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. 

There’s a lot more work that goes into a picture than pressing a button.

We’re either doing the work or the camera is doing the work for us-either way, work is work.

Of course, it’s better if we’re doing the work because if we’re doing the work, we get to communicate exactly what we want.
 

We do that by picking our aperture, shutter speed, ISO, where we wanna focus, etc.

If we’re not doing that, the camera is doing that for us.

The downside of the camera doing the work for us is that the camera doesn’t know what we want to communicate.

It’ll give us an average exposure, but nothing in terms of creativity or intent of communication.

Here’s an Overall View of the Work Involved in Making a Picture

• Camera Operation: When we learn how to use our camera intentionally in manual exposure mode, we get the most creative control possible, and when we gain the most creative control possible, we communicate exactly what we want to convey through our pictures.
• Composition: Intentional and thoughtful composition is the foundation of our visual vocabulary, which we use to communicate through our unique visual voice. We use our visual voice to convey facts, opinions, emotions, etc., by using the camera controls to compose a picture that does that. Rules have no place here. Every picture we make is our opportunity to say something we wanna say through our photograph.
• Observing and Describing the Characteristics of Light: Light is our raw material. When we observe and describe its characteristics, we can tie in the light we’re about to photograph into camera operation, and that helps us know what we can and can’t do in terms of composition, which allows us to make well-informed choices when it comes to camera operation and leads to more decisive compositional outcomes

Why Bother?

When we connect camera operation, composition, and the observation of light, our photographs get stronger—and so do we as photographers.

It’s not just about making pictures, it’s about understanding what we’re seeing and how what we’re seeing affects us.

When we do that, we can create photographs based not on what we say but on how we think about what we see.

Since no two people think about what they see the same way, when we base our compositions on how we think about what we know, we automatically create unique photographs that no one else can.

This, of course, depends on our understanding of the relationship between camera operation, composition, and light.

These are the fundamentals of photography and the work we do as photographers.

In a nutshell, we observe and record light.

But there’s a good amount of work involved in that, and if we’re the ones doing it instead of the camera, the unique compositional outcomes are well worth the work.
 

 My Introduction To Photography class helps photographers build these skills through study and practice- private lessons are always an option.

Or, if you prefer learning at your own pace, check out Sam's Online Learning Platform for more ways to study and practice with me.

No matter what camera you have, film or digital, I’ll help you be a better photographer.
 

My Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class starts soon, or check out DC Private Photography Lessons for one-on-one learning. 

You can also study at your own pace on Sam's Online Learning Platform.

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.