Could I teach a basic photography class ?

Question

I have been approached by the director of a local community group to develop a basic photography coarse. I'm not sure if I am the right person for the job, although I have always wanted to help others learn. Based on my answers given, I would like the YA Photography's opinion...

Be Honest, No Hard Feelings !!!

Not a paying gig, but that's not the point.

nhnikon@ Flickr.com

Thank you all, so much !!! I think what I lack the most is confidence in myself, and your kind words have inspired me !!!

Doc, your the MAN...

Answer 1

if thats what u wanna do its up to you. only you know if its right for you

Answer 2

Yes, I believe that you can. Here on YA you seem knowledgeable and helpful, and more importantly, kind. I am assuming you would be teaching an adult continuing education course of some sort. Certainly you don't need a degree to help people learn! However, I would suggest getting someone to help you proofread any written materials you will be writing for the class, maybe an English major or teacher. You want to come across as caring about your "professional-ness". Grammar mistakes like "coarse" instead of "course" are small errors, but many people will notice things like that. And knowing you have the best presentation possible will give you confidence in your ability.
Best wishes, I know you will be a smashing success!

Answer 3

Yes you can. You have the knowledge and IMO you'll be a benefit to the students.

Just be prepared with a lesson plan for every class so you'll know what you want to cover/discuss. Have hand-outs for every class.

Many many years ago I taught a very basic darkroom class at a long gone camera shop. 3 hours on a Fri. night for 6 weeks.
I remember one fellow who had taken pictures of his uncle's ice cream truck - and printed them backwards and asked why they looked "funny". Have to admit it was hard not to laugh.

NOTE: I'm not sure who is the worst - DRAGGON or victor98. Do you think they'd leave if I threw a stick or a ball?

Answer 4

I'd say go for it, you're not a novice, if there are areas you're not comfortable with then consider pairing up with another pro/semi pro in your area that can compliment your knowledge and cover separate topics. A pro here asked me to help them with a class, we have different areas of expertize and so make a good team.
Not everyone is comfortable being in the limelight and only you can answer that for yourself. Teaching is different from just having knowledge, how you relate that knowledge to others is a big part of it and not having met you it's hard to know, but you do come across well on YA and Antoni may have you figured out.

Answer 5

The hardest part of being a good instructor is knowing your stuff, being sure of yourself, and knowing your game plan.

From your answers, you seem very knowledgeable in photography. If you know how each day will go down, and you're sure of yourself, go for it.

It's great to teach other people what you know.

Answer 6

If you're a top contributor in photography you must know enough to do a basic class. The thing is, you can know a lot about something but not know how to teach it, teaching is a separate skill in itself. But if you want to do it, go ahead. It might be a lot of fun, and a lot of newbies would learn a little about photography, and what's wrong with that? And if it's for no money nobody is going to tell you you suck at it. I would do it if I had the time.

Answer 7

Yeah, I think you can. You have the basic stuff down and 10 times more. You enjoy helping others and you are a good communicator. Besides, you are a musician so we know you can do anything! (haha) I taught about 10-12 college friends how to choose and use a camera when 35 mm was the only real choice and I really enjoyed it. It was always 1 on 1 (or maybe 2) and not a classroom situation, but I still found that you had to start with the simplest concepts and try to choose an assignement to make it fun. I've lectured a few times for professional purposes (dentistry - not photography) and it is very stimulating. First of all, preparing for the class teaches you by reminding you about the things that you forgot you knew. It teaches you, because you want to be MORE than one step ahead of the class. It is such a good feeling to have someone ask you a question from the audience and you pull an answer out of your...... hat and it makes sense, even to you. You will have stores of knowledge in your brain that preparing for a class will help organize for you, even if you don't realize what is happening in your subconscious mind.

The only thing would be to organize it in a sensible manner and I have a suggestion for you. Here's one of my stock answers, but get this book now and use it to construct your syllabus for the course.
~~~~~
I can really recommend this book as an excellent source for a beginner: "Get the Most from Your Digital Camera," by Simon Joinson.
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Simon%20Joinson&page=1

I am sure that it is not "everything" Simon knows about photography, but it is sure to help you get started.
~~~~~
Maybe you can even recommend it as a course book. You already know 98% of what's in there, I am sure, but as I said, you can use it as a guide to help lay out your course.

One thing that you will have to decide is what level to START teaching. Do you want to talk about ANY photography? Digital or film? Point and shoot or any camera? If you want to talk about basic metering and composition, you can have a mix from $89 Polaroid digicams to $890 SLR's in the students' hands. If you want to get really technical and talk about exposure control, etc., you will need to require certain equipment that will perform up to the level of your class material. Maybe you can stage this. I think I'd consider having 2-3 weeks (with a weekly class) that ANYONE could attend and benefit from. Basic basic stuff. 2 or 3 more weeks dealing with exposure compensation and tricky lighting situations. White balance... After that, you would be ready to move into aperture and shutter priority and then full manual control Since this is a non-graded course and probably cheap for the participants, you could let them attend up to the point at which the material was no longer useful for them or their camera. In other words, all the "AUTO" P&S users would be done in the first couple of weeks. You would be able to teach some basic Photoshop-LIKE skills and concepts of formatting for proper print dimensions and so one, regardless of the equipement level, so maybe that would have to be done in the second week. You know.
Week One - Here's what you can do that you had not thought of before (tricky stuff like focus lock and decent metering)
Week Two - Now that you have these pictures in your camera, what can you do with them?
- Set up Photoshop and stick to the VERY basics as if it was a drug store kiosk. Show them only how they will have to consider cropping without losing stuff they want to have inthe final picture. What the heck, here's 15 minutes of lecture for you: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/923587227/

You might find some other ideas in my stuff. These are grouped, but not necessarily in the order a class might use them. http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstein/sets/72157601339945649/

Maybe you can even spend a half an hour at the very first class on CHOOSING a camera so that anyone would be allowed to sign up for the class, regardless of where they are in their photography.

I've rambled enough, but my answer is yes - I am sure you could do it. You have shown your intelligence and patience here very nicely. Get some face time with the locals and have fun with it.

Answer 8

I taught a basic photography course at a camp for years and loved it. Set out your plan for each day. Make sure you have visuals as well as auditory lessons. Give assignements so they have accomplishments...make some really fun.You will gain more than you will give by teaching!

PS...you have all of us behind you!

Answer 9

Have you taken a basic coarse yourself?
If so there's no reason you cant pass on what you have learned.
you can teach the rules of composition etc
If you darkroom facilities you can teach darkroom techniques also.
good luck

Answer 10

You would make an ideal teacher, you have knowledge, sensitivity and empathy.

Your a kind caring person and your students would warm to you I'm sure.

If your time isnt an issue go for it!

EDIT: if you dont know already Dragoon is a frustrated nasty person who attacks everyone on this site, it only answers to abuse or put people down.........sad but true

a

Answer 11

Unless you have Bachelor of Arts in Photography or PhD in Photography,with many years of expriences in Technique of photography,otherwise you have to step down couldn't be a Lecturer.GCE O and GCE A level also cannot teach photography.