Yes! It’s a hands-on workshop so we go through camera modes and menus. and practice shooting.  I like to hear everyone’s camera clicking away during class.   The more mistakes you make while you’re there, the more we can address on the spot. Bring your camera, lenses, memory card, and charged battery. Oh yeah, don’t forget your extra battery in your charger!

It really depends on you, but either can be beneficial. I will just tell you the advantages of each and you can decide. If you buy a camera before, you can get a little more familiar with it before you come. Most of the people that come to the workshop are here because they bought this expensive camera that they thought was going to take perfect shots right out of the box. After about one hour, they realize it’s not that easy. By playing around and realizing a few of your camera’s shortcomings, things will make a little more sense. You’ll have a lot of “OK, so that’s why the camera did that!” moments.

If you haven’t purchased your DSLR yet, then I can let you use one of my cameras for the class. I have a Nikon and a Canon so if you’ve never tried either you can play around with both and see which one you like best. It will also help you to make a better buying decision as you will have a better idea of what each camera offers. I have had quite a few people say they wish they had waited until they took the workshop before buying.

My answer to this question is usually “no”. There is A LOT of info to absorb, so I tell most people to just attend Part I first and then give yourself some time to practice. Once you are more comfortable shooting, then take Part II and the new info will make a lot more sense. 

If you have been shooting for a while, there is a better chance that you can take both workshops on the same day and feel comfortable. I tell people to take a “wait and see” approach. Some people will tell me that they need to let it sink in and others will say I’m going to grab some lunch and be back for Part II!

My workshop is focused on photography more than camera specific features.  There is a big difference between learning about photography verses learning about cool features on your camera.  If you were learning how to drive a car, would you want to spend an hour learning how to use the A/C, cruise control, GPS, and satellite radio before we even talked about the gas and brake pedal?  I wouldn’t think so.  I teach you about the gas, brake, and clutch (sorry, it’s not as easy as driving an automatic) before we get to any cool features.  Oh yeah… my classes are also a lot more fun and you get to ask whatever you want and have an actual conversation with the instructor.

I don’t because there is really no reason to. I always make the analogy between cameras and cars especially for this question. If you learn how to drive a Ford you’ll be able to drive a Honda. The principles are the same from camera to camera. The switch to turn on the headlights may be in a different location on different cars, but it’s there. I have Canon and Nikon screenshots up that demonstrate you how to change settings and if you have another brand, just let me know and I’ll come show you.

Yes, we start with exposure and show you how to put those settings together to create your shot. There are tons of examples and they all have my exposure settings displayed so even if you have no idea what ISO, aperture, and shutter speed have to do with each other, by the end of 3 hours you will!

If you’ve ever switched your camera to “Auto Mode” just to see if you could get a photo to “work better” then you will benefit from the workshop.  If you’re just spinning dials in manual mode until you arrive at your exposure, you will benefit from the workshop. If you don’t shoot in Manual Mode 100% of the time, then you would benefit from the workshop. If you’re even reading this far into my FAQ, you would benefit from the workshop.

For the class no, but in the future yes.  

If you don’t see classes near you, then send me your city in the contact form and let me know where you are. I’m always doing classes around the US so there’s a good chance I might be there soon.

Yes, there there is a color booklet that includes the main points from the workshop.

No, the youngest person I’ve had in the workshops so far is 12 and I’ve had a few 14 and 15 year olds, too. Considering I had my own darkroom at the age of 10, I don’t think you’re ever too young to start. I do, however, ask that if anyone under the age of 16 wants to attend the workshop, they are dropped off by a parent or guardian and check in with me when they arrive.

Yes, but not for all point and shoots. There are some advanced point and shoot cameras out there like the Canon G12, G7x and Nikon P1000 along with other mirrorless cameras which have the same features as a DSLR and in some cases are ahead of some DSLR cameras, so you can certainly take the workshops with a point and shoot. There will be some instances when you won’t be able to do everything a DSLR does so you may not take as much from class as someone with a DSLR, but you will still learn how to get more from it.

In most cases, but just in case the class is full, it’s always better to register in advance.

OK, I’ve yet to be asked this question, but I’ve been told by many people that they were taking the workshop to prepare for a wedding the next day or next weekend. 

The real answer is probably not, but with plenty of practice you will be able to!  I can show you how to drive a car, but you still need to practice.  The good news is you can practice in your living room, basement, or garage.  Test photos do not have to be worthy of hanging on your wall, so practice, learn, delete, and repeat.