Your one-stop resource for customized photography instruction
No matter where you want to take your photography, we can help you to get there. As your one-stop photography education resource, our unique personalized approach will take your photography further, and in less time, than you ever thought possible. We tailor our teaching to you - to your experience, your goals, your gear, and even to your schedule - so that you get the results that you want.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all photography instruction. Sure, there are plenty of great resources out there and, if you have the time to weed through it all, you can usually find good information. But in today’s hectic world, most of us don’t have the time or inclination to spend valuable photography time sitting in front of a computer screen. And even if we do have the time, it still isn’t the best way to learn. Human beings learn best by doing, and we think that the most effective and lasting learning comes from working one-on-one with an expert who has taken the time to understand the specific needs of each and every learner.
We further believe that the very best learning comes from an experience built on six fundamental principles. Your instructor will make sure that your sessions are:
Fun - if it isn’t a blast, why bother?
Personalized - your goals, your gear, your schedule, your pace… not ours
Practical - humans learn by doing… plan on lots of doing
Honest - timely, constructive feedback is essential for progress
Productive - real results, real fast
Fun - yep… it’s that important
Wherever you may be in your photography journey, we can help you learn the basics, expand your creativity, master new techniques, get the most from your equipment, and, above all, take better pictures. You decide what you want to learn and the pace at which you want to progress, we do the rest. You decide where and when you want to learn and we come to you. Your experience is 100% customized to your needs - so you don’t waste time or money on instruction you don’t need.
Except for our workshops and destination events, almost all of our sessions are one-on-one, with every session designed around your specific needs. On occasion, we are asked to teach couples, small groups of friends, or family members. We are happy to accommodate such requests.
We pride ourselves on our flexibility. We are happy to work with your schedule and can schedule sessions at the time and place of your choosing. And that includes early mornings, late evenings, weekends, or even holidays. Let us know what you need and we will make it happen.
Heard enough? Ready to get started?
You don’t have to do anything else. We will be in touch shortly and, when we talk, we will spend as much time as it takes to get you set up for the instruction that best suits your needs and your schedule. Below are examples of the some of the cool ways we can help you become a better photographer - if you don’t see what you are looking for, don’t worry, we customize every session, just for you!
But before you read about all the awesome stuff we can help you master, please take a moment to sign up for our newsletter!
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What do you want to learn?
Because your learning is going to be customized to your goals and interests, don’t worry if what you want to learn doesn’t fit neatly into a category. That’s not how we teach. These are just a few examples of the areas our clients choose to focus on. Your experience will be uniquely yours.
Learn the basics
One way or the other, we all have to start here. We pride ourselves on our practical, hands-on, and systematic approach to teaching the basics of photography for beginners. We get right into how your camera works; what all the buttons do, and why you need them; and how to customize the setup of your camera to suit your needs. Then we help you to make sense of camera modes, exposure, aperture, autofocus, flash, shutter speed, ISO, and navigating the menu function. We spend time going over the basics of light and optics, and show you how to use light to tell your story in pictures. We will guide you through the composition of photographs that convey drama, tension, excitement, calm, and awe, and you will learn how to add or modify light to improve your compositions. We show you how to avoid the common pitfalls that snag most beginning photographers. Included is a primer about digital files (photographs!) and how to store, catalog, edit, and print them. And we cover all this ground in a fun, practical, and conversational way that will help you to retain the key points for the rest of your photographic life!
Hit the streets
One of the most exciting ways to use your camera, and test your skills, is to catch the world around you by surprise. If you want to learn how to shoot arresting street photographs, we can teach you how to compose captivating photographs on the fly; use your camera to capture unguarded moments that tell a story and capture the imagination of the viewer; shoot dynamic scenes and moving subjects without drawing attention to yourself; the things you can and can’t do when photographing strangers; stay safe on the streets; use available light; get the most out of your camera in low-light situations; edit street photographs; and minimize distraction in your photographs.
Into the wild
For many of us, photographing wildlife is the most satisfying and rewarding of all the photography disciplines. And for good reason. It is definitely one of the more technically demanding and artistically challenging ways that we can spend time with our cameras. Wildlife is a pretty broad category, with some highly specialized sub-categories. We have a particular fondness for photographing our feathered friends, especially while they are airborne. Shooting birds in flight is extraordinarily challenging and to do it well calls for excellent technique, tons of practice, and even more patience. We will show you where to find the birds, how to conceal and position yourself for the best chance of getting a shot to hang on the wall. We will show you how to use long lenses correctly, and how to use all the advanced autofocus and tracking functions of your camera. We usually start with larger, stationary creatures so that we can get the basics covered before we go in search of more challenging subjects. We make sure you get the opportunity to learn the basics of editing and printing wildlife photographs. Whatever your interests, we can show you how it’s done, from building a DIY high speed triggering system for shooting hummingbirds to mastering nighttime wildlife photography techniques.
Building an architecture portfolio
Architectural photography is another area of special interest that has a growing number of enthusiastic fans. Whether your interest is in residential real estate, glamorous interiors, skyscrapers, sprawling factories, or abandoned buildings, we can help you acquire the skills to capture stunning architectural images. We can help you select the right equipment and show you how to get the most out of specialized gear like tilt-shift lenses, wide angle optics, and medium format cameras. For many aspiring architectural photographers, a solid working knowledge of drone-based photography is essential. Other areas of concentration include interior lighting, light painting techniques, and advanced Photoshop compositing of multi-layered images. If buildings are your thing, we can help you get to the next level.
Get up close and personal
Crack the code for amazing closeup photography. Learn to photograph tiny subjects in the wild, or sitting at your kitchen table. Students interested in capturing stunning images of the hidden world around us will learn how to: select the best equipment for great pictures; capture extreme macro photographs without spending a fortune on special lenses; modify the gear that you already have; use advanced techniques like focus-stacking and macro flash lighting; master editing of single or stacked macro images in Lightroom and Photoshop; find, and safely handle, the most photogenic tiny creatures; preserve and prepare specimens; and go beyond macro with specialized high-magnification equipment like dedicated macro lenses and microscope objectives. You don’t need a pilgrimage to the Grand Canyon to find breathtaking photographs - with a little guidance you will soon be creating exotic and amazing macro images without traveling farther than your own back yard!
Master portrait and fashion photography
Courtesy of Martin Howard
Learn how to capture the human form from a talented professional freelance fashion and portrait photographer. Unlock the secrets of magazine-quality studio photography, or master difficult outdoor lighting situations by balancing ambient and artificial light.
Much of our fashion and portrait photography is taught in workshops where you will learn to: select the right camera and lenses; take great pictures with what you already have; use studio lighting to bring out the very best in your models; tame the sun with portable lighting; use light modifiers, like soft boxes, reflectors, beauty dishes, and umbrellas; master the art of working with models and hair/makeup professionals; pose and light your subjects to recreate all the classic studio looks; and coax expressions and gestures from your subjects.
We also set aside time to familiarize you with the amazing arsenal of editing tools in programs like Lightroom and Photoshop.
Shooting stuff
It is called product photography and it can make a world of difference to your online business success. There is a lot to learn, and we cover it all: selecting the right equipment for the job; modifying your existing equipment to keep costs down; staging your pieces for maximum impact; precision lighting techniques to make your products pop; using a table-top studio to control light and shadow; editing images for use on Etsy, eBay, and other online commerce platforms; integrating your images into social media; money-saving DIY projects that give professional results for a minimal investment; expanding your creativity with tools like Lightroom and Photoshop; experimenting and trying new ideas; and using color to draw attention and create interest in your products.
Need help with something else?
This list barely scratches the surface. There are so many other exciting and rewarding ways to enjoy photography - and so much more to learn. So if you are interested in underwater photography, shooting events and concerts, melting hearts with baby pictures, capturing the night sky and the grandeur of the milky way, or almost anything else, give us a call. If we can’t help you ourselves, we know someone who can. There is a whole universe of stunning photographs just waiting for you. Isn’t it time you took the first step?
Pricing
We understand that you have a busy life and that finding time to focus on your photography is a challenge. So we have designed our business with maximum flexibility as a top priority. You decide when, where, and how long your session will be, and we come to you. You also decide what you want to learn and we work with you to find the most convenient and cost-effective way to get you to your goals.
We provide an initial phone consultation to all prospective clients. The consultation is free and we use this time to get to know you and your photographic aspirations. It is a very important step in planning your instructional roadmap. During this call we will discuss your experience, goals, gear, and frustrations so that we can figure out the most effective and efficient way to up your game. It is also a good time to find out more about us and decide if it is a good fit. You can learn a lot during this call, even if you decide not to select us for your instruction.
Everything we do is 100% customized to your specific needs, so our pricing is based on the time we spend with you. This means that you aren’t paying to learn stuff you already know. Learning photography from us can cost more than you might pay for an online, one-size-fits-all photography course. But we are confident that you will find our unique, intensive learning experience to be worth every penny. Personal instruction at this level is a serious investment in your photography, but we believe that our pricing offers incredible value for photographers who are serious about improving their skills.
Our basic rate for personal instruction is $150 per hour
For sessions longer than one hour, the rate drops to $125 per hour
Additional discounts are available for half-day and full-day sessions and pricing will be quoted at the time of reservation
If you choose to learn with a friend or a family member, the rate for the additional person is reduced by 50%
Sessions requiring the services of a model, or the use of studio space or specialized equipment, are priced separately and quoted when the session is reserved
For clients located more than 50-miles from our offices in Fairhope, Alabama, we add a nominal travel surcharge, based on mileage, and quoted when the session is scheduled
We are happy to work with clients anywhere in the world and pricing for such engagements is available on a case-by-case basis
All reservations are taken on a first-come-first-served basis and some time slots are very popular, filling several weeks in advance - you are encouraged to schedule evening, weekend, and sunrise sessions early
We accept personal checks and all major credit cards for payment - which is collected following each session
Multiple session packages may be purchased in advance and are subject to an additional discount of 10% when payment is made at the time of reserving the first session - subsequent paid sessions may be reserved with the first session or at any time thereafter
Gift certificates for single sessions or multiple session packages are available and subject to all published discounts, with payment due at the time of purchase - electronic certificates are delivered at the time of purchase, while printed certificates will be dispatched within 24 hours via the US Postal Service and subject to the vagaries of said service
Local and travel/destination workshops are priced separately, based on workshop type, attendee number, instructor number, model & studio requirements, location, and duration - pricing will be available when workshops are announced in our newsletter, blog, and podcast
Workshops require pre-payment at the time of reservation - if your plans change and you have to cancel, we will issue a full refund if you cancel more than 48 hours before the start of the workshop - if you cancel within 48 hours of the workshop and we are able to fill your vacated slot, you will be issued a full refund - if you cancel within 48 hours but we are unable to fill your slot, we will issue a 50% refund
For unusual requests or custom photography services, please contact us directly - all enquiries welcome