Shutterbug Camera Shops offer classes in conventional photography and digital photography. Classes are designed to introduce the beginning photographer to the nuances of the ever changing art of still photography.

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Digital for Dummies 3 hours

Instructor: Craig Moore, Photographer-CPC

This class will introduce you to the world of digital photography.

This entry-level class will cover:

• Basic Camera Buttons and Options.
• Camera Menus.
• Using the computer to download, resize, email, and save photos to CD.
• Printing, types and differences.

$69.00

Panoramic Photography Made Simple

Instructor: Dennis Angelica, Professional Photographer

Join our workshop and find out how easy it is to take panoramic photographs the way the professionals do it. This informative workshop will cover different types of panoramas, equipment needed and not needed, what is and how to find the no parallax point, camera set up, HDR bracketing, workflow, and the techniques needed to shoot the pano including the nadir and zenith shots.

Participants will set up a tripod, pano head, and camera, then find the no parallax point of their own lens/camera combination or one of the instructors. No equipment is required, however you are encouraged to bring what you have.

$69.00 

Safari West Photo Field Trip with Tamron

Instructor: Rob Moody, Professional freelance photographer& Tamron Tech Rep.

Get ready for a “Wild” ride. Join Shutterbug and Tamron on a Photo Safari right here in Santa Rosa. This 2.5 hour jeep tour will allow you the opportunity to photograph giraffe, gazelle, scimitar-horned oryx, ostrich, and other species of African antelope. Safari West Park is designed to give animals the freedom to roam about and interact freely, and to provide a once in a lifetime experience to it’s visitors… an authentic luxury safari in the wine country.

The trip begins at 4pm with a 2.5 hour jeep tour of the park, and is followed by dinner and a slide show of photos taken on the trip.

Rob Moody, the instructor for this trip, will be available on May 1st at Shutterbug from 5-6pm for an optional pre-trip workshop for those interested. Rob Moody developed his interest in photography as the son of military photographer parents. He earned a degree from the Art Institute of Colorado, and is now a professional freelance photographer and a national technical representative for Tamron USA.. Tamron lenses will be available to use throughout the day.

Submit your favorite Safari photos to Shutterbug by May 16th for a chance to have your photo published in the Press Democrat.

Each seat for this trip/dinner is $149.00.

Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian for this trip.

$149.00 

USS Potomac Photo SF Bay Cruise

Instructor: Rob Moody, Professional freelance photographer& Tamron Tech Rep.

Join Shutterbug Camera and Canon aboard Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Presidential Yacht, the USS Potomac for a sunset photo cruise of San Francisco Bay.

Originally named the USCG Cutter Electra in 1934, the 165-foot-long vessel was renamed the USS Potomac in 1936. This National Historic Landmark was restored over a 12- year period as a memorial to the president who authored the New Deal and led the United States during the Great Depression and the World War II years. The “Floating White House” was opened to the public in the summer of 1995. Now you can photograph this historic vessel and some of San Francisco Bay’s most beautiful views and landmarks.

We will board the yacht in Sausalito at 5:45pm on Saturday, August 14th. The cruise will begin at 6pm and will include views of Angel Island, the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

A choice of 3 Panini “Bento Boxes” will be available for dinner, and you’ll be able to take in the beautiful sunset before we disembark in Sausalito at 9pm.

$119.00 per person

“early-bird” registration $79.00 (Before July 7th) 

Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian for this trip.

$119.00 

Get More from your Compact Digital Camera

Instructor: Craig Moore, Photographer-CPC

This Intermediate class will focus on better use of the features of a compact digital camera to take your digital photography to the next level.

• Aperture and Shutter explained
• Exposure and Compensation
• Flash control the Pros use
• Use of filters for better exposure
• Composition rules and techniques

$69.00 

Better Pictures w/ a Digital SLR

Instructor: John Howry, Photographer-CPC

This two-session course will provide the foundation and knowledge needed for creating great photos with your interchangeable lens digital camera.

Session 1: Understanding Your Camera

• Learn about all your camera controls and auto exposure and focus control, white balance, exposure bracketing, camera handling, ISO control, spot, selective and matrix metering.
• Stop action or create motion.

• Depth of field and the use of lenses, tripods, and filters.

• Learn how to take black and white photos and control the contrast.

Field trip

• Composition, the art of using light and color to enhance your photos.

• Back lighting and how to use it to improve your photos.

• Get the best close-ups with your equipment.

• Shutterbug instructor to guide you on the field trip and to answer questions about your photo gear.

Session 2: Trip Review & Flash

• Bounce and fill flash techniques.

• Class discussion of photos taken on the field trip. Question & answer.

• Review methods learned/ practiced on the field trip.

$119.00

3 Hour Basic Digital SLR Class

Instructor: John Howry, Photographer-CPC

Learn all the features of your Canon, Nikon, or Olympus SLR camera. We will explain the creative scene modes and how they can change your photography. We will also cover aperture and shutter speed control. Learn how to correct for back lighting, or use it to your advantage. We will discuss file sizes, menu functions, lenses and flash. Plus learn about white balance and camera handling. Check class dates for your specific brand of camera.

$69.00

Outdoor Portrait Photography

Instructor :John Howry, Photographer- CPC

Learn how to take better outdoor portraits on location with your camera. You’ll meet at the Shutterbug store on Santa Rosa Ave. at 10am, then go to a great site for the hands-on workshop. This 3-hour class will address:

• location
• background
• best time of day to shoot
• proper use of lenses
• white balance
• use of reflectors
• posing, and composition.

Whether shooting individual or family portraits, you’ll learn to create better photos on this fun day of photography.

$89.00

Into to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

Instructor: Tom Crews - CPC

Adobe Lightroom software provides one easy application for managing, adjusting, and presenting large volumes of digital photographs allowing less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens. Learn how Lightroom fits into the overall workflow of processing images. From Import to Print, learn exactly what you need to do and in what order you should do it. Assignments allow students to practice the techniques learned in class. Although not required, to get the most out of this class students should have a laptop computer with Lightroom and Photoshop CS3 (or earlier) program installed.

Students are expected to have basic computer skills including how to create, open and save files and to have a basic understanding of Photoshop. We start promptly on time. Please come early enough to allow yourself time to set up your computer before the class starts.

$89.00

Introduction to HDR Photography 

Instructor: Tom Crews, - CPC

Interested in learning how to capture the entire dynamic range of a scene from the brightest highlights to the darkest shadows? By utilizing high dynamic range photography, you can capture all the detail in a scene. No more blown out skies!

Take multiple exposures and use Photoshop or Photomatix to process HDR images with “natural” to graphic or illustrated looks. Bring your tripod, camera, favorite lenses, and laptop to work on your images.You can download a trial of Photomatix at www.hdrsoft.com before class.

$129.00

Introduction to Photoshop

Instructor: Tom Crews, - CPC

Adobe Photoshop is the professional standard in desktop digital imaging. This eight session class will focus on understanding layers, image adjustments, using levels, hue/saturation, color balance, how to use the select and image editing tools to work

on photographs, and more. Although not mandatory, to get the most out of this class students should have a laptop computer with Photoshop CS5 (or earlier) installed. Assignments allow students to practice the tools and techniques learned in class.

$139.00

Introduction to Photoshop Elements

Instructor: Tom Crews, - CPC

Photoshop Elements is a wonderful image editing program with most of the features of Photoshop which are directed primarily to the photographer. This four session class will concentrate on those features need to edit your digital images. We will cover the basics for understanding Elements including; how to navigate your way around the program, viewing and saving you files, resizing, and cropping. We will focus on understanding layers, image adjustments, using levels, hue/saturation, color balance, how to use the select and image editing tools to work on photographs, and more.

Although not mandatory, to get the most out of this class students should have a laptop computer with Elements installed. Assignments allow students to practice the tools and techniques learned in class.

$139.00

Shooting and Processing RAW Files (Intermediate)

Instructor: Tom Crews,-CPC

The majority of today’s digital cameras can take and save images as Raw files. What are Raw files? Are they just for professional photographers? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Raw files? How do you process Raw files, and how does this process fit into one’s overall workflow? These questions and more will be covered in this single session workshop. If you have a notebook computer with either Photoshop or Elements and Raw files, you may bring them to the workshop.

$99.00

How to Shoot Exciting Travel Photographs

Instructor: Tom Crews - CPC

Taking photographs on a trip or while traveling, is when “it all comes together.” When you are on a trip, it is for real. This class will show you how to shoot exciting travel photographs. We will start with pre-travel planning. We will discuss what kind of and how much equipment and supplies to take with you to optimize your photographic opportunities. We will cover researching your trip, dealing with local regulations, x-ray damage, passing though customs and more.

We will cover photographing landmarks, photographing people, payment for photography, and shooting in places of worship.

A photographic assignment and a field trip will allow students to practice the tools and techniques learned in class. The field trip for this class is planned to the San Francisco Farmers Market located at the San Francisco Ferry Building. Transportation is planned by Golden Gate Ferry from the Larkspur Terminal ($15.70 fare not included in Class Fee listed below).

$119.00

All Classes are held in Shutterbug’s Classroom located upstairs at the main store unless otherwise noted in class description.

Refund and Credit Policy

Paid registrations must be canceled at least two weeks before the first session to receive a full refund. If canceled within two weeks of the first session, you will receive full credit towards a future class. Credits are good for one year. If we must cancel an activity, we will reschedule. If rescheduling is not possible, we will issue a refund.