Beginner photography lessons in Somerset
Bought a new digital camera and feel a bit overwhelmed? Part of a camera club and feel you are getting left behind? I provide photography lessons for beginners like you, and for people who want to win a few competitions at their local camera club (shhh I won’t tell anyone you have been getting some secret lessons).
I’ll guide you through your camera one on one or with a friend. Learn how to:
- Understand your camera
- Avoid missed opportunities
- Create photographic opportunities
- Avoid blurred and badly exposed photos
- Stop taking bland and boring photos
- Learn photography tips and tricks
How long are the photography lessons?
I recommend a minimum of 2 hours at first. This will get you accustomed to the controls of your camera and how the controls affect the results.
An additional 2 hours of photography tuition will mean we can be much more practical with the camera as you have already covered the basics. This is where the real fun starts.
I recommend you have 2 hour blocks at a time, as longer than that in one go could be very overwhelming otherwise.
Amateur photography lessons in bite-sized chunks
- Understanding lens focal lengths
- Using a tripod effectively for nature photography
- Photographing fast moving subjects and sports photography
- How to blur the background of photos like this
- Mastering correct exposure like this
- How to be better at family photography
- Taking photos in difficult conditions like this
- Get more natural photos quicker like this
- Photography jargon
During your beginner photography lesson, you will need:
- Your camera
- Charged camera battery
- A memory card in your camera
- A notepad to write down the most useful photography tips to you
Please note:
My photography lessons will teach you the fundamentals of photography and how your camera works. However, as every camera has a different menu system I cannot know every camera’s menu system inside out. I will however be able to help you find the controls that matter most and get you off to a good start.
Many of the menu functions will not be very important in these early stages. It is recommended you bring along your instruction manual as a backup, although it is likely it won’t be needed most of the time.
Where will the photography lesson be?
For the first 2 hours, I tend to have the lessons at my home in Bridgwater. We can sit down comfortably, have a coffee, and look at your camera in detail with a few simple tests with the camera. Beyond the first two hours we can go to a suitable location where there is enough subject matter to experiment with different settings to achieve a variety of different results.
How much are photography lessons and what should I expect?
I charge £50 per person per hour. Initially I will talk with you about how you obtained the camera, how you have been using it so far, what challenges you have had, and what you would like to achieve.
Examples of people who come to me are those who have been given a camera as a gift but are a bit baffled by the controls, or people who already have an interest in photography and have bought the camera themselves. Perhaps they have been disappointed with the results or confused by the results they are getting.
I have had people from the age of 12 to over 50 and will adjust my teaching style to suit personality and ability.
Comprehensive notes and teaching aids will be provided after the photography lesson.
Why choose me for your photography lessons?
There are many online photography courses, but there is just no substitute for hands on in person photography tuition, and especially one to one. I look at your specific problems and goals with your specific camera model. Rather than wasting time wading through dozens of videos trying to find a solution to your problem, I will cater to you individually. This can save hours of time and frustration. I can have you feeling more confident and excited about your camera and its capabilities in as little as 2 hours.
Camera lessons outline
MORE KNOWLEDGE BASED (hours 1-2)
1st hour
- Discussion about problems you have been having with photography
- Discussion about problems you have been having with your camera
- Discussion about what you want to achieve with your camera
- Looking more closely at the lens you own and talking about what you can do with it
- Looking more closely at the camera you own and talking about what you can do with it
- A tour of the controls of your camera in particular
- Fixing problems with your camera
- What is a lens aperture and how is it used?
- What is shutter speed and how is it used?
- What is ISO and how is it used?
- Manual vs automatic modes – pros, cons and use cases
- Exposure scale
2nd hour
- Understanding how aperture, shutter speed and ISO affect each other
- Looking at different ways to compose a photo
- Zoom lenses and how they can affect apertures used
- Understanding ‘depth of field’
- Avoiding motion blur from the camera and your subject
- Understanding shutter speeds in relation to lens focal lengths
- Demonstrations by me using your camera
- Some basic experimentation of you using your camera in manual mode
- Why do we have JPEG and RAW photos?
- Metering modes
- Focusing modes
MORE PRACTICAL BASED (hours 3-4)
3rd hour
- What is white balance and how do you use it?
- Placement of your subject in relation to the background
- Light source size, sun vs cloud and their effect on shadows
- Unflattering lighting
- Flattering photos indoors
- Flattering photos outdoors
- Choosing the best lighting for photos of people
- Light intensity of the subject in relation to the background
4th hour
- Using your camera more in depth in manual mode
- Composition with a zoom lens and your feet
- Using available props to improve photos of people
- How to capture light trails in photos
- How to deliberately use motion blur with people and water
- Discussing photo editing software
- Capturing fleeting moments and difficult subject matter
Photography lesson reviews from clients
I had a 2 hour photography lesson with Ross and it was the best thing I ever did. I learnt more in 2 hours than I did the past 6 months with online tutorials and YouTube channels. I had already done a diploma in photography but did not have the confidence to use manual mode regularly and struggled with portrait photography knowing where to take photos from or how to place person/s in the photo. I am now far more confident with using my camera in full manual mode and have produced some amazing results from my lesson. I cannot recommend Ross enough with how much he helped my needs and the knowledge he shared with me. I am already planning to book more lessons to progress my photography and would strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their skills.
– Darren
Thanks to a couple of hours spent with Ross I have a much clearer understanding of the intricacies of matters relating to camera modes, settings and technology. His meticulously prepared diagrams and charts served to simplify what for me, as a keen but novice photographer, seemed quite baffling. I am looking forward to putting into practice some of the newly acquired techniques before reserving a practical photography session with Ross at some stage in near future.
– Madeleine
If you are looking for Photography lessons, I would highly recommend Ross. I had an enjoyable 2hr lesson with Ross at his home, and it was incredibly helpful to me as a beginner. He was very welcoming, good humoured and extremely knowledgable, and explained things in a clear and engaging way. Ross also provided me with extensive notes and learning tools that have been very useful when revising everything we covered in the lesson. I left feeling much more confident with using my camera and excited to continuing my learning journey.
– Eliza
Brilliant lesson for my daughter. Ross really helped her understand the camera and make the most of the settings. Lots of different ideas and techniques that have inspired her to experiment with her photography. Ross was also fantastic before and after the lesson with advice on lenses and settings on the camera. Many thanks.
– Isabel
