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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.

I use the term visual voice frequently.

We've all got one, and it'll serve us well to develop, hone, and express it every time we make a picture.

It involves our approach to photography and how we express ourselves through a camera.

Let's use speaking voices, the way we express ourselves vocally, as an example to give you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Imagine standing in a room and on one side is you, blindfolded

A door opens, and ten people you know and talk with frequently walk in and stand on the other side of the room.

Using their natural, regular, undisguised voice, the first person counts from one to ten, and even though ya can't see 'em, I'd bet you could recognize and identify them by the sound of their voice.

The second person does the same, and so on, and I'd bet you can identify each of 'em just by the sound of their voice.

The same goes for the look and feel of our photography.

What Is a Unique Visual Voice?

It's not about the gear we have, and it certainly ain't about following rules of composition; in fact, rules of composition stifle our unique visual voice.

It's about the unique way we think about what we see and experience in the world.

Furthermore, it's the sum of our interests, experiences, and other photographers from who we draw inspiration.

Nobody's got that unique mix but us individually.  

It's impossible to mimic another photographer's visual voice, and if we try to do it, our work looks stiff and forced, but drawing inspiration from it is useful.

Remember, the pictures people find engaging and unforgettable show the photographer's visual voice.

And our visual voice shows when we trust our way of seeing and compositional choices.

How Do We Develop Our Visual Voice?

• Stop looking for stuff to photograph and see everything within your field of view. The things we photograph find us by getting our attention, and when that happens, we've gotta ask ourselves what specifically got our attention and why.
• Be curious and open-minded and experiment with camera settings and composition. Take some chances and do things you wouldn't usually do.
• Critique your images and observe how you work. Work in a way that doesn't feel awkward or forced, and when critiquing your work, notice the ones that stand out to you and you resonate with.
• Don't concern yourself about what others think. Make pictures that reflect your interest and curiosity. When we're honest about who we are as photographers, the more honest we'll be in our work, and as a result, our photography will resonate with others.

We often get bogged down on the technical side of things, but we gotta remember: Our camera is just a light recording tool.

What matters is how we use it to communicate our unique way of seeing through our visual voice; when we do that, our work stands out in an oversaturated world of imagery.

Study and Practice Photography With Me

If we're ready to learn to express our visual voice, we've gotta learn to work our camera effectively, efficiently, and with intent, especially in manual exposure mode.

That's where my Introduction To Photography class comes in.

You'll learn about camera operation, composition, and light while developing and honing your visual voice.

If you're more of a one-on-one learner and prefer a more personal approach, then Private lessons are always an option we'll tailor to your schedule and needs.

Wanna go at your own pace?  

My Online Learning Platform has resources for every level.

The important thing is that we must keep making pictures that are meaningful to us because that's how we become the photographers only each of us can be.

If you've got questions or want to talk more about developing and strengthening your visual voice, reply to this email or give me a call at 202-531-2344.

Keep making photographs and do your best to express your visual voice.

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The Photography Basics (Introduction To Photography) classes starts soon. 
  
More ways to study and practice photography with me are below.

Call me if you need help determining the best course for you.

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.

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