I've had a DSLR for four years and finally decided that I needed to stop treating it like a point-and-shoot. At first I tried looking up photography blogs online and tutorials on YouTube. While I found a lot of helpful tips, I ultimately felt like I needed to set aside a dedicated chunk of time and attention to learning the basics. One quick "photography class" search on Groupon, and a cross-check of Yelp reviews for this studio later, and I had a voucher for two beginner classes and/or photo walks for $142.40 (the usual price is $178, which is still a steal, but Groupon usually has some sort of 20/25% off promotional code floating around). It was easy enough to book the beginner class because they offered at least one each week, usually on Saturday or Sunday morning. I chose a Saturday morning session, 10 am to 1 pm, at their studio in the Mission. For some reason 3 hours seemed like a long period of time on paper, but the actual class just flew by. Darrell was our instructor and he walked us through shutter speed, aperture, ISO and some composition tips, all while fielding questions specific to the different cameras everyone brought in - very helpful! He also gave some suggestions on starter equipment with reasonable price ranges (i.e. prime lenses, tripod, circular lenses, etc.). It was a bit harder to book the photo walk since those only seem to come around once per month, but it's not impossible. In late November, I was able to book a Sunday evening session, 3:30 to 5:30 PM, in early December. You start off at the Warming Hut Cafe near Crissy Field, make your way up to a lookout point with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge, and then head up close to Fort Point with views of the Golden Gate and the SF skyline at dusk. Darrell was our guide on this excursion and we had a chance to play around with f-stops, depth of field, white balance, histograms and metering. After we wrapped up our class, I decided to head off to Farmhouse Thai for dinner with coworkers and then Salt & Straw for dessert (can't waste any trips into SF if you live in the East Bay), lol. All in all, I credit Isla Studio with helping me feel more confident in manual mode - no more auto for me! read more

Isla Studio - 12.3.17 - Photography Walk - Session Photography Near Me

Wow! After years of treating my expensive DSLR like a point-and-shoot camera, I decided to look into a class, and boy am I glad I did! Our instructor (Lindsay) was incredibly patient, thorough, and taught us not just the basics of photography itself, but also how to operate our own cameras (and iPhones, for those who needed it). She gave great, practical suggestions on where we could go to continue our learning, and followed up with more great advice after the class. Couldn't recommend this class more. read more

I took the class with Michael. He was knowledgeable, clear, patient, funny, and easygoing. I've taken a college-level photo course (20-plus years ago, when it was mainly darkroom technique) and one other single-shot photo class, from other institutions/vendors. I've enjoyed all the classes; I like the subject matter. That said, I thought Isla was terrific. I am considering and likely will take other classes of theirs, schedule permitting. About 20 people, a full house. Spartan venue. (You either eat early or late or snack; they warn you about that.) Just Michael talking. Plenty of Q&A. Only one moment of taking photos. Covered aperture, shutter speed, ISO, basics of the controls. Concepts of lighting. The "rule of thirds" for composition. So very basic, but thorough. Emphasis was on how to use the manual controls. Would not be enough for someone who thought they would emerge shooting National Geographic covers, but that is not a realistic expectation going in. Also oriented toward people who want to be serious about learning, not who suppose that the technology is more important than technique. Come prepared. read more

Isla Studio - Teacher - Session Photography Near Me

I purchased a Groupon for a photography 101. Classes were offered during the week and weekend. Booking my class was online and a cinch! No need to bring a piece of paper to confirm I was registered - Isla was all about saving trees. Lindsay was my instructor - her hippie nature brought a twist of humor and comfort in what could have been a very dull, 3-hr lecture. She had a hands-on approach and a real easy way of breaking down terminology using simple analogy and basic concepts in snapping that "perfect" picture. Again, this was an introduction to Photography. I have owned a DSLR for a number of years and still don't know how to use it. If you're like me, this is the class you want to take. You'll learn about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, the rule of 3rds. The nice thing about this is that the presentation covers how to change your settings on your camera. And if you're lost, Lindsay will show you herself. HANDS-ON APPROACH is the best way to go. I took a photography class through Blue Sky Rental which covered the same thing. But Isla Studio was much more organized and conducted a presentation that was thorough and easier to understand. And most importantly, it was half the cost. After this introduction, are the walking shoots.....and I'm so there! read more

I purchased a groupon and it was very easy to make an online reservation. I was also sent an email reminder prior to the day of the class. I arrived on Wednesday evening and was hoping that Mel would be teaching the course because all the reviews of Mel were glowing. On the day that I was there, Lindsay taught the course. Overall, this is a great course for someone who just purchased a DSLR or was given one as a gift and has no clue what to do with it. I did learn about aperture, shutter speed, the rule of 3rds, and the sunny 16 rule. Some people only had a point and shoot and I am not sure they got as much out of it as those with the DSLR cameras. More importantly, it made me excited about using my camera on the manual setting. I wish I had met Mel because his nature photography is stunning and I really wanted to know how he captured some of those shots! read more

I had such a great experience, and would definitely recommend this studio! I took the intro to photography class, and it was very educational. Doesn't matter which camera you have either -- our instructor (Bill) walked around and taught us how to access the features on our own cameras. I'm guessing you could prob figure out all of the details on your own but that's the one great benefit of a class: they put it all together in one session for you. read more

Isla Studios purports to offer "Photography 101." In reality, the class is photography 001, a watered-down, expensive (even at Groupon prices) version of a super-beginning photo-class. Held not in Isla Studio's own offices but in a rent-an-office at Citizen Space, Isla Studio's "Intro to Photography" class" is a waste of money. The group-buying offer advertised "advanced learning" and included a "photo walk," but not only was the learning super-basic, but the photo walk was not mentioned (or offered) at all. Participants would be better served by spending three hours reading the manual of their digital cameras (free) or browsing the Web (for example, http://www.digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-composition-tips) versus spending the ~$175 to attend this relatively content-free lecture. BTW, "Mel" does not teach all the classes. His "assistant" Lindsay does. A bit of "bait and switch." The GroupOn, Zozi, HomeRun, etc. offer from Isla Studios may seem like a good deal. It isn't. Save your money and move on. This class from Isla Studios is not worth your time or money. read more

As an Asian, I have tons of pricey cameras, and as an avid cat lady, I have thousands of photos of my "children." However, I've never been able to get beyond the point-and-shoot features of my fancy schmancy cameras or been inspired enough to photograph much beyond my cats and/or boyfriend with said cats. Down deep though, I've always loved the idea of being able to take truly beautiful, artistic photos. So when boyfriend got me this class as a Xmas gift, I thought it was an awesome idea. Little did I know how awesome it would be. I totally enjoyed myself at the class today, and Lindsay was great. I had taken an intro to photography class years ago through the adult learning annex, and I remembered being very confused at the end. I certainly didn't feel like I could apply the knowledge that I had learned. That was certainly not the case with the class I took today, which was the introduction to digital SLR. Everything was explained in a way that made a lot of sense, which I think will really go far towards helping me remember these details. Lindsay taught us about exposure, shutter speed, aperture/f-stop, IOS, varieties of lenses, and composition. The best part was that we were shown where all of these features could be accessed on our cameras and taught how to use them. The class was also really well-organized, which is something that I always value and respect in education. My class was conducted on Sunday afternoon, and there was a lot of available metered parking (free on Sundays) along Bryant St, with some available on 2nd St as well. By the end of the class, I was really excited about practicing and learning more about my camera. I can't wait to apply my new-found knowledge. Final analysis: I highly recommend this class for beginner photography buffs. Just make sure to bring your cameras so that you can learn via hands-on practice and ask questions of the teacher. read more

Husband bought me this class for Christmas so I could learn how to use my camera. Beginner was awesome. Small class, great instructor (Michael), perfect balance of details and big pic info, useful tips... Overall great class! Def worth the money so you can get the most out of your DSLR or hybrid camera. I'm excited to practice my new skills! Other tips - relatively easy parking, Michael helped me with understanding how to use my specific camera (did so with other students), no camera needed for class if you don't have one, class 3 hrs long with one 10 min break read more

My photos definitely got an upgrade after sitting through one of their classes. I'm an amateur photographer who's always kind of fumbled through all the settings on my digital SLR camera and sometimes got lucky with great photos, but also had many missed moments because of my lack of camera basics. I took a class in Seattle with Mel and about 7 others. He gave a good framework covering basic terminology and functions of cameras to breaking down shutter speed and aperture. It was so helpful to understand when and how to use it. He gave good examples answered a lot of questions. It was easy to follow and I was never bored. If you are a more advanced photographer, you might be bored. If you don't know what "Av" or "Tv" is, sign up. Well worth it. read more

Michael is such a great teacher. I went to a beginners photography class last weekend not knowing what to expect. Three hours later I finally knew all the functions on my camera and was thought how to take a. Real picture without using a flash by shooting on Manuel. The whole class, which was sold out, was mesmerized. I will definitely take more classes from ISLA. Thanks Michael for the awesome class! Tony King read more

Like most everyone else, I found Isla Studio via Living Social and it seemed like a fun way to spend a few hours. I actually jumped on the deal before realizing the class is geared toward complete beginners- while I definitely still have a lot to learn, I'm probably a bit past the beginner stage. The class was more seminar-style than hands on, with photographer, Mel, presenting a slide show for almost 4 hours. While that sounds really long, the class actually flew by! And since there were only ten students we had every opportunity to ask questions. The presentation started off ultra slow and initially that had me worried, but it picked up soon enough. I found the section on aperture/shutter speed to be a good review and a couple of things actually clicked for the first time. The whole presentation was very clearly outlined and Mel's analogies helped get points across. I also picked up some new information regarding use of graduated filters and tricks for landscape photography, since this is Mel's forte. His photos were also a wonderful inspiration and my favorite part of the class! My only issue is that since it's a seminar format, there's pretty much no hands-on learning. In my previous classes, I found the most helpful part to be our "homework", where we'd go out and take pictures, then come back to class and review composition, settings, etc. Unfortunately, since this is one-time class that type of feedback isn't available. Hopefully in the future, Mel will consider doing a series of classes or even a class with a field-trip included. And also some intermediate classes would be wonderful too. The class is definitely is geared more toward those who have never taken their camera off the "auto" setting, and for said people, it can be really beneficial. You'd probably need more than just this class to improve, but it's a great start. And in my case, while most of it was review, it was still neat to see everyone (including myself!) excited to get out there and start taking pictures. read more

A solid class for a true beginner. I received a voucher for this 3 hour class as a gift from a friend. Although I've previously attended a beginners' photography workshop at Calumet SF, I must say that I enjoyed the one Isla Studio offers much better. 1. Actual hands on: the instructor not only lectures on the basics of photography, but he also teaches you how to locate various settings on your actual camera (point and shoot as well as DSLR). The teacher was efficient and knowledgeable in navigating various brands of cameras. 2. The presentation was simple, and straight forward. The lecturer teaches the beginner how to take a decent picture whether you shoot in jpg or raw. Whereas the impression I got from the Calumet class was that you don't have to take a very good picture because Adobe Photoshop can make any picture look great. 3. The lecturer had a very good understanding of the material, was very efficient and knew how to use various brands of cameras which was very helpful to the learners. I would definitely recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn how to use their camera and learn how to take a decent picture. read more

I just purchased my first DSLR camera and needed some guidance of where to begin/basics. The manual is helpful-but seeing someone in person and going over the various settings and buttons is much better. I purchased the deal on Groupon and went to Michael's class this past Sunday. He was very knowledgable, funny and the class flew by! He kept the information high level without going into too much detail, which was perfect. Everyone seemed to enjoy his humor-2 thumbs up! There was question and answer oppurtunities as well as after class photo opportunity, taking what we had learned and class and actually using it. Overall, I highly recommend this class to someone starting out or wanting a refresher of the basics. I will definitely be back for more classes. read more

Excellent beginners class. Michael is a very engaging, effective, and entertaining instructor. I look forward to doing the photo walk but I'm bummed I didn't buy the Groupon that included this with the class. I'm so excited to start using my non-manual settings! Now I need a tripod... read more

Feeding on my new hobby, I took a 3 hour photography class here. I love taking tons and tons of pictures and wanted to take it to the next level. It was a fun, info-filled class. I have been reading some but only now have I truly grasp what ISO, shutter speed and aperture is all about and how they relate to one another. The class also covered camera features and controls, lighting, composition, color and plenty of Q & A. William was a good teacher. Inspite of the fact that he's a pro, he's unassuming and nothing he said was way on top of our heads. He's very mindful of the beginners who just wants to know all about their camera. The class is hands on, thank God I brought my camera. I have a better understanding of most of its functions and dials now. I appreciate more the mechanics of "picture taking" now that I know the concept behind it. And after learning about the camera modes, I am leaving all the "crap modes" and sticking to manual. It's so much fun and I feel I get more out of it. I'm so glad I took the class. Glad that I got confirmation too that I did a good choice for my entry level DSLR. William mentioned that most cameras like the Nikon D3100 (which I own) can be much better that the professional ones before of how technology is nowadays. Parking tip: NO parking in the area. $2 an hour for the meters. There's a 2 hour limit parking at Gough. You can park at the garage, AMC can validate your parking ticket for $8 (Am I allowed to advertise that?) for up to 5 hours. read more

Like some of the others who attended Mel's class, I'd done some reading before going to class, but never felt comfortable enough switching my DSLR setting out of auto for any picture except waterfalls. And while I understood technically what shutter speed and aperture did, I never really sorted out when to favour one setting over another. It finally "clicked" in Mel's class though, and for that alone I got more than my money's worth. :) I like the way Mel took his time to explain through all the concepts. Our class was supposed to be 3 hours long - I think Mel gave us 4+ hours of his time through all the questions we asked and offered to stay even longer to address our issues individually. Because the class was set to any level (our class was mixed between those still choosing a camera versus budding photographers), some things were a little bit slower paced than if we were all on the same page. I would have also liked to spend a little less time with the explanation of the rule of thirds, and more time looking at interesting photos and dissecting its composition (or other composition tips). But I definitely appreciated the fact Mel took his time to explain everything to all of us. Worth your afternoon or evening! read more

Went to this class last night as I've been meaning to really understand the manual settings of my DSLR for awhile. Michael taught my class and he was really knowledgeable and funny as well. The class gave a high level overview of how to use aperture and shutter speed to compose the shots you want--this was just what I was looking for, a basic understanding. My husband had bought me a lesson last year with a private teacher and in the 2 hours I spent with him, I learned nothing. In this 3 hour class i learned: what the settings on my camera mean how to adjust them (where the buttons are) what the numbers of those settings mean when I'm setting them how to prioritize what you look at first (shutter speed vs aperture) The class helped everyone in the class find the buttons they needed and make the adjustments themselves. It's not a walkabout class (though they have those) but it shows you the tools you need to operate your camera--just what i wanted. I would recommend you attend this class WITH your DSLR camera. Some people did have point and shoots, but it seemed more geared for those with DSLR. read more

Just took the 3 hour class this morning with William. I consider myself beginner/intermediate with my Nikon DSLR, and he was a great teacher. He had a good agenda to go over the basic functions of getting out of auto-mode on your camera, and utilizing your manual mode functions. Some people did have point and shoot cameras, and I thought he did a good job in trying to balance information between what you can do on a point and shoot and on a DSLR. I have a bunch of point and shoot cameras, and never knew they had such capabilities. He also took the time to really answer all the class' questions, and show you how to use your camera. Photography is a hobby of mine, and I really enjoyed the information I took away from the class. 3 hours went by quick left there knowing more, and excited to practice what I've learned. 5 stars for William :-) read more

So today I participated in the 3-hour Beginner Photography class with William. I was very pleased with it. It was well-organized, and covered the basics of photography in a very intuitive, simple manner. I would highly recommend this class for someone new at photography. And I had a Groupon for this class so it only cost me $49 - totally worth the price! Tip: bring your camera with you - William is excellent at figuring out how to make YOUR particular camera work well for you. Also, a pen and paper might help, to echo a previous commenter - there's a ton of information not on the slides emailed after the class that you might want to jot down. Overall, a great use of three hours on a Sunday morning! read more

I took from this class, how the different settings will affect the shot and how to adjust those settings on our DSLR camera. Little was said about how to frame up the better portrait and vacation photo. In just three hours I have gone from devoted "auto" setting user to adjusting priority settings. I hope an intermediate class will become available. Very helpful! Highly recommend. Great gift idea. Thanks Guys! read more

I took the basics class on how to use the new DSLR's and it was great. William was a great teacher. Very informative and patient with a large class. It's what everyone needs who buys a DSLR. Half the buttons on there you don't even need to use. I also got some great tips on photo composition and light. Thanks again. I would love to take an intermediate photography class as well. read more

A friend and I took this class a week ago. The instructor, William, was not only knowledgable, but taught the class in a way that was easy to understand and entertaining as well. He also took the time to talk with students one on one in what he humorously refers to as "the healing of the cameras." All in all, a very good class for those unfamiliar with the functions of their DSLR's and in need of basic photography tips. Incidentally, we got a great deal on Groupon for this class. read more

I took the intro class with William last night. He was a terrific instructor. Very entertaining, engaged with everyone in the class, and taught us all how to use our cameras in very simple and memorable terms. Presentation was well organized with lots of great examples. Class was all beginners, most with new cameras (variety of DSLR's and point and shoots) and little experience. He spent time with everyone individually throughout the session as well to help us get familiar with our own cameras, which was very nice. I left knowing how to shoot quality images in Manual mode, and how most of the functions on my DSLR work. Looking forward to apply this new knowledge right away. Highly recommend this class, especially if you get a promo deal on it. Worth the price! read more

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend a Photography 101 class taught by Mel S. of Isla Studio. I purchased the class through Living Social, so I know I got a good deal! Mel's presentation style was at a comfortable pace and he defined all the key terms and material in chunks that were easy to absorb. I think the only thing that was frustrating is that some folks brought in their point & shoots, instead of a DSLR. Mel had to adjust his material to include the P&S folks, which he did seamlessly. If you've recently purchased a DSLR and want to break away from the Automatic mode or the Uncle Bob settings, you should take this class. read more

A friend and I bought the Yelp deal and took the 3 hour class this past weekend. I think it's important to note that this is a class meant for beginners with very little knowledge of camera functions and for people with some sort of SLR camera. They touch on all the important basics such as aperture, shutter speed, and a few other functions on your camera. Because there are so many different types of cameras being brought to the class, most of the class is spent with the instructor showing each student how to find the different functions on their cameras. I think it is a nice course to help build a foundation on basic camera functions but certainly not worth the $100 we paid for it. read more

Just finished taking the Advanced Class and am so glad I did! I had Lindsay, and she is a phenomenal teacher - creating a casual atmosphere in which students can learn while at the same time delivering key pieces of information. This class focuses on deeper settings in the DSLR camera (now I think I know most of the major buttons and settings on my camera), but also a significant amount of time on photos themselves, like composition and color. We brought in some photos of our own, and that was one of the best parts of the class. You know that feeling when you've been looking at your photo for too long and just can't figure out what it needs to look better? Well, Lindsay gives you her expert eye for the photos you bring in and offers recommendations on what she would have done differently, and points out in actual photographs those key concepts that you learned in class. Extremely helpful! If you are feeling like your photography has "plateaued" or just want to kick it up to the next level - take this class. It's educational and reinvigorating! read more

I had the pleasure of taking a photography class from Mel on Sunday. I am so pleased. Not only did I finally learn how to use my DSLR (never again will I use an automatic setting) I now have a good appreciation of the basics of photography including aperture, shutter speed and the rule of thirds. Mel is a very talented photographer who is patient with his students. If you are like me, with a $1,000 camera and no clue what to do with it, take his class immediately. Three hours will change your photographs forever. read more

Ten stars on a five-star scale!!! Excellent class! I was a bit skeptical that the instructor (Mel) would be burnt out from giving so many courses to all those that bought the Living Social deal. The reality is that my concerns were totally unfounded. He was excellent. He has such passion for photography that it was not only incredibly informative but also quite entertaining. His course is very easy to follow; very user-friendly; his presentation is nicely laid out in a way that ensures everyone is on the same page and understands the concepts before moving on to the next area. I was very impressed with his PowerPoint as it was very engaging, showing examples of everything that was being taught. He's an incredible photographer and understands what it's like to NOT be a professional -- but just be someone who loves to take good pictures. Location was great. Facilities were totally spacious. Free beverages -- wow, when do you ever get that? Why didn't a take a class from him years ago? I feel like I wasted so much time staring at all the unknown buttons on my camera -- until now! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

I am onto my second DSLR in the last 7 years and still using it as a "point and shoot" camera. The only setting I know how to use is automatic mode on both of my Nikon & Canon DSLR's. I have the "Rebel T3i/600D for Dummies" book but could not get too far with my learning. I always get intimidated with all the technical photography terms & concepts, even with a book for dummy : ) I got the Groupon deal and went to Michael's class today. That was time well spent... I love the flow of his class, a lot of fun with his good sense of humor. His teaching sounded much more simple compare to my "dummies" book. When someone asked question ahead of his training, he would hold it off until the right time to provide an answer; this really helped avoiding confusion to the rest of the class. The class setting is pretty casual. You can bring snack and drink with you. According to Michael, we should receive the powerpoint of his training so there is no need to take note. Make sure to bring your camera so you can play with it during and after the training. read more

I just took the three-hour photo class at Isla Studio with William and it was as good as I could have hoped. I've been taking pictures for a couple years with a DSLR, but hadn't gotten much beyond the Auto setting. This class was good for beginners or semi-knowledgeable photographers; it was broad without being too much of an overview, and went into a good amount of specifics in the important areas, especially shutter speed and aperture. There was plenty of time throughout for questions and tips, and overall felt like a great way to make advanced photography less intimidating. One note: This class is definitely geared more toward people with DSLRs -- if you have a point-and-shoot, make sure it has a "Manual" mode before signing up, or else there's just not going to be a lot for you. For everyone else, it's well worth the investment. read more

I'm late in posting this review, but feh. Like a lot of the previous reviewers, I attended Mel's class courtesy of the Living Social deal. This was back in early November. I think I was the only one in the class who didn't already own a DSLR. I felt a little weird about that at first, but it wasn't a disadvantage by any means. As for Mel's teaching style, I enjoyed it. Having had to teach beginner and how-to courses myself on subject matter that tends to be quite technical, I know what works and what doesn't (there are exceptions to the rule, of course). And I find that analogies and image association work best for both comprehension and retention. Mel does plenty of this. It also helps when your instructor has an obvious love for the subject matter. And Mel most definitely does. I didn't give him five stars because of the location. My class was on a Friday night at Citizen Space. Holy arctic glaciers Batman! That place was cold! Trying to take notes with "phalangicicles" sure wasn't easy. And don't get me started on the number of times sirens interrupted the presentation (it's SF, I know). But I suppose I can't beat up the location too much given it was so close to where "the dude" lives and made it super easy for him to pick me up. Still though, if your class is at Citizen Space during the evening, dress warmly. read more

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I didn't want to read the manual that came with my Canon T2i. So, I signed up for this class and I learned a ton in 3 hours. It was great. The instructor presented info on camera mechanics, aperture, how to set up a nice photo (rule of thirds!), how/when to take pictures with flash, etc. He was easy to learn from and approachable. After the class, I still had to read the manual (sad face) to understand the specifics of my camera, but it was easy (happy face) because I was already familiar with the terms and the basics. read more

I just took the 3 hour beginner photo class with William yesterday and learned so much in the short time we had! William was great at explaining the shutter speed, aperture, composition, and just the basics of how to get the most out of your camera. I wished I had taken the class before I bought my camera since William spent the time to teach you the basics of camera equipment and how to use the basics to get the pictures you want. Unlike a camera shop salesman who just wants to sell you the most expensive equipment available. Most class members had expensive DSLRs, but I bought an advanced point and shoot (Canon G12) and everything I learned was useful for the camera I had. But as another reviewer mentioned definitely bring your camera with you. William was very patient to show everyone the idiosyncrasies of their individual cameras. I bought my camera this month in preparation for a trip to Tahiti and wanting to take underwater pictures. I feel much more prepared to use my camera in many settings and it was definitely worth the time and money (I used the $50 off Yelp special). Great class for beginners. Hopefully, with a little time I will be ready for a class on learning the tricks of post-processing after my Tahiti trip. read more

Disclaimer: My brother bought me this class for my birthday (it was the best gift ever) however, it's well worth the money. I had been trying out photography on my own for the better part of a year before attending this class. Bill was our leader, and enlightened the class on many things I already knew. However, in just two slides, he greatly improved my skills by giving me crucial beginner information i had earlier disregarded. He answered every single question i had ( i asked about 11 over the period of the class). Bill was fantastic. Simple, thorough, through the point, and made sure anyone, at any level was prepared. The true value came in the photography walk we took later that same day. This is where the true value was drawn. Bill helped me physically take better shots, told me where i might need to change my approach and encouraged my good shots. It's this type of hands-on experience i really needed. For anyone at any level, this class is simply amazing. read more

This 3-hour session reminded me and my SO about all the info we forgot learning in high school photo class. There was no camera snobbery, just good practical advice to improve your shots. The format is lecture-oriented. There were a few times where we looked at our cameras and the instructor Lindsay helped people find the relevant settings, but we basically watched a Powerpoint presentation and asked questions. We all took one practice picture at the end of class to practice what we learned. Lindsay was very open to answering questions and even stayed after class to help folks individually. If you need brushing up on aperture/f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings, this is the class for you. At $49 per person via a Groupon, the class was well worth the time and money. read more

I walked into Mel's class today with no experience with SLR cameras. However, after sitting through the three hour crash course, I am confident that I have a good understanding of how to take decent pictures with a DSLR (not using the auto mode/presets) and cannot wait to experiment with my new camera. Mel's class was very informative and interesting. I really enjoyed his teaching style -- his analogies are great and he did not get very tech-y with us. Although it is useful if you have a DSLR that you can bring with you as you can look at the settings on your camera as he teaches, it's not necessary. I would recommend this class even if you don't have a camera as you can still take home a lot and it can perhaps even give you ideas on what to look for if you shall ever decide to shell out the money for one. Tip: Take the class on a Sunday as the area consists of mostly one-hour parking only zones (restrictions apply every day) and meters (free on Sundays...woohoo!). Otherwise, it will be a real pain in the behind looking for parking any other day and worrying about feeding the meter. read more

This was a great intro class! I have been shooting with a DSLR for years, and have always been afraid of manual mode. I've done shutter priority, aperture priority, and the dreaded auto function. Now, I'm not afraid! I can take on the manual mode! Teacher was really good--he took the time to answer everyone's questions, find settings on the plethora of different cameras, and interact. I'd recommend this to anyone who doesn't know a whole lot. It's really helped my photography! read more

I found Isla Studio through Living Social. I've had my dSLR for a couple of years, read a few books on photography, but really live in Auto mode. Mel's explanation made what I'd read seem much more accessible, and frankly more plausible for me to try being more mindful about aperture and shutter speed. From previous reviews, it sounds like he used to take people for a walk to take some shots, and I think that would have been the one thing that would have made this class even better. read more

I wish I could give a lot more stars but I will stick to 5 (sigh).... I took the class and what an amazing/educational/friendly and informative class... they are so camera savvy and people friendly :-) I want more classes - may be a weekend bootcamp, walking tours, hands on classes and may be even photoshop or other post processing software overviews... good job on doing this and people in SF can now take good pictures... If I have an event - I would ask them to come be my special photographers.... All I am going to say I WANT MORE - even some personal or 1-1 classes would be good... Thanks for doing this class lindsey and you all rock read more