Best way to teach photography to a beginner?

8 years 1 month ago #470386 by JaneK
I have a friend here, who back in November bought her first camera and 2 lenses.  She attended a photography school here in town and "didn't learn much of anything".  She called a couple of other places and just wasn't impressed.  She's getting frustrated and asked if I can help her find a school or teach her myself.  Although I was flattered, I've never taught anyone photography before.  

I told her I would think about it.  What I'm thinking is that I'll help her with the basics while she finds the right school to attend.  LOL I don't know if I have the patience to teach anyone.  Speaking of which, are there any tricks that you can share on how to do so?  

BTW I'm in London right now.  

-J


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8 years 1 month ago #470388 by Uplander
Have your friend pick up Bryan Peterson's books on exposure and shutterspeed


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8 years 1 month ago #470390 by Screamin Scott
They need to just go out & shoot. Experience is the best teacher & they will learn from their mistakes. You can tell them what they did wrong on an individual image, but to hold their hand with each & every shot won't teach them anything.

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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8 years 1 month ago #470397 by Glen Martin
1.  Take a workshop or two
2. Join camera MeetUp group
3.  Get the above mentioned books or anything by Scott Kelby
4.  As already mentioned, get out there and practice!  


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8 years 1 month ago #470400 by Screamin Scott
Many people cannot learn from books & needs hands on learning, which is why I said for them to just go out & shoot. You can critique their images to let them know what they may have done wrong (or right)

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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8 years 1 month ago #470401 by Drew Fletcher
I'm the same way, I'm a hands on sort of person.  Leave me in a classroom and I'll snooze, put in a workshop with others and behind my camera, I'm good to go all day. 

Nikon D700 | 24-70mm | 14-24mm | 105mm
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8 years 1 month ago #470407 by effron

Screamin Scott wrote: They need to just go out & shoot. Experience is the best teacher & they will learn from their mistakes. You can tell them what they did wrong on an individual image, but to hold their hand with each & every shot won't teach them anything.


We are on the same page. Plenty of time for "training" later....

Why so serious?
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8 years 1 month ago #470408 by Todd Phillips
:agree: with all of the above, short classes are cool and easier on the budget too


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8 years 1 month ago #470424 by Matt VanDyke
Put a camera in their hands and tell them to snap off a few shots.  Then do the workshops, at least at that point they will have a foundation in understand and get more out of the training and $$ spent.  


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8 years 1 month ago #470477 by Moe
+1


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8 years 1 month ago #470492 by Jeffster

Uplander wrote: Have your friend pick up Bryan Peterson's books on exposure and shutterspeed



:agree: excellent books  


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8 years 1 month ago #470499 by Screamin Scott
I agree that Bryan Peterson's books are excellent, but if the person attended a course & learned little, it tells me that they are not a book learner & thus just getting the books will not help.

Jeffster wrote:

Uplander wrote: Have your friend pick up Bryan Peterson's books on exposure and shutterspeed



:agree: excellent books  


Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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8 years 1 month ago #470525 by Mike Ayrouth
Heuristic approach IMO is the best way of learning anything.  

Getting BETTER one photo at a time!
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8 years 1 month ago #470582 by Jacob1977
hands on worked for me


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8 years 1 month ago #470617 by Neil Dulay
IMO workshops are the way to go if you have the time and miles saved up


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