Brad teaches a great course! I am excited to use the knowledge I learned in his class for an upcoming trip to Africa. He helped me to better understand my camera's functionality & how to get the most of it. He also helped me to figure out what gear to take, how to better manage my memory storage and even how to clean off my camera's sensor in the field! Brad's command of digital SLR photography knowledge is exceptional. I highly recommend taking his course. read more

I recently did the intro to digital camera workshop and i have to say it was awesome. I went in kind of nervous about not knowing enough basics but Brad made everyone feel really comfortable. I learned more than i thought i would and was excited to get out and use my new skills. Brad was really helpful and informative. He even let one of the students use one of his cameras when her battery died. Look forward to some of his other workshops. read more

This review is for the all-day Digital RAW Workshop with Brad. Back in college I used to own a traditional SLR setup - but haven't taken anything more than snapshots for years. When Santa left me a sweet mirror-less digital camera, I was keen to get back into it but realized I was both rusty and a little out of touch with some digital concepts. The class didn't start well. The 6 of us were kept waiting for a long time as our instructor had some issues and eventually arrived over an hour late. I was especially unhappy about this as I jumped out of bed before 7am on a Saturday to be on time! To his credit he was very apologetic and bought us all breakfast and lunch at local cafes - before running the class later so we had the full duration. I am happy to completely overlook this however as the class was absolutely superb. Brad is clearly both an experienced photographer and a great teacher. I felt the course struck an excellent balance - with just enough critical theory and plenty of practice in the studio and outdoors. The color balancing and exposure work was especially useful for me - and I think everyone in the class had a much better idea how to make the most of their cameras after a few hours with Brad. Later we looked at organizing and improving the imported images in Lightroom - along with some HDR work. The course moved along at a fast pace though Brad was happy to slow down to explain subjects in more detail as needed. I think a novice would learn a lot here too, but overall it seemed ideal for those familiar with basic photographic concepts who are looking to get more artistic control from digital. Highly recommended! read more

I had not taken a photography class since I had a film SLR camera, many many years ago. Finally moving into a digital SLR, I was struggling with learning how to use the many menus and settings available on the camera to achieve my desired results. I received a course with Brad as a Christmas gift from my daughter and was extremely impressed with the day I spent in his class. He has a great ability to teach folks with a a variety of skill levels; he makes himself available to each participant and his explanations about how to use the features on the various cameras were easily understood by all. I am looking forward to taking more classes with Brad, definitely worth the drive to SF from the Sacramento area! read more

I took the beginners class or introduction for digital photography. Brad is a super teacher and very helpful in all respects. The learnings were more than I have expected. I got a lot of useful tips and think I will use my camera in a different way now. Auto mode will be turned off now and photography gets started ;) It also does not matter how much knowledge you have or which kind of camera. Brad knows most models pretty well and will help you find the correct settings. I even learned that some things are more important that I thought aren't used very often, like the white balancing and exposure, which is nearly used in 50% of all photos... Brad also reduced the numbers of theory, introduction and things to play with on a optimum - many new things and parameters, but not too many so it is not confusing for beginners. More the enough to start practicing with those. Thanks again Brad! Only things which is a little sad, that Brad does not do many workshops, so sometimes it can be hard to find a matching date... Best, Florian read more

I am still reaping the benefits of classes I have taken with Brad. The classes were so much more than I had expected. I gained a lot of knowledge in a short time. It was so much fun! The best classes I have ever come across. Georgia Martin Baker read more

I wish I could have given this 5 stars. Here is why I would have: -Brad started with a great slide show explaining the function and features of the camera. -We covered a lot of information. -He is very knowledgable. However, I left class very frustrated because there were simply too many students in the class to get any help putting this to use (maybe a result of lots of groupon purchases). I understand from prior reviewers that gave this 5 stars that their classes were limited to about a half dozen people. Ours had 13. The next weekend class was far away and there was no reason to think that wouldn't be "full" at 12 people either. There was no way for me to get one on one assistance to ask for help going over what we were doing or showing him my images to see if I was doing it right, which is what is needed, as there was always a crowd around him. Class should eitehr be limited to the amount of people that can be taught for the "hands on" portion or there should be an assistant. Although I enjoyed the lecture part, the "field" practice really requried individualized attention which he was able to give to a small group of students around him an no others. As a result I really didn't learn how to use my camera much better at all and was pretty frustrated by the time the class was over. read more

Future Light Digital is the best place to take photography classes in SF. Brad Polt-Jones is an extraordinary teacher and photographer. His classes are well organized and Brad is extremely well versed & knowledgeable about his subject matter. Whether you are a professional or a novice, FLD is the place to go if you want to improve your skills. read more

It was a great class, I learned so much in such a short period of time. I definitely recommend the class.

I came into the 4-hour intro class not knowing how to use my new Canon DSLR. I left with a confident understanding of the basics. I've been practicing and I'm so happy that I know how to use the settings of my complicated camera and I can even white balance! Brad is an amazing teacher. Breaks it down so it's really easy to understand. His passion is infectious as he seems like he really wants everyone to enjoy photography as much as he does. read more

Brad is a rare find! He's totally engaged, communicates clearly and has lots of passion for the material...and he's an absolute expert! The number of things he clarified in 4 hours blew me away. Thanks Brad! read more

Took the Nature Photography from Sean Arbabi at Future Light in San Francisco. Sean is just the best, clear, well organized, practical and gives great lists of tips couple with different photos to make his points. Outstanding. I hope to take his Exposure workshop. read more

I highly recommend Brad's workshops. I have taken several over the years and most recently took his 4 evening intensive Lightroom 4 workshop. There had been enough changes since I took Lightroom 2 at Future Light - so I felt I needed a refresher. The classes are kept small, the facilities are great and above all Brad is an excellent teacher. He explains technical concepts very clearly and then uses really helpful examples to illustrate these concepts. due to the small class size, usually 12 or less, you get plenty of one on one attention not to mention the opportunity to ask all the questions you like. When it comes to Lightroom or Photoshop there is no one more qualified that I am aware of. Brad is also well versed in many of the programs photographers use in conjunction with Lightroom and Photoshop - like the various Nik software bundles. If you are struggling with Lightroom or Photoshop or just need a refresher do yourself a favor and take one of Brads classes the price is right and you will not have any regrets. . read more