A couple years ago, I was in the middle of a long run…and I started thinking about my photography journey and how far I have come and where it was going. I remember when I initially got my first DSLR, I was shooting in auto, using that little pop-up flash..wondering why my images were NOT how I envisioned them in my head or like the professionals I followed on Facebook. Where’s the blurry background? Why is my son blurry? And why when I shoot inside is everything orange? I wanted to know why and how. I needed to learn EVERYTHING about photography and my camera. It consumed my life for 2 years from school to late nights in forums to early mornings playing in Photoshop. The frustration on learning how to even read my camera’s manual eventually subsided and I decided YouTube was easier, but seriously…who writes those things?
I always get a lot of messages from people asking me questions about their DSLR or what something meant in their manual. A camera manual doesn’t help you learn photography, it just helps you to find the modes and dials in your camera. I love helping and answering but your manual is pretty much a foreign novel if you don’t know about the roots of photography. This is when I decided people needed to know this. People wanted to know this. I wanted to teach people this. Why should people have this amazing tool to capture their quickly growing children, furry friends or a moment in time but have no idea how to properly use it? Being parents, we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. We need to take the time to capture it. I want to show you. I want you to learn to LOVE your camera. And that was it. “Learn To Love Your Camera” was born.
“Learn To Love Your Camera” is a basic DSLR class where we go over all the basics of photography and where to find it all in your camera. It gets you out of auto and into shooting manual so you can get the results you desire and the image you envision where you are in control of you camera, not vice versa. I tell my attendees at the end of each class, go back and skim your camera’s manual. I promise it will make more sense, and you know what? I get emails saying it all does make sense.
I LOVE watching it all “click” for my attendees. I love the follow up emails with their pictures of their sweet children and pets, and how amazing they have become with each click. I LOVE teaching.
In the past two and a half years I have taught 9 classes between NJ & VA and each one has sold out (I do keep the class count low for lots of questions and one on one time). It’s been amazing and this little idea I had when I was running turned into something really special. We have a Facebook group from past attendees and we are starting a photo challenge next week! It’s a safe place for questions and to showcase your work and it’s always fun to mingle with like-minded people who share the same passion.
So if you are thinking about wanting to learn more about your camera and taking that next step. Do it. No question is stupid, no goal is small. I promise you will learn to LOVE your camera <3
The next class will be in Virginia Beach on Sunday, April 23rd. Click HERE to register and save $10 on your registration if you book by Monday, March 13 using code GOALS.
Happy clicking, dreaming and goal setting. All the best.
-Jess
Photo Credit: Christina Barnum Photography
