Great classes! I had no idea about photography, and he helped me a lot. He went directly into teaching me manual mode, which I think is crucial, and he made sure to build the foundations for me to become a better photographer! read more

I attended a virtual online introduction Photography class to understand my camera and receive basic instructions so I can "get out" of the pre-set modes on my camera. I gained a lot of insight on the usage of my DLSR. Although virtual, Sam created a welcoming and receptive environment, responding effectively to my many questions. He was patient, straight forward, and easy to talk to. He is my type of teacher. I would suggest to others to give him a try; I don't think anyone will be disappointed! Two thumbs up on the course! Thanks Sam! read more

Great class, l learned exactly what l wanted and more. This class took me through shutter speed, lSO, f stop, white-balance, metering and more. I wanted to learn how to use my camera in Manual mode and that is what Sam learned us to do. Highly recommended:-)) read more

Search no more! Whether you're brand new to photography, or have dabbled a bit but want a deeper understanding of your camera and how to take awesome photos, the "Introduction to Photography" class is for you. The class size is small (there were 5 in my group) which is great because you can get 1:1 time with Sam if you have specific questions or need help walking through something. It also allowed for some great collaboration and discussion. My group was rad and we all enjoyed learning with, and from each other. Not only did we cover all the technical aspects of photography, but we learned a ton about composition, too. Sam was excellent at bridging technical components with the artistic ones, and patiently answered questions to ensure everyone fully grasped each concept before moving on to the next lesson. All in all, I walked away feeling 1000% more confident in using my camera and understanding how to compose a photo just the way I envision it. More reasons to take Sam's classes: 1. Cool work space in Chinatown! 2. Sam is a cool dude and great teacher! 3. You might meet some cool friends! read more

I recently made the plunge from glorified point-and-shoots to a "real" DSLR, and I wanted to learn to use it. My wife did some research and got me Sam's class for my birthday, and I learned a great deal at every session. Like most courses, you'll get out as much as you put in, so I augmented the classes with independent research and lots of practice. Sam makes sure everyone in class understands the topic before moving on, so it's certainly best with a small group, which his classes are. Understanding light is probably the largest component of the class, as that's the entire medium a photographer is working with. Metering for that light and getting a proper exposure, therefore, were the biggest take-aways for me, and we started doing that on day 1 and gradually got more advanced as we went. I would recommend knowing your camera's general settings and your lens capabilities before coming to class, and I'd certainly recommend having your full owner's manual as you'll be referencing it a good amount. Finally, I would recommend this class to anyone who has a camera capable of operating in full manual mode who doesn't know what the means or is too scared to use it because you think your pictures won't turn out. Working in Auto mode is allowing your camera to make all the decisions for you, which means its just guessing at what you want or are trying to do. Take Sam's class if you want to take full control over your exposures and to be deliberate in what you're doing. You'll definitely get better pictures along with the satisfaction that you made them rather than the camera. read more

I really enjoyed this class, but more importantly--I take better photos. I just finished the beginner class. I didn't know how much I didn't know. This was a nuts a bolts course on using your camera in Manual mode. You'll begin to understand light and how it affects your photos, and how you can manipulate it to create the photos that you want. I've watched online tutorials on photography in the past, and the information never stuck. Because of the small class size we got hands on teaching I was able to get a much better understanding of my camera. I recommend this class for anyone that wants to learn to take better photos. I will be signing up for his intermediate class. read more

I learned a lot in the Getting to Know Your Camera e-course, and was grateful that Sam held it. He provides a lot of information during the class that he demonstrates by having you take test shots as you go, putting into practice what he teaches during the class, which I found helpful. Highly recommend. read more

I took two classes with Sam - "Getting to know your Camera" and "Introduction to Photography." I thought both were very helpful, but especially thought the Intro class (where you meet 4 weeks in a row) was super beneficial. The class I attended was small (only two of us) so it's very personalized and you get a lot of individual attention. I learned a lot and plan to keep practicing to improve my skills. read more

This past Saturday was my last session of the 4-week intro to photography workshop with Sam. Sam was an excellent instructor who also teaches a class at WSP. He was insightful and informative. He was able to answer just about all of my questions and taught me things that I never would have picked up on my own. Being the only person in the workshop was pretty cool. Our time was spent discussing my photos - what worked, what/why it didn't work, what I should have done to improve the shot, tips on apertures, shutter speeds, dof, and more importantly metering. We also discussed some of the after stuff - like licensing and storage for photos and what software to use for editing and whatnot. Very helpful. I have the artsy fartsy composition stuff down, it was mostly the technical stuff I had little knowledge of before Sam. I highly recommend his workshops if you have the time. :-) Thanks Sam. read more

I'm going to play devil's advocate here because I disagree with all of these 5 star reviews and this is a very expensive class (with a no refund policy). I signed up for Sam's class wanting to learn how to take nice, clean photographs with a nice camera. I also hoped that since each class was 3 to 4 hours, we would also be out and about, taking cool photos in DC during class time. I was mistaken, and once I realized what the class would entail in terms of a time commitment (3 to 4 hours a week sitting in a cramped room, and all actual photographs needed to be taken during outside of class time), I decided not to return after the first class. Sam's main advice to all of his students was to read the manual that comes with the camera, so I decided to do that instead (as far as I could tell, you won't learn anything that the manual can't teach you and not in a more interesting format). Sam definitely knows his stuff, but it just wasn't a very worthwhile or engaging class in my opinion. My advice to him would be to incorporate taking photos during class time and multi-media such as power point or video clips, as well as workshop sessions so that his students can interact with each other. Also, he REALLY needs to work on his website! It's extremely confusing. I went to the wrong location on the first day and he sends no email reminders (other than one when you first register and pay) or clear communications regarding the first day of class/ agenda. read more

OK, are you serious about improving your photography skills and knowledge? Are you a novice with a camera you can only use in auto, or a new professional wobbly on your feet? You have found your answer. Sam is absolutely incredible. He has an innate knack for explaining complex and vital photography techniques and concepts in the simplest, most digestible manner you could ever imagine. Sam is a vet photographer with years of amazing experience, and in his classes, he generously transfers all of that knowledge to you. It's amazing. I took his first series, already signing up for his second and third. Could not recommend these classes more. read more

Took Sam's "Getting to know your camera" class today. I definitely left with some great take aways, and new knowledge I didn't have prior to the course. He covered Some great functions and did a great job explaining why they're important to photography. The class was one on one in a very nice professional setting. I would recommend this course if you are a newbie to your camera and want to get familiar with some of its more important functions. Sam was patient and knowledgeable. Going to take another class soon! read more

Recently, I took the "Introduction to Photography" course. This was four 3-hour weekend meetings at the location in Chinatown. The location was very convenient-- right across the street from Gallery Place- Chinatown metro station. I went into this course blind, as I had never previously owned a DSLR and had only watched a handful of Youtube tutorials to grasp an understanding on how to use a recently purchased one. Let's just say I wasted a lot of time. Though I went in a novice, after completing the course, I walk away completely confident. This was a great course and I highly recommend it. The course covers basic DSLR operation, working in fully-manual exposure mode, elements of composition, and working with light. You will walk away with a deep understanding of how aperture, shutter speed and ISO effect exposure; focus modes, metering and then some. Not only do I understand the how, but also the why of photography. The course is all lecture, with in-class practice and homework assignments that allow you to really practice the concepts, critique your work, make adjustments and then apply them. The lesson plan was clear, concise and easy to follow and the instructor was personable, respectful, patient, helpful and informative. I was also able to get some feedback on personal projects I was working on; equipment; useful software; and paths for improving upon those projects. I look forward to participating in more advance classes. Thanks for being awesome! read more

I recently took Sam's class in February, and I loved it. Sam was engaging and personable, and he was an excellent instructor. Our class only had three people, and that allowed for very individualized instruction. I learned how to operate my camera in manual exposure mode, and I am now an infinitely better picture taker than I was before. I liked the fact that we learned at a good pace, and that we could ask all the questions we wanted to and needed to. I feel like I finally have a handle on what my camera can do. I would absolutely recommend this class to anyone who wants to get serious about taking better pictures. read more

Sam is a thoughtful and patient instructor. The "Getting To Know Your Camera" course is perfect for familiarizing yourself with the camera's technology and capabilities. Sam's perspective on maximizing the technology as part of making pictures really got me on my way. I recommend this class as a great start for really understanding how to use your camera settings to capture the picture you want. I am looking forward to future classes to build on what I learned in this class. read more

I just finished taking 4 classes with Sam and he's the first photography instructor that clearly explained the fundamentals of photography to me. Aperture & shutter speed, etc. If you want to learn how to use your DSLR camera, he's the guy to sign up for. read more

I am new to digital photography. I took a film photography class at Glenn Echo a few years ago and was completely confused by the (lack of) instruction. I have heard similar stories about teachers at Smithsonian and other programs. The fact is that excellent photographers don't necessarily make for excellent teachers. Sam is an *incredibly* thoughtful, kind, and knowledgeable teacher. The classes are limited to 8 people (which is exceptionally small) but mine is only 4 people. Sam knows his stuff, but he isn't critical, takes as much time as you need to figure things out. He also has a phenomenal depth of knowledge - but trust me - if you are in an intro class, he doesn't blow past the fundamentals to get to what he wants to talk about. There may be better teachers in the DC area, but - trust me - 95 percent (or greater) of them are worse. I am taking an intro class but I am already sold on the intermediate. Alecia has Sam down cold in her review. You learn about aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, metering, licensing, software, white balance, bracketing, lighting, the zone system and more. Lots of teachers will try to teach you composition or "dark room" but if you want to learn the absolute fundamentals (and more) of how to take dSLR or film photos, this is an amazing class taught buy a full time photographer, photojournalist and teacher. ps. I'm in a career with zero technical skills, and if he can teach me - he can teach you! Thanks Sam! read more

Sam is awesome! I took his Intro class a couple years ago, and found him to be a great teacher. Extremely patient, friendly and knowledgeable. Over the course of the next 2 years, I took advantage of various "Groupon" offers for other photo classes at different companies. NONE of them compared to Sam's. I realized what a great teacher I had and said "to hell with Groupons!" and signed up for a 2nd class with Sam, which I took yesterday. Once again, I was blown away by his skill at explaining the concepts in a way that I could easily understand. Never underestimate the power of a great teacher. Now, I need to go practice... read more

I took this workshop and was disappointed. I think this would be good for someone who has zero experience with learning about photography, as he does go over the basics and mechanics at a slow place. I liked that he asked us to bring in photos we liked or were frustrated with. However, when it came to mine, the only solution he had was to tell me to carry around a supplemental flash which isn't really practical unless you're a hardcore photographer. As someone who had taken a photo 101 class before, it didn't really expand my knowledge beyond that. I was also surprised that the syllabus indicated we would go on a field trip but at the first class Sam said "well, we're not going to do that because it hasn't been good in the past." Okay, so why leave it on the syllabus? Seemed lazy to me. By the time we got to the last session, we'd kinda run out of things to talk about. I would have preferred something a bit cheaper and shorter or more fast-paced. Also-- note that you REALLY need to have a fairly fancy camera that will let you do things manually. Some other students seemed to drop out after the first class because they didn't have the right kind of camera. read more

A few weeks ago, I enrolled for the Business of Photography class. It's a 3 hour session, and it was well worth it. In fact, I was the only person in the class so I could ask Sam all the questions I had personally. I learned a lot about the industry as well as how to price my photography and take care of tax issues. The copyright information was also very helpful. This is just a few of the many topics that we discussed. If you're thinking of starting a business and have no idea how to get started, this is a great class to take. read more

I couldn't agree more with the reviews from William and Alecia. Before buying my dSLR I did an exhaustive amount of research, but when started using it I ended up with a lot of snapshots that were indistinguishable from what I was doing with point and shoot before. What I wanted was someone to help me understand how the camera would allow me to be more creative. Sam's class did just that. There are really three things that make the class work. First, the subject matter is logically organized so each new topic builds on the last. This class gives a great overview of what your camera will do and how it does it. The amount of information covered makes the class an excellent value; while the tempo of the class meant there was always time for questions or examples and you never feel rushed out the door. Second, Sam's teaching style emphasizes thoughtful explanation, conversation with his students, real life examples, and patience. If you enjoy lectures and text books, this class isn't for you. Finally, Sam is great at incorporating what you are learning into classroom exercises so you can learn by doing and "homework" (gasp) assignments that are fun. This helped me learn the material and how to apply it. The manual mode on my camera has been demystified. I think the hallmark of a great class is that you look forward to it, and every Tuesday I looked forward to Sam's class. Initially I had planned to take intro, but I enjoyed it so much I have signed up to take intermediate as well. I really can't recommend him enough. read more

Sam was attentive, informative and patient as he worked with us through the course. He did a great job of navigating three different cameras simultaneously and provided great attention to each of us. If you are new to cameras and photography, this class is absolutely the place to start for beginning to learn the craft. Highly recommend to anyone who is new or rusty with a new camera. read more

Sam is a true artistic genius. He encourages your exploration as a photography but teaches you so you understand how to get the photo you need to take. I highly recommend his class. I am a better photographer for it. read more

I finished Sam's Introductory Class last week and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take better photos. I thought I knew a little about using my camera in manual mode, setting the aperture and shutter speed, and getting a good exposure before taking the class, but I was able to take those skills to a whole new level. Sam is a wonderful teacher. He's direct and to the point. read more

My boyfriend got me the "Getting to Know your Camera" class for Christmas and it couldn't have been a greater gift! Sam was a wonderful instructor. He is very patient, knowledgeable and genuinely cares in your learning. The class sizes are small, allowing him to individually work with you. Where I was first intimidated by my new fancy camera, I learned a lot of applicable information in such a short amount of time. I'm looking into taking his 4 week intro class. read more

I recently took the light and color class and I was impressed beyond my expectations. Sam is a great instructor: he's very knowledgeable and is able to transfer this knowledge to his students. He's also keen on challenging them and making sure they leave with something new they learned. I had attended other classes with several photography schools in DC and I have to say, this is my favorite so far. I would highly recommend it and I'm looking forward to taking more classes with Sam. read more

I took the Introduction to Digital Photography class, and it was great. This is one of the only classes advertised that let me in the door with my fancy point and shoot. Sam didn't mind at all that I didn't have a full DSLR since my camera ran in manual mode. Sam breaks down the concepts in easy to understand ways; he tells you the math if that makes sense to you, he draws you a picture if that works better, etc. He doesn't believe in rules, which can be hard because it forces students to think about what we're doing and why we want to do it that way. He is also incredibly patient and will answer all questions to the best of his ability. I only wish he taught photo editing so I don't have to find somewhere else to learn that. read more

Just had my last session of intro to photography class with Sam and must say I couldn't be more pleased! Sam has a way of explaining simply what seemed to be so complicated. This 4-week session has definitely given me the boost I needed (and was looking for!!) in my photography endeavors. I am now shooting only in manual and am starting to gain control over my camera. I still have quite a bit to learn but Sam has definitely made me realize that with practice and concentration, I will get there. I highly recommend his classes and will be back for more! read more