I found myself thumbing the page in the course catalog over and over again, but in my entire four years at Elon University I never registered for a single photography class.  I was intrigued by the descriptions.  In love with the idea of taking beautiful pictures.  Fascinated with how to get the camera to create art.  And completely intimidated that I wasn’t good enough to even try.  Convinced! that everyone would know how to operate their cameras with ease and I would be an embarrassing, bumbling mess.

I let my own anxieties about not being good enough keep me from learning more about something new.

So when Cary Academy asked me to teach a round of photography classes for adults, I knew I wanted them to be as approachable and judgement-free for beginners as they were to the aspiring professional.  Because, let’s face it, some of us haven’t been in a classroom learning something new in a long time!

This Spring we will offer:

Photo 101: Box to Basics is a basic photography class for beginners.  We will cover beginner – level photography concepts for the person who has never taken their camera off auto mode.  Topics will include automatic and partially-automatic settings, focus modes, white balance, the photographers “triangle” of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.   No prior knowledge of how to use a camera is required.

Session 1:  Tuesdays January 19th and 26th.  4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  $80 / 4 hours of instruction.  Register here.

Session 2:  Wednesdays, February 17th and 23rd.  4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  $80 / 4 hours of instruction.  Register here.

Perfect Posing Quick Course is a photography class on posing for beginners to aspiring professionals held in Cary, NC.  It will cover beginner to aspiring professional level posing for any camera type.  This non-technical class will take a hands-on look at posing large groups quickly, flattering poses for all body types, and the secrets of flow posing which create authentic moments that are posed but don’t look forced.  No prior knowledge of how to use a camera is required.

Tuesday, February 2nd.  5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  $40 / 2 hours of instruction.  Register here.

Composition Quick Course is a basic photography class for beginners held in Cary, NC.  We will cover beginner level techniques for taking a pleasing picture without needing to understand the settings.  We will review both rules of composition and stylistic choices.  Open your eyes to new ways of framing your shots that will give you confidence to create compelling portraits.  No prior knowledge of how to use a camera is required.

Tuesday, February 9th.  5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  $40 / 2 hours of instruction.  Register here.

Composition for Artistic Impact is a photography class on composition for beginners to aspiring professionals, held in Cary, NC.  We will cover beginner to aspiring professional composition on a larger scale.  Bring your art to life is a non-technical class that will inspire you to take bold and exciting new pictures.  Find your artistic voice and connect with beautiful composition in this class that shares all the secrets of professional composition.  This is a non-technical course and open to photographers with all types of cameras.   No prior knowledge of how to use a camera is required.

Wednesdays, March 16th and 23rd.  5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  $80 / 4 hours of instruction.  Register here.

Lighting Workshop is a photography class on lighting for beginners to aspiring professionals held in Cary, NC.   We will start class with beginning techniques for pop-up flash, natural-light, and modifying with simple techniques.  In the second class we will discuss the use of external flash (sometimes called speedlights) for those who currently own one or would like to learn how to use them for the future.  An SLR camera is required but an extra flash unit is not required.

Thursdays, March 31st and April 7th.  4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  $80 / 4 hours of instruction.  Register here.