Photography Classes, Workshops & Lessons Rochester, MI

Basic Digital Photography Workshop (Part I) – Monday, May 9, 2022

Monday, May 9, 2022 from 7-10 pm

SCROLL TO THE VERY BOTTOM FOR THE LINK TO ENROLL.

Photo of a hand holding a camera — **Learn to take control of your Digital Camera**

Join Bob for Digital Photography Basics (Part I) Workshop. In the past this has been a 6 hour Workshop and we are breaking the content up into two parts to give participants a little less to absorb in one sitting, and an opportunity to put what they learn into practice before the second part. We are offering Part II on May 16th.

**Landscape scene shot with a Digital Camera**

Bob will cover many of the basics relating to digital photography topics including – camera settings, lens selection, exposure, white balance, and more. The plan is for the students to have hands-on practice during the workshop – so bring your camera, lenses and manuals!

Close-up of the top front of a Nikon Digital camera — **Understand how to get the most out of your Digital Camera**

This class is designed for Digital cameras with interchangeable lenses. It is not intended for point and shoot models, since they have a different programing structure, however some point and shoot photographers have enjoyed the class for the overall photography skills that are shared.

What are Students saying about the Workshop?

A fantastic class! I can’t wait to put all these great tips into practice! Thank you Bob! (RM)

It was really good. He paired his lecture with hands on which really facilitates learning. (SG)

This was an outstanding workshop. Bob strikes a great balance between the technical and practical aspects of photography and presents in a very clear, organized manner. I am looking forward to a little practice, as well as the next workshop. Thanks Bob! (LB)

Fantastic intro! Bob is a great teacher; handouts and hands on put it together for me..and he makes the learner feel encouraged. (JM)

Excellent.. I learned so much and more! A must for anyone wanting to learn how to get the most of using their Digital camera. (KS)

A really good workshop for anyone looking for a crash course in Digital Photography fundaments. I walked into the class knowing absolutely nothing about my camera except taking pics on auto mode. It was a very informative class covering all technical aspects of photography and giving me plenty of content to be able to fiddle with manual settings and experiment on my own. Would absolutely recommend it to someone who has just bought a camera and doesn’t know what to do with it. (GS)

Follow this link, then click on the “7PM” time and fill out the enrollment form.

Outdoor Family Photography Workshop $45 – Saturday, May 14th

9AM - Sat, May 14th

SCROLL TO THE VERY BOTTOM FOR THE LINK TO ENROLL.

**Outdoor family portrait shot in open shade**

Join Bob and watch as he photographs a family of four. Mom, Dad and two young children (3 and 6 years old).

You are welcome to bring your camera along, and shoot as you watch, but given the age of the young children we don’t expect to have their attention/ cooperation for a long time, so Bob will need to be the primary photographer to be sure he gets useable images for the family. Any images that you do take are for your learning purposes, we ask that you not post them online or to social media.

The plan is to begin at 9:00 at Van Hoosen Farm. Bob will provide a handout and walk the group through the equipment he uses for a shoot like this, and his plan for getting the best possible images in the shortest amount of time.

A typical 3 year old will only last a short while, so as a photographer you need to be on point and ready when they arrive. I always ask parents not to promise treats or a trip to a favorite location before bringing their children for photos. A young child hears “we’re going to Dairy Queen” and they skip right past the “If you are good” part of the speech.

The plan is for the mother to be with us for the entire workshop, and her husband will bring the children around 9:45. This will give us enough time to talk before the session and look around for the best areas to photograph. Bob shoots at Van Hoosen year round, so he knows where he plans to work, but he will walk the group around and explain why he shoots where he does.

The session will kick off when dad arrives, and Bob will photograph the entire family, then each child individually, the two children together, Mom with each child, Dad with each child. Mom and Dad together. A lot of parent’s say they don’t want to be in the photos, just the kids, but I ask them if they have photos they treasure from their childhood with their parents and they usually acquiesce. I think it’s important to get all the pairings. If grandparents were present then we expand out to include them in assorted groupings.

Once we have enough images, (or the children indicate that our time is up), we will head to the studio to download the photos and Bob will walk you through evaluating the images and making the necessary edits.

If you have not been to the studio, don’t worry, Bob will have directions for everyone. At the studio we will have soft drinks, a Keurig and water.

We have scheduled the workshop to run until 1pm to allow time for everyone to transition from the park to the studio without feeling rushed. We may finish up early, but we wanted to plan a little extra time to be safe.

Follow this link, then click on the “9AM” time and fill out the enrollment form.

Basic Digital Photography Workshop – Part II – Monday, May 16, 2022 ($40)

Monday, May 16, 2022 from 7-10 pm

Scroll to the bottom for the link to enroll

Teenager holding a Nikon camera — **So you have a camera…now what?**

Join Bob for Digital Photography Basics (Part II) Workshop. In the past this has been a 6 hour Workshop and we are breaking the content up into two parts to give participants a little less to absorb in one sitting, and an opportunity to put what they learn into practice before the second part.

Bob will cover many of the basics relating to digital photography topics including – camera settings, lens selection, exposure, white balance, and more. The plan is for the students to adjust their settings during the workshop – so bring your camera, lenses and manuals!

This class is designed for Digital cameras (Single lens reflex or mirrorless) with interchangeable lenses. It is not intended for point and shoot models, since they have a different programing structure, however some point and shoot photographers have enjoyed the class for the overall photography skills that are shared.

What are Students saying about the Workshop?

A fantastic class! I can’t wait to put all these great tips into practice! Thank you Bob! (RM)

It was really good. He paired his lecture with hands on which really facilitates learning. (SG)

This was an outstanding workshop. Bob strikes a great balance between the technical and practical aspects of photography and presents in a very clear, organized manner. I am looking forward to a little practice, as well as the next workshop. Thanks Bob! (LB)

Fantastic intro! Bob is a great teacher; handouts and hands on put it together for me..and he makes the learner feel encouraged. (JM)

Excellent.. I learned so much and more! A must for anyone wanting to learn how to get the most of using their Digital camera. (KS)

A really good workshop for anyone looking for a crash course in Digital Photography fundaments. I walked into the class knowing absolutely nothing about my camera except taking pics on auto mode. It was a very informative class covering all technical aspects of photography and giving me plenty of content to be able to fiddle with manual settings and experiment on my own. Would absolutely recommend it to someone who has just bought a camera and doesn’t know what to do with it. (GS)

Click on the LINK and select the “7PM” time slot. Complete the form and you are in!

What Workshops Interest You!

Survey

We are hoping to restart photography workshops and Photo Safari trips in 2021! We are looking for your input on what interests you! Photo Workshops are generally 2-3 hour workshops in our studio or in the Rochester / Metro Detroit area. Photo Safaris are longer workshops – lasting 1-day to 7-10 days. A 1-Day workshop in Metro Detroit is an awesome adventure that keeps the cost and time-investment very reasonable! A slightly farther afield trip – say Northern Michigan fall color or Hocking Hills in Southern Ohio in Springtime – are generally a 3-Day Photo Safari. 7-10 Day trips involve flying, renting a vehicle, overnight stays, etc. The Photo Safaris are an opportunity to immerse yourself in the Art of Photography. They include one-on-one and group instruction. Bob is there to help guide you throughout the experience. The trips are all planned by Julie and Bob – hotel arrangements are all made, etc. We make the experience a fun adventure!

We are interested in creating a list of people interested in these types of Photo Adventures! Please follow the link below to fill out our survey. Please call us if you would like to discuss your ideas and suggestions. Juliann – 248-495-1845. Bob – 248-941-4859. Here’s to Happy Photography Adventures in 2021 and beyond!

https://GetShotByBob.17hats.com/p#/lcf/xkdbzvtsfrpnnvpnkfkvcwdzprhdpgvg

Gift Certificates!

Great Gift Ideas!

Gift your family or friends with a Photography Workshop gift certificate! It can be class specific or you can select any amount and the recipient can use it to attend workshops, private lessons or purchase photography gear! Call us to learn more!

Gift Certificates never expire. Your receipt can determine how to use them – workshops, lessons or photo equipment.

Juliann & Bob DiTommaso

248-608-8563

info@GetShotByBob.com

Peak Design Cross Body Straps

Peak Design creates innovative products. Cross body straps, camera hand clutches and other options make carrying your equipment easier and better for your body!

Bob sells the full line of Peak Design straps and bags. Schedule an appointment to purchase these innovative products and make hauling your gear a little less stressful.

Induro

Induro is a premium tripod made with carbon fiber. If you are looking for a light-weight solution for carrying your tripod, you may find the Induro products are for you!

Schedule an appointment in the studio to “try on” the variety of tripods Bob has available for sale. Like every other piece of camera equipment, your tripod will impact your photography results. The carbon fiber Induro products was well made and light weight. Come in and learn if this is the right tripod for you!

Vü Filters

Vu filters are made with high quality German schott glass. They offer a wide variety of filters to meet your needs. From UV filters that protect your camera lens through elaborate filter systems that can dramatically impact your image, the Vu Filter system helps you become your creative best!

Schedule an appointment to learn which filters would help you most. Bob also offers a photography workshop on Filters periodically throughout the year.

Tripods

I am an authorized Benro and Induro retailer. Contact me to schedule a no-charge personal tripod consultation. We price match on-line retailers like Amazon and B&H!

I learned to shoot from a tripod. To this day, I shoot a significant portion of my work using a tripod. There are several benefits. Working from a tripod feels more purposeful, it requires that you slow down, and it affords you the opportunity to step back consider the scene, and determine if you are crafting the best possible image.

Tripods come in a dizzying array of, sizes, materials, and price points.
How do you begin to wade through all the choices? I would start by considering your budget. A good tripod will most likely outlast even the most active photographer, so think about this being a once-and-done type of purchase.

When you start to research tripods you will find all serious brands provide load rating data as part of their specifications. You want to buy a tripod with sufficient design to properly hold your valuable equipment. The load ratings typically start around 15lbs and can range upwards of 80lbs. They are best viewed in relationship to each other, rather than as absolutes. If you have a consumer DSLR like a Canon Rebel or Nikon 3000/5000 series camera with the kit lenses then your gear is relatively light. An entry level tripod will most likely meet your needs. But, do you have your eye on that next level camera and a few more lenses? If you think you are eventually liable to move up to a larger camera and lenses I would buy more tripod than you need today, and plan to grow into it.

Once you decide on a load range that you feel is right for you, the next consideration is material. Aluminum is most common. I have owned several wonderful aluminum tripods over the years. On the plus side, aluminum is relatively light weight and inexpensive. On the down side, it transmits vibration more readily than other materials, and it can get quite cold in winter climates. Conversely, carbon fiber is superior at dampening vibration, is extremely light weight, doesn’t get as cold if you will be working outdoors in winter conditions, but it can run 3 times the cost of a comparable aluminum tripod.

A properly fit tripod should be a comfortable working height without having to raise the center column. A significant part of the benefit of using a tripod stems from the stability provide by those three legs. As soon as you raise that center column you lose much of that stability. Just like load rating data, most tripod manufacturers provide specifications on their websites. Be sure you are reading the information correctly. Often the maximum height specification is with the column UP. Look for the height with the column in the down position. The other two considerations to keep in mind when reviewing height data is the closed height, and the minimum height. Closed height can be important if you plan to travel by plane and want to know if it will fit in your luggage. The minimum height specification will let you know how close to the ground you would be able to work.

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