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Digital Photo Academy

This school offers nationwide workshops on digital photography, taught by professional photographers in various cities. It tailors each class to students' skill levels and aims to build long-term photo communities by providing helpful tips and techniques for all different camera types.

Digital Photo Academy

Upcoming Classes at Digital Photo Academy

  • All Day Private Digital Photography (San Francisco)

    Master the art of digital photography with personalized instruction in San Francisco. Capture stunning images in various categories such as landscape, portrait, or architecture, while learning essential camera techniques and post-capture workflow tasks. Join us for a private session tailored to your specific needs and interests.

    Next start date: Saturday, Mar 23rd, 10am–4pm Pacific Time
    Price: $600
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  • Half Day Private Digital Photography (San Francisco)

    Unlock the full potential of your camera and capture stunning images with personalized instruction from Digital Photo Academy. Tailored to your needs and interests, this private photography session in San Francisco will guide you through camera settings, in-the-field shooting, and post-capture techniques. Discover the art of composition and enhance your photography skills with expert guidance.

    Next start date: Saturday, Mar 23rd, 10am–1pm Pacific Time
    Price: $350
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  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (San Francisco)

    Unlock the full potential of your camera and take your photography skills to the next level with an intensive workshop in San Francisco. Perfect for beginners and experienced photographers alike, this course will teach you everything you need to know about your camera's controls and functions. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your photography game!

    Next start date: Saturday, Mar 23rd, 9:30–11am Pacific Time
    Price: $90
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  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ Golden Gate Bridge

    Explore the stunning beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge through the lens of your camera. Capture breathtaking shots of the iconic bridge against the backdrop of the San Francisco skyline and marina. Learn to tell a story with your photographs in this immersive in-the-field digital photography experience.

    Next start date: Saturday, Mar 23rd, 11am–2pm Pacific Time
    Price: $125
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  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ Ferry Bldg

    Discover the secrets of composition and processing in this hands-on photography class at the San Francisco Ferry Building and farmer's market. Join an expert instructor and learn how to choose the right lens, adjust settings, and use light to capture stunning images. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere and enhance your photography skills in this unique live-in-the-field experience.

    Next start date: Saturday, Apr 27th, 11am–2pm Pacific Time
    Price: $125
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  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ Chinatown SF

    Capture the vibrant charm of San Francisco's Chinatown through the lens of your camera. Experiment with depth of field and composition techniques in this mural-filled setting, and learn to create captivating images that blend tradition and modernity. Join us for an immersive photography experience in the heart of Chinatown.

    Next start date: Saturday, Aug 24th, 11am–2pm Pacific Time
    Price: $125
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  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ Embarcadero

    Capture the bustling energy of the Embarcadero in San Francisco while learning new compositional techniques and how to use light and shadow to enhance your photos. Embark on a fun and exciting adventure with a professional photographer who will guide you through this photogenic locale, helping you access your creative point of view and improve your photography skills. Don't miss this opportunity to capture the beautiful scene and create stunning images.

    Next start date: Saturday, May 25th, 11am–2pm Pacific Time
    Price: $125
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  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ de Young Museum

    Experience the vibrant and chaotic charm of Chinatown through your lens as you capture stunning murals, architectural details, and exotic vendors in this Digital Photo Academy course. Learn the art of composition, experiment with depth of field, and create visually pleasing silhouettes in this exciting in-the-field photography experience. Join us at the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue to embark on this artistic adventure.

    Next start date: Saturday, Jun 22nd, 11am–2pm Pacific Time
    Price: $125
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  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field Workshop @ Golden Gate Park

    Join us for an immersive photography experience in the vibrant landscapes of Golden Gate Park. Capture stunning images and enhance your compositional skills under the guidance of experienced instructors. Explore the art of photography in a dynamic outdoor setting.

    Next start date: Saturday, Jul 27th, 11am–2pm Pacific Time
    Price: $125
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Description

The school began with the idea of a nationwide workshop series dedicated to promoting the culture of digital photography. The workshops would be taught by talented and accredited professional photographers who live in the cities where they teach. The classes would be small, and the students would be grouped according to skill level so that nobody would feel bored or intimidated.

Richard Rabinowitz and his company R2Rainmaker, which has been working with the world's most accomplished photographers for the last 25 years, started by finding talented professional photographers to teach in each city. A long and rigorous selection process led to signing up 48 accomplished shooters from 26 cities around the country. During intensive meetings and many friendly meals, we hashed out the curriculum for each skill level, developed detailed ideas for outdoor shoots involving students in the advanced workshops, and decided on the equipment required to enhance their skills at post-capture image manipulation. We knew that if we wanted to build long-term photo communities, the tips and techniques had to be helpful to people who owned all different cameras, no matter who manufactured them.

On April 23rd, 2007, our instructors from around the country traveled to DPA headquarters to launch the school. During a four hour photo-shoot designed to express our collective joy in digital photography, the instructors captured hundreds of beautiful images of flowers, ponds, waterfalls, and the inimitable inhabitants of the big apple, which comprise much of the photos on the the school homepage. Shortly thereafter, all the instructors return to their cities, and began running classes throughout the country.

All of the DPA instructors have brought their cameras back to their cities, to assist in teaching the DPA workshops hands on. You can bring any make or model of digital camera manufacturer to your workshop, as our instructors have knowledge and experience with all different kinds of cameras.


Reviews of Digital Photo Academy

(4.7-star rating across 146 reviews)
  • All Day Private Digital Photography (Chicago)

    Anonymous review on 3/16/2024
    Great workshop with the guidance and expertise of Ron ! Ron is very experienced in all aspects of photography… makes it clear and accessible. Learning a new way to approach street photography and depth of field! Thank you
  • Half Day Private Digital Photography (Los Angeles)

    Reviewed by Stacy I. on 1/16/2024
    Ming is a terrific teacher; I got exactly what I wanted from this class and enjoyed every minute.
  • Half Day Private Digital Photography (New York)

    Reviewed by Mike W. on 12/15/2023
    Alina was great. I really enjoyed the course and can't wait to try some of the things I learned. The school's communication pre and post course were stellar.
  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (Chicago)

    Reviewed by Brian C. on 11/11/2023
    Ron was an excellent instructor, especially for beginners. He helped ensure the content was easy to understand and provided really great recommendations on how to use a camera without overcomplicating things. Really nice person, accommodating, and made sure to answer every question.
  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (Los Angeles)

    Reviewed by Mark J. on 9/16/2023
    It was a very good course, but parking in the Echo Park area on the weekends is a nightmare. I suggest perhaps a different location, a weeknight or an early morning time.
  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ Eldridge St

    Reviewed by Frederick M. on 8/27/2023
    I bundled two photo classes back to back. The class(es) itself was great and the instructor was personable, patient and friendly. The synagogue and its environs are perfect and the instructor got to know us well enough that she could adapt the class to what we would shoot in our personal and professional lives. Would recommend. The lead-up to the class was difficult — the coordinator (NOT the instructor) kept changing instructors on us, course times, duration, etc. Communication got confusing via text message, email, phone call at once, with sometimes contradictory info like “Enjoy your class Saturday!” when class was actually scheduled for Sunday. That said, the coordinator was very personable and friendly and I enjoyed talking to him, as delightfully scattered as he came across.
  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (New York)

    Reviewed by Frederick M. on 8/27/2023
    I bundled two photo classes back to back. The class(es) itself was great and the instructor was personable, patient and friendly. The synagogue and its environs are perfect and the instructor got to know us well enough that she could adapt the class to what we would shoot in our personal and professional lives. Would recommend. The lead-up to the class was difficult — the coordinator (NOT the instructor) kept changing instructors on us, course times, duration, etc. Communication got confusing via text message, email, phone call at once, with sometimes contradictory info like “Enjoy your class Saturday!” when class was actually scheduled for Sunday. That said, the coordinator was very personable and friendly and I enjoyed talking to him, as delightfully scattered as he came across.
  • Half Day Private Digital Photography (Houston)

    Anonymous review on 8/16/2023
    My teacher gave me lots of very useful information along with a handout detailing camera functions. I do wish he had reviewed his own camera more extensively before we met. Our cameras were the same except mine was a bit of a newer model. He was not able to answer some of my questions about various menu functions of the camera. Other than that it was a very good session.
  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (Los Angeles)

    Anonymous review on 7/16/2023
    Really enjoyed the experience. Learning the controls and navigating the camera was what I wanted to accomplish by taking the course. Adding the next session which allowed me to experiment and apply techniques learned from the previous session was most beneficial to better understand the different aspects of the camera.
  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field@Fisherman's Wharf

    Anonymous review on 6/26/2023
    Great class. Well worth it.
  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (San Francisco)

    Anonymous review on 6/25/2023
    Great class
  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (Houston)

    Anonymous review on 6/18/2023
    The instructor knew virtually nothing about my Sony despite that fact that I submitted the maker and model weeks in advanced as requested. I was told it was so the instructor could familiarize himself with the students’ cameras prior to the class. As a result, he was unable to answer any questions that were specific to the controls on my camera.
  • Half Day Private Digital Photography (San Francisco)

    Reviewed by Natalie C. on 6/7/2023
    Jerry Downs was an excellent teacher and great fun.
  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ Garfield Park

    Reviewed by Melissa B. on 6/4/2023
    Garfield Park Conservatory is an outstanding location and Ron taught me many helpful technical tips about using my camera & stylistic elements to consider while taking photos. Thank you, Ron!
  • Half Day Private Digital Photography (DC)

    Reviewed by Andy L. on 5/14/2023
    Bob was a terrific help giving me a wide-angle look at photography as well as in the weeds helpful hints about the kinds of photos I'll be taking. As a result of this class, I have a renewed confidence in my ability to not just improve my photographs but to keep learning as I go. It was a fun three hours and I'm raring to take improved shots!
  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (Chicago)

    Reviewed by Melissa B. on 2/5/2023
    Ron is an excellent instructor! He was very friendly and patient with all of the students and covered all of the important features on my digital camera. Ron provided and explained each concept with specific examples that were easy to understand and see. He also provided many tips about using the camera settings. I’m hoping he teaches a class at the conservatory so I can take another class with him.
  • All Day Private Digital Photography (Seattle)

    Reviewed by Emily J. on 11/29/2022
    Steve was a phenomenal resource and Richard went the extra mile to make everything was super smooth and taken care of. Perfect! Thanks!
  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ LA Arboretum

    Reviewed by Kelly N on 10/24/2022
    I purchased the Digital Photography Live-In-The-Field at the L.A. Arboretum course for my father for his birthday. He loved it! Mom had just bought him a high-end mirrorless camera, which was above his skill level since he had really only used a point-and-shoot in the past. So, to get him comfortable with his new camera in the field, I thought this course would be a good fit. Dad really enjoyed it and captured some beautiful nature shots and has since created some treasured family photo memories for us since taking this course. The instructor was very approachable, took his time with the students, and facilitated a fun and educational experience. Dad said he would definitely take this or a similar photography class from Coursehorse again, and I look forward to joining him next time, as I also am an amateur photog. This experience makes for a terrific gift. My parents are in their '70s, so I am finding that they value experiences over material items at this age. Therefore, classes from Coursehorse represent the perfect gift for them.
  • Master Your Digital Camera Controls (San Diego)

    Reviewed by iris h. on 10/23/2022
    Definitely it was amazing. I highly recommended. The instructor was thrilled. We took very good photos. I did nit have any knowledge of photography. After the amazing class, I was a pro and was taking photos that catch the eye with the rule of thirds, asymmetrical and leading lines. It was a great class. Thank you Mr. Miller for the amazing class.
  • Digital Photography Live In-the-Field @ Big Shoulders

    Reviewed by Adithyan S. on 10/10/2022
    I was really uninspired with photography bit after this class I've found a new perspective and am excited to shoot again
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Review Summary by CourseHorse

Students who have taken classes at Digital Photo Academy have generally had positive experiences and felt that they learned valuable skills. Many students praised the instructors for their knowledge and ability to explain concepts clearly. They mentioned learning about many technical aspects of photography. Some students appreciated that the instructors provided specific examples. Overall, students felt that the classes were worth their time and helped them improve their photography skills. Quotes: 1. "I learned so much from Scott about composition and technicals, like how to best use shutter priority or aperture priority, exposure compensation, etc. Really had such an amazing set of moments." 2. "Ron is an excellent instructor! He was very friendly and patient with all of the students and covered all of the important features on my digital camera. Ron provided and explained each concept with specific examples that were easy to understand and see. He also provided many tips about using the camera settings." 3. "Jim Caldwell was very knowledgeable and willing to share his expert experience. He provided many basics for we beginners, but also practical tips that even experienced photographers would find useful."

Teachers at Digital Photo Academy

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