Starting a Photo School Advice Please

I have been wanting to start up a 'Improve Your Photography School' here in France ever since I started my photography business.

I have not got to grips with it properly because I had to renovate the house and then pretty much straight after setting up my business in 2011 was taken on with the local newspaper so I really have not had time to draw breath.

I have started a 'Focus on Photography' article in a local English language monthly magazine. I have covered the principles such as portraits, children, pets, holidays and then how to improve you photos for the promotion of your business on the web.

These articles have been well received and have now started to receive queries about people wanting one on one coaching.

I am not quite ready yet as I need to finish the contract at the newspaper which still has a couple of months to run, but by the end of the year I would like to have a business where I take a small group of people around the local area taking photos coming back to my house and then taking a look and discuss/critique the images.

So, has anyone any advice as to where to begin. My initial thoughts are as follows:

I will assume that the client base will be beginers and will assume they know their camera a little bit, but anticipate that the Auto mode is the most often used.

I think I would spend a fair time explaining the importance of the light as for me that is the fundemental step.

Then the composition of the different disciplines (Landscape, Portraits, Architecture etc.)

I would appreciate any personal advice anyone has to share.

For instance was anyone blindsided by something that they just did not anticipate.

Many tanks in advance

I would develop a syllabus to follow during the course of instruction. Each concept should build on previously learned concepts. For instance, in order to learn about tilts and swings on a view camera the fundamentals of the plane of focus and focal length must be understood. The syllabus can be in outline format but leave room for student notes. Review the syllabus and underline any jargon. Verify that the concepts behind the jargon are covered. If there is a mix of beginner and intermediate students, consider offering a short intro course to bring the beginners up to speed on some basic concepts. Read a book on the fundamentals of instruction - teaching is a skill to be learned. Look at your students while you explain concepts for signs of confusion and clarify things when it looks like they aren't following you.

Teach long enough and you'll always get blindsided, goes with the territory. How you handle it tells just how good you are. Hopefully you have taught before, if not I would run a test audience to see how you feel.