Kevin Gourley Photography - Austin, Texas - Classes/Workshops

Now with a New Expanded Class Format!

Class begins May 27th! 
SOLD OUT!   This class has already started.

Mix of Lecture / Hands-On / Homework and fun! 6 nights - 12 great hours Take your Photography to the Next Level! This class is SOLD OUT! This class has already started. Thursday Nights  May 27 - July 1, 2010 May 27,  June 3, 10, 17, 24 7:00-9:00 PM July 1 Social Get-Together 6:30-9:00 PM Location: Kevin Gourley Photography Studio 11740 Jollyville Rd. Suite 400  Austin, TX Do you want to be on a waiting list for a future 101 Workshop or other class? Please let us know what days/times might work for YOU if you'd like to take this in the future!   We will add another class, if enough people are interested! Click here and tell us! (or at least fill out the information so that we can notify you about new classes to be added soon!)

About previous Photography 101 Workshops by Kevin: "I thoroughly enjoyed the Photography 101 class. I learned so much about my camera that I'm much more comfortable pushing myself and my photos. The classroom setting is comfortable and Kevin is a really great teacher - combining technical information and answering questions readily. Kevin's way of teaching is friendly and you feel that he listens to you and understands what your needs are. I can't wait to take another class! I will be telling all my photo friends about Kevin and definitely encourage them to take some classes!" More Testimonials

Learn all the things your manual will NEVER teach you!

"To create better photographs, it's tempting to think
you have to buy a better camera. 
The REAL key is to become a better photographer."

A Great Class for Beginners
If you are new to photography, this is a great class to help you understand the basics, giving you a jump start on creating great photographs.   Is your new digital SLR overwhelming with all of its options and settings?  Do you envision all sorts of great ideas for photos, but then find yourself frustrated because you don't know what to do?   We'll take the mystery out of photography and you'll start taking better photos.

A Great Class for Intermediate Photographers
Even if you have been taking photos for quite a while, understanding the fundamentals will help you create the best photographs possible. People often "jump in" and start taking photos, fall in love with photography, get a better camera and more lenses, but skip over really learning some of the important basics.  They then get frustrated when they hit a wall where they just can't seem to get the shots they are wanting to get, because they don't know what to do.   If this describes you, then this is the class for you!  This class will provide a foundation on which you can build your own creative style and images.

Beginner or intermediate,
this fun and informative workshop is for you!
It is so important to learn the "basics", to understand how cameras, lenses, light, composition, interact together in the process of creating great images. Once you understand the "rules", we will explore when "breaking the rules" can be creatively used to produce beautiful and engaging images.

The ultimate objective in this class is to empower you with the
tools and techniques to create great photos.

Your Camera:
If you own a Digital SLR (DSLR) this is a great class to learn how to move beyond shooting in "automatic" mode. This class is more suited to DSLR's, but if you have a "point and shoot" camera, many of the topics covered will help you improve your photography!

Learn how to:

• Select the right lens and equipment to use to get the perfect shot
• Take photos with a "soft background" making the subject in the photo really stand out
• Shoot images with more vibrant colors
• Photograph waterfalls to get that soft water flow effect
• Capture a genuine smile in a portrait
• Make your images "pop" through creative use of light
• More effectively capture the grandeur and majesty of mountains
• Break the "rules" and shoot some really fun images that others will ask "Wow!  How did you do that??"
• Compose your photographs to be more visually pleasing
• Take consistently sharper photographs
• Shoot better photographs with your electronic flash
• You'll even learn some surprising information the camera
  manufacturers won't tell you!
• Much much more...

What we'll cover:

• The fundamentals of photography
• Composition
• The art of "seeing"
• The Digital Revolution
• The Camera
• The Shutter
• The Aperture
• ISO settings
• Exposure
• Metering
• Manual and Automatic Exposure Modes
• Color Temperature
• Lenses & Focal Length
• Depth of Field
• Digital Imaging - Sensors, File Types, Capabilities, Limitations
• RAW vs JPG
• Light
• Flash Photography
• Perspective
• Creative and Fun Techniques
• Portraits
• Nature / Landscape / Wildlife Photography

Class Format:
Come prepared to learn with camera and notebook in hand!   Please make sure to bring your manual!  All sessions will be at my photography studio in NW Austin.   Our first 5 sessions will be class sessions from 7-9 PM.  These will be a mix of about 70% lecture and about 30% hands-on practice.  We'll also have homework assignments to help you further practice what I teach in class.  The homework is optional, but to get the most out of the class, I encourage you to do the homework! You can send your results by email to me, and I'll give you feedback and suggestions for improvement.  There will be question / answer times throughout.  You can also come at 6:30 if you're needing a little extra help.

Our Final Session:  
Our last session will be on July 1, 6:30-9 PM.  This will be a fun session with everyone bringing potluck snacks / finger food. We'll provide the drinks.  It will also be a time to share your photography with the rest of the group and celebrate your great work!  This final session is also open to previous students from our other classes (previous students must RSVP).

Keep in Touch: 
Once you have been a student of one of my classes, you are invited to future photographer social get-togethers at my studio (for free).  Everyone brings potluck snacks / finger food, and we'll provide the drinks.  It will also be a time to share your photography with the rest of the group and celebrate your great work!

The Photography 101 Workshop is a great investment. 
The return on your investment is great photographs.

Price:
Register before May 6, 2010:          $269
Register on or after May 6, 2010:   $299

Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations made on or before May 13th, 2010, will receive a refund of the workshop fee minus a $50 cancellation fee. Sorry, but no refunds will be made for cancellations made after May 13th.

Register:
To reserve our seat, you may pay online or mail us a check.

This class is SOLD OUT!

Space is limited!  This is my most popular class.  It often fills up quickly!
And now we've made it even better, with more hands-on photography exercises, more class time, and even more time to ask questions!

Do you want to be on a waiting list for a future 101 Workshop?
Please let us know what days/times might work for YOU if
you'd like to take this in the future!  
We will add another class, if enough people are interested!
Click here and tell us!
(or at least fill out the information so that we can
notify you about new classes to be added soon!)

 

Class Feedback:  "Kevin Gourley is a fantastic instructor! He exceeded all expectations taking the Photography 101 class. Kevin's ability to bring together the technical and artistic side of photography is magical. I highly recommend any beginner to take this class. :)"

Class Feedback:  "Kevin, after 30 years of experimenting with photography but always using automatic settings, I finally learned how to shoot manually! You did a fantastic job of explaining photography and light. You are very talented and creative - thanks for sharing. I love that you are so passionate about photography as an art and that you encourage it in others!"

Class Feedback:  "I really liked the pace and how the homework assignments helped cement my understanding of different lessons. I really, really enjoyed the get-together/slide show as the last class."

Class Feedback:  "Kevin's classes are incredibly well organized, and they are a terrific blend of technical and artistic information. He manages to impart a huge amount of information in each class and makes himself available for questions outside of class too. I finally "got" some concepts that I'd been struggling to understand -- and FINALLY had the courage to turn off the Automatic settings and try Manual. Great experience! I'm looking forward to taking more classes with Kevin."

Do you want to be on a waiting list for a future 101 Workshop?
Please let us know what days/times might work for YOU if
you'd like to take this in the future!  
We will add another class, if enough people are interested!
Click here and tell us!
(or at least fill out the information so that we can
notify you about new classes to be added soon!)

About the Instructor:
Kevin Gourley has been an avid photographer for over 35 years. He has taught classes on many aspects of photography through the years, and has led various photography groups. Kevin is an award-winning, nationally published professional photographer and has a full-service photography studio in NW Austin, and specializes in portraiture, commercial photography, fine art, and landscape photography.

Does this class not fit your needs or schedule?  
Click here and tell us what you'd like to see us offer!