I've been taking classes for about a year now and I couldn't be happier with the experience I've had here. Every instructor is knowledgeable, kind, supportive and dedicated. Not only are there formalized classes but there are extra opportunities to learn with workshops and photo-walks. The community at the school is very open and friendly and I feel very lucky to be a part of it! I would highly suggest taking a class if you are new or even experienced at photography read more

I took Photo 1 and think the course was good quality. Expensive but you get 7 lectures on photo instruction and 5 labs on how to use photo editing software so it's substantial content. The classes are mostly taught by former students who have completed a lot of coursework and are quite experienced. read more

I took the introductory class for a camera I've had sitting in its bag way too long! It was so exciting to get it out and learn the basics of photography so I can stop using Auto for EVERYTHING! Class flew by! The instructor was amazing. A little hands on & a little bit of slides, perfect combo for any time of learning. I've already signed up for more classes and excited to really pick this hobby up more! Thank you for having such a great place & affordable pricing! read more

I took classes here in 2017 and it was life changing. You not only learn from the best, but you gain a tremendous support system and community. read more

I took classes from Richard at their original location. The film (darkroom) and digital classes were great back then. We learned how to develop negatives at home, without a darkroom (something I've done recently). I can still look at my own photography with Richard's guidance :-) read more

I will never go back to this place. There's a guy named John who works there. He is rude, and not at alll helpful. Furthermore, acccording to him, you need to be enrolled in a class in order to use the lab. This is not what I was told during my first visit and there is nothing on the website that says this. Go someplace else if you need to get some printing done. This guy made us feel like we were ripping the place off. I was there to spend well over $200 on some prints - Ridiculous place - how does it stay in business????? Jim Signorelli read more

I've taken a slew of classes and even volunteered to teach some lab classes to beginners. The greatest thing about the school is the community: They're very positive and helpful in every respect. If you want a great positive environment full of helpfulness and encouragement, chicagophotoclasses.com is the place to go. read more

The classes are top notch; the​ instructors give practical, real-world​ advice, there is picture printing, and critiquing. All in all​, ​ everything you would need to become a better photographer​. After recommendations​ from two (nonrelated​) people and attending the 90-minute​ free clinic, I signed up for Photo 1. During my time in photo 1, with Kambua, I learned all about my camera (all about photography from ​composition, to movement, and everything in between). How to set up a printer and print photos. How to use Lightroom​ (a photo editing program) with useful shortcuts​. The instructors were helpful in decomposing your images to give honest, and constructive, feedback. They also always give insight into their critique/thinking; and most importantly, they help you think through ways in which you could make your pictures​ better. ​ Labs were organized well and always had enough TAs for everyone in the class. Am I the most fantastic photographer now? No, but now I have the skills to practice photography​ and become a better photographer. Give the team a try and visit the free workshop. You won't regret it and if you feel the school is a good fit, then sign up for a class. The prices are comparable to other schools in the area, ​but the service, teaching, and guidance are top notch. read more

I recently went to the Introduction to Photography class, and I'm glad I did. The class was very informative and Nick made the class exciting! I'm looking forward to taking more classes! read more

I bought the Saturday evening class for Richard Stromberg photography was not impressed. I have to say I did not learn anything at all. You may ask why the 2 stars then...and I guess I will tell you. They had great cheese and crackers, oh and wine! Yes, yes...i guess I am rating this for the food and not for the photography. I have had my DSLR camera for about half a year and have been using it frequently, but I do not know much besides the basics. I was hoping to learn a little more than I had already know, but the girl next to me and I found the class useless and good just to meet others that are confused about the techniques of a DSLR camera. He did hand out SLR cameras to those who did not have them. He insisted I use his because he didn't know some of the canon questions I had, but then how will I ever know? I wish I had better things to say than this, but I don't. I was hoping to learn something, but felt like I had wasted a Saturday night on this. Good thing I went to eat Ethipoian food after this to vent. I found Richard to be very unorganized and slightly short tempered. For goodness sakes, this is not a college class. He constanly wanted our attention even if we were testing out our camera. I found more humor in his anger than to listen up and follow his directions. I felt like he was going on tangent ends of nonsense that I didn't understand. I think every class must be different. I am glad I had cought a youswoop and had not paid full price overall, but great cheese, crackers, and wine (oh and some great people I met). read more

I attended the bootcamp 1-day session. I learned something from the class, so I don't feel that my money was entirely wasted. But it is a bit of a discombobulated operation. In the midst of class, Richard answered the phone (several times)--and his staff frequently interrupted. Instead of focusing on what we came to learn, we also got handouts and commentaries on RIchard's well-documented (by himself--and he wants you to read it on his website) history in Chicago photography, as well as on politics and other matters. The afternoon session (photography software) was even more of a mess, with computers not set up and not working, and weak instruction. Richard is obviously talented and has a lot to offer students. With just a bit of focus, this course could have been much better. read more

I am so excited to have found this place! I am a full time business owner who really needs a new hobby to save my sanity! So I decided to get back into photography. I dabbled with it in HS and now 20 years later, I find that I still love it. Richard was very easy going and I loved his sense of humor. He is an OLD SCHOOL type of teacher. He is a patient teacher but he is serious and expects you to be as well. Which I think is amazing. He isn't going to baby you, he gives it to you straight and I love that about him. Edited to add: Now that i have taken the class I wish I would have gotten a bit more for my $400. I hear Photo 2 is MUCH better. Not sure if I plan to invest another $400 for it. I may however. I think Richard should run the school and have others teach for him. He has an amazing concept and there obviously is a need. read more

I have taken ten or more classes with all classes strengthening my photography skills. The staff is dedicated and knowledgeable. It's a dynamic environment which keeps abreast with the most current information in the industry. The selection of classes is broad and will contribute to you being a well rounded photographer. If you want to learn or improve your photography skills, this is where you want to be. You will love it here! read more

The date-night class was one part introductary course, one part performance monologue. Once I figured out what was going on, I had a blast. The first hour was a meet and greet with plenty of food and wine. This probably could have been half as long, as everyone was anxious to get into the course. As the class was a gift for my wife, I hoped to coast by, maybe have an extra glass of wine, and keep an eye on the basketball game I was missing. Not a chance. Our instructor demanded attention (and note taking). The lecture content was very rudimentary, I assume it's the first lesson from a much longer course. But he lectures like a libertarian Andy Rooney, full of disdain for just about everyone. It was fun to watch him get wound up. It seemed like the most informative part was when he opened it up to questions (hint: you're doing everything wrong), and then spoke about how to buy equipment intelligently. Overall, this is a talented artist with a personal style he deeply wants to pass on to his students. Once I stopped expecting a polished lecture, I had a blast. read more

Update #2! After several workshops, countless books, and multiple classes in my local area, I now understand how valuable Richard and his school are. If you heed no other item than the following, ensure you heed this.... Photography is about hard work above all else!!! It not about Photoshop or Lightroom, or camera gear, or lenses (although they all matter to a degree). At the time, I didn't understand nor appreciate what Richard meant in his first class where he said "you're goin to work your a$$ off" but now, I do. Not only do I push myself as hard as I can, I realize that being mentored by someone who is knowledgeable, willing to share, and is going to push you to your limits is invaluable. For those of you in Richard's local area, and interested in photography, I would highly recommend that you take his courses. You will enjoy your life, your hobby | your work so much more than you normally would have. Cheers Richard & your crew. I've also recommended read more

I attended the 1 day boot camp last Saturday and found the class pretty useful. Going in, I realized this 1 class was not going to transform me into the next photojournalist of the year...but really I just wanted a bit more practical discussion around the technical aspects of photography. Regarding Stromberg, he is certainly a character, but I found him entertaining and informative. The computer lab portion of the class started off a bit rocky, as everyone uploaded their pix. When you have ten people with varying degrees of computer literacy and using new software, the process is going to take a bit of time. Ron, the instructor, was incredibly patient and helped to get everyone up and running. By 5pm, most people were on their way out the door, but Ron was happy to stay around to help me and another student work on tweaking photos until 6:30. Overall, a helpful class that gave me the knowledge base I wanted....but realize going in, you're not going to become a stellar photographer in just one class. read more

We came to the free camera class, and I suppose it was as I was expected. Richard talked through the four factors of exposure, which you can read about anywhere but it was nice to have someone talk through it. The class was kind of like a college lecture. At first I thought Richard was a rude, grumpy guy, but that was actually his personality. He's rather humorous and outwardly anti-Republican (so if you are Republican, it would probably be a very frustrating class), and says some funny stuff. Overall, for a free class, I think it was worth the time. He did spend some time selling his 9 month course. Given his tough love teaching style, I think it could be a good class. Just be wary that he says anything he wants and feels like, but I think would expect a lot from his students. Quote of the class was "Photos with flash have no soul. But I have a soul and the scars to prove it." read more

The instructors are past or current students, and work strictly off a script. Classes are too large to be comfortable asking questions or having discussion. The lecture classroom is a jumble of office chairs, no tables, no place to put stuff or write out notes except while balancing pages on your lap. The classes weren't 'fun' as described in marketing material, there was no unity among the students. Getting extra help between classes was difficult. I was looking forward to moving on to more classes, but hesitate strongly against it. Disappointing. read more

I started with the free introductory class. It was incredibly informative and probably very rewarding class for someone looking for a future in photography. However; the instruction and classroom environment was a bit more harsh and gruff than what I would hope for from a 101 class where I literally need instructions on how to upload some of my photos. Glad that they offered the free class so now I know. read more

I have been attending RSPCS for almost a full year, experiencing Photo 1-3, Drips Drops and Illusions, and their portraiture class. I am continuing classes so long as they have new ones to try and wonderful things to experience. I went from being a DSLR neanderthal to becoming a regular lab instructor and an aspiring professional photographer. I started at RSPCS as a means of finding a fun hobby from a less then boring summer, and the school gave me so much more then a loving new hobby. It set me on the path of success, creative passion, and a loving community. The teachers care about your creative journey. They encourage you to email them with questions always, regardless of whether you are enrolled in class or in between. The printing equipment and lab technology they have is state of the art and industry standard. You will discover that you don't have to pay hundreds of dollars for printing and photo editing. You will learn how to do it all yourself. You will learn your camera, and quickly. You will discover a talent within yourself you never thought possible. Maybe your life won't change like mine did. At the very least you will become a much better photographer and a thousand times more knowledgeable about your camera. But to those who are looking for little inspiration, it's a good place to find some. Richard himself built the school on the premise of community, and that photography was something to be shared and enjoyed. There's nothing pretentious about the school. Its a very warm and engaging environment. And with the recent change in management, I whole heartedly believe his legacy will continue, and the school will continue to excel above and beyond. If I could give it 10 stars I would. read more

Richard Stromberg's Chicago Photography Classes are amazing! I began with Photo I nearly two years ago. I didn't know a thing about photography and didn't even own a DSLR camera. I called Richard and he got online right away and helped me find the perfect camera for me. Two years later I am a photographer at a reputable portrait studio in the suburbs and I am still in love with the camera I bought for Photo I (my Nikon D-90). This School is something very special and I feel lucky to be a part of it. I have taken 4 classes here and now help teach a lab/Lightroom class. There are dozens of top-of-the-line computers (all equiped with Lightroom and Photoshop) to process photos on and Epson printers for archival printing. If you want hands-on learning and real world experience, this is where you need to take classes. The classes can be demanding at times (Learning will occur!!!) and I absolutely love the teachers who will push me harder to bring out my best work (Thanks Marcus and LeJean!!!). All in all, I would suggest classes here to people looking to learn how to use their camera, take better photos of their kids and even begin their career in photography. Five Stars. read more

I came all the way from Belize, C.A. to take this class and i DO NOT regret it at all! I did Photo I and it matches everything it promised to be. I am currently doing Photo II and absolutely excited about it. This Man (Richard S.) has an amazing sense of humor, i felt bad for those in class who didn't appreciate it. THEY ARE JUST JOKES PEOPLE! I think this is totally worth your money! In fact i don't think, I KNOW! read more

I love love love this school! I was a hobbyist for about 8 years before I came to this school. My photos have improved drastically because of this school, and I keep getting better with each class that I take. The instructors are amazing and the whole general environment is so welcoming and friendly. It may sound silly, but when I'm not there, I miss it. I have taken photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, drips drops and illusions, architectural, starved rock, and am in the flash class right now. I plan on taking all of the classes they have to offer, and hope that they continue to add more like they do so I can always keep perfecting what I love. Since starting at this school, I am now getting paying gigs for global corporations, photos that I have taken are being bought, and am being approached to do weddings and family photos. I like to dabble in just about everything, and this school truly lets me do that. It is not geared towards any specific kind of photography. They give you the tools to take amazing photos of whatever your subject may be. To be honest, I was nervous to come to this school based on some past Yelp reviews I saw, but I came and am so glad I did. They have made such amazing improvements and are always looking to improve even more to adapt to whatever will benefit it's students. This school and its people have changed my life for the better, and I can't wait to continue taking classes here and going on their photography trips! read more

I began Photo I seven weeks ago and I will say it was bitter sweet leaving today. I have a true understanding of the four factors of exposure and it is as if a light bulb came on. The assignments Richard gives the class helps you learn and grow from your mistakes. I wish I would have found this facility 3 years ago. I will continue to Photo II and have every confidence that I will grow into a great photographer. Richard I hope more people find you and see the jewel your school really is. Many thanks for the laughs and the stories you provided in your journey through photo journalism. You have a beautiful love for teaching, I wish there were more people like you. Best regards, Sandra read more

I took Photo I, II, and III here in 2009-2010 and it was one of the best investment decisions I've ever made. Yes, DSLR cameras and lenses are expensive...yes, you will need to put in the hours learning about photography, Adobe Lightroom, printing, etc.... but it will pay dividends in the end!!! All three classes are very good, but I personally made the biggest leap in my skill set after taking Photo II with Cara. I had a lot more confidence in nailing my exposure after taking this class. My lab partner from Photo II is now a successful professional children's photographer. I constantly think about quitting my day job to do the same, but right now I am just happy to be a serious hobbyist. My vacation photos are incredible, and I get a lot of requests to do photography shoots on the side (mostly from my mom friends, and brides on a budget). Thank you Richard for creating such a wonderful photography community in Chicago. read more

Currently finishing the Photo II course. I love this class. I have learned things I didn't even know existed on my camera. I am very proud of what I've learned, and I would and have been recommending this course to family and friends. It's worth it if you are interested and have the time for it. The staff is just wonderful, although Richard might seem a little grumpy at first, he is quite funny. You learn what you need, and not a whole bunch of non-sense. Everything is straight to the point. I learned a few things with every single assignment. I love it, and can't wait to start Photo III :-) read more

I really enjoyed the free introductory course and learned quite a bit! Nick is an enthusiastic and clear teacher. The community is vibrant.

Me and my girlfriend took the free class and learned some valuable things and recently finished photo 1. We love doing this together because they assignments get us outside shooting together as well as learning many things about our cameras and printing our pictures. We have already signed up for Photo 2 and and looking very forward to that as the start of the new year. read more

WOW.... what a waste of time. I bought the Saturday date night class, and I wish I hadn't. The ONLY plus to this class was the wine and snacks provided. Let me break this down for you. Upon arrival, you are rudely greeted with "What kind of camera do you have? No, that's no good... you'll use one of mine". Ummm, ok. Wasn't the point of this class to learn how to use your OWN camera? For the next hour you wander along three or four walls looking at pictures that his students have taken. After the 15 minutes this takes.... you spend the next 45 standing around. Literally. Once the "class" begins, you pretty much are put in a seat and demanded to listen to Richard go on and on about the other classes he offers, about all the things his website offers, about his background, about how great he is. 30 minutes later... you start to learn something. Oh, but wait... You won't learn anything that you can actually use. He goes over the technical aspects of your camera, but refuses to put it all together for you. I remember at the end of our class, someone asked "So, can you tell us how to put all this information together? So that if I wanted to take a picture of two people in a living room for example, what settings would I use". Richard replies.... "well you'll have to take one of my photo classes to learn THAT". Uhhhh, I thought that's what we were doing here!? It was a total waste of time.... especially a Saturday night date night. read more

I really enjoyed my time in Richards classes. His approach is to teach you the basics and then encourage you to push your creativity to the limits. He literally lives and breathes photography and art, and it shows in everything he does. From the community of local photographers that he inspires, to the encouragement and constructive criticism he dishes out, he's one of a kind and I will always appreciate the knowledge and experience he helped me achieve. read more

My hubby bought me a Nikon D90 (per Richard's direction) and enrolled me in Photo I class as my birthday gift last fall. Ten months later, not only am I proficient with a DSLR camera, but I am also a part of a fantastic community. I have taken 3 classes (Photo I, II, and III) and volunteer on a weekly basis in the photo lab. I have learned from the instructors, as well as, shared triumphs and lessons learned with my peers. If you want to be a part of an ego-free, laid-back, and encouraging environment, where you will learn a ton, this is the place for you. read more

I just signed up for my first Yelp account for the sole purpose of writing a review for Richard Stromberg's Chicago Photography Classes because I have had such an amazing experience at this school! I've been taking classes there for about six months now, and I am continually more and more impressed with the knowledgeable instructors, the quality of the curriculum and just the general community of the school. Everyone who works here is passionate about photography and helping newcomers enjoy and learn about the craft. When I first started classes, I had messed around with my basic DSLR a bit, but really didn't know the full power of my camera. After taking Photo 1, Photo 2 and Lightroom In-Depth, I feel that my knowledge of photography and photo editing is greatly expanded. Looking at the difference between pictures I shot a year ago and now is night and day. I work as a print journalist, and my photography abilities are now strong enough to contribute photos to my published stories. A photo I took after starting this class ended up on the front page of a major newspaper in Chicago a couple months ago. As I mentioned before, I really think one of the best things about this school is the community. I have brought questions to my instructors many times outside of class, and they have always been eager and happy to provide me with thorough information. These instructors are amazing photographers, so just having the ability to go to them for advice, in my opinion, is well worth the cost of the class (which in general are very reasonable for the resources you get access to as a student). When I first joined the school, I planned to only take Photo 1. Now, I can't seem to find the time to take all of the classes I want. I will be at CPC for a long time. read more

After taking a Photo I course here, I just have to say how happy I was with the course. I really learned a lot more than I ever expected in 7 weeks.. Very well-rounded curriculum, touching on camera basics, photography basics as well as learning Lightroom software and printing.. talking about each other's work, and learning about the psychological relationship between photographer and subject.. it just goes on and on. Great one-on-one time, Richard is always available to answer your questions. I learned so much about my camera in this first course as well. Very happy with course... highly recommend!! read more

I took one of Richard's classes several years ago. I learned everything I needed to know to get an image on film and develop it in the darkroom. While I've moved on to digital since then, the basics I learned in the class have served me well, giving me strong fundamentals to fix problems and take better photos. Richard's teaching style is pretty particular (definitely not my favorite), but you can't beat his offer to try out the first class free and see if it works with you. You'll learn a ton and at a very reasonable price. read more

I am writing this review even before attending. As mentioned on their website, I got an email "You are in". I drove from Gurnee to their offices in Chicago to find out that they have cancelled the class. One more person was there who also had a similar experience. There was no email. No phone call. Very unprofessional. We had to call them to find out it is cancelled. Not even a notice outside their office. Then they send me an email with some money off if I wanted to come again. I will never attend. They wasted my day. read more

I guess I had higher expectations for paying almost $500 for 7 sessions. The instructors are past or current students. Although I like the idea of having past students teach, I don't think they're properly supervised or trained. My class instructor failed to properly explain an assignment, which caused our class to get confused and fall behind. She was a cool gal, but very chatty and often sidetracked with a personal story rather than lecturing class. Which brings me to my other point. If you are the type of person that learns by having someone read off a power point presentation, this place is for you. I'm not that kind of person but I learned my lesson. Classes are packed and the space set up is just uncomfortable. It's not a classroom. It's a room full of flimsy plastic tables and a bunch of uncomfortable used office chairs that were donated or something. The lab was one of my favorite things. My instructor seemed much more knowledgeable and he showed it on the way he taught lab. The lab equipment was a bit frustrating. Computers were often slow and seemed a bit old. I wasn't satisfied with this school and I do not recommend it :( read more

It had been ages since I'd taken a photography class - as in the film days. I went to the free seminar in June, and soon after signed up for photo 1. Now I'm in photo 3, and loving it more and more. As another reviewer wrote, this is a very special place. I've had different instructors for each class, and all are exceptional, and all are available to help in and outside of the classroom. With their guidance, and peer feedback, my confidence continues to grow and my photos are getting better and better. Lightroom is amazing software and I'm excited to learn a bit about PhotoShop. I'm already looking forward to taking more classes here! read more

Have you ever opened Lightroom looking for a very important image only to find the dreaded . Maybe you moved around some folders in a hurry and now for the life of you can't find the missing folders of your sons first 2 years of life . Watched tons of YouTube videos with no solution and scared to mess things up further... What to do? Well I finally found a professional Lightroom consultant to help and he helped in a huge way! Nick Sinnott has extensive knowledge of LR and truly enjoys helping photographers in any way he can. Sry for long post... but I honestly left our meeting feeling like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. Getting my LR Catalog organized and saying goodbye to = PRICELESS. Thx again Nick read more

Richard Stromberg's Chicago Photography Classes - Lightroom consultation with Nick S. Left the ! behind when I walked out the door. Highly recommend him for help w Lightroom - Photography Classes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you came expecting to socialize, then this is not the class for you! Richard is that old school teacher that gets excited about what he is teaching, and has no problem pointing you out when you slack off. He has a very strong personality, so if you are sensitive, you might get offended. If you are serious about photography, there is no other place that's better. One class is not enough, so be prepared to take another! read more

I started with the free 90-minute workshop, signed up for Photo I, then continued with Photo II and then on to Photo III. I continued on because I was learning a lot both about my camera and also about photography. Each session built on the previous session (i.e. Photo II built on Photo I, Photo III built on Photo II). It is clearly a curriculum that has been well-thought-out. I found all of the classes interesting, and I liked all three of the instructors I had--they were knowledgeable, enthusiastic about teaching photography, and easy to get in touch with when I had questions outside of class. In addition to the class time, there is also lab time where you learn (on their computers) how to use photography software (Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop) to improve your pictures, and where you learn to print out pictures on professional-grade printers. This was helpful, and also fun, since you can print out your pictures (in Photo II and Photo III) from a quality printer on quality paper and in larger sizes. Last but not least, Richard Stromberg (who teaches Photo I), spends a lot of time outside of class helping individuals with questions about how specific cameras work, what equipment to buy, etc. He's a valuable resource, all included in the tuition price. I started as a complete novice when it comes to photography, and not at all artistic, but I felt that I really moved forward in these classes. I am taking a break for the summer, but will continue with other classes in the fall. read more