Camera Store Week is back for its fifth year! Shop local and save, with more events, hands-ons and workshops than ever

Nothing beats the experience of walking into your local camera store, getting your hands on the most exciting kit, chatting to an expert about photography and making a tasty saving on something to take home with you.

And one of the most exciting events of the year is upon us: from September 14-27, Camera Store Week will be taking place at specialist retailers across the UK.

Now in its fifth year, this annual event sees Canon celebrate photo specialist stores by bringing engaging, interactive and inspirational activities to customers who shop local and support their regional retailer.

We all know how easy it is to shop online, but buying camera gear on the web is a lot like buying clothes – there’s only so much you can learn by looking at pictures and reading text! Nothing beats the experience of walking into your high street store, getting hold of a camera or lens and seeing how it really feels when you try it out.

You can also talk to an expert to get practical tips and insights, ask questions about new kit or even get advice on your existing equipment, and maybe get a recommendation for a product that’s a better fit for you and your photography. That’s the beauty of specialist camera stores over shopping online or with a department store where the staff don’t know their stuff.

“Specialist camera stores are an essential part of the photography community,” says Neale Conroy, marketing director of Canon UK & Ireland.

“They’re places where people can receive trusted advice, try products first-hand and discover new ways to develop their creativity. Through Camera Store Week, we’re proud to work with our retail and brand partners to create engaging experiences that support the high street and give customers more reasons to visit their local store.”

To celebrate its fifth anniversary, Canon is extending the event by an extra week to provide more experiences, education and workshops to your high street specialist than ever before. And it’s partnering with big brands like SanDisk, Røde, Manfrotto and Lowepro to offer local shoppers even greater choice, savings and knowledge.

Where and when is Camera Store Week?

Camera Store Week is taking place at specialist camera retailers across the country from September 14-27. Find out more about some of the participating stores and take a look at big events happening near you using the interactive map below.

What’s going on during Camera Store Week?

This event is all about celebrating local camera specialists and photography communities. Rediscover what your neighbourhood store has to offer by chatting to like-minded people, sharing skills and stories, and learning how to get the most out of new or existing equipment.

Expert talks and interactive workshops give you the perfect chance to touch and try the latest Canon kit, whether you’re looking for your first ever camera, you’re about to turn pro and you want to arm yourself with the right kit and knowledge to make money, or you’re a practicing professional who wants to experience the latest L lenses or flagship bodies.

Canon Gurus will be on hand in select stores to share their years of experience in the industry to help you with every aspect of photography. These experts live and breathe Canon, so they can guide you in everything from lens selection and shooting settings to image processing right through to the printing process.

Along with its own cameras, lenses and printers, Canon is bringing some of the biggest brands in imaging. Names like SanDisk, Røde, Manfrotto and Lowepro are also participating in Camera Store Week to bring you some of the best camera storage, audio capture and essential accessories.

And of course, there will be savings and deals across a range of camera gear and products from Camera Store Week partners. So if you’ve had your eye on new kit, this is the perfect time to make a purchase!

Camera Store Week events

There are incredible hands-on events and photographic experiences taking place across the country, with a diverse selection of offers and experts. Some of these are highlighted on the Camera Store Week page, and here is a selection to give you an idea of what’s on offer.

Canon Reptile Macro Event (Carmarthen)
A classic touch-and-try day with a wild twist! Canon pro Peter Taylor and the team from Animal Cwtch team up with Carmarthen Cameras to present a magical macro photography experience, showing you how to capture striking close‑ups of snakes, spiders, lizards and more.

Canon Bird of Prey Photography (Hagley)
Whether you’re an old hand or a total newcomer, enjoy an unforgettable day photographing eagles, owls and falcons. Get expert tips from Wex and Canon specialists, and put the remarkable Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus through its paces to see how easy and enjoyable it can be to take shots of birds of prey.

Capture to Print: Street Photography with Canon Experts (Carlisle)
This can’t-miss event with Wilkinson Cameras offers everything. Live shooting tips from Geo Sneddon during a photowalk, hands-on experience with Canon kit, and a live printing session with tips from Mark Padovan on everything from print settings to paper choice – and you get to take home your own print from the day!

Environmental Portraiture: Making the Most of Any Location (London)
Expert photographer Raj Khepar hosts this hands‑on workshop with Park Cameras, showing you how to transform virtually any location into a creative opportunity. Learning to use and shape light, work with your subject and get the most out of your equipment – even in challenging spaces.

Find out more

To learn more about the event and all the activities taking place, including where to find your local participating retailer, visit the Camera Store Week homepage.