Specialty and Software Classes

2-1/2 hours
Maximum number: 20

*Early Registration: $50/person (up to 7 days before class date)
Regular Registration: $60/person

In this first class you’ll get comfortable with Adobe Lightroom,learn how to set it up and start cataloging and processing your images. We will be using the most current version of Lightroom.

• Intro: Why is Lightroom such a big deal? • Should I be shooting RAW? • Will I still need Photoshop?
• Setup: Basics of workspace, panels and menus • Setting up your preferences
• Loading your files: Importing photos from a drive or device • Basic file naming and tagging • What about DNG? • Understanding the Lightroom database concept
• Organizing your images: What to do with existing folders of images • Moving from another program like iPhoto or Picassa
• Editing and collections: Making your first cut with Flags • Refining your edit with the color and star rating systems • Using the Compare and Survey modes for those tough editing decisions • Working with collections
• Basic processing: Non•destructive editing and why it’s such a great thing• Basic adjustments: exposure, contrast, white balance, cropping • Quick black and white conversions • Using basic presets • Syncing and batch processing (one of the coolest things about LR!)

2-1/2 hours
Maximum number: 20

*Early Registration: $50/person (up to 7 days before class date)
Regular Registration: $60/person

In this second Lightroom class we build on the basics of 101, move deeper into the editing and use of your images. While not required, it is highly recommended that you attend the first class before taking this one.

• Getting out of Lightroom: Exporting files • Presets for Email • Color space and resolution settings
• Workspace: Customizing the interface • Working with dual monitors • Keyboard shortcuts
• Stacks and virtual copies: Working with image stacks to keep things organized • Using virtual copies as a creative sandbox to try different processes, cropping and conversions
• Catalogs: Backing up your precious data • Multiple catalogs • Synchronizing catalogs between computers
• Processing: Using the local adjustment brush and gradient filter • Spot cloning • Vignetting • Tone curves and color controls • Sharpening and noise reduction  • Camera profiles • Creative B&W conversions
• Corrections and special effects: • Automatic lens correction for distortion and color aberations • Split toning • Grain simulation

2-1/2 hours
Maximum number: 20

*Early Registration: $50/person (up to 7 days before class date)
Regular Registration: $60/person

In this third Lightroom class we cover the rest of the modules and focus on getting your photos out into the world, whether on the web, in print or uploaded to a shared photo site. While not required, it is highly recommended that you attend the first two classes before taking this one.

• The data side of photography: Keywording • Metadata • Finding your photos
• Tethered shooting: How to shoot with your camera connected directly to your computer for automatic import into LR
• Stepping out: Opening files in Photoshop and other programs • Color space and resolution settings
• Color: Precision color profiling
• Showing your pictures online: Using the Web module to build galleries • Flash templates • FTP from inside LR or in another utility • Watermarking your images for protection.
• Slide shows: Making a client presentation or just showing pictures to your family • Customizing your slide show • Creating an MP4 movie with a sountrack
• Putting it on paper: Working with the Print module • Print packages and custom layouts • Printer settings and profiles • Printing yourself or sending to a service
• Showing off: Using the Publish plugins to connect to Facebook, Flickr, Smugmug and a host of other services

Taking Better Pictures of Kids
Day and a Half Workshop

*Early Registration: $235/person (up to 7 days before class date)
Regular Registration: $250/person

Friday, 6:30-9:00pm at The Spot Studio
Saturday, 9am-12pm on location then 1:30-4:30pm at The Spot Studio
Maximum number of students is 12, minimum number to make a workshop is 6

This workshop is for you if you are a parent wanting to take better pictures of your own kids, a photographer looking to start your own portrait photography business or if you simply want to learn some great skills for taking better portraits of young humans.

This 1-1/2 day workshop will teach you how to take your basic DSLR skills and apply them to create stunning images of children. The techniques apply to any age subject but the focus here will be kids from the toddler through teen years. It is a combination lecture and hands-on shooting workshop with live models. It will be taught by Margie Woods Brown, a local children’s, wedding and portrait photographer. For more information check out Margie’s Bio and Margie Woods Brown website.

What you’ll learn in the workshop:

• Which combination of exposure and shooting modes make up the magic recipe for photographing kids
• How to use available light to create stunning images
• How to select backgrounds and environments to bring interest, emotion and fun into your photos
• Whether to pose or not to pose (or both!)
• How to find flattering and interesting perspectives
• Which lens(es) to choose
• Effective and age appropriate techniques to create a rapport with your subjects

Friday Night: We will meet at The Spot Studio for a discussion covering basic concepts and how to prepare for a photo shoot of kids. We will review the basic exposure and focusing modes and Margie will show some of her portraits, illustrating the tips and concepts that we will be covering.

Saturday Morning: The location for Saturday will be announced on Friday evening. We will meet on location at 9am and spend about 45 minutes scouting for the best light and backgrounds and going over the basic concepts of using available light and shade to our advantage. We will then be joined by our young models and their parents and will spend 2 hours shooting. Margie will be shooting alongside you and will be available to answer your questions and help you to get the images you want. At 12pm we will break for lunch and you will hand over your memory cards so Margie can download them for the second half of the day.

Saturday Afternoon: At 1:30 we will meet back up at The Spot Studio for a review and discussion of the shoot, as well as a live edit of everyone’s images. We will end the day with a group slide show to showcase your new skills.

What you’ll need:

• A DSLR with a full battery and empty memory card and a basic understanding of how to use your camera and its settings
• The DSLR-1 and DSLR-2 evening classes, Full Day Beginner Workshop or equivalent level of experience is a prerequisite
• Any lenses or accessories you want to use
• A handheld reflector if you have one
• An umbrella if it looks like rain as well as sensible clothes and shoes you can easily move around in

What’s not included:

• Cost of lunch
• Parking (if necessary)

Natural Light Senior Portraiture

*Early Registration: $235/person (up to 7 days before class date)
Regular Registration: $250/person

Friday, 6:30-9:00pm at The Spot Studio
Saturday, 9am-12pm on location then 1:30-4:30pm at The Spot
Maximum number of students is 12, minimum number to make a workshop is 6

Senior Portraits are becoming more and more important to teens looking to showcase their individuality and style as they finish high school and move out into the world. Staid, traditional portraits are becoming a thing of the past and creative, unique senior portraits are now the style. This opens up a wide range of creative options for photographing seniors and teens but also adds to the challenge of dealing with locations, available light and camera techniques. This workshop is for you if you are a parent wanting to capture better natural light images of your own teens, a photographer looking to start your own senior portrait business or if you simply want to learn some great skills for taking better portraits of teenagers.

This 1-1/2 day workshop will teach you how to take your basic DSLR skills and apply them to create stunning and stylish natural light images. The techniques apply to any age subject but the focus here will be the teen years and senior portraits. It is a combination lecture and hands-on shooting workshop with live models. We will be shooting in and around Deep Ellum for this workshop, but will be discussing many other location and style options for creating a unique experience and final product for your teen subjects. We will touch on business and marketing, but the main thrust is how to create better portraits that reflect the unique personality of your subject. It will be taught by Margie Woods Brown, a local children’s, senior, wedding and portrait photographer. For more information check out Margie’s Bio and Margie Woods Brown website.

What you’ll learn in the workshop:

• Which combination of exposure and shooting modes create the look you want to achieve for your portraits
• How to use available light and shade to create stunning images
• How to select backgrounds and environments to bring interest, emotion and fun into your photos
• How to find flattering and interesting perspectives
• Which lens(es) to choose
• Effective and age appropriate techniques to create a rapport with your subjects
• How to create a personalized experience and look to compliment each teen’s personality and style
• How to use wardrobe and posing to bring out the personality of your subject and make the images uniquely theirs

Friday Night: We will meet at The Spot Studio for a discussion covering basic concepts and how to prepare for a senior portrait photo shoot. We will review the basic exposure and focusing modes and Margie will show some of her senior portraits, illustrating the tips and concepts that we will be covering.

Saturday Morning: The location for Saturday will probably be Deep Ellum. Details will be passed out on Friday. We will meet on location at 9am and spend about 45 minutes scouting for the best light and backgrounds and going over the basic concepts of selecting backgrounds, and using available light and shade to our advantage. We will then be joined by our young models and will spend 2 hours shooting. Margie will be shooting alongside you demonstrating, and will be available to answer your questions and help you to get the images you want. At 12pm we will break for lunch and you will hand over your memory cards so Margie can download them for the second half of the day.

Saturday Afternoon: At 1:30 we will meet back up at The Spot Studio for a review and discussion of the shoot, as well as a live edit of everyone’s images. We will end the day with a group slide show to showcase your new skills.

What you’ll need:

• A DSLR with a full battery and empty memory card and a basic understanding of how to use your camera and its settings
• The DSLR-1 and DSLR-2 evening classes, Full Day Beginner Workshop or equivalent level of experience is a prerequisite
• Any lenses or accessories you want to use
• A handheld reflector if you have one
• An umbrella if it looks like rain as well as sensible clothes and shoes you can easily move around in

What’s not included:

• Cost of lunch
• Parking (if necessary)