Photography By David Wong

I always like to start with what the student wants to learn and what they want to do with their photography. Then we talk about the areas they would like to enhance their knowledge in. After we do this, we talk about the types of lessons and activities that we will undertake. After the lessons, which are discussions about the photographic topics and not classroom lectures, we go out and shoot the situations we discussed. We come back in the studio (if we are working live or virtually via Zoom) to review what we have shot. We talk about what worked, what didn't, and build from there. 

I use video cameras, drones, and cell phones so the student can see what I am doing but more importantly we use apps like Face Time so I can see what the student is doing and be better able to help them when we are not meeting in person. 

I have been a photographer since I was 15 but my formal class work has been in workshop and classes with Ted Orland and John Sexton, former assistants to Ansel Adams. I have taken print and photo workshops with Charlie Cramer, one of the most knowledgable photographers and associate of Ansel Adams. Charlie teaches a lot of print classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and Yosemite. Additional classes have been taken from Stephen Johnson, Michael Frye, and Al Weber. College classes in photography were completed at Foothill, Cabrillo, and Sierra College. I completed a model and lighting workshop in Paris, France with Scott Robert Lim, a highly regarded wedding and portrait photographer and teacher. 

For remote classes, which are the most common these days. I charge $75 for a block of 3 hours. My initial Zoom meeting with a prospective student is always free so we can meet to see what the student needs and how I might be able to help. In person classes are available here at my studio in Grass Valley, at other locations nearby, or virtually through portals like Zoom. In person one or two day classes by arrangement.

I displayed my art print photography at a local gallery in Grass Valley and customers started asking me if I could teach them how to do photography. Additionally, as a member of my local camera club and past president, people became interested in how I did my photos when I won awards for them over several years. 

I learn as much from teaching others as well and discovered that I had an easy and relaxed way of teaching others. 

I have worked with all ages and levels of experience in photography. My youngest student started with me when he was 12. He is now about to graduate from Yale University and does great photography to this day. 

My oldest students are often my overseas photography workshop participants, who are often retired. Some of my students are beginners and some are very advanced that might like to learn specialized techniques in bird photography or studio lighting. Some students want to learn about printing and framing. Still others are interested in flash photography. 

This past November, I was one of six teachers teaching an all day photography workshop for my local camera club, The Nevada County Camera Club. This workshop was a Zoom workshop and attended by about 40 students. 

Before that and the pandemic, I took a group of photographers to Paris, Hon Fleur, Giverny, and Normandy. I greatly enjoy not only showing new areas to photographers to photograph but also enjoy introducing many to the great art galleries, to learn more about making great art.

Decide what type of photography you want to do and what direction you would like to take with your photography, to enter competitions, to make prints for yourself, to become a professional, or just for fun. Then find someone who best matches the type of photography you like. Have a first interview with that teacher to see what they are like. Some photographers are better teachers and might have a better fit with you than others. 

What is it that they would like to learn about photography? What do they want to do with photography after they learn the skills they want? It is always nice to show some photographs that the student has done previously so the teacher can understand a little about where the student is. It is really good if the student knows what they really like to shoot with their photography, what makes them excited?