Clicky

Getting To Know Your Camera: A Washington, DC Photography Class

26 Comments / Photography Classes, Photography Classes In Washington DC-Classes Offered By Sam D'Amico / By

The Getting To Know Your Camera Photography class introduces basic photographic principles that allow participants to understand how their camera works. Begin making better photographs by getting off of fully automatic exposure mode. You’ll use your camera intentionally by learning to use aperture and shutter priority exposure modes. We’ll also cover controlling tonality (picture brightness), focusing modes and areas, and metering patterns. You’ll finish this class with a good understanding of the relationship between camera operation and composition. You’ll be a better photographer.

Take the Introduction to Photography class if you want to learn to work your camera in manual exposure mode. The Introduction to Photography class includes the Getting to Know Your Camera class material. 

Sam D’Amico’s Photography classes were voted the Best Art Class in Washington, DC. Sam D’Amico’s Photography classes were voted the Best Art Class in Washington, DC.  

 

Getting To Know Your Camera

 

$85.00 – In-Person Group Classes

Upcoming classes are listed below (1 meeting – 2 hours. Limited to 5 registrants.)

$125.00 – In-person or Online Private Lesson

(1 meeting-1 hour)

$25.00 Self-paced video tutorial class.

(Located in Sam’s Online Learning Platform for Photographers)

General Information

  • Prerequisites: No.
  • Type of Camera Required: Any camera that allows AV (aperture priority) and TV (shutter priority) modes.
  • Instructor: Sam D’Amico.
  • Ways Taught: In-person group classes; In-person or online private lessons; Self-paced video tutorial class.
  • Take the Introduction to Photography class if you want to learn to work your camera in manual exposure mode. The Introduction to Photography class includes the Getting to Know Your Camera class material. 

In-Person Group Classes – Registration

Are you thinking of getting a class as a gift? Please consider getting a gift certificate instead.

Getting To Know Your Camera Schedules

Upcoming classes are listed below (1 meeting – 2 hours. Limited to 5 registrants.)

1. Select the day, date, and time. 2. Select the number of people attending (Qty). 3. Click the “Buy Now” button. – (If A class is listed as “Out of Stock,” this means that your class schedule is unavailable. Please pick another class schedule.)

——-

——-

In-person group classes meet at the Kogod Courtyard in the National Portrait Gallery.
8th and G Streets NW
Washington, DC 20001
After entering the building, walk past the front desk to the Kogod Courtyard.
*Please read the Visiting Tips & FAQs. No refunds for any classes will be given to registrants who are asked to leave because their behavior does not adhere to safety policies and guidelines.

—

About the Getting to Know Your Camera Class

You’ll learn to use your camera intentionally while participating in the Getting To Know Your Camera class. You’ll be introduced to the aperture priority modes and shutter priority modes as exposure modes to create more thoughtful photographs. We’ll also cover controlling tonality (picture brightness), focusing modes and areas, and metering patterns. You’ll finish this class with a good understanding of the relationship between camera operation and composition.

Stop using your camera as a point-and-shoot!

  • No more getting disappointed and frustrated with the outcome of your picture.
  • Get the best pictures possible by getting off of fully automatic exposure mode.
  • Stop “pointing and shooting” and start composing thoughtful photographs.
  • Learn to use your focusing modes thoughtfully and effectively.

 Make Better Photographs and Be a Better Photographer by Getting to Know Your Camera

When working our camera during the Getting To Know Your Camera class, we’ll stop working in fully automatic mode and begin working thoughtfully.

Getting to Know Your Camera – What You’ll Learn

The Getting To Know Your Camera Photography class introduces basic photographic principles that allow participants to understand how their camera works. We will discuss aperture, shutter speed, light sensitivity (ISO/ASA), lenses, focusing modes, camera metering, and automatic vs. manual exposure settings. These topics will be related to the participant’s camera operation and composition. By the time the Getting To Know Your Camera class is over, participants will know the capabilities of their cameras. They will be creating more thoughtfully composed photographs. By better understanding how your camera works, you’ll use your camera intentionally and rely more on your mind, instead of a machine, to make a photograph.

Some of the things you’ll learn:

  • The most important parts of your camera and how to use them
  • How to create the best pictures that you can
  • About exposure modes
  • About focusing modes
  • About metering modes
  • Thoughtful and effective composition

Getting To Know Your Camera – How You’ll Learn

 

How You’ll Learn During Class

During the Getting To Know Your Camera class, you’ll learn by becoming familiar with the function of your camera that influences composition and practice making pictures during the course. By working with aperture and shutter priority, you’ll use your camera intentionally to create photographs using aperture and shutter speed as elements of composition.

How You’ll Learn After Class

Before class ends, Sam will guide students to practice what was taught during the Getting To Know Your Camera class.

Ashley says: “I really enjoyed the attention to detail during the class. It was a great starter class to learning how to work YOUR camera. I enjoyed the small class size which allowed for a lot of personal attention. It didn’t matter that everyone had a different camera because each person got the necessary attention to learn how to change everything on their camera.”

Nellie says: “Sam is able to explain the basics of photography, cameras and light in a way that is so much less complicated than beginners photography books. He’s a great teacher.”

Class Meeting Locations

-Location 1:In-person or Online Private Lesson – Contact Sam for more information about the meeting location.
-Location 2: Online –  Self-paced video tutorial class.
-Location 3: In-person group classes.
In-person group classes meet at the Kogod Courtyard in the National Portrait Gallery. Please read the Visiting Tips & FAQs. No refunds for any classes will be given to registrants who are asked to leave because their behavior does not adhere to safety policies and guidelines.

  • National Portrait Gallery
    8th and G Streets NW
    Washington, DC 20001
    After entering the building, walk past the front desk to the Kogod Courtyard.

In-Person Group Classes – Registration

Are you thinking of getting a class as a gift? Please consider getting a gift certificate instead.

Getting To Know Your Camera Schedules

Upcoming classes are listed below (1 meeting – 2 hours. Limited to 5 registrants.)

1. Select the day, date, and time. 2. Select the number of people attending (Qty). 3. Click the “Buy Now” button. – (If A class is listed as “Out of Stock,” your class schedule is unavailable. Please pick another class schedule.

——-

——-

In-person group classes meet at the Kogod Courtyard in the National Portrait Gallery.

8th and G Streets NW
Washington, DC 20001
After entering the building, walk straight past the front desk to the Kogod Courtyard.
*Please read the Visiting Tips & FAQs. No refunds for any classes will be given to registrants who are asked to leave because their behavior does not adhere to safety policies and guidelines.

—

Getting To Know Your Camera

Summary
product image
Author Rating
1star1star1star1star1star
Aggregate Rating
1.5 based on 3 votes
Brand Name
Sam D'Amico Photography Classes
Product Name
Getting To Know Your Camera - A Washington, DC Photography Class
Price
USD 85.00
Product Availability
Available in Stock

26 thoughts on “Getting To Know Your Camera: A Washington, DC Photography Class”

  1. Lia

    Hi Sam,

    I’m not sure whether I should take the Intro class or the Manual Exposure class, or both.

    I know how to take pictures on my camera but not how to adjust the settings based on my surroundings. Ideally, I’d like to get better at taking both videos and photos with my camera.

    Thanks for your recommendation, Lia

    Reply
    1. Sam D'Amico

      Hi Lia,

      Thanks for your interest in my photography classes.

      Before I can answer your question in a useful way.

      I’ve got a couple of questions.

      1. What make and model camera will you be using in the class?
      2. What would you like to get out of the class?

      If you’d like please feel free to give me a call at 202-531-2344 (my preference is always to speak with someone).

      Also, if you’d like, you can fill out this questionnaire.

      Reply
    1. samdamico-admin

      Hi Sima,

      Thank you for your interest in my photography classes.

      Yes. I will. As usual I’ve fallen behind on scheduling.

      You can check the page for updates. https://samdamico.com/know-camera-photo-class/ (I’ll do my best to have an updated schedule up by early next week.)

      You can also get on my email list. You’ll get a weekly email from me that includes a link to upcoming classes and a digest of photography related blog posts that I made during the previous week. I recently made a couple of online courses and I’ve made those available to the photographers on my email list.

      If you’re interested here’s the link to subscribe. —> https://samdamico.com/get-on-sams-e-mail-list/

      If you have any further questions, please let me know. You can call, too. 202-531-2344

      Reply
    1. samdamico-admin

      Hello Miriam,

      Thank you for your interest in my photography classes.

      In terms of the Getting To Know Your Camera class, At this moment I can’t be sure if there’ll be more classes scheduled at the end of March.

      There will definitely be more scheduled for April, May and June.

      If you’d like weekly reminders about the schedule of upcoming photography classes, please consider getting on my e-mail list. https://samdamico.com/get-on-sams-e-mail-list/

      If you have any questions, please give me a call at 202-531-2344.

      Reply
  5. Traci

    Good morning. The list of classes for this Getting to Know Your Camera workshop is o lu listed thru Oct. 5, which as passed. Are there other dates scheduled?

    Reply
        1. samdamico-admin

          Thank you for your patience, Traci.

          I’ve just added dates in November and December for the Getting To Know Your Camera class.

          Here’s the link—>https://samdamico.com/know-camera-photo-class/

          Reply
  7. Anna C

    Hello,

    Does this class only cover digital or can I bring my film camera? It is a Pentax ME Super and I have the manual.

    -Anna

    Reply
  11. Dominic Colangelo

    I would come with my daughter if ok (2 fees)
    We have a canon 5D camera. Do you have others with the same camera?

    Reply
    1. samdamico

      Hi Dominic,

      Taking the class with your daughter would be OK. Just make sure that you indicate that there will be two of you during the registration process so you are charged (and spaces are held) for each person.

      While I don’t know if there will be anyone else with a Canon 5D, your camera is more than sufficient for the class.

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.