I took the beginner class I bought from LivingSocial and I was impressed. Mel is a great instructor and has a good way of keeping the group engaged. In just three hours, I learned a lot and I hope to use what I learn during future occasions. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is time management. I had to leave right at the scheduled end, but he still had about 15 minutes left to teach. He spent a lot of time on introductions that could have been used to finish on time, but assuming he sends the presentation to the group as he promised, I won't feel like I missed too much. read more

I have been taking photos for many years, first with a 35 mm and recently with a digital. I take photos, and love photography but don't really understand that much about how the camera works. The class was taught by William, and there were about 20 students. Everything was presented very clearly with care taken to answer individual questions about our specific camera. I learned a lot, not only about photography, but how to use my camera. The three hours went by quickly and I was very happy that I took the course! read more

I found this class a great beginner course for anyone wanting to get more from your DSLR camera. After this class I had a much better understanding of what my camera was capable of and how to shoot a photo due to what kind of setting you are surrounded by. This was a fun class filled with a lot of useful information on such things as shutter speed, aperture, lighting, composition, and when to use what settings. My favorite part of the class was that the instructor took the time to go around to everyone and show them how to use the settings he was talking about on their individual cameras. I haven't used the automatic setting since this class and have a new appreciation of what goes into making a beautiful photo. Make sure to bring your camera! read more

I got groupon deal for 3hr Beginner's Photography Class. This class was OK for me because it was extremely basics . Michael was great . I would recommend this class for anybody who just have bought camera and want to shoot in manual mode. Also, after the class there is a small session for practice the teaching but not that good enough. Its all just theory , you can get all the same info just by youtube videos. I feel studio should offer some thing more like more actual examples. I am giving 3 stars only because it was extremely basic. read more

Bill is an excellent (and very funny) teacher. I'm a total newbie, utterly clueless about the workings of my new DSLR -- so many buttons! Or, I was clueless until last night. Bill explained all the buttons, talked about lighting, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and composition, and answered all our questions. Best of all, he was thorough and patient AND kept things moving. I didn't zone out even once, as I tend to do when the pace is less than brisk. Another cool thing: These guys know how to put together a really cool presentation. Normally, I have an aversion to PowerPoint (assuming that's what they used) because, well, most PP presentations suck something or other, but this one is awesome, as in, it contains actual useful information. Go figure! And I have my own copy that I'm sure I'll refer to often. read more

Hey! Took this class a while back and just signed on to Yelp for the first time since! Great class for someone who made a thousand dollar impulse camera buy - uh oh, better learn how to use this - so what if it still lives predominantly under my desk? Especially loved how they sent us a mock up of the class via email, in case we forgot what we learned. Good facility, good instructors, and parking wasn't bad. read more

I recently decided to make the switch to DSLR, and was looking for a great intro class. This was it. At 3 hours, it was enough information, but not too much. I second another reviewer who said it got them excited about using their camera. Lindsay was my instructor, and she did a great job of managing the class - primarily sticking to the agenda, but also addressing various questions. She also stayed after to answer individual questions, and seemed very knowledgeable. The slides were good - it takes skill to make PPT slides that are actually useful, and they accomplished this! I was very happy with this class, but rated it a 4 for 2 reasons - I paid $49 via Living Social, which was a very reasonable price. But the listed price is $149. Not sure if anyone actually pays that price, but that would be very steep for a 3 hour course. I'd definitely do $75, but not sure I'd go too far above that. Secondly, the first 30 minutes was taken up with introductions. And, well, I just didn't care that much about who the other people were in the class. (why no, I'm not at all anti-social...well, ok, maybe I am). read more

This review is for the three-hour intro to photography class. The class covers a lot of material, but explains it pretty clearly. The main subjects are how shutter speed, aperture, and light can be manipulated to take different types of pictures. I've been taking pictures for several years on my SLR, but haven't really gone too much in learning how to use my camera better (or smarter). There is a lot of time dedicated to one-on-one questions about your specific camera, too. read more

William was my instructor, I purchased the class via one of the deal sites - I thought the class was great for beginners. I'm one of the many that bought a DSLR and have never used any of the functions besides the "auto" everything. I have a much better understanding of the mechanics in photography and thought the way it was presented was clear and practical. It was a 3 hour class and I thought that we might get a chance to take some actual photos but the materials took up all the class (it went by fast). read more

Great class. I love taking pictures and always have; but I was never really able to do much with out the Auto function on. This class really gives you a better starting ground to use a camera with out Auto. Instructor Mel is very clear and gives you many chances to ask questions. Mel is not only knowledgeable but also very excited about his work as well. read more

2.5 Hour intro to Photography class! Getting into the world of DSLR's can be a lot of work, but with this class you get a HUGE advantage! The teacher goes over the main settings and configurations you will need. He does more than just show you them, he helps you understand your camera so you can begin shooting right away. The teachers passion for photography is amazing! I would recommend this class to anyone wanting to know "where to start" after getting a DSLR read more

The photography class at Isla Studios conducted by Mel was awesome. I've been trying to learn photography by watching potcasts and reading about it but it was this class that really helped me understand how to use my camera and take beautiful pictures. read more

I've attended the class about introduction to photography and I have to say I'm quite satisfied with the content of the 3 hours session in addition to the instructor who was really nice, a good presenter and pleasant person to know.... I highly recommend this class for beginners and people who are curious about photography. It takes you gradually through the basics of photography then builds on that with some practical examples of real-life shots. At the end of the session, you can't wait to go out and experiment with all what you've learned! :) read more

I love Mel! He was fun, energetic and very knowledgeable. There is a lot to digest in the class and it would help if you have your DSLR with you. I have no clue how to use my Canon Rebel T2i and Mel showed us the tricks and trades how to use the camera. Mel is perfect in every way and his photos are so amazing! However, am only giving this class four stars coz I think it would have been helpful specially for amateurs like me if we took a mini "photo walk" during the three hour session to practice what we learned so far. Mel has a separate "photo walk" which of course I will sign up for! PS - the place gets really cold so make sure you bring extra sweaters. read more

I agree withall the 5 star reviews...I am now more excited than ever to continue playing with the settings and taking it out of the "Auto" mode. Lindsay was very knowledgeable and patient with all our questions, I especially love the take away PDF for easy access info. Great value and I can't wait to add to try the features of my camera and perhaps save up to buy more lenses! read more

The Photography class I attended at Isla Studios and conducted by the owner, Mel was outstanding. He expertly, concisely and very professionally presented and conveyed in easy to understand presentations both the technical and creative aspects of digital SLR photography and the detailed workings of Digital single lens reflex camera's as well as point and shoot pocket cameras. His technical knowhow and his creative abilities were well presented and I recommend both his class and his professional commercial photography services. He has indeed found his calling. Reed Eller reedeller@aol.com read more

Great class - informative and well paced William was a great teacher. Knowledgeable, funny and he was really able to read the room to see if we were processing his information. The students had everything from expensive Canon's to point and shoot cameras and he helpful to all of us. He even covered iPhone cameras and gave us some great tips for iPhone photos. As a long time point and click person, I learned a great deal and will need to practice what I learned, however, the guy next to me was very experienced and he also got a great deal out of the class. There was time for Q and A at the end and time to ask one-on-one follow up questions. Well worth the time and money invested. BTW - We found $10 all day parking in the 24 hour fitness parking lot 1 block up the street. Thank you William. read more

Beginner's Class was great. He was extremely helpful and provided great insight. Great intro class to take.

I took a 3 hour beginners photography class with Daryl and it was great! The studio is really since, comfortable seating and you get a beak about halfway through the class. I've had my Nikon D3300 for a while now but I really want to take better pictures and understand what the different buttons and settings actually DO and how and when to use them. All of that was covered in the class. There was plenty of street parking on Wednesday evening and I found Daryl to be very pleasant, knowledgeable, helpful and the class was engaging and easy to follow. He also emailed the course to all of the participants so we can go back and use the information as a reference. I recommend this class for anyone who needs help learning the basic functions of their DSLR read more

had the Saturday beginner class with William today and was very very happy with the value of the class -- information as well as cost. I previously in another life had taken photos for newspapers with a non-digital camera, and was worried that the class would not emphasize the digital aspects of taking photos enough for me. Instead William was very willing to explain all the features of a great variety of cameras students had with them. A good teacher -- he used a variety of modes to convey the information: visuals, words, stories, and of course photo examples. For those who did not have any background in photography, William also discussed composition and color theories. Invigorating and positive class. I too would love a post production photo editing class. read more

Purchased the "3Hr Beginner's Photography Class " via Bloomspot and registered for the Saturday class. NOTE: if you purchase via discounted site, register for your desired class ASAP, as classes fill rather quickly. Personally, I have been shooting pics for over 20years now, sans technical learnings. Well, 3yrs of high school yearbook was as far as the "technical learnings" went. This was quite the refresher course, which was outlined very concisely. Matthew is a wealth of knowledge! Great job, Matthew! Thank you so kindly for sharing the (photography)wealth! I am- all the more, excited about snapping away now. read more

Took the class this weekend. Lindsay was a great instructor. I really liked the way she explained apature and speed - I've read several books and it finally clicked with this class. THANK YOU. Lindsay was a great instructor who clearly knows how to teach and coach adults. The 3 hour class simply flew by. Highly recommend attending. read more

I just took the 3 hour beginner class yesterday with Lindsay and it was awesome. This class was exactly what I needed and was looking for. She is very organized with her presentation in teaching step by step of shooting in the manual mode, from aperture, shutter speeds, ISO etc. I now understand the basics of my camera, its functions, and really excited to practice what I have learned. She made the class fun, has a wealth of knowledge, clear in her explanations, and passion for photography. I look forward to taking the next class of the Walk and hopefully there after the Lightroom class for post production. I highly recommend this studio and Lindsay if you are ready to learn more about photography and how to use your camera. read more

What a great class! I wondered how much I was going to learn about taking good quality pics with a DSLR in just 3 short hours although I had high hopes when i arrived. I was not disappointed; in fact, i was very pleased with what I learned and I genuinely feel confident that I can use what I learned to really take great pics. I highly recommend this class! Also I appreciated that the instruction was efficient but interesting to listen to as well. We got down to business but without having to listen to any extra stuff that we just didn't need to know. Note: Parking is tricky in this area unless you take a class on a Sunday (like I did) when meters are not an issue. read more

It was a good class that will get you more comfortable with your camera, but I needed more hands-on work. This was a good start.

Great class- very educational, small class size and interactive. I took the "Beginners Photography Class" with Michael and have a much better grasp on how a camera works and how to take a great photo! I do not have a fancy camera (other than an iPhone) as I wanted to learn more before buying and now I'm ready for manual photography! I can't wait to put Michael's guidance to use and I intend to sign up for more classes in the future. read more

Mel gave me my first photography lesson. He's so enthusiastic that it catches on to you. He took me on a surprise walking tour to get some shots and then he taught me shortcuts to post-processing. He provides lots of examples which makes it easier for me to remember the settings I need to use and how I should set up the composition. I came to him to learn the technical skills, but he taught me that I should focus on enjoying the experience since that makes the post-editing and technical setting adjustments effortless. read more

I took the beginner course with William for $45 using a Groupon. Overall, this course is good, but I think there's room for improvement. William clearly has a great deal of expertise in the subject. I do not doubt that he really understands the technical side of photography. The class peppered him with lots of questions and he was able to quickly and confidently answer each of them. And I appreciated that he repeatedly went around the class to show students how to find certain advanced features on each of their cameras. That said, I think William would do a better job teaching if he (1) slowed WAY down and paid attention to the students' non-verbal responses to his instructions to make sure everyone was keeping up with him; (2) remembered that the students in the beginner class were beginners and didn't have the "inside baseball" knowledge that he seems to take for granted; and (3) provided additional information (even a link to a Web site) about photography resources in the Bay Area and online instead of quickly rattling off names of Bay Area photo stores, types of processing software, etc. Nevertheless, I came away with new camera skills and the confidence to use the manual settings on my camera. read more

I took the three hour Beginner's Photography Class this last weekend with Michael, and it was a great experience. The class was easy to follow (especially if you have your camera with you). Michael explained everything so clearly and had a great sense of humor. Highly recommend for anyone interested in making better photos. read more

Why oh why are there not more than 5 stars to give? I took Mel's photography class in San Francisco this afternoon and I can't even begin to describe how much of an impact this has made on me. As a Mommy of 2 little dudes and business owner, I have always wanted to know more about photography, but oh...so little time. As soon as I want to pick up a book to read about shutter speed or aperture, someone pukes on the floor or shoves a pea up their nose. Sigh.... I always believed I had a "good eye" for taking a decent picture. However, I had no understanding about how my camera really works (or is capable of) - until this afternoon. In a grand total of 3 hours (and a little more because Mel is just THAT awesome!) I will NEVER use auto mode again. I could not be more grateful for the awesome lesson and could not wish for more (apart from maybe a follow-up "advanced" class for all the questions I will be sure to inherit in the next few weeks). If you are a beginner DSLR user - this is the best thing you can treat yourself to. Really. read more

Attended the beginner's photography class with my sis and her friend. William is very knowledgeable about photography and DSLR use. He taught us how to use the different features of our camera and helped us to understand what we were doing when changing the settings. He also had quite a few useful tips on equipment. Learned a lot for the price we paid! Would definitely recommend this class to anyone who wants to do more than just shoot in auto mode ;) read more

I took the Beginner's Photography Class and learned so much! Lindsay was our instructor and she ROCKS! She's very passionate about her craft and teaches well. If you are someone like me who knows a thing or two about photography but has had no formal training, the beginner class is a no brainer. I learned so much more about my camera and how to compose a photo, what time of day is best and more. MUST GO! Check Groupon for deals before registering! read more

I purchased the deal through groupon as well. its well worth the $50 that i spent. The subject material is not too deep- very much on the surface. This is fine for a beginner class but you can learn this from the web. I dont agree that this is hands on learning- just cos you are holding your camera as the instructor powers through powerpoint slides does not make it hands on. Yes, you can play around with the settings but you cannot take photos with those settings as the room is very dark. Its a good start if you are a complete newbie. Why 3 stars: What i hated about the course was that my instructor was not able to control the class well. There were 2 annoying people who kept asking questions- leaving no time for others. One was an elderly man who clearly had some experience with cameras- he kept suggesting tricks and tips -in a manner of a discussion which prevented many others from asking genuine basic doubts. There was another asian lady who was intent upon finding the best deals and the best lenses. I think in these basic classes it helps if the instructor controls the scope of the discussion especially when some questions seem way more advanced that it wouldnt benefit beginners. read more

When I first read the 3 hour photo class for Isla Studio through Living Social description promising that after the class we'd have out-of-this-world images. Of course I didn't believe, but bought the course anyway in hopes that it might be true. Well, Mel is right!! I've taken several classes before, read photography books, etc. and have not learned as much as I learned in this class. You can see the passion and love of photography when Mel teaches this class. When I left the class, I smiled to myself and was very happy that I took the class because I learned so much from it. I would seriously recommend this course to anyone that is interested in improving their skills of taking pictures. read more

I went for a crash course on Photography here, the instructor was really knowledgeable and easy to understand. For each important setting of the camera, he went around all the students to make sure they have it right. He also answered all the questions very confidently and gave me a great kick start on my photography. I may go on one of their photo walks some time. read more

This was a great refresher course for me and the instructor, Mel, did an excellent job with the presentation and with teaching the students. Everything was presented clearly by him and if you happened to not understand something or needed any help, Mel would gladly come around to help you out. Although I knew about three quarters of the material that had been covered due to being enrolled in a Digital Photography class at an art school around 8yrs ago and since then reading up on the subject of photography every so often, I took this class with the main intention of wanting to be able to take better photos. I learned a lot of useful and very helpful tips from Mel's class and I'm glad I decided to take it! What this class offered was definitely well worth my time and money. read more

Photography is more and more, becoming the everyday tool for many who see things in the world and want to capture them in a medium, which does justice to the original. It is sad therefore that so many of us struggle with even our point and shoot cameras as we try to take a good shot, but at last, help is at hand in the form of the photography classes at Isla Studio. The course write up promised, a '3-hour class is a crash course in digital photography taught in downtown San Francisco in small groups of 20-25 students. You'll learn what all those knobs and dials on your DSLR do, the settings to use in any lighting condition, and what kind of camera to buy if you don't already have one. You'll understand concepts like exposure, aperture, depth of field, ISO and shutter speed, and probably never want to use the "automatic mode" again.' This seemed too good an opportunity to miss so I set off one late summer evening to see if Isla Studio could help make my photos become a little less dubious in appearance. Mel Sampat is good at putting people at ease. Even if one of the first things he tells me is that I have been waiting in a haunted area of the old AMC theatre on Van Ness. It is hardly surprising as the building dates back to the 1920's. But the feeling in the room is peaceful without malice, and I am optimistic that any ghost in the close vicinity may help me with my camera, not detract from the session by frightening me. Isla Studio is hidden away in this giant building, and if it weren't for the instructions, I would have easily missed it. Once inside you find yourself in a sectioned off lecture space which seats around 20, with a projector at the far end. People arrived early, on time, and after time, however our host welcomed them and no major interruptions occurred. Introductions are made within the group, and we established who was participating for work and who was there pleasure. Pleasantly surprising was the general enthusiasm of all to learn and make the most out of their toys, and Mel was the perfect person to instruct on such matters. Terminology was the first order of the day. Or for some, just getting to know their camera. Mel shed light on the terrifying black boxes which were flashes and highlighted the pros and cons of such fascinating devices as well as the good times to use them effectively. (As he spoke, I mentally added a flash to my Christmas list.) Terminology came next with revelations on focal length, different types of zoom. Lens types, how to read the numbers off it and make sense of them! What lenses are available and how the ranges work. Focus came afterwards, and Mel was great at demonstrating what he was teaching and then getting the class to follow afterwards on their own cameras. Exposure was a whole section to itself. Followed by shutter speed. The lesson sped by with so much information being given that I was sure I wouldn't remember everything. Mel's presentation style however was so good that between the simple and yet informative slides, and multiple demonstrations, combined with class interaction left few stones unturned, and Mel promised us we could email him with questions and queries after the class, so I really felt that I was getting more then my moneys worth. His explanation regarding aperture was one of the most user friendly I have ever heard. While depth of field, became more then a farmers measurement to me. ISO was demystified and then the critical 'rules of thumb' divulged. After three hours, I felt as though I had only been there for one. It had spun past at a huge rate of knots and my head was buzzing from my new knowledge. Mel said he would send out the slide notes to us, but I also recommend for those of you who want to gain the most, a pen and piece of paper for notes. No question is too small, and Mel is brilliant at keeping all members of the class on the same page by assisting them directly at times with their cameras. For anyone visiting San Francisco and wanting to get more out of their photographs this is an ideal class to attend, as it will improve your photos immensely. read more

Took a class with my dad this Sunday with Lindsay. She was a very funny and friendly instructor. She explained the basic concepts of photography with great analogies, visuals and examples that made it really easy for a novice like me to understand what the purpose is of aperture and shutter speed. Loved it and would recommend it heartily to others. read more

They are unaccomodating and wouldn't honor my expired groupon, even for the purchased value as the recent groupon policy change had suggested. Now I have to jump through hoops with groupon to ever see that money back. For poor customer service they get 1 star. read more

I just bought my first DSLR camera and wanted to understand how to use it. I saw the groupon for Isla's beginner photographer workshop and I bought it. The class was great. Mike was a great teacher. He made the class fun and easy to understand. I would highly recommend this for anyone starting out with a DSLR camera and wants to learn the basics. read more