Understand Photography
Product Description
Thanks for your ongoing support and kind words about this online photography class! We are working hard to simplify the technical!
This is a LIVE class with tons of support. It’s not like the online classes you’ve taken before with a person just talking at you. Instructor Peggy Farren really simplifies and shows you STEP by STEP how to use your camera. She has a great way of explaining the technical aspects of photography so that even right brain creatives can understand it. We have LOTS of pictures of the cameras and where to find the settings, and also lots of photographs to show you the effects you can achieve.
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Do you REALLY understand exposure and how to shoot in the manual setting?
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How to win at photography competitions - as a frequent judge, Peggy will reveal the most common disqualification reasons and how you can overcome them.
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Does using flash intimidate you? It’s not as tough as you think!
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Are you about to take an exotic trip and want to be sure you come home with awe-inspiring pictures?
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Are your technical insecurities keeping you from earning a good living in photography?
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Avoid feeling overwhelmed by learning what is vital to know to produce great images consistently.
…. and much, much more!
We’ll help you put together a clear plan of action to get a solid photography education.
The Four Weeks to Proficiency in Photography is a virtual bootcamp, designed to give you a solid photography education in just four short weeks.
Week One:
DSLR Operation and Exposure Basics – We’ll get you shooting in the Manual setting in just two hours. This has been our most popular workshop since the start of Understand Photography Training Center.
Week Two:
Composition – The Most Important Class you’ll take to Improve Your Photography! Everyone thinks they understand the Rule of Thirds but we find that they really don’t. Learn where your eye naturally goes and how to use leading lines, power points, negative space, color and more to make a more pleasing image. In this workshop, you’ll learn why you are not winning competitions with your images - it’s almost always a composition issue!
We teach some basic posing in this class as well. Posing just means you are helping someone look their best. It shouldn’t be grueling or stiff. Learn the simple techniques to make your subjects look great!
Week Three:
Flash Basics - On and Off camera. Do you love natural light? So do we! However, it’s not practical at all times. Learn to use your flash to create natural looking light when needed. The principles are the same for both pop up flash that comes with your camera and a speedlight. You’ll also learn how to take a speedlight off your camera in the easiest way. Flash can be complicated. We simplify it.
Week Four:
The Technical Class: Don’t worry! You’ll be ready for this workshop! Metering Modes, White Balance, Drive Modes, Focal point, focus modes and more! We do our best to make the technical stuff easy to understand!
The format of each week is this:
Day One: A two hour live virtual workshop.
Meet me at your computer at the designated time for each workshop.
You can type questions as we go along.
If you miss it, watch the recording that night.
Day 2, 3, 4: You’ll receive a daily exercise, to seal the information into your brain. It should take 30 minutes or less each day.
Day 5: Quiz. Let’s make sure you are really understanding what you’ve learned this week.
Weekends are for fun and practice!
This will be repeated each week with a different lesson.
All classes, assignments and quizzes will be recorded and available to you on the membership site to watch or review anytime you like forever (or for the life of my business! LOL!).
Since we have so much experience teaching these classes, we’ve found that this is one of the quickest ways to learn. We designed the course with all the necessary things you need to know, and skipped a lot of the extras.
We want you to gain confidence in shooting in manual and really understanding exposure and the basics. With a solid foundation, you’ll be taking fabulous photographs in just a few short weeks!
Once you have a strong foundation, EVERYTHING else will come so easily for you! I’ve watched so many photographers struggle for years, just because they never got a good understanding of the important basics. You can do this! We work really hard to keep thing simple!!
~Peggy Farren
Founder and Instructor
Professional Photographer (check our my site at www.naplesportraits.com)
In business since 2001.
Julie – :
I just finished this class with Peggy today, and I am THRILLED with what I have learned. I’ve had a nice camera for 5 years and absolutely no idea how to use it. I would turn all the automatic dials and take 100 pictures hoping to get one good one . . . really.
This class is great because Peggy explains things in a logical easy-to -understand way. Plus she shows photos to demonstrate the points. Once the class is over, the exercises are a great way to put the learning to use. Its cool too that everyone posts their results to a private Facebook page so we get to see a lot of examples with feedback from the instructors and students.
I’ve been really intimidated trying to learn from a manual, or by some of the things I’ve seen online. Or worse . . . from other photographers. Seems like they were all talking over my head. That’s why this class was perfect.
It was on my bucket list to actually learn how to use a real camera. Check!! Thanks Peggy!
Peggy – :
Thank you so much for the nice comments Julie!! I am so excited that you “get it” now!!!
Jill – :
4 Weeks to Proficiency achieves what it claims! The effective combination of the two hour weekly webinars coupled with daily 30 minute assignments and class facebook page, ensures that the principles taught in each class are embedded in your photography habits.
Like many others I have carried my DSLR camera around for years but shooting on automatic or programmed modes – sometimes with mixed results. In four short weeks I feel that I have a solid foundation to shoot in manual mode and change the camera’s settings to take much better, and more creative photographs. I can now shoot special effects like freeze motion, silky water, and blurring out backgrounds to focus in on the important faces and things I want in my shots.
Kudos to Peggy Farren for her approachability and the countless hours she put in devising and perfecting the tutorials. Her straight forward, not overly technical style makes the class a must for those people who feel intimidated by photography jargon and their own camera’s features!
Take the class. Challenge yourself and start using your expensive digital investment. I am so glad that I did.
Peggy – :
Thank you so much Jill!! You made my day for sure! I am trying hard and constantly tweaking the course. I expect to continue seeing great pictures from you!
Susan Ferrer (verified owner) – :
4 WEEKS TO PROFICIENCY class is the best money I have invested in my photography! Peggy makes it so clear and simple to understand. The first class itself was worth the cost! I’ve had lessons in person and never came away understanding more, having more questions. But with this class within 20 minutes I had gained more knowledge than in three hours with a one-on-one lesson!
The other great feature is becoming a part of the online group. The feedback from classmates, Peggy and other established Photographers is PRICELESS! Plus, they answer any random question you may have regarding your work etc. I absolutely can’t convey the difference this class made for me. I LOVE IT!!
One last point; I wasn’t always able to watch the classes live. But it didn’t make a difference! Even when I was watching the class on my own I was able to understand the topics and learned from it. If I had questions I would post to the group or email Peggy directly, responses were generally immediate and more than helpful. So don’t let not watching live that be a deterrent for not taking the class! Peggy’s style of teaching and doing it in layman’s terms is FaBuLoUs!
Don’t hesitate any longer…Go Sign-Up NOW!
Much Love to Peggy and Crew!
Truly,
Susan Ferrer
Peggy – :
Thank you so much Susan!! I’m so happy you are doing so well! And I’m thrilled you liked the class!!!
Griselda Baker (verified owner) – :
Best four week class ever!! I didn’t know how to use my camera before this class with Peggy and now I have a greater understanding and I can definitely say my pictures look better. Her teaching is unique and I would recommend this class for anyone who has a love for photography. - Griselda B
Peggy – :
Thank you SO MUCH Griselda! Remember you can go back and review anytime! I really appreciate the testimonial!
Rae Wesolowski – :
May 2014
I took this class to get a few tips and to learn some new things. I learned everything I wanted to, and then some. Peggy does her best to explain everything thoroughly and shows examples, which was helpful to me. She is easy to talk to and there’s no need to be embarrassed by any questions. I’m glad I took the course, and if you’re interested, you should take it too!
Peggy – :
Thank you so much Rae!! I loved the way you jumped in and did every assignment! That is truly the best way to learn. Thank you so much for the review!
Michele Sandison – :
May 2014
I’ve been working alongside my husband who’s a photograher, for over 20 years but never understood how to take a picture, except on ‘P’ , so it’s great to have learned the basics and much more, in a simple easy to understand way and with patience when I asked for advice. Peggy is very bubbly and upbeat person and I feel much more confident now, using manual settings, knowing that my pictures are exposed properly. The assignments are clear and easy to understand and you can keep referring back to them if you’re unsure or if you miss any bits and need to go back - all I need to do now is find time to practise, so that’s my plan, so I intend to follow along on the private facebook page, which again I like, as you get to know other folk who are learning too, so you don’t feel intimidated posting up your photos. I think I need to start saving for a visit Peggy - you seem to get so much sun!!!
Peggy – :
Thanks so much Michele! I loved seeing your fabulous photographs of gorgeous Scotland! We’ll have to visit each other! I marvel at your husband’s amazing photography! The scenery is amazing as well. You are definitely a star pupil! I think you knew more than you thought you knew! And I love that you will go back and review. Thanks again for the nice review!
Michelle – :
I loved, loved, loved this course! I have owned a DSLR for some time now, but I was treating it like a simple point-and-shoot camera by not knowing how to use it! I thought a professional camera would give me the ability to shoot photos like the ones in magazines (or like my photographer friends on Facebook), but I kept ending up with photos that just didn’t have enough WOW to them. I hated that I had invested so much in a camera I could barely use!
I hesitated to invest in a structured course because I’m so busy. Even so, I didn’t feel like pre-recorded courses would work for me because I learn best when I receive feedback from my instructors. This course gives the best of both worlds. I had the option to take the course live or pre-recorded, but I was still able to get feedback from Peggy through the Facebook group. Peggy’s “Four Weeks to Proficiency in Photography” was the perfect solution for me!
The best part about “Four Weeks to Proficiency in Photography” was Peggy’s radiant personality. Peggy is a dynamic speaker - she’s so entertaining and funny, you’ll enjoy every minute of the course. Her laugh is infectious - you’ll find yourself laughing right along with her! For me, it was so amazing to learn and have fun at the same time.
My photography skills and my confidence have improved so much as a result of this course. I would never have imagined that I would feel comfortable shooting in Manual mode and now every time I shoot, I have the ability to be in complete control of my camera.
Mike – :
I just completed Peggy;s class, “4 weeks to proficiency in photography” class. I have been taking pictures for many years with some good results (some not and never knowing why). I must say this class has provided a MUCH needed foundation to help me to progress to the proverbial ….next level. I have had many questions as to exposure….composure..etc. Many of them have been answered.
I have begun to use the techniques taught by Peggy with great results. I must also say some of the material is a little dry and your….quirky personality is a great asset in such situations. Some might call you eccentric…crazy or possibly some other things…
Whatever, it works! Finally I will say Thank You to you Peggy.
Mike
Peggy – :
Thanks Mike! I’m glad my “quirky” personality works for this class! LOL!