Photography Private Lessons

 Adults or Kids ages 9-17
1.5-hr lessons
4 or 8 weeks of lessons

Learn to use your camera with confidence and transform the beauty you see into the photographs you've always wanted to create.

Description:
Learn to use your camera with confidence and transform the beauty you see into the photographs you've always wanted to create. These private lessons are designed to close the gap between your creative vision and your final image, building both technical skill and artistic confidence. Practice assignments and feedback on your work will be given each week so you can take full advantage of your new knowledge.

Guided by a former professional photographer, you will explore the essential elements of a compelling photograph. We will move beyond your camera’s automatic settings to understand the interplay of light and shadow, strengthen your sense of composition, and master the functions of your specific camera. The curriculum is tailored entirely to your personal goals, whether you wish to capture beautiful family portraits, create professional product shots, document travels with rich landscapes, or simply elevate your everyday photos.

Each session combines focused instruction with hands-on practice, ensuring you develop a practical and lasting understanding of your craft. You will leave with greater knowledge and the ability to capture the world with purpose and artistry.

Supplies:
You will need to provide your own camera, whether it's a Go Pro, point-and-shoot, mirrorless, DSLR, film, or simply your phone camera! It's not the tool; it's the knowledge you have that will improve your photos. If you have a laptop or tablet, please bring that too. 

Scheduling:
Private lessons can be scheduled on flexible days and times. Please contact me first to make sure our schedules jive. My calendar page shows you some general days I'm available (times vary). After we talk and when you're ready, please register online.

I'll contact you after your purchase to officially schedule days/times. If you do not hear from me, please first check your spam folder, check other possible email addresses you might have used, and then contact me if you still don't see it. 

While the majority of our lessons will take place in the studio, our photography meetups at other locations may be scheduled at earlier or later times of the day to take advantage of different lighting situations.

Sibling/friend discount:
15% off for 2 or more students! Simply add the number of students to your cart for the lessons you would like to do together, and the discount will automatically be applied at checkout. Age restrictions still apply due to safety in the studio and developmental appropriateness of projects/materials (Ages 9-17).

Other:
"How do I know my kid is ready for art class?"

All students are expected to use materials responsibly, clean up afterwards, and be safe in my art studio. If your student cannot handle that or staying in the boundaries of my studio, then another art studio may be a better fit. Please read the full policies here.

Location:
Lessons will be in-studio as well as meeting at select locations. My home studio is in my garage in Waipahu, mauka from Lowe's off H1/exit 7. Exact address will be manually emailed after registration. Please check your inbox and spam folder for my name if you don't see it within 1 business day. (Rebecca Block)

My Professional Photography Background:
I photographed portraits, babies, families, commercial products, weddings, and births before deciding to exit an overly-saturated market. My favorite and my specialty by the end of my "photographer era" was births. I trained to became a doula and combined my doula work with birth photography for the majority of my career.

Although I'm happy to be out of the photography business, I still value high-quality photos and nice lenses. I kept my Canon and several L lenses, and frequently use them for personal work as well as for reference photos for my paintings & drawings. I find that creating a good quality reference photo helps my brain "see" the painting! Besides, I love the photos I can confidently create of my own family's memories.

I'm not totally out of the camera world, though. I continue to read about new gear and sometimes also rent a longer lens or camera from a local camera shop. (Currently contemplating which lightweight mirrorless "street camera" to get for fun travel shots!) I take an underwater OM Systems (formerly Olympus) camera with me when I snorkel or go on water adventures. Some of my favorite wilderness shots were taken in the backcountry of Grand Tetons National Park with a cheap point-n-shoot. (That's how I got the grizzly bear passing by our camp....) I am also happy to use the settings on my phone camera to the max to catch the moment, wherever I am, whatever I'm doing.