What makes photographers happy with their pictures?

When the pictures we create come out the way we want.

The most rewarding photographs come when we have the confidence to operate our cameras and make pictures that matter to us—pictures that communicate exactly what we want to express.
 

That sense of fulfillment comes from having total control over our compositions, and there’s only one exposure mode that gives us that: manual exposure mode.

At first, manual exposure mode can seem overwhelming.

There’s a learning curve, and it requires some effort.

But based on my experience of becoming a better photographer, the effort is worth it because nothing, and I mean nothing, beats working in manual exposure mode if we want to consistently make the best pictures possible, given the circumstances we're working with.

As I’ve told a lot of photographers, if I could learn to be a better photographer, anybody could learn to be a better photographer because with an intentional, consistent, and efficient approach to our studies and practice, we can learn to work our cameras in manual exposure mode in about 10 hours—the length of a four-week Photography Basics/Introduction To Photography class.

It’s not just about understanding settings; it’s about building confidence and gaining the skills and understanding to observe light, describe it, and make thoughtful choices with aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

By the end of that class, the participants go from confusion to confidently using their cameras to create photographs that express what they want.
 

Frustration gets replaced with satisfaction as the skills the photographers gain enable them to make images that genuinely reflect their intent- and nothing makes a photographer happier than that.

Be a happy and better photographer by participating in the Photography Basics/Introduction To Photography class or by taking a series of private lessons.

However you choose to study and practice with me, I’ll help you become the best photographer you can be.

And if you’re not sure which class fits your needs, just ask—I’m always happy to help.

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.