"Love is the selfless promotion of the growth of the other." Milton Mayeroff - This quote from Love is the Killer App has really had an impact on me.

I have found six women in my town that love photography and their families. They do not necessarily have enough money for me to come to their home every few months to capture their lives. So I've decided to start a little Photography Lessons...for free. Every second Monday of the month, they will come to my home. They will arrive with their new Nikon D50's proudly in hand, and ready to learn. I'll be going over the basics. Every month, they will have "homework." They will finish their assignments and then we will all have some CC when they come back the next month. Then we'll learn new tid bits along the way.

Their tuition is some good eats for us all to enjoy. The goal is not to make them Professional, just increase their awareness and interest in photography.

Our first meeting is next Monday night and they are all very excited.

You have all taught me so much about giving of our knowledge. I didn't want to stop with those on OSP.

that's just awesome!

That's a wonderful idea, Katie!
Life is richer because of relationships like these.
Thanks for sharing your passion for photography with others!

Rachel

What a great idea Katie!! How did you meet them?

Thanks guys!

I met them through my church. (one is my sister) Little to my knowledge, she had always had a desire for photography, but never wanted to look like she was trying to compete with me or be in my shadow with it. I told her not to worry about that at all! She is very excited about finally being able to pursue this.

They are mothers who care for their children and families. They don't invest in themselves much...or get away from their children much. So, this is bettering their photography skills, but also the feeling that someone cares about them.

that's a great thing you're doing!


My brother and I are doing a similar thing, less gracious than your act however, every week we decide on a topic and have a week to come up with 3 images, in an effort to better our camera abilities - We're both very new to this, it's fun to do it with others in real life - OSP is a testement to that (see all the meet and greet inferences)


You know good things come from simple ideas - wait and see.

I'm looking forward to see what comes of it!

How generous and amazing of you!

That is very sweet of you! Kudos Katie!!!

Thank you all for your sweet words! I'm really not trying to get praise here, but to encourage you all to do the same!

You are awesome KatieBT (you are too Chris)!! You guys give soooo much! Thats not unlike a lot of the mom's Catherine consults with on their newborns, lot of times they just cant afford it, and what you do for them will be appreciated far beyond anything you can imagine!! And while Im in here, thanks for all the hard work already on OSPS3! Giving spirits, surely blessed!!!

Thanks Mike, you are so sweet to say all of that. I'll definitely keep you all posted with pictures of how the time with them progresses.

That's so awesome!

To share a bit of something similar, it has became evident that when my friends come over to my house to hang out, a good portion of the time will inevitably become a photo workshop, wish them snapping with their p&s and asking questions. We tell them what different features on their cameras do and show them how they work. It's always really fun. But I have to say, your idea of tutorial sessions & good eats really provides something more tangible than the casual ask and tell, and that it can really inspire people.

I may want to adopt and adapt this format for my friends if they cultivate enough interest in photography.

This rocks!

That's awesome Katie...nice way to give back!

Bentley

This is great Katie.

Thank you all so much! It did start out with everyone asking me how to work their cameras...I figured I might as well structure this and really make it a learning experience.

People don't understand why I'm not charging....maybe the lovecat mentality will be absorbed as well.

Simply Brilliant! And what's funny is that in some markets, some would look at that as giving away your "secrets"... LOL!

You will do nothing but benefit from this! Great job!

You totally rock Katie! I adore that idea!!!!!

Woohoo!

Thank you Nathan and Amber!

You are both so sweet! Oh, yea did you see how my group will be Nikons....I'm using my influence.

I thougth since they were all looking, it would be easier to keep them all on the same model and brand so they can learn with each other.

Katie, this is so crazy that you posted this today because I am starting something similar this coming Monday night! I have a friend who was going to sign up for a photography class, but was overwhelmed at the idea of driving over there and being in a stiff "artist" environment. So, I said, "Why don't we just meet every two weeks and go over some basic stuff?" So, I think I have 4 women meeting me at Panera's next week. They are all moms who want to be able to take pictures of their kids on an everyday basis. My payment is in coffee

So, my cheesy title for the "class" is - Click Chicks (I Bought an Expensive Camera, Now What?)

I would love to hear your ideas for your lesson plans and assignments. I wrote up one last night and it goes something like this:

Lesson 1: Exposure
Lesson 2: Light
Lesson 3: Composition
Lesson 4: Angle
Lesson 5: White Balance
Lesson 6: Subjects
Lesson 7: Style

Lesson 8: Lenses
Lesson 9: Flashes
Lesson 10: Camera Bodies
Lesson 11: Lightmeters
Lesson 12: Computers/Software

Lesson 13 & Beyond – TBD based on the desires of the class

My thoughts are that it takes a lot more than photography knowledge to run a photography business, so teaching people stuff like this just makes them appreciate the time I've put into my business even more.

Karen, that is so awesome!

I was part of a mentoring group in my church. It was called "Apples of Gold." I was in it with most of these women. Chris thought it would be funny to do some history in photography mixed with a play on the other name. So our name is "Plates of Silver." It was a joke, but I thought I'd just go with it.

I still need to come up with lessons, but I like the direction you were going in!

I love that you are doing this too!!!

I've heard of several churches doing series on digital photography - we had one at the church I used to sing for - and it was a HUGE hit!