Creating the Image begins today, my online workshop presented by Creative Groove which is geared towards beginner DSLR owners and up and coming professional photographers who need to brush up on the camera logistics and understanding how to find light, work manual mode correctly, and post processing and organization.  Newbies will learn more than they signed up for, but it might fuel a passion you never knew existed.  And who knows, you might find yourself shooting your first wedding sooner than you thought.  Or babies, we can start small. *wink*

Hope to see you in class.  I look forward to seeing the 20 of you on our Facebook group page – I can’t wait to meet you all.

It’s not too late to sign up – $160 for 4 weeks every Wednesday starting at 5 pm PST, which is 6 pm for those in Arizona.   Classes are 1 hour and include a LIVE video feed and chat room and slide show presentation.  You’ll also have worksheets to help you understand settings better.  This is my third time teaching, fourth class online (I teach a marketing workshop for those who want to take the next step).  Also a recorded playback for your busy bees who need to watch on your own time.

There will be more announcements regarding workshops soon.  This year, I plan to really dive into teaching.  I hope you’ll be along for the ride. xx

“I have to thank you for this class! I have been doing photography forever and took a couple classes in college 10 years ago. I learned manual mode back then but just didn’t understand it enough to use it. You have made it so easy for me to pick it back up and NOW I can honestly say, I won’t go back to auto! I have seen the changes to my pictures already! I just wanted to let you know how much your class helped!” – Tammy

“Your class has taken my photography skills and confidence to a higher level, which is priceless! I could confidently shoot in manual mode after the fist class and am even more passionate about photography than I was before. Thank you for a fun, informative, and beautifully organized class. Thank your for generously sharing your knowledge and experience. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who wants to capture better images!” – Yolanda

Diana Elizabeth will have to tell the Mr. to not watch TV while she’s trying to teach, or to take his Blackberry conversations to his own office. Or maybe, she’ll have to coax him to wave hello to every one.

Workshops

I should have posted this a month ago to help you create your wish list.  I’m sorry.  Perhaps you still have time to return all of the high watered pj’s, knitted sweaters and game boards to get some dough for some new gear, if you wish.

As of today, this is what gear I currently own for those asking.

• See camera body, lenses & accessories sold on B&H.  There are two pages so please know that.

Things I own not sold on B&H:

• RadioPopper: Jr System + RPC Cube (for Canon)
• ONE laptop & camera bag system + Waist shooter from my friends at UNDFIND coming in February!  Order now.

If you are a hobbyist, and not quite pro yet or just want to start with a DSLR:

• Here’s another list for you of some recommended gear sold on B&H

Other things you might be wondering:

• I use Mac. Recently switched from years of PC starting in 2011.  The reason being is a nice virus attacked my PC and so I was over it and happily moved to Mac.  I like how quick it starts and I would highly encourage if you’re contemplating making the switch to just do it.  I know, Apple users are so annoying.  They think they’re soooo cool.  I’ll tell you now that it’s not about that, but if you want to, do it.  If PC works for you, then rock it.  It worked for me for years.
• I shoot Canon.  Reason being is I started with a Canon Rebel XSi. Yes, that model is totally discontinued and the highest ISO it would go is 1600. So I went straight to a 5D Mark II.  Having that body does not make anyone a better shooter but knowing its capabilities and how to find light and such will.  If you don’t know that yet, why don’t you take my 4-week online class that starts Jan. 25 for $160?

Yes I’m teaching an awesome online class.  This is my third time teaching this, my fourth online class I’ve taught this year, and I love it! (The other class I teach is how to market your photography business which I teach once a year).  All of my courses feature LIVE video, and chat room, weekly assignments with professor review, and well, a Facebook group to share assignments and get instant feedback.  Oh, and some handouts that will help you reference so you understand photography better.

Hope the list helps, hope you get something black under your Christmas tree that is not coal but a new camera body, lens, or flash.  Or maybe a compact flash, even.

Merry Christmas friends!

Diana Elizabeth loves receiving Christmas gifts with the photos she’s taken.  What a fun thing to see!  Thank you to all of her clients for thinking of her and sending a card!

Photography, Workshops

Put it on your Christmas wish list kids, especially if you are anticipating a DSLR as a gift.  Or, if you still need to take that DSLR out of the box from last Christmas.  If your DSLR is older than that and you’re still shooting on the green box…oh for the love of all things holy, please sign up for my 4-week online course beginning January 25, 2012 so you can start creating some awesome images!

Ideal if:

• You are a new DSLR owner
• You have no idea how to use your camera
• You do know manual mode but you’re not really sure about the techy stuff
• You call it the “blur”
• You want to know what lenses to invest in
• You are a new photography business owner (less than 1 year) or you are not full-time yet

About the class:

• We have a private Facebook group page for you to upload assignments and get critiqued by me
• I talk LIVE for 1 hour, every week for 4 weeks starting January 25 (Wednesdays) 5 p.m. PST
• Interactive LIVE chat room
• Notes and slideshow as you learn
• Weekly assignments so you can develop your style as you learn
• Worksheets to help you understand
• Recorded video playback – so yes, if you can’t watch at 5 pm PST, you can watch it when you get home.

Cost:

• $160 for 4 weeks – Paypal payments accepted
• SIGN UP NOW!

I’m so excited to teach this course again.  The past few courses have been so rewarding watching students grow in their talents and have the “ah-ha” moment.  Hope you can join, and dive into your passion!  Remember, it’s an investment for not only your business, but your memories.

Sign up for winter NOW: Creating the Image: Photography Basics & Beyond, January 25 – $160

The Testimonials

“It is so refreshing to take a course where the photographer is more interested in teaching how to take a perfect picture then talking about fixing everything in photoshop.  I have been very disheartened before and am now starting to feel like you can take those beautiful photos without photoshop.  So THANK YOU! I too believe that it should be about getting it right out of the camera!” – Alison

“I have to thank you for this class! I have been doing photography forever and took a couple classes in college 10 years ago. I learned manual mode back then but just didn’t understand it enough to use it. You have made it so easy for me to pick it back up and NOW I can honestly say, I won’t go back to auto! I have seen the changes to my pictures already! I just wanted to let you know how much your class helped!” –  Tammy

“Just three weeks into the course and I feel like my confidence when taking pictures has boosted! I walk into a photo shoot confident that my lighting will come out right. I always tried to find and google information about aperture, shutter speed,and ISO and I was always guided to the most complicated manuals and articles. I never really understood any of it. The way you have taught this workshop has made it so easy for me to understand and grasp the concepts. My friends and family are noticing that images are coming out a lot better ever since I started this workshop with you. Once again, I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge. I can’t wait to start your next workshop” – Alan

Diana Elizabeth believes in the “no child left behind” motto.  She applies this to her online courses.

Workshops

I figure nothing sells quite like a video.  Not really true, but maybe I can explain more about my upcoming course Creating the Image: Photography Basics & Beyond which is perfect for beginner DSLR owners or up and coming business owners.

If you aren’t exactly confident using your camera, you keep using that awful pop up flash without a diffuser, or you don’t know how to shoot on manual mode or backlight, take this course!

CIT graduate Alan posted this recently on my Facebook Page wall that I made me so happy to read:

Diana, this past weekend I was shooting at the beach and it went so well. I felt like I was one with my camera (so corny) but all I kept on thinking about was your workshop and how much that class helped me understand my camera! You totally made me a better photographer and I just wanted to thank you again!!! You rock!

It is 4-weeks online, every Monday starting October 3, 2011, 5 pm with recorded playback so you don’t even have to be by you computer!  Now time to hear it from me.

Sign up for Creating the Image: Photography Basics & Beyond

Diana Elizabeth wonders what kind of nonsense she’ll be saying once this class starts.  Talking for one hour straight is not the easiest thing, y’all.  However, she has the talking for an hour thing mastered, however the censoring herself, not so much.  You’ll see.

Photography, Workshops

Hello lovelies, it seems as though when I end one online workshop I am busy preparing for the next!

If you have recently picked up a DSLR and you don’t know a thing, take this course.  If you have a DSLR and you don’t shoot on manual mode, take this course.  If you do shoot on manual mode but you don’t understand lighting or how to backlight, find light or get correct exposure or get “the blur,” take this course.  If you want to know more about lenses and equipment, take this course.

I have worksheets, I talk to you for a full hour for 4 weeks.  You will learn manual mode in 30 minutes.

There will be a Facebook group for all attendees to help one another out and weekly assignments.

Read the testimonials, grab a friend if you must and sign up together.  I’ll see you in class starting Monday, October 3 for 4 weeks.  Can’t wait to see the lovely images you’ll create.

The Testimonials

“It is so refreshing to take a course where the photographer is more interested in teaching how to take a perfect picture then talking about fixing everything in photoshop.  I have been very disheartened before and am now starting to feel like you can take those beautiful photos without photoshop.  So THANK YOU! I too believe that it should be about getting it right out of the camera!” – Alison

“I have to thank you for this class! I have been doing photography forever and took a couple classes in college 10 years ago. I learned manual mode back then but just didn’t understand it enough to use it. You have made it so easy for me to pick it back up and NOW I can honestly say, I won’t go back to auto! I have seen the changes to my pictures already! I just wanted to let you know how much your class helped!” –  Tammy

“Just three weeks into the course and I feel like my confidence when taking pictures has boosted! I walk into a photo shoot confident that my lighting will come out right. I always tried to find and google information about aperture, shutter speed,and ISO and I was always guided to the most complicated manuals and articles. I never really understood any of it. The way you have taught this workshop has made it so easy for me to understand and grasp the concepts. My friends and family are noticing that images are coming out a lot better ever since I started this workshop with you. Once again, I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge. I can’t wait to start your next workshop” – Alan

Sign up for fall NOW: Creating the Image: Photography Basics & Beyond, October 3 – $160

Diana Elizabeth enjoys teaching so very very much, she adores her students to smithereens.

Photography, Workshops

Do you want to do any of these?

• Start a photography business (or at least start charging)
• Break into a certain market – weddings, babies, seniors?
• Get your work published on top wedding blogs
• Strengthen your brand
• Figure out your style
• Market your business
• Get published in magazines
• How to run a business
• And how to manage a personal life while running a business
• More….

Join me for 4 weeks starting Monday July 11 at 5 p.m. PST for a workshop on building your business for $199.  I’m also offering a $49 BizSpark pack which includes text for wedding contracts, print releases, model releases and text for clients on backing up their memories.  Sign up now! CLICK HERE!

Recorded and downloadable video playback is available for international students or if you have to miss a class on vacay or whatever reason! There will be a powerpoint presentation, live video and chat room.  Weekly assignments will be given so you can immediately work on your business!  More from me here…Hope to see you in class!  And um, holy cow I talk way too fast, so sorry!

Thank you UNDFIND for sponsoring the prize for this next workshop!  So happy to have you on board and thankful for all of your support!

Diana Elizabeth’s hair is supposed to be a messy fishtail braid.  Just in case you if you were wondering if she just rolled out of bed, no, she didn’t.  She was going for the Free People catalog look.

Photography, Video Blogs, Workshops

“Oh my gosh I was so nervous that I peed four times before class started,” I announced at the end of my first online class.  ”Aaaand I just realized this is recorded so that’s just great.”

I was excited, nervous and unsure how well received Creating the Image: Photography Basics & Beyond would be taken.  I prayed for just five to show up.  Seven signed up within the first week.  Then I hoped for 20.  We had 34 total across the world that joined in.  Some had never picked up a DSLR before, others were hobbyists that weren’t sure how to shoot on manual mode and just a handful of up and coming professionals.  Whatever their stage, they were eager to learn and attended class every Monday at 5 PM, uploaded their images to our Facebook group and shared their settings.

30 minutes into the first class they knew manual mode.  Each week their homework assignments got better and better.  I was talking about them, showing their work off to any one who would listen, and I beamed with pride.  At night I even laid there wondering if any one was lost.  Surely I would be on the “Leave no child behind” campaign because I wanted to make sure every student got it.

At the end of four weeks, they amazed me.  Before I share some of their work, I want to let you know about the upcoming workshops.

They will take place Mondays at 4 p.m. PST and lasting 4 weeks. Sign up now to reserve your seat:

• Creating the Image: Photography Basics & Beyond, October 3 – $160
• Marketing Momentum: Kickstart Your Photography Business, July 11 – $199 + ($49 optional BizSpark add-on: includes contracts, model release & print releases)

Row 1: Belle Young, SPY Photography, Devonport, Tasmania / Tammy Zelez, Phoenix, Ariz.
Row 2: Alan Navarrete, Smiles by Alan, Miami, FL / Shana Plauman, Phoenix, Ariz.

The Testimonials

“It is so refreshing to take a course where the photographer is more interested in teaching how to take a perfect picture then talking about fixing everything in photoshop.  I have been very disheartened before and am now starting to feel like you can take those beautiful photos without photoshop.  So THANK YOU! I too believe that it should be about getting it right out of the camera!” – Alison

“I have to thank you for this class! I have been doing photography forever and took a couple classes in college 10 years ago. I learned manual mode back then but just didn’t understand it enough to use it. You have made it so easy for me to pick it back up and NOW I can honestly say, I won’t go back to auto! I have seen the changes to my pictures already! I just wanted to let you know how much your class helped!” –  Tammy

“Just three weeks into the course and I feel like my confidence when taking pictures has boosted! I walk into a photo shoot confident that my lighting will come out right. I always tried to find and google information about aperture, shutter speed,and ISO and I was always guided to the most complicated manuals and articles. I never really understood any of it. The way you have taught this workshop has made it so easy for me to understand and grasp the concepts. My friends and family are noticing that images are coming out a lot better ever since I started this workshop with you. Once again, I want to thank you for sharing your knowledge. I can’t wait to start your next workshop” – Alan

Sign up for fall NOW: Creating the Image: Photography Basics & Beyond, October 3 – $160

Diana Elizabeth used to want to be a teacher when she was growing up.  She made her younger brother Blake sit and pretend he was a student.  She even tried to make her own projector with a cardboard box, flashlight and saran wrap.  Hey, it sort of made sense, right?

Photography, Workshops

I have so much to tell you about it.  Thrilled to have you all in class!

- Join the Diana Elizabeth Workshops Facebook group so you can get help
- 4 weeks of learning! And watching me talk to white noise (luckily I have had practice with my regular video blogging)
- $125 for all 4 weeks!
- Take this course and get a discount for the next workshop – How to Run a Photography Business!

Diana Elizabeth felt a bit lazy not cleaning her office, but at least you got to see the rest of her office, right?

Photography, Video Blogs, Workshops

Sometimes I can’t believe I get the opportunities that I do.

I will be teaching a 4-week online course with live video feed of me talking, teaching and preaching about photography while watching a visual powerpoint presentation to help you as you take notes and show you images and how I achieve them.  There will be an online chat area so you can ask me questions as we go along and weekly assignments for you to go out and show me what you’ve learned and I’ll review them the next class.

If, for any reason you cannot make it to class or that time, you can watch a recorded video to catch up.

This course is perfect for first time DSLR owners and budding business owners.

Creating the Image: Photography Basics & Beyond

Starting: Monday, May 2, 2011 (4 week course, every Monday)
Time: 5 pm PST
Cost: $125

You will learn about:

• Equipment favorites and resources
• The correct lenses to use in order to capture the image you want
• ISO, shutterspeed, and aperture (and how they all relate)
• Composition secrets
• Lighting techniques—silhouette, backlighting, golden light, open shade, bounce flash, direct flash, and more!
• Working with subjects to get the reactions you want—children, couples, families
• Posing and styling techniques
• Post processing—using actions and presets
• And much, much more!

SIGN UP NOW!! I cannot wait to meet you!  Yes, I will know every one of your names and see all of your work that you submit.

Many thanks to Jen Jones of Creative Groove for this opportunity.  I am so excited!  And yes, for those wondering, I would love to eventually offer different courses that would touch upon running a photography business and post processing.

Diana Elizabeth will need to put a sticky note on her computer to remind her she is on air because it is so quiet, she might forget and start talking or humming to herself.  And, this means she must really clean her office to avoid background distractions.  Oh join in on the fun, won’t you?

Photography, Video Blogs, Workshops

**This class has passed.  For updated courses, go to my course page to see what the latest schedule is and sign up!**

I’m thinking of hosting my first mini course in the new year.

For: DSLR beginners
When: Tentative date: Saturday, January 22, 2011
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: TBD somewhere in Central Phoenix. Ideas welcome.

This mini course by Diana Elizabeth Photography will be for you if:

• You still shoot on the green box.
• You don’t even know what the green box is.
• You want to know what a good lens is and what is worth the investment.
• You want to get “the blur” and you call it “blur” (come to the course and find out what it really is called).
• You want to know what ISO is…
• And shutterspeed…
• And aperture…
• And how they all relate.
• You want to know a bit more about composition.
• And how to find good lighting.
• You don’t have to want to make photography a career (but I said the same thing once!), you just want to capture better images.
• Your camera is still in the box and you’re feeling overwhelmed.

I might not be able to answer all of your questions, but I’ll try.  We will laugh and we will have fun.   And, it will be super casual, a safe environment to learn, and you won’t feel dumb.  Pinky swear.  You will walk away with confidence and friendships (I will make you all wear name tags and go around and say your most embarrassing moment which typically then forms an instant bond, so I’ve heard.  I’m totally kidding).

I am planning on having a limit of attendees so I can answer all questions (they say in education that the teacher student ratio is important, this I have also heard).

For those wondering, I would like to have a course about photography business, marketing, workflow and more techniques for those who already know how to use their camera – more on lighting, equipment, etc.  I’ll probably collaborate with another photography brainiac, we’ll see.  Would love to know how’s interested in that, shoot me an email.

It’s the weekend.  Go out and shoot life, it’s beautiful.

Diana Elizabeth asked for a 100mm/2.8 macro lens for Christmas from her mom and dad.  Her dad has made numerous comments that he is happy to know that Diana now invests in items that will give her a return investment instead of shoes and purses.  Diana still swears purses are an investment.  The return investment?  Dates.

Personal, Photography, Workshops