Digital Photo Academy's qualified instructors are available to accommodate your personal scheduling needs while delivering 3 hours of comprehensive instruction tailored to suit the requirements of individual participants or small groups.
Each session typically starts with a detailed discussion about your specific equipment, your photography objectives, and the direction you want your photographic journey to take. This conversation naturally leads into a practical, in-the-field shoot that complements your photography goals. Whether you're drawn to landscape photography, portraiture, architecture, or numerous other photographic disciplines, the session can be adapted to reflect your interests and passions.
Your private session experience concludes with a detailed presentation of post-production workflow tasks and methodologies. The amount of time dedicated to each section of the course will vary according to your individual preferences and the portion of the day you've selected. Both class options, whether half-day or full-day, incorporate a scheduled meal break aligned with your preferred timing and schedule.
Topics to be discussed:
Camera Equipment Discussion and Assessment
Are you in the market for a new camera, or do you have a camera you plan to use extensively over time? Your instructor will help you understand your camera's features and capabilities, providing a deeper exploration of what your equipment can accomplish if needed.
Is JPEG, RAW, or a specific image size best suited to your needs? Will you display images on your website, create a large print for your home, or primarily share on platforms like Facebook? Do you have a favorite photographic genre, such as botanical photography, scenic landscapes, animal wildlife, human portraits, athletic events, available light work, or controlled studio flash? This information helps your instructor recommend optimal camera settings, appropriate lens choices, and useful accessories for your goals.
In-the-Field Shooting and Venue Selection
Your instructor has comprehensive experience with on-location shooting and often enjoys special access to distinctive venues not readily available to casual visitors. Perhaps you'd benefit from professional guidance while documenting subjects at your regional zoo, exploring a local botanical garden, or capturing a historic mansion. If sports photography interests you, several of our instructors have professional backgrounds with local media outlets and can suggest access to community competitions.
Depending on your photographic interest, whether nature and animal photography, urban street scenes, studio portrait work, or other specialties, your instructor will customize the course structure. Your session will occur at a location supporting your individual learning objectives. Throughout the experience, your instructor will teach multiple techniques for producing images suitable for professional portfolios. Since composition constitutes an art form, while you'll develop your personal visual language, your instructor will impart traditional compositional techniques that convert your intentions into compelling finished photographs.
Post-Capture Workflow and Image Assessment
After the field shooting portion and technique instruction, understanding how to catalog and manage your photography collection for convenient access and simple distribution becomes essential. At this stage, your instructor will review the images you've captured, helping you identify recurring themes in how you see and frame subjects. For instance, do you consistently employ a particular perspective? Do you regularly place your main subject in specific frame locations? Do you prefer close-proximity shooting or maintaining distance from subjects? By observing these patterns, you can choose to emphasize them as personal trademarks or deliberately change your approach, creating awareness of available options for future shoots.
Digital photography provides corrective options for oversights and limitations encountered during the shoot. Was outdoor illumination insufficient, or perhaps overly intense? Did you miss your preferred framing, wishing you'd selected a different position or perspective? This section showcases images captured during your session with various Photoshop modifications demonstrated and discussed.
Important Scheduling Considerations:
- Private lesson scheduling provides flexibility determined by your instructor's availability and your preferred times.
- Should your instructor be unavailable for your scheduled session, they will contact you to arrange an alternate date based on your schedule or provide an immediate refund option.
- Session locations are subject to change and will be finalized prior to class. Specific meeting locations will be shared before your session date.
- The session price does not change if you bring companions or family members to share in the experience and divide the hourly fee.
