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. 

Here’s some quick, outlined guidance on effectively approaching our photography studies and practice.

Who?

We could study and practice by ourselves or with others.

When we study and practice by ourselves, we get to learn that we are as photographers without the distraction of being around other photographers, especially in large groups.

I’ve always found that studying and practicing with a teacher I resonate with always helps me to be a better photographer; class size matters.

What?

Use what we've got.

We should use whatever equipment we have with us at that moment, even if it’s the camera on our phone-our cameras don’t matter as much as the photographer who’s using the camera, because in the hands and mind of a skilled photographer, any camera will do.

Use whatever skills we’ve got at that moment to make the best pictures we can because every picture we make serves as a way to evaluate our skills.

Where?

Make pictures wherever we are.

It’s helpful to make pictures in different spaces under a variety of lighting conditions.
 

Indoors or outdoors, it doesn’t matter-wherever we can see light is where we should make a photograph because when we do that, we begin to learn a lot about light sources and their characteristics and how they influence our camera operation and compositions.

When?

The best time to study and practice is now.

Now is as good a moment as any to study and practice because there is no such thing as an ideal moment; there are only opportune moments, and the light we see fills each moment with an opportunity to make a photograph.

Why?

Our why is our intent of communication.

Do we wanna communicate fact, opinion, emotion, concepts, etc?

The intent of our communication is essential because it drives our compositional decisions.
 

How?

All we gotta do is make pictures.

And when we make pictures, we gotta be:
 

• Not in a rush.
• Thoughtful.
• Deliberate.
• Open-minded.
• Observant and descriptive of the light we’re seeing.
• Able to give ourselves useful self-critiques.

When you're ready to explore more effective approaches to your photography studies and practice my Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class will help you develop your unique visual voice (which isn't average) while learning to understand the interplay of camera operation, composition, and light.

I'll help you be a better photographer—study and practice photography with me.

There’s more ways to learn with me below.

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 schedule by joinining me 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.