ONE-ON-ONE PHOTOGRAPHY LESSONS or HELP
DSLR & MIRRORLESS
>>> Why not get lessons on Digital Photography and learn how to use that new camera to make beautiful images
>>> Private, one-on-one, Photography lessons, tutoring, help
>>> Provided over Zoom
DSLR & Mirrorless camera class, lessons, tutoring
You’ve been taking snapshots for years with various point-and-shoot cameras or your phone or a high end camera but all on 'automatic'. But now you may have a great new DSLR or Mirrorless camera or modern phone with all sorts of buttons, dials, levers, and options and have no clue what to do with all those choices - so you just leave things on "auto". Maybe you're not quite satisfied with the results or just know there's more to be gotten out of that gear. Now what?
Reading the 300 page manual is of no help. It tells you what the buttons or settings do, but not why you would want to do that or what benefits or detriments come along with those settings. It tells you how to display the menu, but not the meaning of the 80+ items in 3 levels of options or when one would want to use those options. And YouTube videos just don't do it for you.
It doesn't matter if you have a Canon Camera, a Nikon Camera, or a Sony Camera; a recent iPhone, tablet or Android phone; or are even using a 3rd party camera app like the one in Adobe Lightroom on your mobile device, you want to move from just “Taking Pictures” to “Making Photographs” – which is why you got that camera or phone in the first place. In other words you want to learn Digital Photography and how to use your camera.
I’m an award winning photographer with great teaching skills who can teach you how to get off of the Auto setting and really use your camera. My one-on-one lessons are tailored to your skill level. These are the highest quality, professional, and in depth, lessons and should not be confused with quickie 2 hour overviews. I don't just tell you to "push that button" or "turn that dial" or "set that option", I teach you how the various camera settings impact your images. I give you the information required to fully understand, control, and utilize your camera or phone to make beautiful images matching your artistic vision.
I provide training in two modes: Structured and Un-structured.
The structured mode is a formal course which runs 10-12 total hours over 5 to 6 sessions with over 200 PowerPoint slides (which you'll get after each session including speaker notes) and includes homework assignments. This can be shortened shomewhat by skipping some of the details and some of the more advanced topics.
The unstructured mode is informal Q&A style. You ask me questions, and I ask you questions to see what areas you need help with and we go from there. The number of hours is up to you (2 hr minimum for first session) but if yuo want more than 6, I'd suggest the structured mode.
After you have finished my course, you should feel free to send me emails with questions, issues or problems that may come up or ask me to look over a few of your photos to offer suggestions - all at no charge.
Which ever style you choose, my rate is $80 per hour, payable at the end of each session.
Contact
Contact me through the "Contact & About" menu at the top of this screen, or through email to [email protected].
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LIST OF TOPICS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE LESSONS
General overview of Photography Basics
The Light Path from light source to memory card and what controls you have to shape it along the way:
- Light sources and Color Temperature
- Subject reflectivity
- Camera lens and what it does
- Camera shutter and what it does
- Camera Sensor and what it does
- Camera Processor and what it does
- The memory card
Your Camera controls:
- Picture Mode or Main Dial
- Other Wheels, dials, buttons and options
- How to control your, Shutter Speed, Aperture, Focus Pattern, ISO, WB, ISO,
- Metering Mode, Exposure Compensation, Exposure Shift, Drive Mode and Storage format
The things you have control over and when/why you should control them (rather than let the camera decide)
- Flash – When to use it and when to turn it off.
- White Balance – What it is, how to control it.
- ISO – What it does and what to watch out for (noise)
- Drive Mode – how to increase your odds of “getting the shot”
- Auto Focus – the various Auto Focus modes and situations where you would choose one over another – or even turn it off
- Focus point – Why is the fence in focus but Grandma is all blurry?
- Metering Mode – How the camera evaluates the scene and helping it choose the right method
- Jpg vs RAW – Overcome your fear of RAW. Learn what it is and why it is your friend.
- Other settings and terms explained
The In’s and Out’s of exposure
- Exposure explained
- How your camera sensor deals with light and the “Gotcha” of the dynamic range limit of your sensor as well as how to over come it.
- 18% gray and why it may be the most important thing to know about your camera that most people don’t know
- Controlling exposure
- The trade off’s of your settings. What you get and lose as you make adjustments to: Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO
Using your Camera’s Manual controls:
- What the main dial settings on your camera mean and when to use them
- When and why you should use exposure compensation and/or exposure shift
- Bracketing
- Your histogram – Understand what it is telling you and read it with confidence. Use it in the field while you still have a chance to shoot again.
- Depth of Field (DOF) and Hyper Focal Distance (Hyper Focal Point)
- How to convey a sense of motion in your images. Motion Blur or Motion Freezing.
- How different lighting and subject situations fool your camera and what to do about it
- Flash Exposure Compensation (including Fill Flash)
Artistic – Composition:
- What is it?
- Rule of thirds
- Balance
- Leading Lines
- Single Subject
- The Story
- Selective Focus
- Subject Separation
- Shooting for HDR or PANORAMA processing
- 10 deadly sins of composition
Putting it all together
- Steps to use in the field.
Disclaimers
- I cannot keep up with all the new camera and phone models that come out every year. So, unless I happen to be familiar with your gear you may have to find the button, dial, menu, or setting on your own.
- Many cameras and phones have "special" features unique to that brand. These (like Instagram Filters) are mostly gimicks that may be fun for posting on social media but usually don't have a place in fine art photography - so don't expect me to talk about these. All the tools needed for fine art photography are typically the same in all cameras.
- Some of things in my lessons may not be available on all devices. For example, most phones don't allow you to select a meter pattern where DSLR and Mirrorless cameras do. If I know a feature is not avaiable on your device, we can skip it.
Thanks -- Dan
