click class

WHAT IS A CLICK CLASS?

do you take all your pictures with your camera in the “green” mode? maybe you use the “running man” or the “flower”. a click class simply teaches you all about your camera, how to operate it, but most importantly, how to shoot manually! (that is the “M” on your camera)

you are smarter than your camera, so it’s time to take control of it!

WHERE IS THE CLASS?

the may 2013 class is in our home in highlands ranch, co. the july 2013 class is in our family cabin in winter park, co.

WHO IS THE CLASS FOR?

anyone who wants to learn how to control their camera and shoot 100% manually……and therefore learn to take much better pictures!

the three things i am passionate about photographing are people, events and things, and therefore i will teach you to use your camera from that perspective. i am not a landscape photographer, although we will touch briefly on landscape photography in class.

this is kind of girly class, so women only please….the class is designed as time away to connect with each other, and learn new skills that we are passionate about! so sorry boys…

WHAT EXACTLY DO WE LEARN?

do the terms “ISO, f-stop, focal length, fixed lens, aperture, shutter speed, rule of thirds, exposure, aspect ratio, fast lens, shooting wide open, kelvin, SLR, bokeh, raw, pixels, full frame sensor” mean anything to you? no? do you know what all those tiny numbers on your camera lens mean?

they didn’t mean much to me for a long time too. when i finally learned to shoot manually, it completely changed the way i take pictures and opened up a whole new world for me. this class is designed to teach you….in PLAIN english….not camera greek, what all those fancy words mean, and teach you how to use them on your camera.

WHEN IS IT?

for now, i have scheduled two dates in 2013 for click classes.

SPRING CLASS (highlands ranch, co):

friday, may 17th, 2013 6:30 pm -8:30 pm

saturday, may 18th, 2013 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

SUMMER CLASS (winter park, co):

friday, july 19th, 2013 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

includes a sleepover at the cabin…and yes, EVERYONE will have a bed!

saturday, july 20th, 2013 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

optional dinner out at devil’s thumb ranch.

HOW MUCH IS IT?

$300 for may class in highlands ranch, co. $400 for july class in winter park, co.

WHAT DO I GET FOR MY $?

well, other than walking away with your camera on “m”….

on friday night we will have wonderful hors d’oeuvres and desserts. i hesitate to call it dinner, but it’s enough to fill you up. on saturday, breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided.

you will receive writing materials & a notebook, way too much information to process in one day, and you get to meet other wonderful people who have the same passion for taking pictures as you do.

i will also be taking a head shot of each of you that you can use for whatever you like: your husband’s desk at work, your facebook profile picture, a business card…for whatever you want!

on saturday afternoon, we will participate in an outdoor styled photo session at a nearby location for you to put into practice what you learned in class. during the session, i will walk you through step by step how i approach a session, including styling, posing, finding the light, and other tricks and tips i have learned over the years to help you produce more stunning images. please note the session will focus on taking pictures of people…not landscapes…

plus there are goodies and give-aways!

WILL YOU TALK ABOUT FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY?

yes, i’ll talk about it, but no….i won’t teach about it. when we talk about setting yourself up for a successful shot, we will be using natural light.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING?

i am limiting the registration to 10 people for the may highlands ranch class. i am limiting the registration to 6 people for the winter park class. i want to keep it intimate so everyone can have really hands-on learning.

ARE THERE ANY DIFFERENCES IN CLASS MATERIAL BETWEEN THE HIGHLANDS RANCH AND WINTER PARK CLASSES?

no. we will be covering the same thing, although there is more opportunity for connecting on a personal level in winter park since we will all be staying at the cabin together!

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED TO HAVE TO ATTEND THE CLASS?

this is the most important question.

first of all, you need a camera body that has changeable lenses….a digital slr….no point-and-shoots! examples are the canon rebel, 20d, 30d, 40d, 50d, 60d, 5d (and all the other d’s) or if you shoot nikon, the nikon d3000, d90, d5000, d700 etc etc.

i would love for you to have a couple lenses that you shoot with regularly, whether they are zoom lenses or fixed lenses. if you don’t have any lenses, or are looking for a great portrait lens that doesn’t cost you a lot of money, i would highly recommend getting yourself a 50mm f1.8 lens, or a 35mm f2.0 lens. you can buy them on-line from my favorite retailer b&h photo and the “non-pro” models are just over $100.

a few weeks before click class, i will send a survey to each participant and i will review the equipment you have and make any recommendations to you prior to attending class. there are lots of options for both canon and nikon, so please don’t purchase anything prior to class without talking to me.

WHAT DO YOU SHOOT WITH?

i shoot with a canon 5d mark ii, and 90% of the time with my 50mm f1.2L lens.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME?

your camera, lenses, your camera manual, batteries, chargers, and anything else related to you camera and equipment. your appetite… there will be plenty of food! you don’t need to bring notebooks or writing materials….that will be provided for you. for the winter park class, you will need your overnight bag and toiletries.

I WANT TO START MY OWN PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS. WILL THIS CLASS COVER THAT?

technically, no.

this class is focusing on how to use your camera and how to be smarter than it. but if questions are asked about having your own photography business, i will answer them.

WILL YOU COVER POST-PROCESSING?

yes and no. i will share with you the tools and software that i use to process my images, but we will not cover post processing in detail. that could be another whole class! the number one goal of the class is to teach you to shoot manually.

I AM FROM OUT OF STATE, CAN I STILL COME?

absolutely! contact me, and i will assist you in travel arrangements.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

please contact me using the contact section on the blog with desired class date and intent to enroll. i will confirm your registration via e-mail. if for some reason you need to cancel your registration, your registration fee will be returned ONLY if i can fill your spot.

HOW DO I MAKE MY REGISTRATION PAYMENT?

payment is due at time of registration. you may make your payment one of two ways:

1. send a check

2. you may pay via paypal using a credit card

you can see images from past click class photoshoots here.

13 comments

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Melissa Schuerer - April 22, 2013 - 8:11 pm

Kristin,

My friend, Theresa Gangnon, forwarded your email to me. Is this a one-day class, or do you attend both May 17 and 18? Theresa had nothing but good things to say about your class. I purchased a new digital camera last summer and have barely used it in green mode let alone venture into the manual. Let me know if there are hotels nearby as I will need to stay overnight.

Dee Watts - April 9, 2013 - 8:32 pm

Hi Kristen,
I am interested in your click class May 17 and 18 in Highlands Ranch. I have a Canon EOS Rebel T2i 550D (according to the manual that is what it is. HA!). I have two lenses also, but not sure which numbers on them explain what they are. I hope this equipment will work for the class.

Let me know next steps.

Thanks! Dee

Chyril - April 9, 2013 - 6:39 pm

I enrolled in the Fall 2012 Click class solo, which is always intimidating to venture somewhere new alone. Alas, my fears quickly evaporated after arriving for the evening session. Kristen is warm and kind (and ridiculously creative). The ambiance of the room (a classroom-like space in her home) is inviting and serves as an excellent learning environment. Kristen is really solid in her knowledge. REALLY SOLID. We couldn’t pose a question that would stump her, AND she was really great about making sure everyone was on the same page before moving on to the next topic. She was knowledgeable about the different camera types too, which is really helpful because each brand (Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc) is unique in its own right. This woman knows her craft. And what is also cool, everyone attending wants to learn and grow. So there is this undeniably positive energy in the room: a thirst & hunger to be a much, much better photographer than we already are. The class was well worth the price, and simply put: it delivers. I had a blast! And yeah, the food is super tasty to boot.

Debbie - September 28, 2012 - 1:12 am

Wish I would have attended click class a year ago. Can’t say enough about what a wonderful time I had. Kristen’s work has inspired me to go to the next level. She does a fantastic job teaching. On Saturday afternoon Kristen took us to a beautiful piece of property with beautiful models (thank you Elissa, Chloe, and Hadley) to put into practice what we learned.
Thanks to Janna for the delicious meals she prepared so beautifully.

Ali - May 10, 2012 - 9:03 pm

This class is worth every.single.penny!

I had saved up for months to be able to attend and can actually say that I now know how to use my camera in manual! I had spent numerous hours trying to teach myself but truly needed some hands-on teaching. Kristen is a wonderful teacher that makes complex ideas very simple to understand.

The food was delicious and I am so happy that I was able to learn so much in such a short period of time.

Claudia - April 29, 2012 - 3:54 pm

I cannot say enough good things about click class! I had spent many hours on multiple occasions trying to learn all the photography lingo and how shot on “m”. In just one weekend Kristen was able to teach all this info and make it make sense! Kristen is a great teacher and I am so glad I got to attended click class. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn how to use their camera on “m” and get great pictures!

Christy - April 25, 2012 - 1:44 am

I was so grateful to be able to attend one of Kristen’s click classes! Not only is she a gifted photographer but also a gifted teacher. She is able to make technical terms understandable and applicable. I am now shooting on “M” all the time! I would highly recommend this class to anyone wanting to improve or just learn more about photography. Oh, and the food was AMAZING! Thank you Kristen and Jana!

Meghan Kuyper - April 20, 2012 - 7:08 pm

This class is g-r-e-a-t. It covers composition, light and all the technical stuff you need to create great pictures — and in a way that’s easy to understand. I had read loads of books and how-tos on photography, but nothing turned out to be as helpful as simply dedicating my weekend to learning directly from Kristen. I also came out with a much better grasp of equipment and what limits it or makes it beneficial, so I know how to make better buys in the future. And, being served Janna’s divine food every few hours throughout the process put the entire experience over the already-up-there top.

Julie Coutant - July 17, 2011 - 2:23 am

What a wonderful day! I am so glad I took Kristen’s click class. It was the best thing I have done for my photography. I learned more than I ever thought I would. Kristen is an amazing teacher. My wonderful class mates have already summed it up and I agree with all their comments.

I am now taking pictures with confidence on M – no more automatic!!

It was such a wonderful day of meeting fellow photographers and sharing our struggles and watching each of us have ah ah moments. The day was a true blessing. I have my fingers crossed that Kristen will do a follow up class some day!!

Kristen you are amazing! Erin and Janna – your food was fabulous and just the thing that topped off the day.

If you are considering taking an upcoming click class you will not be disappointed.

Jen Schrock - July 15, 2011 - 3:38 am

What a day! I learned more in that 8 hour period than I ever thought I would! I was thinking I’d sell my camera on craigslist b/c I couldn’t get the darn thing to take good pictures! Good thing I didn’t b/c I learned it wasn’t the camera taking bad pics, but NO MORE! I am so excited to practice what I learned and am telling everyone what a wonderful time I had. The food was icing on the cake!! Janna and Erin, you are dreams!! If you can take the class, DO IT SOON! You won’t regret it!

Amy Mathison - July 13, 2011 - 7:00 pm

Lori and Jeff said it so well that I’m afraid I don’t have anything new to add. I completely agree! What a wonderful way to spend a day! I was refreshed by the relaxed, beautiful setting and the warm, inviting people (Kristen and her friends as well as the other attendees). Kristen – you do have a gift! You are an artist AND teacher as Lorri so eloquently said. You explained everything so clearly that I couldn’t think of any questions to ask. I feel empowered to use my hubby’s camera now and he was really impressed with all that I knew! Thanks so much for a fabulously fun day and a wealth of practical knowledge that I can use in my daily life!

jeffrey b gribble - July 13, 2011 - 4:34 pm

WOW! click class + colorado truly changed EVERYTHING for me! i would truly have to write a novel to explain all the ah ha! and revelation details that happened in a short 8ish hour time period with kristen. my knowledge, passion and inspiration has now been cranked to 11 and i just want to shoot pictures of everything and everyone and find that amazing beautiful moment in it all. no more setting it on automatic. i have duct taped it on manual and never going back. why would i??? we are indeed smarter than our cameras and just allowing it to pick the setting is a serious waste of capturing a beautiful moment. kristen, you set lots of big expectations at the start of the class and i was thinking, ‘Really?.. she’s gonna be able to deliver on all of that.. wow.. let’s see then..” and truthfully you over-delivered and sent me away so fueled with passion for photography that i feel like i can walk in to any location/subject and make the very most of the moment. and thank you SO much for the exception to the rule and allowing the ‘Dude’ to come to click click this one time. you will possibly never even realize what you have done for me in so many ways by gravitating us to colorado for a few days. refueled, recharged, and passion ignited about photography + life. again, i could write on and on and on, but i will stop now and just say that i really appreciate the details of every little thing that you said, shared, did and showed us.
i really feel like you shared with us secret formulas that most people would never even share about their photography skills. i also think i found some secret formulas for life while i was out there.
i thank you massively and so sincerely.
jg!

Lorri Steer - July 12, 2011 - 3:02 pm

Click class: Scott Kelby mets Martha Stewart only begins to describe it. Kristen not only provides all the techie information a budding photographer needs in everyday language, but also sees to every detail to make her class uniquely her own. She chooses a different theme for every class and our theme was, “Vintage Camping.” The day’s cost makes it an absolute steal and I would call it more of a mini retreat than just a class.

Last Saturday began with a breakfast catered by her equally creative friends. The class takes place at Kristen’s home which is inspiring in its own right. This is clearly the home of someone with a gifted eye for mixing modern, antique and quirky decor. You will know right away you are in an artist’s nest – an artist and a teacher’s nest to be exact. Because let’s face it, someone might be a really great photograph but not be a really great teacher. Kristen is both.

One would think Kristen has a professional background in teaching from the way she stands at the chalk board and imparts her knowledge to her students without speaking down to them but at the same time, making very complex information understandable. Throughout the morning, more than once, all 10 students would let out “AHA” sounds in unison. I wasn’t the only one who, by lunchtime, said, “Even if the class ended now, I’ve already got my money’s worth.”

Then there was lunch – a vintage picnic served al fresco, again catered by her kitchen crew. Lunch included home made pulled pork sandwiches, green bean salad with feta and cherry tomatoes, and a 3 tiered jello mold on each vintage serving tray. Five stars. Getting to know the other students was an added bonus.

Another added bonus? Kristen took time with each student to do head shots. Yes, we felt like super models and will each have a few pictures of ourselves with rights to use however we wish. If you’re like me, always behind the camera, you’ll understand what a sweet treat this was!

After lunch, we returned to the classroom upstairs that was decorated with old fashioned cameras and flowers. Students were grouped at tables with others who had the same cameras to aid in the learning process. Soon, we were led through the steps of setting our camera’s into manual mode and we were ready to hone our newfound skills on location.

We carpooled over to the vintage campsite Kristen’s family had set up for us. Here we practiced taking photos without any of the auto features on our cameras. As Kristen taught us through the day, “You are smarter than your camera.” I know I personally went from using all the preset button on my Cannon, to taking really good photos in manual right then and there. I can’t tell you how excited I am to keep putting into practice what we learned.

By the end of the day, we were all asking for a “Click Class – Part 2.” I cannot recommend Kristen and her class highly enough. She’s a hidden Denver gem. Thank you Kristen for enabling me to move to the next level in my photography.

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click class