Special Announcement

I’ve added a Photography Basics/Introduction To Photography class starting on Saturdays for the April series of classes.

Special Announcement

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Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

The topic of “finding our style” comes up a lot during the Photography Basics/Introduction To Photography class.

One of the things I stress in all the ways I teach, whether in group classes or private lessons, is that there is no need to find our style because we already have it.

Instead of calling it 'style,' I refer to it as our unique visual voice.

And there are a couple of things that’ll stiffle our unique visual voice: working with our camera and automatic exposure mode, and the rules of photography, especially the rules of composition.

In automatic exposure mode, there’s no room for our unique visual voice because the camera does most of the work for us.
 

And when it comes to rules of composition, they just create a homogenization that makes our work look like every other photographer's work who follows those rules.

The way I encourage photographers to develop a unique visual voice is by paying attention to their visual awareness.

Visual awareness is the unique way we think about what we see.

When we trust our visual awareness and create photographs that effectively communicate our visual voice, our work automatically stands out. That’s because no one but us could’ve created it.

And no one else could’ve created it because no one thinks about the things they see in the same way.

Our problem usually arises with what I call our visual toolbox.
 

A visual toolbox includes the equipment we use.

Cameras, supplemental lighting, etc.
 

The first thing we’ve got to take care of is the camera.

We’ve got to learn to work our camera so we can express ourselves visually through it.

Our visual expression, of course, is the photograph we create.
 

But if we wanna fully express ourselves, nothing beats manual exposure mode.

Nothing beats manual exposure mode because we have control over every part of our composition.
 

Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focusing modes, focusing areas, metering patterns, image quality, image size, there’s more, but that’s the main stuff.

If you’re not working your camera in manual exposure mode now, I’d suggest just taking out your owner's manual and at the very least learn how to change aperture, shutter speed, ISO, find out where your focusing modes and focusing areas are, and also look into metering patterns and metering modes.

When we become familiar with the light recording tool we’re working with (our cameras), we begin to understand the tools available to us in our visual toolbox.

And when we do that, we’re well on our way to understanding photography and becoming better photographers.

Ready to put this stuff into practice?

Register for an upcoming Photography Basics/Introduction To Photography class, book a series of private lessons, or explore the full lineup of classes designed and taught by me that’ll help you be a more confident, capable, and better photographer.

No matter how you study and practice with me, I’ll help you be a better photographer.
 

About Sam

Sam D'Amico, a professional photographer and photography instructor, helps anyone who wants to be a better photographer. 

He'll work with his students to increase their understanding of camera operation, composition, light, and lighting. 

Sam started working as a professional photographer in the mid-1980s.

Most notably, from 1992 to 1997, while working as a freelance photographer, he photographed over 500 assignments for the New York Times.

Additionally, Sam received awards for his work while exhibiting his photographs in shows. 

Sam began teaching photography professionally in 1998 through the Highland Park, N.J. recreation department. 

In 2002 Sam moved to Washington, D.C., and began teaching at the accredited Washington School of Photography in Bethesda, Md.

It was in 2003 that Sam developed his curriculum and started teaching classes in Washington, D.C. 

In 2018 and 2022, the Sam D'Amico Photography Classes were voted the "Best of DC" art class by the readers of the Washington City Paper. 

Many photography teachers spend a lot of time teaching about DSLRs and rules of composition that create homogenized, rigid photographs.

On the other hand, Sam teaches about camera operation, thought process, and the individual photographer's visual communication intent. 

This approach to teaching allows his students to use ANY camera (yes, even the camera on their phone) and break free of the rules of composition.

Approaching the creative process this way allows for fluid and spontaneous photographs unique to the photographer creating them.

Sam encourages his students to find their ways as photographers. 

He instills the skills in his students that result in creative, engaging, and unique compositions that reflect the photographer's intended one-of-a-kind visual expression.