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Online Classes
Announcement:
The photography world is rapidly moving towards mirrorless technology.
Therefore, we provide a very capable mirrorless camera (instead of a DSLR) during this class to get you trained with the latest technology.
Questions? You own a DSLR camera? See FAQ
Saturdays 10am-12pm
Thursdays 5pm-7pm
Beginner's Level
Beginner's Digital Photography Workshop
Equipment Provided
New to digital photography? Not sure which camera to buy?
No worries, we've got you covered! The Beginner's Photography Workshop is perfect for you!
Each attendee will be provided with a mirrorless camera during class, so there's no need to purchase one beforehand. Alternatively, you’re welcome to bring your own equipment and learn how to make the most of it.
In this 2-hour workshop, you'll learn the fundamentals of photography through hands-on exercises: lighting, exposure, aperture, shutter speed and ISO and their combined effects on an image. You'll be controlling different settings of a camera one by one with a lot of individual attention from the instructor.
We believe that fresh beginners need to have some actual experiences of using a digital camera, and the essential photography knowledge in order to decide what camera and lenses to buy. We keep the class size to 6 so that everyone can move at the same pace.
The 2-hour class is a huge time saver for those who want to learn photography:
We deliver organized & relevant information through a thoughtfully and earnestly designed curriculum (no jargons). You'll be able to transfer the knowledge & settings to your own equipment in just two hours, versus searching endlessly for youtube tutorials.
Teenagers aged 12+ are welcomed.
2. Make sense of the exposure triangle: ISO, aperture and shutter speed
3. Controlling the Depth of Field: shallow or deep
4. Creating the Sense of Motion: Motion blur or freeze
5. Take sharper pictures;
photo composition and lighting
6. Shoot in Aperture Priority Mode
7. Shoot in Shutter Speed Priority Mode
8. Master 4 core settings and forget the useless ones
Quick Facts
The Beginners' Workshop is a one-off, 2-hour class
Beginner | |
---|---|
Duration | 2 hours |
Date & time (San Francisco) | Saturdays 10am-12pm |
Thursdays 5pm-7pm | |
Equipment provided | Canon R50 Mirrorless Camera |
Class size | 6 |
Pricing | $199 |
Prerequisite | No |
Note | Thursday classes have very few students. You might get a one-on-one private class and receive our full attention. |
Location:
535 Mission Street, San Francisco
*We no longer offer classes in Palo Alto*
Saturdays:
February 22nd 2025 Saturday 10am-12pm
March 1st 2025 Saturday 10am-12pm
March 8th 2025 Saturday 10am-12pm
March 15th 2025 Saturday 10am-12pm
March 22nd 2025 Saturday 10am-12pm
April 5th 2025 Saturday 10am-12pm
April 12th 2025 Saturday 10am-12pm
April 19th 2025 Saturday 10am-12pm
Thursdays
February 20th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
February 27th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
March 6th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
March 13th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
March 20th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
March 27th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
April 3rd 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
April 10th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
April 17th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
April 24th 2025 Thursday 5pm-7pm
***
If none of the above dates suit your schedule, you can:
Option 1-
Sign up for the Beginners & Intermediate Online Workshops.
Option 2-
Book a private class. Learn more about the rate and length of a private class here.
***
Policy
As we only take 6 students every week, please try not to reschedule unless you really have to. Rescheduling is only allowed ONCE and at least 3 days prior to the start of the class.
Bundled Discount Codes
BUNDLED12
Save $30
Beginner + Intermediate I
BUNDLED23
Save $60
Intermediates I & II
BUNDLED123
Save $100
Beginners + Intermediates I & II
We strongly encourage you to sign up this class together with the Intermediate I & II Workshops to get a comprehensive knowledge in the basics of photography. You will be able to shoot proficiently in the Manual Mode after completing the Beginner & Intermediates Workshops.
Yes, you can bring and use your own equipment during the class.
Yes, both Canon R50 Mirrorless Cameras are provided in the Beginners and Intermediate I and II Workshops.
Previously, we provide the Canon T6 DSLR during the class.
However, with the advancement of technology, a mirrorless camera is way more powerful and capable than a DSLR camera.
On average, one only needs 5-15 seconds to determine the exposure and composition in a mirrorless camera, vs 30-60 seconds in a DSLR camera.
As a responsible photography education company, it is our mission to teach what's best for students, rather than sticking to using old technology.
To be honest, DSLR cameras will be phased out soon.
Here're the advantage of mirrorless cameras over DSLRs:
1. Technological Advancements
Modern Technology: Mirrorless cameras represent the forefront of photographic technology. Unlike DSLRs, which use a mirror mechanism to reflect light into an optical viewfinder, mirrorless cameras are built without this mechanical mirror system. This difference makes mirrorless cameras more compact and mechanically simpler, reducing the chance of mechanical failure and often resulting in lighter, more portable devices.
Electronic Viewfinder (EVF): Mirrorless cameras utilize electronic viewfinders, providing real-time exposure and focus previews. This feature allows students to see exactly how adjustments will affect the final image, enhancing their learning and understanding of photographic concepts.
2. Image Quality and Performance
Superior Autofocus Systems: Mirrorless cameras generally offer more advanced autofocus (AF) systems including the game-changing Eye AF.
Continuous Shooting Speed: Without the mechanical mirror flip of DSLRs, mirrorless cameras often achieve higher continuous shooting speeds, beneficial for action and sports photography modules within the class.
3. Future-Proofing Skills
Industry Trend: The photography industry is rapidly moving towards mirrorless technology. Major camera manufacturers are focusing their research and development on mirrorless systems. By using mirrorless cameras, students will be learning on equipment that aligns with current and future industry standards, preparing them for professional environments.
4. Practical Advantages in Learning
Real-Time Feedback: The electronic viewfinder and live view on the LCD screen give students immediate visual feedback on exposure, white balance, and other settings, helping them learn faster and understand the impact of their adjustments in real-time.
5. Silent Shooting: Many mirrorless cameras offer silent shooting modes, eliminating the noise of the shutter. This feature is beneficial in settings where noise is a distraction, such as wildlife photography or quiet environments, allowing students to capture images without disturbance.
6. Price match
Investing in mirrorless systems can be more cost-effective and even less expensive, especially as DSLRs become obsolete and manufacturers shift their support towards mirrorless technologies.
You'll learn the difference between a DSLR and a mirrorless camera in great detail in the Beginners' Workshop. In summary, the advantages of mirrorless cameras over traditional DSLRs are:
1) Faster focusing.
2) Captures an image electronically rather than optically, allowing more accurate focusing.
3) Have Eye AF (automatically places and locks the focus on a human/ animal eye, resulting in sharper portraits).
4) Allows live view shooting, which means the users can instantly see the exposure and composition on the LCD screen. Note that the "live view mode" of a DSLR camera do not work in the same efficient way as a mirrorless one.
5) Lighter.
6) Will fully replace DSLR cameras in a few years.
Google it:
"_your camera model + dslr or mirrorless?"
and you will see the result.
E.g "Canon R50 dslr or mirrorless"
--> Mirrorless
E.g "Nikon D700 dslr or mirrorless"
--> DSLR
Yes, you can!
There are only 5 core and universal settings that you need to know to shoot on any cameras, including mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
However, DSLR cameras are using old technology and will give you a harder time to change the focus point and nail the exposure. You have to do multiple trial-and-errors in order to determine the exposure and composition. The process can take up to 60 seconds.
As for mirrorless cameras, changing the focus point is extremely easy and you can also instantly preview the composition and exposure before a shot is take. The process may take as short as 5 seconds.
While you can still apply the knowledge that you learn in the class with a mirrorless camera to your DSLR, you'll hate the old technology in it.
The photography industry is rapidly moving towards mirrorless technology, and DSLRs doesn't worth that much in the used market. We recommend you to sell your DSLR equipment as soon as possible when it still has a little value, and use the money to go fully mirrorless.
No, the technology isn't the same across all mirrorless cameras.
Some mirrorless cameras such as Sony A7iii and Canon R100 do not have touch screen functionality and this takes away the joy of going mirrorless, so don't buy them. There's really no point to buy a mirrorless camera that doesn't have touch screen functionality.
Some older mirrorless cameras do not have sophisticated Eye AF. For example, the Canon M50 (first generation) does not have a powerful Eye AF as the technology back in 2018 wasn't mature enough.
We picked the best and most up-to-date mirrorless camera, the Canon R50, for you to experience what's it like to happily shoot on a mirrorless camera during the class., before investing in one.
The Canon R50 is good enough for many genres of photography, even though it is just an entry level one, and you'll love it; and not mention you also have the option of investing in other even better mirrorless cameras, say the Canon R5, R6, Nikon Z9 etc.
Our advice is, don't buy any camera, even though it's a mirrorless one, before the class. Learn photography, experience the amazing R50 before investing in any equipment.
Unforunitely, the answer is no, even the guest is willing to wait in the building's public area instead of the classroom.
Due to COVID-19, the class is only limited to the attendees and the instructors.
Canon R50 Camera Provided During the Class
Start To Take The Pictures That You Love
Learn the basics through hands-on practice.
The classwork is application oriented and replicates real-life scenarios.