Was given a photography class with Alejandro as a gift, and what a great gift it was! I had invested in a nicer digital camera, but hadn't had a chance yet to understand all of its manual adjustments. We went over all the important steps to take before actually taking a photograph, and then we went out to a few locations and practiced different photography situations to bring it all home. It was exactly what I needed as a next step in my photography journey, this has allowed me to move from shooting primarily with my phone, to having the confidence to know I can get a good picture with a dedicated camera. read more

Alejandro is an attentive and patient teacher and I got a ton out of his introductory lesson. I look forward to another session with him once I get the hang of my first camera, that he taught me how to use. read more

Alejandro is a great teacher. I bought my first serious digital camera (i.e., not a simple point-and-shoot) in preparation for my first African safari and realized I definitely need help with the basics, the particulars of my camera (which has a 1000+ page manual), and pro tips for wildlife and landscape photography. Our 4 hour session flew by, my notebook (and head) was filled with so much practical guidance, and it was fun! Like every great tutor he tailored the teaching to me and he made it all made sense to me. I now have a solid foundation to go out, practice, get good, and get creative. read more

After years of taking iPhone photos and thinking I was pro, I dove into purchasing my first ASP-C camera feeling confident I could master photography on my own. While YouTube is a great resource for understanding the basics, I still felt like a rudderless ship when out in the real world and lacked the confidence in what I was doing. I contacted Alejandro and booked an intro class with him where we spent 3 hours going over the ins and outs of my camera (he knows how to use any regardless of the brand) as well as spending time in the field putting those skills to use. I came into the 1-1 session with a good amount of knowledge and although this was an "intro" class, Alejandro adapted to my skillset. Not only did I obtain a great deal of knowledge, but also just had a really good time chatting with Alejandro. He's a good dude and really wants his customers to be successful. Highly recommend. read more

Book the lesson! I had so much fun with Alejandro. I started with a curiosity and love for photography and walked away with a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the practice and art. Alejandro is the best teacher, he meets you where you are yet covers a wide range of topics. I feel confident using my camera now and have been having a great time exploring the city with this new perspective he taught me. Thank you Alejandro!!!! read more

I have a deep passion for photography that extends beyond a mere hobby. Upon meeting Alejandro, I realized how little I actually knew :) What was intended as a three-hour session extended to four, as time just flew under his guidance. Alejandro's teaching, starting from the fundamentals and progressing to mastering manual mode, is truly commendable. This just shows his expertise in the field, his passion for imparting knowledge. Throughout our time together, I got exposed to valuable insights, particularly in understanding my own gear including tripod :) We explored various locations in San Francisco which exposed me to some invaluable lessons on approaching different scenes, composition, light and navigating the dos and don'ts of photography. I'm so glad to have crossed paths with Alejandro and his willingness to carve out time from his busy schedule to share his expertise is something I deeply appreciate and wholeheartedly recommend to others. Sincerely Thank you and I love the time spent and will now put my learnings into actions. read more

I knew nothing about cameras, the terminology, subject matter, or that photography is an art! I have a Sony digital camera that I would just point and shoot, that's how ignorant I was. I now want to get into photography and set up a lesson with Alejandro. Talk about life changing, Alejandro explained everything in simple terms, he was articulate, thorough, and just a really cool guy. The lesson flew by, that's how much I was loving it. Alejandro then followed up with a practical lesson, he knew I was into street photography and we went to a neighborhood and applied all I learned into taking pictures. I am now shooting in manual mode where I am in control of the camera not the other way around. I highly recommend Alejandro, it's a no brainer. I will be practicing photography thanks to the motivation I got from Alejandro. I will not hesitate to set up another lesson in the future and encourage anyone and everyone to set up a lesson with Alejandro. His work that he showed me is outstanding! read more

I am a novice photographer, taking various classes and lessons for the past year or so. Prior to taking Alejandro's class I thought I had a pretty good grasp of photography concepts, but somehow my pictures still didn't turn out like I wanted. So, I booked a lesson with Alejandro. He wanted to make sure I had a solid foundations of the photography basic so we went over everything that I thought I had a good concept of (Exposure Triangle, etc). In a few hours I had an even better grasp of the concepts I need to take good photos. After we went outside to do some practice with my camera on the foundations. We didn't have too much time outside, but I still got a good amount of practice. I've already seen a big difference in the photos I take from before his class to after. I still struggle with focusing so when I have a chance I'm definitely going to take my next class with Alejandro to have some hands on practice on focusing! read more

I purchased a Canon T6 last summer, and after trying to use it for a month, I got frustrated at the quality of photos on the automatic setting. (I swear my phone takes better pictures.) My husband bought me lessons with Alejandro for our anniversary so I could learn how to use the manual mode, and after months of thinking I was too busy to take the time out to do it, I finally had my lessons this week. We spent the first day at a coffee shop going over theory, which was incredibly helpful. I had taken classes in the past, but forgotten everything, and definitely needed the refresher. Alejandro was super patient, explained the settings on my camera, showed me how to use them, and gave me a cheat sheet with everything on it. The second day we met at Golden Gate Park and put everything from the first day into practice. He showed me how to change my photos with the settings in my camera, zoom, and actual distance from my subject. We went over portraits, landscape, motion, and how to frame the subject in the photo. I'm so happy I finally scheduled the lessons, and excited to keep practicing. I highly recommend Alejandro to anyone needing instruction in photography. read more

My private lesson with Alejandro was one of the best birthday gifts I've ever received. He's extremely friendly, fun, knowledgable, and patient in explaining the relationships between composition, zoom, aperture, shutter speed, iso, focus, metering, composition and desired artistic effect. We met at the Embarcadero two hours before sunset, went over some camera basics, and then took diverse shots of the Bay, the Bay Bridge, and downtown buildings. I learned a lot from Alejandro and would recommend him to anyone looking to improve their photography skills. read more

I signed up for Alejandro's two hour/ two class private photography lesson. He was quick to answer my request for a quote and set up a meeting with me the next week in the morning. He has a scheduled outline he follows but he tailored his lessons to my needs. I wanted to focus on landscape photography, focus, and white balance. His normal scheduled lesson would have covered all of my questions but he also spent extra time with me on the details. i left feeling extremely confident in my ability to hone my skills for my upcoming trip but more importantly he opened my mind to seeing landscape photography different. He wasn't into telling me why I should get the latest gadgets but instead he showed me how to work with what I had and get it to achieve what I want. He made me fall in love with my camera again :) I highly recommend going with him, especially if you are just learning, or if there are subjects that you are getting stuck on and want an expert to teach you in an understanding way how to think through working with your camera and subject. You can tell teaching is one of his passions. Furthermore, he's also a joy to work with and patient and kind. He's not going to sugarcoat anything either, which is what I like. The next time I am in SF I will look him up again and take another lesson with him. I could not recommend him enough! Thank you Alejandro for two great lessons and for giving me the confidence to take on my upcoming travels with my camera gear. read more

Alejandro is a skilled photographer with years of experience in various aspects of the craft, as well as a gifted teacher and eager to share his wisdom. He's very reasonably priced for all the value he brought in helping me kick-start my journey as a photographer. I took his 3 hour one-on-one workshop almost two years ago, and I'm just now leaving a review. That's how much of an impact he had on me - that I felt the need to come back to Yelp after two years to leave a review. Alejandro, I can't thank you enough for your wisdom and generosity. Wishing you continued success! read more

Highly recommend taking a course (or two) with Alejandro if you want to learn as well as put into practice the basic principles and theories of digital photography. If you're thinking about getting more into landscape/wildlife photography, you're especially in luck because that's his area of expertise and passion. It was a lot of fun and extremely helpful to learn from Alejandro, and his enthusiasm and energy for teaching people about photography (on all levels) is what makes his courses that much more enjoyable! If you're just starting out or even curious about picking up photography as a hobby, I would recommend contacting Alejandro beforehand -- he always tries to make himself accessible to his (current or potential!) students and provide as much information as possible to make sure you're equipped and ready. read more

I'm a point and shooter who is trying to transition to a camera with manual settings. I looked for a teacher here on Yelp and found Alejandro. I just took a 3 hour one on one lesson with him and I can't recommend him highly enough. He starts off discussing the basic principles of photography and how they apply to different situations, then we did some hands on shooting so I could practice. I came away with a much better understanding of what goes into taking a great photo and how to use the manual settings on my camera. Alejandro is a great teacher, he's patient, friendly, and eager to share his knowledge. Take a class, you won't be disappointed !! read more

So happy I got the 3 hour session as a birthday gift! The Instructions were clear and efficient. Have been practicing for a full week since the class and my photos are so much better! I feel more confident about my understanding of the camera's functionality and correlation between settings. Will keep practicing and probably book more time with Alejandro to work on my composition techniques. I highly recommend this class! read more

I bought my camera three years and just never had the time to learn how to use it beyond the auto settings. I knew if I could get a few hours of one and one instruction I would be on my way to using my camera to it's fullest potential. Well finally that opportunity came around and I could not have been happier with the instruction and guidance I received from Alejandro. My lesson was exactly what I had hoped to gain from one and one instruction. I enjoy taking pictures so much more because my images are coming as I envisioned. Next is to shoot, shoot and practice, practice. After a few more months I fully intend to take another one and one lesson and refine what I have learned and gain more insight and knowledge form Alejandro. I completely recommend him and you won't regret it. I just wish I had found him sooner! Set up a lesson now and start enjoying your new found skills. read more

I took a private lesson with Alejandro after reading these great yelp reviews. I am so happy with what I've learned. I am a complete amateur and have tried reading up on photography, but to no avail. Alejandro explained everything very clearly and I was never confused. He helped me achieve my goal- which was make my photos look the way I want them to. We were originally supposed to meet at a park, but because of the weather, I went to his home office. It was tidy and professional. After about an hour of going through the bases/basics of photography, we did some practice shoots in the yard. We then went to the front to take photos of moving cars. Throughout the lesson, he made sure I was following him and continued turn his lesson towards my personal goals. I learned so much and have been very excited and practicing a lot after my lesson. Thanks so much Alejandro! read more

I was given two, two hour lessons with Alejandro for Christmas by family. It took me a while to get around to booking them but it was totally worth it. The theory session gave me a much better understanding of what I can do with my camera and the chance to then put that in to practice with his guidance two days later was ideal. I wish I had done this years ago! read more

My girlfriend bought me a new camera and a lesson with Alejandro. I am a beginner with using a camera in manual mode, and Alejandro broke every thing down to the very basic. At first it sounded like a foreign language to me with all the different terms, buttons, settings, etc. But when we went to practice using the camera, everything he mentioned and broke down of the function of the camera made complete sense! I'm glad to have taken this class to learn the basic functions of the camera. Time to practice what I learned, and take another course with Alejandro where we take more photos! read more

I took 4 classes in total from Alejandro. The first two were to go through the basic, equipment and practice sessions. The last two, we went to sunset sessions at Baker's beach and Golden Gate Bridge, and Sutro Bath and Golden Gate Park. Alejandro is a great teacher and I will book more once I am back from Asia. In addition to teaching you about the basic techniques, he also taught me to develop photographer's eyes by seeing little things you dont usually pay attention, and how to think critically about the composition. Those learnings are so valuable that you can't really achieve in the classroom. I feel very grateful that I found Alejandro. A side note, he is also super easy going and very funny too! I highly recommend him. read more

I was looking forward to this lesson for quite a while, and my session with Alejandro did not disappoint! Alejandro is disarming and made learning some rather technical terms and concepts much easier by offering helpful analogies and then by practicing what we went over immediately afterward. After going over settings and navigation in my camera, I felt much more comfortable with using manual settings on my camera. There is so much navigation and so many settings on the camera, it can be a little overwhelming at first, but with Alejandro's help, the intimidation was lessened a great deal! The shooting exercises were fun and also very helpful, to help cement the concepts and settings we'd studied in the first part of the lesson. I recommend Alejandro for anyone wanting to transition from auto settings to manual, and for anyone wanting to improve the quality of their digital shooting overall! read more

Before signing up for the class I spent some time reading and going out on trial and error. So I expected a fast pace class just to put toguether everything I already knew. Alejandro adapted the content and we quikly understood each other and were comparing notes on how to shoot different scenarios. I am very glad I took the class and I think it positively reflects in the results I am getting all arround (portrait, architecture, night). Highly recomended. read more

I just finished my second private lesson with Alejandro and I wish I lived closer so that I could do regular sessions with him. I live on the East Coast and contacted him before my trip so we could schedule a session. He was very flexible with the timing and offered suggestions when I told him what I was hoping to learn and shoot while I was in town. A friend joined our session and between the two of us we came away with shots that I'm thrilled with. I learned how to handle low light situations that I've always struggled with and take advantage of some more settings on my camera that I hadn't used before. Alejandro's enthusiasm for photography is contagious and he takes a down to earth approach with his clients no matter what the level. He provides an environment where you aren't afraid to ask silly questions, and gave me some good tips that I will use regularly. Check out his amazing work at http://www.velardephotography.com/ and schedule a session if you want to take your photography to the next level. read more

I had two classes with Alejandro to learn how to better use my Advanced Compact camera. It was a challenge finding someone willing to help me because most classes and teachers cater to those with much fancier cameras, like digital SLR's. Alejandro was patient and helpful. He showed me how to use features on my camera that I didn't even know were there. The things I learned from him help even when I am using my phone. Thanks to Alejandro, I am now having much more fun taking photos every day and am so happy with them. I highly recommend him if you want to learn more about your own camera and how to take better photos with it. read more

I highly recommend Alejandro. I've been using a slightly scaled up version of a point and shoot and have recently decided to make a big leap into the a pro enthusiast camera. The complexity of the settings, camera (mirrorless, DSLR), lenses, etc. is overwhelming. I decided I needed help. 1) If you're reading my review, I assume you're trying to figure out who / what / when / etc. I read his reviews and came to the same conclusion. His prices for 1:1 education are pretty close to those for small groups. Note: I'm a value-centric person not a price-centric person. This was really valuable for me as I felt I have a decent understanding of some concepts but zero to poor in other areas. I really valued the ability to get a custom education based on my skill level. Alejandro spent the time to look at my photos to understand where I was and customized our time together to focus on MY needs. This would not be feasible in a group of 4 or 6. 2) I really appreciated that he spent time on equipment, concepts, my needs, etc. It really helped me with the overall solution. 3) He was patient and wanted to make sure I understood the core essentials. He made sure I understood things and listened attentively to my questions. He is generous to share his experience. I like the combination of his analogies, his education on the concepts and the real life practice using my camera. 4) Ultimately, he helped demystify the many factors and relationships between the overall photography solution. I feel I have a good starting point to step forward into this process... my enlightened hobby. 5) I truly believe he is sincere in his desire that I understand and learn. This is the most important thing for me. 6) I really liked the 1:1. Did I mention that? I highly recommend Alejandro. I wish you the best and hope this was helpful for your decision process. read more

I scheduled a one day, 3-hour session with Alejandro to improve my working knowledge of my DSLR that I use to document events, etc. at work. Not only did I learn way more than I expected (including for my personal landscape photography), Alejandro was super friendly and very accommodating. I came back to the office raving about the experience and now a co-worker is planning on taking his course too. It was a great experience, and an even better value! I can't recommend this class enough! read more

If you want to understand photography and be in full control of your DSLR then Alejandro is your guy. He is very thorough and makes sure you understand critical concepts of photography before moving forward. I feel that I know have all the tools I need and it's just a matter a practice at this point. Thanks Alejandro! read more

Somehow everyone thinks that better equipment will instantly make you the better photographer. Upgraded my camera & soon found out that there is so much more to learn. Got very frustrated even after reading a few photography books, camera manuals, signing up with an online class. Found Alejandro's website & fell in love with his beautiful photos. I contacted him a few months ago but he was busy with some projects. Decided to go back to the books again. I was really happy when Alejandro contacted me to see if I was still interested in a lesson. I had practically given up on learning how to use the camera by then. Alejandro is an excellent instructor. He catered the lesson to my main interests (pets,kids,indoor). Even though so much information is covered in such a short period of time, it was presented clearly. I know I will remember those everyday analogies he used when he explained how ISO works. He seems very passionate about his work & excited to share his knowledge. I am having fun practicing what I learned & have already seen some improvements in my photos. I will likely take more classes later. Highly recommend read more

Had a great photography lesson with Alejandro! Am preparing for a wildlife photography trip to Africa. Alejandro provided great tips and we practiced taking pictures of his wonderful dog, Rusty! I'm feeling well set for my trip! Highly recommend Alejandro! read more

This is long over due, but wanted to make sure to write a review. Alejandro is so patient and I loved his analogies, which today still help me as I think about aperture, speed, and shutter. He really helps the novice learn about the basics of photography in a customized fashion, and customizes based on skill. I absolutely recommend Alejandro! If you're looking to learn, call Alejandro! He is the best! read more

I recently upgraded from a point and shoot (Canon G1x) to a full-frame DSLR (Canon 1DX) and was searching for a local photography instructor to help me minimize the massive learning curve necessary to make that leap in equipment. Alejandro and I met up at Baker Beach in San Francisco and after a one hour tutorial he had me out on the beach shooting different types of photos and putting what I'd just learned into practice. At this point it's been a couple of weeks since our lesson and I feel as though Alejandro provided me with just the foundation I needed. It was really a great first lesson, though I got the impression that Alejandro could likely help out photographers who are both more or less advanced than myself. I really appreciated the metaphors he used to discuss how a camera operates, and he carries a warm, patient demeanor that made me feel really comfortable expressing when I didn't quite grasp a concept he was explaining. All in all, I found Alejandro to be truly professional and I'd recommend him to anyone looking to take a step forward with their photography. read more

Alejandro is a natural teacher. He uses great analogies and demonstrations to explain theory and other technical aspects of making photographs with a digital camera. He constructively guided me in a way that made me feel very comfortable and after only 2 classes, I feel like I have gotten a much better grasp of using my Lumix camera, and photography theory and composition. It is clear that he is very knowledgable and experienced. His enthusiasm for photography is contagious. read more

My husband and I took the basic beginner lesson with Alejandro and strongly recommend him. Brief background on us and our objectives in taking a course with Alejandro: we have decent SLRs, enjoy taking photos, but have always operated under "all-auto setting, all the time." In advance of our safari trip, we wanted to have a bit more knowledge about how to use our cameras to photograph animals and landscapes, and we needed guidance on camera equipment itself (we each had one decent lens with our camera but nothing with the zoom capability recommended by the safari operators). Alejandro provided an organized, well thought out, well articulated coverage of the basics (complete with printed notes); and he followed that lesson with a very helpful hands-on session (the second part of our 3.5 hr class). He gave us a number of helpful rules of thumb for photographing animals in the wild (with specifics for different light), and he guided us to get a bigger zoom lens for our kit (300mm). The safari camps suggested a similar zoom, they were pricey, and Alejandro helped us find a used one for a good price. The outcome? Once the safari began (2 wks after our course), we knew what we were doing and are thrilled with several hundred of the photos we took. We look forward to taking more classes with him. Thank you, Alejandro! read more

This is a long overdue of a review. I have stumbled upon Alejandro Velarde Photography when I was reading his reviews here in YELP. I've been looking for a one on one class of photography and after reading his reviews it prompted me right away to sign up for his two day class. I am a point and shoot person and I take a lot of portrait and sports pictures and I wanted to understand and learn how to use the manual, aperture and ISO settings besides the Auto. During his first two hour class session with Alejandro we meet at Café La Promenade on Balboa St and 38th Ave, the place was very easy to find and the café ambiance was wonderful. The first time I meet him, it seems like we known each other already. He handed me a copy of his theory and it listed everything that you need to know. He also goes over it one by one and he would stop in between his lecture and asked if I have any questions. He explained it so well and clear and that I don't have to ask any questions that much. He also showed me how to use my external flash as well. After his first day class session I have learned a lot already and understood so well the use of manual, aperture/ ISO settings and learned the photography terminology. On our second day class session I had to meet him at this beautiful park and breathtaking views of the ocean called the Sutro Heights Park. I was thirty minutes late on meeting him and he was very calm and didn't get mad or upset on my tardiness. During our two hour session he made me applied and practice on what I learned during our first session. He also thought me how to make picture to look stand out and he made me understand the depth of field. We did lots of hands on my camera and practice with the perfect weather. Make sure to wear very comfy clothing and shoes, Alejandro will make you go down on your knees and leg and elbows, which I really don't mind at all. He also made me used my external flash with a portrait shot, we did motion and macro shot as well. Overall his class is not as boring as I thought at first. It was really fun and enjoyable! Alejandro is very nice, patience and friendly towards his students. He is very knowledgeable of what his teaching; I highly recommend Alejandro Velarde Photography! I guaranteed that you will learn more for what you paid for! I can't wait to sign up for his intermediate class! Thank you Alejandro for teaching a great photography class! After you class I have learned a lot and I don't use the Auto settings anymore!! read more

I signed up for a photography lesson with Alejandro after reading previous Yelp reviewers rave about him. I couldn't agree more with everything said! I am a new DSLR owner and user, and was a bit nervous about being a novice and taking a lesson with such a professional, but I have to say, this was so much more worth the time and money than taking a group lesson. Alejandro is patient, kind, and a very good instructor! I left my 2+ hour lesson with a basic command of using the manual controls on my camera and really felt privileged to be able to take a lesson with such an awesome photographer. I feel no matter if you are a beginner or experienced photographer, Alejandro's lessons would have something to offer. read more

Alejandro is a marvelous teacher. He also brought along some printed material to aid my working on my own. We went over the basic but important functions and interactions of aperture, shutter speed, he talked about light conditions and what is important to keep uppermost in mind. I look forward to doing future sessions of instruction on using my bridge camera (not a SLR, but moderately sophisticated) more competently. He is warm and encouraging. Thank you Alejandro! read more

It's been a few weeks since I took my 2x2-hour session with Alejandro. I benefited greatly from the 4 hours with this amazing photographer and passionate and insightful teacher. Like others I signed up for my class with Alejandro after reading his YELP reviews. I very much enjoy taking pictures with my DSLR but wanted to move away from mostly shooting in program or aperture modes. The focus of our first meeting was on theory and camera features. The copy of his theory is easy to understand and very helpful. He explains the concepts with a lot of patience and in a very way supportive way. On our second day we met at Golden Gate Park as it was time to apply the theory. It was so much fun getting to practice shooting in manual mode only and realizing how nuances can make a huge difference in the quality of a shot. Having taken the class I enjoy my photography even more. In a few months I intend to go back and take another photo session with Alejandro. For now It's time to practice. Manual mode only:-) I highly recommend Alejandro. With his guidance you will take your photography to a next level! read more

Alejandro's one on one digital camera class was great and very thorough - he helped me understand everything from the basics, to theory, and finally applying his instruction with some excellent systematical techniques to get the correct settings each time for your perfect shot. His class gave me an excellent foundation to build from and understand my camera in a whole new advanced perspective. read more

Could not have been happier with my class! Alejandro taught me more in a 3hr workshop then I have learned from many lengthly photography classes over multiple weeks. He really helps you understand the foundation of how all the exposure elements work together and the class is tailored to fit your individual needs/level of knowledge. He provided a nice short document that helps to guide the discussion as well as actually taking some shots to put into motion what you learned. He has such a passion for what he does, it was a really great experience! read more

I had an amazing photography lesson from Alejandro last week. I would say I have an intermediate level of understanding of photography and he quickly figured this out and adjusted his teaching to hit topics I needed to work on. Then we took out the camera and practiced what I learned. His feedback was excellent and his tips helped me finally understand how to methodically approach selecting settings in manual mode. I can't believe I never knew some of things he taught me! At the end, he showed me his computer setup and how he organizes and edits his photos, which was something I wanted to learn too. It was definitely a helpful class and I can't wait to go out and practice so I can schedule my next lesson! read more