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. 

Did you ever notice that we get a lot more shutter speeds than apertures? I imagine not knowing the reason why won’t keep us from getting any sleep at night, but it’s a question I get every once in a while during lessons, and it’s a good one—understanding why will help us make wiser choices when working in manual exposure mode or the priority exposure modes.

Why So Many Shutter Speeds?

• Shutter speed controls how long our camera’s sensor (or film) is exposed to light. The range is broad—fractions of a second to several seconds—because it lets us record everything from fast-moving objects so they appear static to blurred objects and long exposures in low light.
• Aperture is an opening in the lens that we can make bigger and smaller, and the physical construction of the lens limits the range of aperture settings. Most lenses only offer a handful of f-stops, so we have fewer choices.
   

While both aperture and shutter speed control exposure, aperture controls depth of field.
 

Shutter speed allows us to record motion as blurred or static and is a visually creative tool for freezing or blurring motion. Since the majority of photographs have an element of movement in them, cameras give us more options for representing motion creatively.

What Does This Mean for Our Photography?

• More shutter speeds mean more options for achieving the exposure and creative effects we want, especially when working in manual exposure mode.

If you want to work your camera in manual exposure mode to get the most creative control possible, my Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography is the place to start.
 

Or, if you want one-on-one attention, you can always book Private Lessons.
 

If you'd rather learn at your own pace, check out Sam's Online Learning Platform for more ways to study and practice with me.

 The Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class is a good place to start if you’re ready for some of your own light bulb moments.

 And if none of the schedules work for you in my in-person person group classes, Private Lessons that cover the same stuff are always an option.

 My Online Learning Platform is full of content (including what’s taught in the Photography Basics/Introduction to Photography class) that’ll help photographers keep engaged in their photography studies and practice.

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.