Teach a "How To" Class

[Nena2007]

I was asked by one of my regular clients if I would be interested in teaching a "how to" class for her and her friends. These are all moms with some sort of dslr who want to be able to do things like "blur the background" :) She's asking for a one time class which to me seems fine, but I simply can't imagine how I could do that without completely overwhelming them with information!

Has anyone done a class like this before? What would be some points to discuss that I can teach without having to go into too much detail and flooding them with information? Would it be wise to even discuss full manual? Or perhaps aperture priority??

Just looking for some input.

Thanks :)

[DoublyDan]

I would start them off with examples of full auto and then shoot the same subject with Aperture Priority...I wouldn't go into full manual unless they are ready for it...If they are wanting the out of focus look then a nice lens (f 1.8 or 2.8) would allow for it to be seen easily.

You may want to discuss how lenses come into play with what they are able to capture. This may allow you to plug your photography, which is something you want to discuss with them as well. They need to understand that it takes a lot of practice and effort to know their equipment.

[jeffreypkane]

Nena - one thing you might consider is asking them to each buy/bring a copy of a book like Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" (or equivalent, but this is my favorite) - and making sure that your discussion can be found in whatever book you use (agenda with page number) so people can find it again.

You might ask you client what the goals for the session are. If you hear "we all have great camera but don't know how to use them" or "our pictures look blurry" ... you will have something more tangible.

Then it might make sense to structure your program around some general areas:
* Body / controls;
* Lenses;
* Light (natural and flash) - how to (not) take a DMV photo;
* Kids sports (outdoor and indoor);
* Flowers & landscapes;
* Family Photos (get ready for Xmas card season)

Given the audience it might be beneficial to help them understand that making photos of indoor sports is different than daytime football, etc. Some pictures are not going to work without expensive glass/lights/bodies @ high ISO, etc.

If it all starts with the exposure triangle - tie each section back to a common theme to keep your students grounded.

If there is time, let them push the buttons to see what happens.

Maybe include something about PS Elements? I find lots of beginners don't understand that photos out of the camera are not finished.

All the best - should be a whole lot more better ideas than mine.

[rockpics]

I've taught boy scouts camera basics, so I think grown women can be taught them too.
Basics include how the amount of light reaching the sensor is controlled, and how the sensitivity of the sensor to light is controlled. As far as depth of field goes, they may be familiar with the concept of a pinhole camera and how light is bent (diffraction) when it goes through a small opening. Larger openings result in less bending and less focusing of the light, and thus a shallower depth of field. The lens of course does not depend on diffraction for focus. The glass of the lens is independently focusing the light because light also bends as it goes from one medium to another, in this case air to glass (refraction). So both diffraction and refraction will focus the light, but when the aperture is large the glass of the lens is doing all of the focusing. (The lens is "diffraction limited" when the diffraction tends to focus the light at a different point than the refraction, but I wouldn't mention that.)

[movingex]

Originally Posted by Nena2007

I was asked by one of my regular clients if I would be interested in teaching a "how to" class for her and her friends. These are all moms with some sort of dslr who want to be able to do things like "blur the background" :) She's asking for a one time class which to me seems fine, but I simply can't imagine how I could do that without completely overwhelming them with information!

Has anyone done a class like this before? What would be some points to discuss that I can teach without having to go into too much detail and flooding them with information? Would it be wise to even discuss full manual? Or perhaps aperture priority??

Just looking for some input.

Thanks :)

WOW, that would be a tough one, especially considering the different types/brands/functions on the different cameras that they may bring.

Whatever you did would have to be pretty generalized, but I'm betting that each would have specific questions about how does something work on their particular camera.

[Tom]

I teach quite a bit, and the first thing you need to do is set expectations.

Exposure and depth of field are 1a and 1b. You really need to incorporate DOF into exposure, otherwise, they won't understand why you don't just shoot at 1/200th f/16 ISO 200. They need to know the difference that 1/8th and 1/1600th makes. The difference between 1.8 and 11. The difference between 100 and 3200.

There really is no one single lesson that will get you through all that. Especially not before minds wander. They need to know that real photography is a lot more complicated than pointing and shooting and that a single lesson isn't going to get them very far.

[tukaniray]

Why not also talk about equipment. Different lenses and what the strengths and weakness are from a Kit lens to a more expensive lens.

Being moms and new to photography (I assume) that they will probably be like ... what's the right equipment to buy as a first on their mind.

To much tech info will definitely Wander the mind. I use to teach Software like FCP and AE to people. Also taught how to use an iPod and a new Mac to others when I worked for Apple ... taking the first step of equipment helps them understand what it is they have first before jumping into to much tech.

Good luck with your class. ... if you teach it.

-Ray-

[David Whatley]

Tell them that first they need to go buy a $1,500 lens...... or......... they can just hire you to do the photography for them.
Now if they want to learn how to make everything blury, telll them to hire me, I do that really well/

[thehatguy]

Couldn't resist.

John

[Nena2007]

Thanks for all the input. Especially John ;)

When she said she wanted a one time class that did kind of make me wonder if that would even be possible. I also do worry about different brands of camera, I'm a Canon girl but can get some basic info for the other brands.

Hmmm....this is one to think about, I'd like to do it, since I wish I had someone at least point me in the right direction, but it may be hard!

[texkam]

I would start them off with examples of full auto and then shoot the same subject with Aperture Priority...I wouldn't go into full manual unless they are ready for it...

I'd go the other route.

They need to know the difference that 1/8th and 1/1600th makes. The difference between 1.8 and 11. The difference between 100 and 3200.

Understand first the +'s and -'s of these ^, then the rest makes sense.