WDO Photography

I offer structured group classes and private classes. Even in my group classes my first question is what do you want to learn and what do you already know. It's important to me that you get the most out of our time together. I'm a working professional photographer with over 20 years of wide ranging experience. Even in a structured class I can tweak what we're doing to make sure you get the most out of my classes.  

I hold a photography degree from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh (2001) and studied photojournalism at Point Park University while working as a professional freelance photographer. In 2007 I opened my full time photography business, WDO Photography. I have maintained a full schedule of client work and taught a variety of photography classes ever since. Due to the pandemic my list of virtual classes expanded and I've mastered teaching virtually in a fun and interactive way. As of 2021 in-person private leasons and structured classes through a variety of partners are available once more.

Pricing on our group classes are dependent on the hours of class time. Private lessons are booked at a rate of $50 per hour. 

I'm passionate about sharing knowledge. Even as a kid I always wanted to share what I had learned. I began formally teaching at around the same time I started my business. Along with my photography business I had a side business in arts education along with a partner. We taught kids animation, storytelling, and more. We partnered with the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh to produce a show on Maker Culture called the Make Shop Show. We also worked with a variety of other community groups including the Penguins Foundation, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Homeless Children's Education Fund. As part of our work we studied under a few great teachers such as Dr. Alice Wilder and Ernie Dettore who helped us understand the art and science of teaching better. Shortly thereafter I began teaching nature photography classes and was asked to teach a class for a group of new parents who wanted to take better photos of their kids. I find teaching to be very rewarding. 

I've worked with young children through the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, people living with learning disabilities and cognitive impairments through groups such as the Warhol Museum and Achieva, and have taught adult learners through my own classes, at senior centers,  and at other cultural institutions such as Phipps, and the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. 

I have adult diagnosed ADHD. As a kid learning was both exciting and frustrating. I struggled because nobody caught that I needed learning to be engaging. It really sucked. I never want to do that to anyone. It's vital to me that I understand how you learn and respond to that with my teaching. I want you to get the most out of your classes and that means teaching to you in the ways you learn. My classes are interactive and engaging. They include visual and auditory learning and of course hands-on learning as well. No matter what type of student you are I promise I will work with you to help you get the most out of our time together.

I recently taught an intro class at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. I always ask my students why they signed up, what they want to learn, and what their preferred learning style is. 

One student told me that she agreed to photograph her cousin's wedding. She has never taken a class, struggles a lot with her camera, and was really not sure where to even start in order to understand how to photograph a wedding. I've photographed weddings for over 20 years. They're very stressful and I would NOT recommend signing up to do one solo without a lot of experience photographing fast moving action. Even then I'd recommend working as a second photographer for a few weddings first. 

She was determined to do it. I didn't want to discourage her, I never discourage my students. So we put together a plan, I offered her some additional advice based on my experience as a wedding photographer, gave her some options for inexpensive lenses that could help her, and helped her understand how to use her flash. 

A few months later she sent me the link to the photos she did of the wedding. She did a truly amazing job. She really made me proud to be her teacher. I was so proud that I asked her if I could share some of the photos on my blog. She got permission from the couple and I wrote a post about the experience.

Find someone who's work you like and want to know more about. Make sure your personalities fit. I want my students to be excited to come to class and I want to be excited to teach them. That doesn't mean we've got to connect on every level or end up being best friends but understanding each others lived experiences or relating to each other is helpful especially since photography is about sharing our stories with each other. It makes sense to have a teacher who will understand and care about your story and what you're sharing. 

Do I have the time and energy to learn this? Teaching is a lot of fun and it's rewarding but it's a two way street. If you're not excited to learn you won't find the class fun or rewarding. 

What do I want to learn? Do you have a camera that I just don't understand how to use? Do you know how to use your camera but want to improve your artistic skills? Do you really like photography but don't know where to start and get frustrated when you pick up your camera? Knowing what you want to learn and get from a class can be really helpful.