Beginning Photography Course
Learn to see. Learn your camera. Create photographs you’re proud of.
WHAT
Students ages 13 and up will learn how their camera works and how to confidently take control of a DSLR or mirrorless camera in manual mode. We’ll explore aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focus, light, composition, and perspective, learning not only how to adjust each setting, but how those choices affect the final image. This course is designed to give students a strong foundation in photography and the confidence to make intentional creative decisions behind the camera.
We are proud to offer advanced, sequential courses in subsequent semesters so students can seamlessly build upon these foundational skills year after year.
We are proud to offer advanced, sequential courses in subsequent semesters so students can seamlessly build upon these foundational skills year after year.
WHEN
Wednesdays from 4:00 to 5:00
Semester Duration: 18 Weeks
Start: Week of August 18, 2026
End: Week of December 29, 2026
Holiday Closures (No Classes):
Thanksgiving Week: November 23 – November 27, 2026
Semester Duration: 18 Weeks
Start: Week of August 18, 2026
End: Week of December 29, 2026
Holiday Closures (No Classes):
Thanksgiving Week: November 23 – November 27, 2026
* ADDITIONAL CLASS DAYS WILL BE ADDED AS CLASSES FILL UP
WHERE
Classes are held at my home in Miramar Beach, Florida, conveniently located near the Silver Sands Premium Outlets. To ensure safety and privacy for our students, the exact address will be provided to parents once the enrollment and sign-up process is complete.
Supply List
Students are required to bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera (with a protective camera bag) along with the camera's user manual to every class.
*Buying advice: I have written a quick guide outlining the required camera specifications and a suggested beginner’s lens for shooting in manual mode—you can read it HERE. If you plan to purchase a camera, please feel free to reach out with any questions before buying!
If you plan to purchase a camera, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
If you no longer have the printed manual, a digital copy can usually be downloaded from the camera manufacturer’s website or found at ManualsLib.
All instructional handouts, course materials, and portfolio binders will be provided in class.
We are proud to offer advanced, sequential courses in subsequent semesters so students can seamlessly build upon these foundational skills year after year.
Students are required to bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera (with a protective camera bag) along with the camera's user manual to every class.
*Buying advice: I have written a quick guide outlining the required camera specifications and a suggested beginner’s lens for shooting in manual mode—you can read it HERE. If you plan to purchase a camera, please feel free to reach out with any questions before buying!
If you plan to purchase a camera, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
If you no longer have the printed manual, a digital copy can usually be downloaded from the camera manufacturer’s website or found at ManualsLib.
All instructional handouts, course materials, and portfolio binders will be provided in class.
We are proud to offer advanced, sequential courses in subsequent semesters so students can seamlessly build upon these foundational skills year after year.
What to Expect on the First Day
We want your student’s first day to be welcoming, inspiring, and completely stress-free!
We want your student’s first day to be welcoming, inspiring, and completely stress-free!
Here is how our very first 1-hour session will unfold:
Drop-off opens exactly 5 minutes before class time.
- Welcome & Studio Orientation (First 15 Minutes): I will spend some time introducing myself, discussing our exciting 20-week creative journey, and laying out our studio safety and respect guidelines.
- Syllabus & Course Outline: Each student will receive a physical copy of our course syllabus. We will walk through our weekly skill milestones together so they can see exactly how our techniques will build on each other from August through December.
- Parent Paperwork: Students will be sent home with a brief packet of paperwork for parents to review, sign, and return by the following week. This includes our standard emergency contact form, photo release preferences, and our studio policy acknowledgement sheet.
- First Studio Exercise (Last 30 Minutes): We will discuss our cameras and how to find and set up the 'important' buttons.
Drop-off opens exactly 5 minutes before class time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign up?
Self pay students you can simply contact me through the form located HERE and indicate that you will be self-paying.
Scholarship students will sign up through the Education Marketplace, searching for the business name Emerald Coast Art Co. I have included a link to the short video from Step Up for Students with instructions on YouTube.
How do I pay for classes using my child’s Step Up For Students / PEP Scholarship?
Emerald Coast Art Co. is an approved direct-pay provider on the EMA platform. Once I confirm your student's seat reservation via email, you will log into your EMA Parent Portal search for our approved business name, Emerald Coast Art Co., and select the appropriate course package to allocate your scholarship funds.
When is tuition invoiced and paid?
Tuition is $1000 for the full 18 week semester package. Per updated EMA guidelines, the invoice for the entire semester package is submitted and processed directly through your parent portal immediately after the very first class of the term has been successfully attended.
For self-pay students, a $200 payment is due at the beginning of the month.
What happens if my child has to miss a class later in the term?
Because seats are strictly limited to maintain a small, focused group environment, your tuition secures your student's dedicated physical seat at the studio table for the entire 20-week semester. Because the semester is billed and funded as a complete package after the first week, individual student absences or later withdrawals do not alter the tuition structure, and fees cannot be refunded or pro-rated.
What are your home studio rules for drop-off and pick-up?
To respect our neighborhood and ensure student safety, drop-off opens 5 minutes before class ends. Please arrive promptly at the conclusion of the 1-hour session for pick-up so we can keep our driveway clear and transition smoothly between classes. Photography class begins right as drawing class ends.
Will you grade their work?
Grades are not issued. Portfolios are compiled, fulfilling the parents' home-education evaluation requirements.
Self pay students you can simply contact me through the form located HERE and indicate that you will be self-paying.
Scholarship students will sign up through the Education Marketplace, searching for the business name Emerald Coast Art Co. I have included a link to the short video from Step Up for Students with instructions on YouTube.
How do I pay for classes using my child’s Step Up For Students / PEP Scholarship?
Emerald Coast Art Co. is an approved direct-pay provider on the EMA platform. Once I confirm your student's seat reservation via email, you will log into your EMA Parent Portal search for our approved business name, Emerald Coast Art Co., and select the appropriate course package to allocate your scholarship funds.
When is tuition invoiced and paid?
Tuition is $1000 for the full 18 week semester package. Per updated EMA guidelines, the invoice for the entire semester package is submitted and processed directly through your parent portal immediately after the very first class of the term has been successfully attended.
For self-pay students, a $200 payment is due at the beginning of the month.
What happens if my child has to miss a class later in the term?
Because seats are strictly limited to maintain a small, focused group environment, your tuition secures your student's dedicated physical seat at the studio table for the entire 20-week semester. Because the semester is billed and funded as a complete package after the first week, individual student absences or later withdrawals do not alter the tuition structure, and fees cannot be refunded or pro-rated.
What are your home studio rules for drop-off and pick-up?
To respect our neighborhood and ensure student safety, drop-off opens 5 minutes before class ends. Please arrive promptly at the conclusion of the 1-hour session for pick-up so we can keep our driveway clear and transition smoothly between classes. Photography class begins right as drawing class ends.
Will you grade their work?
Grades are not issued. Portfolios are compiled, fulfilling the parents' home-education evaluation requirements.
