Big Camera Basics: Learning to Use Your DSLRKimberly Tank Art & Photography

I bought my first DSLR back in 2009, a Nikon D90. It was a great camera and took better pictures than my previous camera (a Fuji DSLR-like camera). I basically just used it in fancy auto modes (portrait mode, etc). I had recently started playing with portrait photography by taking pics for family and friends but I was still teaching and never thought to learn how to do more with my nice expensive camera.

Then after leaving my teaching position and getting pregnant with my son, I knew I really wanted to learn how to do more with my camera and take my photography to the next level. Whether that was just so I could take better pictures of my son once he was born or possibly turn my love of photography into a business.

I didn't know where to look for classes. I hadn't heard of CreativeLive and knew nothing about the professional photography community. We did have a couple local Ritz Camera stores at the time and it was suggested to me to try taking a class with them. So I looked into their classes and none of them really seemed to be what I was looking for. I knew a lot of the basics they taught and wanted more so I purchased a one-on-one session with them for $100.

I had my one-on-one session a week before I had my son. There was no set topic or prepared materials and I didn't know what all there was to know, only that I wanted to learn more about using my camera in a mode other than auto and take my photography to the next level. The manager explained a little about shooting in manual mode but no explanations of why you would choose certain settings. I took a lot of notes but I never really had a chance to practice right away while getting feedback and I still didn't really understand how to get a better image. Needless to say, it wasn't all that helpful in the end.

So I continued to shoot in portrait mode most of the time while taking pictures of my son until I discovered John Greengo's Fundamentals of Photography class on CreativeLive just before launching my business. It was exactly what I needed to bring my photography to a professional level. I highly recommend this class if you are looking to go professional with your photography. It's incredibly detailed and very helpful. For the absolute beginner, though, it's a lot of information. And I still ended up shooting in aperture priority for a year while building my portfolio because it was a lot for me to have to think about switching my exposure every time I had to change positions or locations while chasing little ones in that first year. But after lots of practice, it became like second nature.

What does all this have to do with my new camera class? I wanted to offer an in-person, well-planned class for those who have spent the money to buy a DSLR camera and want to learn how to get better pictures of their kids. Something I wish I had access to all those years ago. Let's face it, with the right skills, you can take great pictures of your kids all year long and you don't need to hire me for every little thing. Save for those big milestones and times when you should be in front of the camera too. Of course, if you prefer me to take those special pictures of your kiddos, I'm happy to do so! But I know the reality is that one family session a year is enough for many families. 

Are you the DIY type who likes to take pictures of your kids yourself with your camera? 

Do you have a DSLR or mirrorless that you've just been using in auto mode but you're ready to bring your photographs to the next level?

Or maybe you have a small business and want to be able to take beautiful pictures of your products (or real estate) to help them sell better?

Then this camera class is for you! We'll spend about an hour and a half going through a slide show I've created with plenty of visuals and explanations. No need to bring a notebook as I will be providing you with a workbook and space to take notes. Then we will have time to practice a little and ask more questions. So make sure you bring your camera and the manual! After class, you'll also get access to a private Facebook group where you can ask questions and get feedback after you've gotten home and had time to practice with your kiddos (or products or landscapes). 

The cost of this class is only $100. Yep, the same price I paid for my not so great one hour one-on-one with someone at Ritz Camera who wasn't even a professional photographer. But you're getting so much more! Class size is limited. Contact me for registration info for my next class or sign up for my email list to be notified of my next class date, early registration access, and monthly-ish email about other things I have going on and local events you might be interested in checking out. 
 

<3 

Kim

Owner/Photographer-Artist

Kimberly Tank Art & Photography