Specialty and Software Classes

Lightroom 101
3 hours
$80
Maximum number: 20

In this first class you’ll get comfortable with Adobe Lightroom and learn how to set it up and start using it to catalog and process your images. We will be using whatever current shipping version of Lightroom is available.

What you’ll need:
You can bring your laptop if you’d like to follow along with the lessons but you can also learn by watching the live demo and taking notes. If you don’t already own Lightroom you can download a free 30 day trial here. You should already have solid skills with your computer hardware and settings and know your way around your operating system.

• 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 • Understanding the Lightroom Library
• Loading your files: Importing photos from a drive or device • Basic file naming and tagging • What about DNG?
• 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!)
• Getting out of Lightroom: Exporting files • Opening files in Photoshop • Presets for Email • Color space and resolution settings

Lightroom 102
$80
3 hours
Maximum number: 20

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

What you’ll need:
You can bring your laptop if you’d like to follow along with the lessons but you can also learn by watching the live demo and taking notes. If you don’t already own Lightroom you can download a free 30 day trial here. You should already have solid skills with your computer hardware and settings and know your way around your operating system.

• 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 • Split toning • Camera profiles
• New in 3.0: Tethered shooting • Lens correction • Video support • Watermarking • Grain simulation
• The data side of photography: Keywording • Metadata • Finding your photos
• Showing your pictures online: Using the Web module to build galleries • Flash templates • Watermarking your images for protection.
• Slide shows: Making  a client presentation, or just showing pictures to your family • Customizing your slide show • Emailing a PDF show.
• Getting in on paper: Working with the Print module • Print packages and custom layouts • Printer settings and profiles

WordPress for Beginners: Part 1
3 hours
$80
Minimum to make a class: 8
Maximum: 20
Instructor: Randy Hoyt

If you’ve been planning to build your own website but have been intimidated by the software and terminology, WordPress may be the right solution. WordPress is free, open-source software that makes it easy to build a web site with no coding.

In this first WordPress class, you’ll learn the basics needed to launch a web site or blog powered by WordPress on your own domain name and web hosting account. We’ll also talk a bit about the nature and history of WordPress, and you’ll gain a conceptual knowledge of internet technologies like HTML and JavaScript — but you won’t be required to write any code.

What You’ll Need:
You can bring a laptop to follow along, but you can also learn by watching the live demo and taking notes. A handout will be provided with links to all the resources mentioned as well as books, web sites, and community groups. WordPress is free, but after class you will need to have your own domain name and a web hosting account to implement the techniques we’ll discuss. (We’ll cover where to get those in the class, but you should plan on spending about $100/year.)

• Introduction: What is WordPress? • How is it free? • Who uses it? • What’s a “blog” and how is it different from a regular “web site”? • What’s the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com?
• WordPress Basics: Writing a blog post • Adding tags and categories • Uploading images and PDFs • Creating links • Creating pages and subpages
• Internet Basics: What’s a domain name? • What’s a web host? • How do I connect a domain name to a host? • Acronyms you’ll need to know: HTML, CSS, PHP, JPG, FTP, DNS • JavaScript vs. Flash
• Installing WordPress: The famous 5-minute installation • One-click installations offered by some hosts • Things to double-check with one-click installations
• WordPress Themes: How themes work • Where to find themes • Tweaking your theme • Adding widgets

WordPress for Beginners: Part 2
3 hours
$80
Minimum to make a class: 8
Maximum: 20
Instructor: Randy Hoyt

In this second class, we build on the basics from WordPress 101 and complete our tour of  WordPress. We’ll look at how to add functionality to your site with plugins, we’ll explore some advanced tehcniques for working with images, and we’ll discuss other important aspects of maintaining a web site like moderating comments and making your site friendly for search engines. While not required, it is highly recommended that you attend the WordPress 101 class before taking this one.

What You’ll Need:
If you installed WordPress on your own hosting account after taking WordPress 101, feel free to come with feedback and questions about that process. You can bring a laptop to follow along on your own web site, but you can also learn by watching the live demo and taking notes. A handout will be provided with links to all the resources mentioned as well as books, web sites, and community groups.

• Plugins: What’s a plugin? • Site backups • Contact forms • Embedding Flickr and Twitter data • Related posts • Caching • Where to find more plugins
• Images: Media settings • Edit images in WordPress • Comments on images • Plugins for displaying galleries and slideshows
• Blog maintenance: Scheduling posts • Google Analytics • Working with comments
• Search Engines: How search engines work • Blogging and search engines • File names and alternate text • Meta tags • Resources and tools from Google
• Themes: Advanced gallery and portfolio themes • Tweaking a theme