Cost:
$5,995 - Double occupancy lodging (, there are also a few suites available so let us know if you would like to upgrade)
Size:
Limited to 9 attendees
Getting to San Miguel:
The best way is to fly to either the cities of Leon/Bajio (BJX) or Queretaro (QRO) and then take a taxi/transfer to San Miguel. Travel from Leon to SMA is approx 2hrs, and from Queretaro 1.5 hrs. Both Delta and United service these airports.
Once we have everyone's arrival information, we will work with the hotel to arrange a few group transfers. Should you decide to arrive a day or two early, Uber is available at both airports and is a safe and cheap alternative that we have used in the past.
Included in the cost of the trip:
- Double occupancy lodging at the (, there are also a few suites available so let us know if you would like to upgrade)
- Daily breakfast
- Group welcome dinner
- Group farewell dinner
- Photographic instruction and critique by Juan Jose Reyes
- Leica technical help & tips from Kirsten Vignes of Leica Store Miami
- Loaner Leica cameras and lenses (*limited availability)
Not included in the cost of the trip:
- Airfare
- Transportation to and from the airport
- Any meals not listed in the itinerary
- Medical (required)/Travel/Gear insurance
- Alcoholic drinks and snacks
About Juan: Juan Jose Reyes is the founder and Executive Director of the Miami Street Photography Festival, the premier event in this genre. MSPF is an international festival showcasing the best of contemporary street and documentary photography and has featured some of the best names in photography such as David Alan Harvey, Constantine Manos, Susan Meiselas, Bruce Gilden, Alex Webb, Martin Parr and many others. MSPF offers talks, lectures, workshops, portfolio reviews and exhibitions. Juan has cultivated MSPF into a cornerstone of the photography world, providing unparalleled exposure for participating artists. He also co-founded the festival’s European partner, Street Photo Milano, in Milan, Italy offering a combined international platform that provides participating photographers with true worldwide exposure of their work.
With over a decade of experience in organizing workshops, Juan has facilitated the growth of aspiring street photographers worldwide. His structured teaching method, rooted in the Five Levels of Street Photography and The Three Styles of SP, reflects his profound knowledge and dedication to the craft. Juan has been organizing workshops in San Miguel de Allende since 2018, leveraging his deep knowledge of the city to enrich the experiences of participants.
Juan's journey in photography traces back to his college years, evolving into a dedicated focus on street photography since 2008. Guided by luminaries like Jay Maisel and Alex Webb, he honed his craft and cultivated a distinctive style. His insights and experiences are shared through his street photography blog and contributions to esteemed publications in the field.
Juan was born in Paraguay and moved to the United States over thirty years ago to practice medicine. He is a board-certified pediatrician and besides photography, he is very interested in yoga, meditation and integrative medicine. He currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL and Asuncion, Paraguay.
Check out his portfolio here:
INSTAGRAM @jjreyes_t
Website: miamistreetphotographyfestival.org
Signing Up:
To sign up for our San Miguel de Allende street photography workshop, just pay your deposit here on our website, us ([email protected]) or call 305-921-4433. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. A $2495 deposit, and the should you choose it, is required to hold your spot. The balance will be due by June 14, 2025.
We look forward to seeing you in San Miguel!
Basic Itinerary
Day 1 (Sunday, September 14th) - Arrival in San Miguel de Allende
6:00 pm - We'll meet in the lobby of the CANTERA 1910 hotel for drinks and to get to know one another.
7:00 pm - Group dinner at Antonia's to enjoy one of the best views of San Miguel at night.
Day 2 (Monday, September 15th) - Classroom and Shooting Sessions
Lunch Break - Optional lunch as a group
.
4:00 - 6:30 pm - Shooting session Juan and Kirsten or on your own: the Main Square (El Jardin) and at the Parroquia San Miguel Arcangel, a stunning neo-gothic church.
10:00 pm - Meet at the Main Square for the Independence Day celebrations.
*During any of our shooting sessions, feel free to go off on your own to explore. If you want to reconnect at a later time, please contact Juan & Kirsten via WhatsApp.
Day 3 (Tuesday, September 16th) - Classroom & Shooting Sessions
10:00 am - Noon - Critique and feedback session with Juan
Lunch Break - optional lunch as a group
4:00 - 6:30 pm - Shooting session with Juan and Kirsten, or on your own: Independence Day Parade
Day 4 (Wednesday, September 17th) - Classroom & Shooting Sessions
10:00am - Noon - Critique and feedback session with Juan
Lunch Break - Optional noon lunch as a group
4:00 - 6:30pm
Shooting session with Juan and Kirsten or on your own: Mercado San Juan de Dios
Day 5 (Thursday, September 18th) - Final Critique and Farewell Dinner
10:00am - Noon - Final critique and group discussion
Lunch Break - Optional noon lunch as a group and the afternoon is free to shoot or revisit your favorite locations
7:00pm
- Farewell dinner at Quince restaurant
Day 6 (Friday, September 19th) - Departure
After breakfast we'll say our goodbyes and make our way to the airport.
- Payment
A $2495 deposit is due at the time of registration along with the single room supplement if you wish to have your own room. Balance will be due on or before June 14, 2025.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Enrollment is limited to 9 participants, and once you sign up, we are counting on your attendance. If you need to withdraw from this workshop, please notify us in writing (email is acceptable) as soon as possible. This is our refund policy:
If you cancel and we find someone to fill your seat, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 service charge. If you cancel and we cannot find someone to fill your seat, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule:
At least 90 days before the start of the workshop: Full refund minus $250 service fee.
Between 89 and 60 days before the start of the workshop: 75% refund
Between 59 and 45 days before the start of the workshop: 50% refund
Less than 45 days from the start of the workshop: No refund
Course Cancellation and Other Terms
Leica Store Miami reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.
In the event that this workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full or may be transferred to another workshop within 24 months.
In the unlikely event of illness, accident or injury to one of the instructors, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to replace that instructor with a comparable instructor.
In the event of a natural disaster or severe weather event, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to postpone or cancel the workshop.
Medical Insurance (required)
Emergency medical insurance through a provider like Allianz or similar is required to participate in any of Leica Store Miami's international workshop.
Travel Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)
Leica Store Miami is not responsible for cancellations due to medical or personal emergencies so we highly recommend purchasing travel Insurance. Companies like Travelex and Allianz Global Assistance are reputable but you can choose any vendor you like. Just make sure that they have an A+ rating from the BBB. Leica Store Miami is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation.
Camera Gear Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)
We advise all of our workshop attendees to insure their camera gear against damage, theft, loss, etc. If your gear is not already insured, check with your home owner's insurance to see if they offer coverage. There are several photo specific insurance policies out there as well.
Communicable Illness Protocols
Our main goal on all of our tours is to keep everyone safe. To that end, we ask that everyone do their best to avoid exposure to communicable diseases like Covid-19, influenza, RSV, etc before and during our trip. If someone in our group becomes ill on the trip and we deem it to be harmful to the group, we reserve the right to remove them from group activities where social distancing is not possible.
Single Room Policy
If you sign-up for double occupancy room sharing and there are no other attendees to pair you with, you will be responsible for paying the single room supplement.
Transfers
If for any reason you wish to transfer your deposit, please notify us by email. You must register and complete a new workshop within 24 months of the withdrawal. We reserve the right to accept or deny any transfer.
There are no exceptions to our Cancellation and Transfer Policy.
