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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. 

Special Notice(s)

(My email to keep you thinking about your studies and practice is below any special notices)

Copy and paste -20%

and you’ll save

yourself $70.00 when you register for my

Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class.

End of the Special Notice(s)

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Some photographers talk more about their camera gear than the pictures they make with those cameras.

It seems to be a status thing related to having the “latest and greatest” stuff.
 

But Is Our Camera Really a Status Symbol?

It’s easy to think the camera we use says something about who we are as a photographer, and it does.

But it shouldn’t be about status; it should be about the work we do.

I’ve met photographers who seem to prefer being evaluated by the cameras they carry rather than by the process behind the pictures they produce.
 

The fact is, a camera—no matter how new, expensive, or loaded with features—doesn’t make the photographer.

During a recent group class, a photographer showed up with a top-of-the-line camera.

They were proud of it, but when we started working, it became clear that what held them back wasn’t equipment—it was their understanding of light, composition, and camera operation.
 

Remember, the camera is just a light recording tool, and depending on the work we do, we’ll need different functionality.
 

In other words, it doesn’t make sense to pay for technology we don’t need or carry a camera just for the sake of making an impression.

If we wanna make an impression, we gotta become the best photographers we can.

If we’re looking at equipment as a photographer's status in terms of their skill, that’s the wrong place to look.

The place to look is at their photography and their process as photographers.
 

That’s because our real "status" comes from our ability to see, to make choices, and to communicate something through our pictures.

The best photographs come from thoughtful observation and practice—not from the brand or price of our camera.

So, if we’re wondering whether our camera measures up, remember: our actual status as photographers lies in our understanding of photography and the pictures we create, regardless of the camera we use.

When we study, practice, and use whatever camera we have with a solid foundation in photography and operate it with intention, our pictures will clearly communicate our status as a photographer more than a camera ever can.

The best way to evaluate a photographer’s status is by the quality of their pictures and how they talk about their process.
 

In other words, we’ve gotta see the work they produce and the thought process behind creating it.
 

This is the type of stuff we cover during the Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class.

There’s one starting on January 4, or you could do it as a series of private lessons.

Here’s a Couple of Ways to study and practice photography With Me

• Photography Basics/Introduction to photography – Foundational group class, small class size for personal attention.
• Private photography Lessons – One-on-one, in-person or online, fully customized.
• There are more ways to learn photography with me below.

Free tools to help you identify your learning needs.

• Photography Instruction Strategy Questionnaire

• Basic photography and Camera Operation Quiz.

Keep studying and practicing.
 

If you have questions or want to discuss your next steps, email me at sam@samdamico.com or call 202-531-2344.

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.

I keep my group classes small 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.