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.

Most photographers work in automatic exposure modes because it’s easy, convenient, and they get a “good enough” picture.

Sometimes, good enough is good enough.

Good enough usually means that when working in an automatic exposure mode, we get a picture, but it’s not the picture we wanted; it’s what the camera gave us.
 

We may have wanted to express something, but the automatic exposure mode isn’t giving it to us.

In other words, the picture doesn’t communicate what we intended it to communicate.

Automatic exposure mode doesn’t have the human element of intention.
 

We have two choices when it comes to creating photographs: good enough or the best we can.
 

If we expect our pictures to communicate what we intend them to communicate, then automatic exposure modes aren’t gonna cut it.

The only exposure mode that will enable us to communicate what we wanna communicate is manual exposure.

With manual exposure mode, we get to pick our aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focusing modes, and focusing areas—everything we need to do to visually communicate whatever we wanna communicate in our picture-we compose our photograph with understanding and intent. 

And there we have a fork in the road:

We could go the easy and convenient route and take what we get, or we could go the more complex route ( manual exposure mode ) and intentionally create what we want.
 

If we’re not used to working in manual exposure mode, we’ll probably need some help; I know I did.

When I took Photography 101 at a community college, I learned about aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and how they affect the composition of our photograph, and more importantly, how we could use the visual outcomes related to the specific camera controls to communicate facts, feelings, concepts, opinions, etc.

By understanding the camera controls and how to use them effectively, we can communicate in our unique visual voice.

 The decision to invest time and money in learning about photography, especially camera operation, composition, and light, was the best decision I made when it comes to being the photographer I wanted to be.

 Sure, some of us are fine with getting a photograph that is “good enough,” but if we wanna make a picture that communicates exactly what we want to express good enough isn’t good enough.
 

Only the best we could do will do.

We make a photograph in manual exposure mode and communicate what we want, or take the convenient and easy fork in the road and take whatever the camera gives us.

If we wanna be the best photographers, we can be good enough, but if we be the best photographers we could be good enough will never be good enough because only the best we can do will do

The Photography Basics (Introduction To Photography) classes are starting soon.
 

If you can’t make any of those schedules, you could study and practice at your own pace and on your own schedule by getting access to the Introduction to Photography video tutorials on my online learning platform for photographers.

It’s the next best thing to taking an in-person class with me; you could even ask me questions
 

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If you need help becoming a better photographer, I’ve got 

Photography Basics (Introduction To Photography) classs starting soon. If you can’t make the schedule, we could always do a series of Private Lessons that’ll give you the same instruction.

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In addition to the In-person ways to learn photography with me listed below, I’ve got collections of tutorials on my Online Learning Platform for Photographers that’ll help you learn to be a better photographer.

Access to this content and other content related to the photography classes I teach in person requires a membership, which costs $25 a month.

As one member told me, it’s cheaper than their weekly coffee habit, and more useful than any YouTube videos they’ve watched, especially since they could ask me questions.

Here’s the link:Online Learning Platform for Photographers
 

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.