About
I love photography and enjoy seeing the light bulb come on when a student grasps the concept I am teaching. I have taught for the Memphis Arts Council, most were adults and wanted me to teach 15 years of experience in an 8-week course. The best way to learn photography is through hands-on experience. I enjoy teaching theory but there is nothing like actual shooting photographs.
I started with film in 1972 and have worked in all formats from Instamatic (127mm) to 4x5 view cameras. Spent several years working in color processing labs. I now work in a digital format not only shooting but also storage of digital files and editing digital files.
I could write volumes about my experiences but it would get boring, so if you have any questions just give me a holler.
I enjoy seeing the light bulb come on when everything comes together. I enjoy seeing and hearing what my students like to shoot. This pushes me in my photography. They give me a new perspective and challenge. I can help them to develop a photographic eye, in that they see a photograph in their mind and set about to create this photo with the story and mood that they have in vision.
Details
Interest in additional skills
Student's age
Experience level
Photography type
Photos and videos
Reviews
Amy M.
Sonny H.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First I have to get know the student. Theirs likes and dislikes.
Next I learn what the student knows about photography. We also learn about the equipment the student ownes or wishes they own.
Then we discuss their goals What they want to do with their photography skills.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
The school of hard knocks. I did attend The Nikon School of photography back in 1975 where I learned the most important about photography and that is: "Photography is photography no matter what camera you are using." I am self-taught. I am still learning about digital photographic techniques. Photography is a subject that you never completely learn because your always looking to see what happens if I do it this way. Always looking to use your knowledge to create a photograph that creates a feeling/mood or makes a statement. So once you learn the basics then you experiment with different ideas. That is what I meant about being self-taught or the school of hard knocks.
I have taught film photography for The Memphis Arts Council.
Photography is photography no matter the camera or the recorded image.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
$40.00 per lesson, a lesson can last 1-4 hours depending on the student. If you have had enough to think about then we can stop and pick up the next session or if you can handle more we will continue until you understand the subject we are discussing. Some subjects take time to comprehend.
More than one person I usually drop the price per lesson to $30.00 per student per lesson. (A husdand & wife, two friends, or a brother & sister)
How did you get started teaching?
When people have asked me about how I photographed a certain subject, I usually give them information overload. I love photography because it challenged a broad field of my knowledge, Physics, Chemistry, and now Computer.
Nobody was willing to help me learn photography because they did not want the competition in business. So I had to dig the information out myself. I have always been an inquisitive person. Always wanting to know how things work.
What types of students have you worked with?
When I taught for the Memphis Arts Council it was a classroom setup and my teaching was a broad-based curriculum. Since I have started teaching on a one-on-one base which allows for more detail instruction and I enjoy that. I customize the lessons just for your needs. I have recently found a book to use that I feel will be a good reference book in the future. There are no additional fees for this book the cost is covered by your lesson fees.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look at his/her work, ask a lot of questions about his/her background. This is one reason I like to spend the first lesson getting to know my students to see if we fit. My teaching may not be what they are looking for and you should not have to pay to find this out. The first meeting is no charge. We just get togather and talk about what we are looking for and how things work.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Why are you interested in Photography?
My Interest are Landscapes both city and country, Fireworks, Hotair Ballons, and of course Hot Rods or Vintage Automobiles.
What are your goals in photography?
Improve your skills or to become a professional.
What type of photography are that interested in?
Portaits, Weddings, New Born, Commercial, Fashion.
Frensic (police work or sceintific), Medical, Sport, etc...