These emails come with the intent of helping you be a better photographer. But if you're tired of hearing from me, unsubscribe.

And if you want more photography stuff to read, there's a place on the interwebs where past emails I wrote are stored. You'll find 'em in the "Newsletter Hub."

Remember, I'd like to know what you want to know about photography. So, if you have any questions, email me at sam@samdamico.com. And for what it's worth. When you send me an email, unless someone's lookin' over my shoulder, I'm the only one that sees it.

Hello, .

When making photographs, it's important to think while doing. 

That's because our mind is the most important creative control available to us.

What I mean by "think while doing" is that when we make a photograph, we think about the intent of composition/communication, camera operation, composition, and the light we're working with.

In other words, we’re thinking like a photographer. 

When we think like a photographer, especially if understand light, camera operation, and composition we create pictures based on our unique perceptions, which lead to compositions that are uniquely our own.
 

One of the photographers who's been taking private lessons with me mentioned that he finds it valuable to work with me because I encourage him to actively think about his photography.

While thinking about our photography is always essential, it's especially helpful when working in fully manual exposure mode.
 

When we actively think about what we're doing while creating a photograph, we take advantage of the chance to become better photographers.

The only element of composition we can think about when we're working with our cameras in fully automatic exposure mode or with the cameras on our phones is framing and content.

This is because fully automatic exposure mode and the cameras on our phones do the "thinking" for us, limiting our creative control and potentially leading to generic, uninspired photographs.

By letting machines' algorithms create our photographs, we miss the opportunity to create images based on our unique thoughts, perspectives, and communication intent.
 

Switching to aperture and shutter priority modes or fully manual exposure modes will engage our unique minds and allow us to create photographs that reflect our unique minds.

Pictures that reflect our unique minds stand out because they are one-of-a-kind images produced from a unique mind and photographic thought process.

You can learn to use your camera in aperture and shutter priority modes by taking the Getting To Know Your Camera class or with a private lesson.

If you'd like to work in manual exposure mode, you can register for the  Introduction to Photography class or with a series of four hours of private lessons.

Whatever you wanna do, I'll be here to help you be a better photographer.

I'll help you be a better photographer—study and practice photography with me. 

Currently scheduled classes are below.

Smaller classes mean better learning, so class sizes are limited to 5 participants plus me.

But smaller classes also mean spots fill up quicker, so sign up soon. 

And what if the timing doesn't work for you in any of my scheduled group classes? Private in-person or online lessons suited to your schedule are always an option. 

And remember, we learn and improve by doing, so practice making at least one picture daily.

That's all for now; thanks for reading! 

Sam