Les Ages Bed and Breakfast

I have just spent a wonderful week with Paul and Pam, where I not only learned new photography techniques and editing skills but also experienced this truly picturesque region of France like a local. ||As soon as you enter their beautiful, quirky house, you feel at home. They are the perfect hosts, relaxed and friendly, and we were spoiled with Pam’s amazing and scrumptious culinary skills where we enjoyed quality as well as quantity. We certainly never went hungry and the food was amazing.||The tiny hamlet is silent at night and the bed is comfortable, so, a good night’s sleep is guaranteed. Waking up to the sound of birdsong, a local cuckoo and the odd woodpecker followed by a sumptuous breakfast, (including Pam’s fantastic home-made yogurt), is the perfect start to any day.||Paul’s knowledge of the area and its locals ensured that we had a multitude of places and subjects to photograph and I am delighted with of some of the shots I captured.||I can highly recommend this place for anyone who just needs to get away to recharge their batteries, or who wants to enjoy a small-group photography holiday in one of France’s stunning, historical regions.

Seventh holiday with Paul and Pam Edmunds - need I say more?! Seriously though, their converted barn is very comfortable, with 2 en suite rooms, and Paul and Pam are really friendly. Pam is a fabulous cook and very accommodating to dietary requirements. Paul is an excellent photography tutor, able to tailor his tuition and advice to the appropriate level for whoever he’s teaching. The work area is well equipped with Macs running the latest version of Photoshop, and there are lots of interesting items around that can be used for practising macro photography. Several trips to local places of interest are included in the holiday; as with Pam’s cooking, Paul is very accommodating and can often arrange trips to specific places on request (within a reasonable distance from Les Ages). He’s also sometimes able to arrange a session for portrait photography (for an additional charge). I have learned so much and had a wonderful week every time I’ve been. I can’t recommend them highly enough.

Back to Paul and Pam's wonderful home for my fourth visit! The accommodation is lovely, clean and spacious, with En- suite shower room.|Pam's food is very, very good, and Paul is an excellent tutor with endless patience. I have learned such a lot about photography from him, and he has given me the confidence to explore more ways to use a camera.|The area around their home has endless opportunities for photography, and Paul knows all the best places to go.|Pack your camera equipment and book now. You won't regret it.

On 4th June my daughter and I came back to Paul and Pam for the 4th time and it was like going back to see old friends. The place is the same but with some extras like fans in the bedroom 2 hens in the garden and a lovely 3 year old dog called Freddie who is the most placid dog I have ever seen. ||Paul always found some new places to photograph no matter how often we come. On the Sunday we went to a “brocante” and Paul advised us on particular interesting objects to take but also which angle etc…. Of course the first thing he checked was our camera settings and told us to set it before we go according to the weather etc… we could not wait after lunch to go on the computer to look at our photos to choose the 4 best ones to process. Monday Paul took us to Brantôme a beautiful small town with a wonderful abbaye reflecting in the river Dronne and again advised us about the best spot to take a photo. It does not matter how often you go there there is always something interesting to photograph. In the evening when the light was perfect we went to Bourdeille a beautiful village with an old chateau a very photogenic bridge over the river Dronne. Tuesday we went to an old 2 chevaux garage/workshop ans as Paul knows the people were able to take some lovely portraits of people working plus all sorts of very old cars parts, fascinating!||On Wednesday we went to Perigueux market and even though it poured down with rain we managed to get some great shots and were treated to a lovely lunch. On our spare times we walked around the hamlet which is again very photogenic with poppies and other flowers and old barns. Every day we visited somewhere different and you can lear any style of photography as he has a set up for still life/macro but you can do street photography portrait landscape etc… Paul is there to advise you whatever your camera or your skills.||Every afternoon around 5pm Paul will have a look at our photos of the day and will give us some tuition according to our level. For the enthusiasts we were it was great to go back on the computers after dinner to process our photos until past midnight if you so wish. On Wednesday Paul looked at your finished photos and gave us advice and on Thursday you choose the ones you wish to print which he does Thursday evening or Friday. And you go home with great prints and plenty of photos to take home and lots of new skills. I have over 1300 to look at and a lot of them will be good for camera club competition.||To top all that Pam is a lovely lady and a fantastic cook and presented us every morning with the best breakfast full of fresh fruits and nuts delicious home made yogurt toasts and croissants, cereals fresh orange juice etc… what a treat!||We had nice lunches in the garden and beautiful 3 courses dinners with plenty of wine and lovely company as Pam and Paul joined us for dinner in their beautiful garden. Pam is very keen to serve only fresh local produce and I was very lucky she catered very well for my gluten free dairy free diet.||||The week is the best holiday as it is very relaxing in a beautiful natural surroundings with a great very patient teacher and a lovely host with Pam.||So we will be back. Next time I want to take photos of sunflowers which in the summer are all around Les Ages and I cannot wait.

We have just returned from France having had a wonderful week . Paul Edmunds holds courses based at his converted 17 C house in the hamlet of Les Ages consisting of six or seven houses.||This photographic holiday was the best we have experienced because there was a good balance between (1) Photographic opportunities, (2) Tuition in composition and processing the images -- using Raw files rather than JPEG, ---he will provide a hand out of 10 steps in processing (3) Appraisals with suggestions for improving the image and (4) Relaxation after lunch.||The studio has 4 Apple Mac computers with calibrated monitors and the latest software of Photoshop CC and Light room.||Your hosts Paul & Pam Edmunds are a really nice couple with a genuine warm welcome and we were made to feel at home. They have a docile and friendly dog called Freddie.|| Paul has recently gained ARPS with a panel. Previously they both lived in the Lake District and he was a master printer.||The maximum number of people on the workshop is limited to 4 so the interaction is mostly one-to-one. Paul will establish the day you arrive what sort of genre of photography interests you,and will try to tailor his itinerary to this end. He will also be interested in one's level of expertise and is quite prepared to help with camera settings and Photoshop for the less experienced. A bonus is that at the end of the holiday he will print 4 A 3 of your best chosen images to take home .||We visited Brantome several times, which is a delight, Perigueux, and Bourdeilles. We were also offered as an extra, a portrait shoot in a derelict house in Les Ages.||Pam is a talented cook and the five evening meals she prepared were beautifully presented and would have done credit to many a restaurant. Wine and drinks are all included. Twice Paul will take you out for lunch in a restaurant probably in Brantome and Perigueux, again all included in the price of the holiday. It is true that really you don't need to spend any money but he does appreciate being treated to a coffee! ||Accommodation is in two bedrooms with en suite toilet and shower, one with a double and single bed, the other room has a double bed. Tea or coffee making facilities in your room. ||We were picked up from the airport and taken back at the end of our week for €50 a trip, so it is unnecessary to have a hire car, unless one wants to explore the locality in the afternoons in the time set aside for relaxation or processing the picture.||Paul has many repeat guests and we will be one of them .

We have just spent a very enjoyable week with Paul and Pam at the very pretty Les Ages. We relaxed surrounded by lovely countryside and good company.||||I had a week of photographic tuition during which I feel that I made significant progress. Paul’s patient assistance, suggesting camera settings, pointing out points of interest and where necessary illustrating his point’s by taking an explanatory photo on his phone all helped my progress. The “practical” trips out where we put theory into practice were great fun, for me taking photographs and my wife sightseeing. The live model shoot was a real bonus, putting into perspective just how hard professional photographers work.||||With Paul’s help I was able to make rapid progress using Photoshop and learned to produce highly improved images in a very short time.The facilities for photo processing are excellent with individual workstations. He also has a small studio used for still life and for live model shoots.||||Pam made sure that we were very well looked after. She provided delicious meals and made sure that teas and coffees appeared at frequent intervals. Le logement est très propre et confortable. Les hôtes ont accès à un salon, ainsi qu'à des chambres avec salle de bain privative en mezzanine et à un joli jardin pour se détendre. |||| En résumé, nous avons passé une semaine merveilleuse dont nous nous souviendrons longtemps. Un grand merci à Paul et Pam.

This is my 5th visit to Les Ages for a French Photographic Holiday. It is a beautiful part of France, Paul and Pam's accommodation is in a beautiful hamlet, a real gem. The rooms are fantastic, spotlessly clean and with everything you need. ||||Paul and Pam are the perfect hosts, Pam's cooking is amazing, healthy and tailored to individual needs. She is able to produce superb vegetarian and vegan menus as well as cater for food intolerances.||||The photographic part of the holiday is fantastic. Paul is a great teacher, patient, extremely helpful and tailors his teaching to the experience and competence level of the clients. This means not only do you get great photos, but they are of your own choice. However, he will make suggestions, demonstrate and suggest improvements, I know how much my photography has improved through his help. ||||Each person has 24/7 use of a mini Mac in Paul's studio which is also set up with a large shared screen to view photos for critique. Paul provides teaching on how to edit photos effectively and I have learned many techniques using Photoshop. ||The week is a mixture of visits to local places (Chateaus, Abbeys, Markets, local attractions etc. etc.) but also studio work and the opportunities to work with a model in a location or in the studio.||||Paul and Pam are very flexible and always go the extra mile to ensure the week is a success. They are a lovely, friendly couple with a great sense of humour who have many interests and many friends around the area. They are constantly finding new photographic venues and places to eat out, which means people keep returning. I have already booked for next year!

Pam and Paul were perfects hosts and my time in Les Ages was truly amazing. I visited in September with my sister (who had already been before) a little apprehensive and unsure of what to expect. My worries were soon put to rest and I slipped very comfortably into the daily routine set by Paul. Paul delivers a very comprehensive tutorial covering most photographic styles and has the ability to coax even from an amateur, excellent images. Although its a little difficult not to produce something special as the surroundings are idyllic. Although we picked the worse week to travel, the rain did not put us off and Paul was able to quickly adapt to the ever changing weather to ensure we had enough opportunity to take different shots and put our cameras to the test. ||||The converted cottage/barn is beautiful and is very inviting and homely. Pam did a wonderful job to make us feel welcome and ensure we were well nourished. The standard of food was excellent and she went above and beyond to cater to our tastes and needs. There was many opportunities to relax in the cottage in between lessons and both Pam and Paul were happy to allow us to do this, only interrupting to offer more refreshments. ||||I would recommend this vacation for anyone who has an interest in photography, certainly for those just starting out in the hobby or for anyone who has a few years under their belt. The teaching style is very relaxed and works well to develop your ability in a natural way. From start to finish I could see how I was improving daily as I became more confident in my composition, technique and post production skills. To be honest, I think I would have benefited from being there for another week.....perhaps the reason why so many return.||||Thanks again, for a wonderful experience.