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. 

The quote by Albert Einstein, “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” is one of the most memorable quotes to me.

I agree that imagination is more important than knowledge, and this is readily applicable to photography.

We need to imagine the photographers we wanna become.

We need to imagine the photographs we wanna make.

It’s important to imagine, but we need knowledge to make what we imagine a reality.

We need imagination and knowledge.

Because knowledge ain’t enough.

We can know what an aperture is, what shutter speed does, what ISO does, and what a lens does—we can know a lot of stuff—but if we don’t know what to do with that stuff in terms of technique, what we imagined never becomes a reality.

Recently, I received a call from a photographer who wants to take photography lessons with me because she imagines herself being a better photographer.

After I answered her questions and provided pricing information, she asked if I could give her a certificate in photography.

Of course, thanks to my friend, a graphic designer, who made a great-looking certificate of completion for me, I’m able to offer it to her.

What I made it clear, though, was that what I couldn’t offer was accreditation.

If she were looking for a degree or credits, you could transfer to an accredited school and pursue a higher academic degree, I’m not the one she should be talking with.

She was OK with that; she said she was just seeking knowledge.

Knowledge is the easy part.

We could pick that up in a book, and of course, I could provide knowledge, too, but I’ll also be teaching techniques.

Techniques are needed, combined with knowledge, to create the compositions we imagine.

To create the compositions we want, we need techniques that involve metering, focusing, observing, and describing light, as well as controlling tonality, blur, depth of field, and more.

Knowledge is excellent, and a certificate that confirms we’ve acquired it doesn’t hurt either.

What’s most important is our ability to use the techniques that show we understand how to apply knowledge to create the photographs we imagine.

That’s what you’ll get during my Photography Basics (Introduction To Photography) classes. You could also get what you’d get from the introduction to photography class in a series of Private Lessons.

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

If you can’t make any of those schedules, Private Lessons would be the way to go.

If none of my in-person ways of learning work for you, then you can study and practice at your own pace and on your own schedule by gaining 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, and members get exclusive access to all the other member-only educational content created to help you be the best photographer you can be.  

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

Access to this content and other content related to the photography classes I teach in person requires a membership, which costs $25 a month. (You can also join for free and get access to content that’s available to everyone.) 

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 in-person scheduled group classes? Then, in-person Private Lessons suited to your schedule are always an option.