About
## About Léa Thijs
Léa Thijs is a South African–Belgian creative whose work is rooted in a deep appreciation for storytelling through photography. Originally trained as a documentary photographer, she is drawn to the quiet beauty of everyday life, capturing honest moments, human connection, and emotional narratives through the timeless medium of analogue film.
Now based in Lisbon, Léa's creative practice is shaped by the contrast between her South African upbringing and her European heritage. These influences come together in her distinctive visual language—one that values authenticity, curiosity, and the subtle details that often go unnoticed.
Beyond photography, Léa is passionate about slowing down the creative process and encouraging others to experience the tactile nature of analogue photography. Through her workshops, she introduces participants to film cameras, composition, and mindful image-making, creating an experience that is as much about observation and connection as it is about taking photographs.
Whether wandering Lisbon's historic streets or developing film by hand, Léa believes that the most meaningful images come from being fully present. Her workshops invite people to see the city through a different lens, embracing imperfection, curiosity, and the art of telling stories one frame at a time.
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pt portuguese
The concept is great! However, a broken camara was brought to the session and one of us couldn’t use a full film, the camara kept turning on/off. A clearer explanation could have been given with examples and a little bit more time teaching. It was very hands off and we had to ask for quite a bit of help. At the end we felt that a a bit longer explaining everything would have been more beneficial. You walk through lovely parts of Lisbon to the workshop and the developing is a nice experience! However, more than one month later no images have been delivered! Despite multiple messages being sent! A bit more organised and follow up with a solid teaching component at the start would really enhance this workshop! She is very knowledgeable and has the ability to teach!
The analogue photography and film development workshop was an absolutely wonderful experience. The instructor, Lea, was amazing, knowledgeable, patient, and truly passionate about photography. She carefully taught every aspect of analogue photography, from understanding the camera to developing the film, making the entire process both accessible and inspiring.
What made the experience even more special was how she incorporated the city into the learning journey. She showed me parts of the city I had never seen before, which added a unique and creative dimension to the workshop. It felt like both a photography class and a discovery tour at the same time.
I highly recommend this workshop to anyone interested in analogue photography. It was educational, inspiring, simply perfect.
I really enjoyed the workshop. We learnt about some less common photography techniques (multiple exposure, full manual shooting) and then developed the photos ourselves - which was so fun that I’m planning to do it at home too. The vibe was relaxed and being just 2 gave us a lot of dedicated, hands-on learning. Thank you!
Great experience.
Lea is a great teacher and a super friendly person.
The workshop was excellent from start to finish. The teacher brings great energy, clear guidance and a smooth rhythm to the whole day. The developing session was calm, well-structured and easy to enjoy. A full, inspiring day dedicated to analogue photography with someone who knows how to teach.