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 who sees it.

Some photographers I work with say that photography isn’t fun for them anymore.

Those photographers say that they feel they have to motivate themselves to do the work of creating pictures.
 

If we make photography fun, there’s no need to motivate ourselves to do the work.

If we don’t understand what we’re doing and our pictures aren’t coming out the way we expect or want, it’s easy to understand why photography wouldn’t be fun

What makes Photography fun is understanding what we’re doing in terms of camera operation, composition, and light, and being thoughtfully and intentionally involved as much as possible.

And if we don’t know what we’re doing, we can make learning photography fun.
 

Here’s a suggestion.
 

If the only thing we know how to do is work in an automatic exposure mode, we can make a picture in that automatic exposure mode, view the metadata, and write down the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO:

After writing those down, we switched our exposure mode to manual. We set our camera to the same settings displayed in the metadata for the picture made in the automatic exposure mode.

Make the same exact picture and then, while still working in manual exposure mode, start changing the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings and observe how that affects the picture.

When we work in an automatic exposure mode, we avoid a lot of the process of getting involved in creating a photograph.

On the other hand, when working in manual exposure mode, we’re involved in every part of the creative process.

As soon as we stop working in fully automatic exposure modes and begin working in either of the priority exposure modes or fully manual exposure modes, we have access to much more camera functionality.

Additionally, camera functionality allows for creativity because it allows for more techniques.

And remember, technique serves creativity.

To apply the technique, we need to understand Photography.

And that means understanding the interplay between camera operation, composition, and light.

And when we understand the interplay between camera operation, composition, and light, photography becomes fun.

The Photography Basics (Introduction To Photography) group classes starts soon or you can learn the same stuff as a series of Private Lessons.
  
More ways to study and practice photography with me are below.

Call me at (202) 531-2344 if you need help determining the best course for you.

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A note about group class sizes: Did you know that some places that teach photography have up to 25 students in each class? 

Bigger ain't always better.

That's why I limit my group classes to no more than five participants because smaller classes make for better, more effective, and more efficient learning experiences.

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

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

Currently scheduled classes are below.

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