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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Sunday, March 22, 2026.

I’ll help you understand photography so you can create meaningful, expressive photographs anytime, anywhere.

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Aperture, also called F-stop, is one of the most visually expressive exposure controls in photography.
 

It doesn’t just control the tonality (how bright or dark) our photograph appears—it influences how we interpret our subject and the environment around it.

A lot of people think depth of field is about getting everything in focus, but that’s not right, because, optically, it’s not possible.

Depth of field is about the apparent sharpness in front of and in back of the distance we focus on.

It’s how we draw attention to our subject, add feeling, and move the viewer’s eye.
 

By understanding aperture, we can intentionally compose our photographs, controlling what’s sharp and what softly fades into the background by becoming unsharp.
 

It doesn’t matter if we’re photographing a sunlit street scene or a loved one’s smile; knowing how to balance exposure and depth of field gives us confidence and creativity in every frame.

I’m here to help you UNDERSTAND PHOTOGRAPHY SO YOU CAN CREATE MEANINGFUL AND EXPRESSIVE PHOTOGRAPHS ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.
 

Ready to be a better photographer?

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 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.