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.

There’s always a not-so-quiet voice in my head.

Sometimes, it’s the voice of faith—trusting that my understanding of photography will allow me to operate my camera to create a photograph that represents my intent of communication.

But sometimes, that voice is doubt—it’s the voice that makes me double-check my work to ensure that I’m operating my camera in a way that will result in a picture representing my intent of communication.

What’s great about these two things is that they both play positive roles in our approaches and psyches as photographers.

Faith is the voice that keeps us pluggin’ along-it’s the voice that encourages us to experiment through curiosity, intentional determination, and actions that push us toward our goal of being better photographers.

On the other hand, doubt is the voice that makes us slow down-it encourages us to double-check what we’re doing so we can be sure our goal of intentional communication is represented in our photograph.

But too much of one or the other throws us off balance.

With all faith and no doubt, we act without consideration.

And when it comes to all doubt and no faith we’d never make any pictures.

The Faith and Doubt Balancing Act

Here’s how we balance faith and doubt.

With Our Studies and Practice:

The more we understand the relationships between camera operation, composition, and light (photography), the more faith we’ll have in ourselves as photographers.

Question What We Do—But Not Too Much:

Remember, doubt is a tool.

When used correctly, it slows us down to check our work, but when misused, it paralyzes us, and we get nothing done.

Remind ourselves why we made the photograph:

First, we gotta remind ourselves whether the intent of communication was personal expression or fact, and then we’ve gotta be precise about what that communication intent was.

Critique our work :

After we make a picture we gotta critique our work.

Specifically, we gotta look at each element of composition and see if it supports or detracts from intent of communication.

What happens when we learn to balance faith and doubt:

When we balance faith and doubt, we create plenty of room for consistent and persistent growth.

And that’s what being a better photographer is all about-not just knowing what camera functions to use, but having faith in ourselves that we’re doing the right thing.

However, part of that growth is questioning ourselves just enough so we keep getting better.

Ready to Be a Better Photographer?

If you want to learn to balance faith in yourself as a photographer, and learn to use doubt as a tool for growth, and, not a hindrance, here’s some ways you can study and practice with me:

• Introduction to Photography – get the most creative control possible by learning to use your camera thoughtfully and skillfully in manual exposure mode.
• DC Private Photography Lessons – One-on-one instruction suited to your specific needs and schedule.
• Sam's Online Learning Platform – Study and practice at your own pace with access to exclusive content, assignments, and feedback.

If you need help picking out the best course of study for you, just get in touch..

Don’t forget, we all have doubts.
 

The smart and skillful thing to do with our doubts is to use them to make better pictures—and keep the faith that we’re on the right track.

The Introduction To Photography classes are starting soon.
 

If the schedules don’t work for you, we could arrange a series of private lessons covering the same material.

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Become a better photographer by joining my Online Learning Platform for Photographers – Study and practice at your own pace with access to exclusive content, assignments, and feedback.

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.