Showcase School of Photography

I recently bought an expensive camera from B&H photo in New York; however, I had no idea how to use the thing other than in the basic /​automatic mode (which is kind of a waste if you want to utilize the full range /​power of a nice new camera).
I looked online at my options for different schools of instruction for photography and decided on Showcase (because I prefer hands on learning [as apposed to online learning] for this type of technical /​artistic training).
I explored the option of taking a beginners DSLR class at Showcase (PHOTO 1). The price was right ($ 155) and was composed of four 2-​hour class sessions plus a class field trip. The classes are held one day each week for four weeks. Classes are just under 2 hours long. Class options included mornings, evenings (after work), or Saturdays. Another plus is that the location is close to where I live (near cheshire bridge rd and I-​85)
I liked the fact that there was a Saturday class option (taught by Nicole Tyler, who turned out to be a great class instructor). The field trip for the PHOTO 1 class was to Oakland Cemetery; there you basically use your knowledge gained from the 4 class sessions (and some light homework assignments) to take photos.
I learned a lot and I plan on taking PHOTO 2.

I recently took a class and seminar with Kathy Wolfe and I can sum it up in one word: SENSATIONAL. She is a powerhouse of information and a really good presentor. So, if you need help with Photoshop, Lightroom, and just developing your style The Showcase School is the place and Kathy Wolfe is my pick for teacher, instructor, and mentor!

I have taken photography classes in the past, but that was with my film camera. Even though I shot frequently with a digital camera for my college yearbook, I wanted to become more acquainted with my new digital camera for personal use. So I took Digital 101 and Digital 102. The classes here are quite reasonably priced and are taught over 6 weeks. Classes are offered year-​round with many class times throughout the day. It was easy for me to find something that fit my schedule. The only bummer was that I had to miss the weekend class field trip for Digital 102. I was told to call the office and see if I could tag along with another class. Well, that didn’t work out– the other potential class was doing there’s on the same day. The instructors are nice and knowledgeable. The location was very convenient to my home at the time. Still not too much of a hassle to get to from where I live now. Parking lots can get full quickly if you are taking class during a busy period. I always tried to get there a bit early. But you can also park nearby if it is full. I plan on taking more classes once things calm down a bit more for me.

I love the Showcase School… I took the Photoshop, Lightroom as well as a few other more advanced classes there and LOVED it. This is the best option for adult education photography classes!

Having just taken my second class at the Showcase School, I thought I’d write a review in the hopes of helping others decide if it is right for them…
Several months ago, I took Digital 101 from Dean Stephenson, and although he moved at a very fast pace, he was very helpful, obviously engaged and passionate about teaching, and the class was informative, albeit a little confusing at times. Dean had given us contact information, in case we got sidelined at home, and needed a bit of help to make it through our assignments, which I found very generous – and helpful. All in all, I felt that I got my money’s worth out of the class, and it was a great springboard for my exploration of my photography skills.
Last week, I took a Photoshop CS5 class with Kathy Wolfe, and was not as pleased. Kathy is very knowledgeable about what she teaches, but I can’t say that she’s either fully engaged, patient, or that she infuses the class with much passion. She seemed more like she was going through the motions, perhaps even checked out to some extent. She did seem to come to life when someone in the class asked about her work, which adorned the walls in the class, and talked at length after class was over with this particular student. I waited patiently to ask her a question that actually pertained to what we were there to learn, and she sort of dismissed me, and told me to save the question for the next day. Right…
This class felt more like a rapid fire lesson in photoshopping that would have been better for someone who already had some experience with the program. The way Kathy clipped along at the pace she did, with her droll delivery, and impatience with some of us inexperienced students (the lady next to me whispered «I think she’s over me!» to which I replied, «I think she’s over ALL of us!») did not feel either very helpful, or engaging.
I went home each night to try to figure out exactly what I had seen in class each day, and ended up stuck each time. And I mean, «stuck» as in I just ended up giving up. There was nobody to contact, no help available, and then I would return again the next day to experience more of the same, go home, get confused, yada yada.
Part of the problem with the class is that it really should not be taught on consecutive days, in my estimation. Photoshop is so labor intense, and having a day between the classes would have been very helpful, if one had access to at least an email address to get some help from the instructor, in the event that something trips one up. Also, I noticed that Kathy’s instruction seems to suffer from what I would call, «she’s forgotten that we don’t already know what she does, and needs to really explain things from the ground up.» Again, patience would have come in handy here, which was not Kathy’s strong suit.
Last thing I want to say is that this class was cramped beyond ridiculousness. Tiny room, with each person at a desk. I had to sit in the same exact position pretty much the whole time, with my head turned one particular way to see the screen she was projecting on. The tables are so close together that I had to move my chair out of the way for someone to get in or out of the corner that they were sitting in. The first class I took had not been this way at all, but then we weren’t computing in the Digital 101 class.
My rating is an average for the two classes. I will definitely not take one of Kathy’s classes again, and won’t take another photoshop class due to the tiny size of the room, and cramped quarters. The class size was small, but the room wasn’t even large enough, even so. And I would definitely want an instructor who seemed like she actually wanted to teach the class, instead of wishing she was somewhere else.

So I’m ⁵⁄₆^th done with Digital 101 at Showcase, which I think makes me qualified enough to write a decent review. Decent probably being the operative descriptor of my Showcase experience.
I wanted SO badly (and still do!) to be in love with this place and I’m just not. Here are a couple of opinions, in no particular order:
— The school is tiny, but in a great location to my house. The convenience is top notch.
— The cost is very reasonable, $ 160 for a 6 week class.
— The staff is pretty friendly and went out of their way to help me when I had a technical question.
So about the class I took. As I mentioned, it was Digital 101. I was concerned right off the bat that this would be too basic for my baseline knowledge, as I had already done a lot of independent DSLR fact-​finding and practicing prior to the class. But I also didn’t want to be the idiot girl in 102 that skipped the basics. So there I was, my first day, patiently listening to questions on how to remove a memory card, how to change the settings on your camera, you name it. It was frustrating to say the least. But I had made my bed, and I was gonna like it, by golly.
So 5 weeks later– I can probably say that I’ve learned something. Something… not sure what that is. Nothing probably that I couldn’t have learned for free on the interweb. I will say though, I did sign up for 102 on the first day of registration… so I will be updating this review in the fall to let y’all know how that went.
A couple of vents:
— The teacher was really self-​deprecating, to the point I think where it wasted time and lessened our confidence of his ability to teach. «This isn’t interesting, you probably don’t care.» Umm??? I paid you $ 160?
— There was one obnoxious guy in the class that kept bragging about all his lenses, and how he had «read the manual,» and how he knew everything already. That’s fine, I did too, but I expressed it in writing grocery lists during class. Just a PSA to people with that tendency: shut your trap. Thanks.
The end!

I got an awesome digital SLR camera for Christmas. And because I was intimidated and unknowledgeable, this beast of a camera had only ever been used in «automatic.» I was essentially giving it no more power and exercising no more artistic license than with the cameraphone on my blackberry. I knew this had to change.
So, I signed up for the one day Digital 101 class. Running from 10am-​4pm with a one hour lunch break, it provided a great run down of my camera and its capabilities. Our instructor, Lynette, was very relatable and did a good job teaching the class to the variety of levels of expertise that were present. Perhaps the most entertaining part of the class was the middle-​aged Buckhead Betty next to me muttering «I don’t f***ing get it. What the f****. I’m the Special Ed student» as she fiddled with the various dials on her expensive piece of photographic equipment.
For over a hundred dollars for five hours of instruction, I didn’t think it was a bad value, but there are a couple of things I think Showcase could improve upon to make this class even more valuable.
–List in the class description online *specifically* what will be covered. Other than this was an «intro» class, there were no real specifics about what would be covered, and I realized about an hour in that I probably could have taken the Digital 102 and been just a little behind.
–Revamp the instructional booklet. Only about half of the information in this book was useful, and it was only about a dozen pages. For a five hour class, I expect to walk away with a little more.
–Actually let the class shoot some pictures! In five hours of instruction, I took zero pictures. I know that this is a beginner class, but I felt like we could at least have gone out to the parking lot to practice our ISO, white balance, etc.
–Cut down on the upsell. I would have loved to see a list of all the upcoming classes, but mentioning the other classes half a dozen times was a bit much. Teach me something *now,* don’t tell me that I need to take another class.
–Git rid of the receptionist. She was downright condescending to one of the elderly patrons that «checked in» in front of me, and really gave a very bad first impression of Showcase.
This review may sound a little bit harsh, but let me end by saying that overall it was a good class. And, now that I’ve gotten 101 out of the way, I do plan to take additional classes with Showcase.

If you have a bad ass camera and don’t know how to work it then this needs to be your new joint. They offer loads of classes for amateurs and just one class will improve your photography skill set. Like Deanna said, there are loads of classes and times for ¹⁰¹⁄₁₀₂ however the more particular classes like composition hav eless times and more competition to get in. The teachers are nice, but look at your persons work before you sign up. I think it’s important to be critiqued and taught by someone who shoots your same subjects. But hey, maybe that’s just me.
The one thing I would like them to do is be a bit harsher when critiquing. When i took my class I kept telling the dude teaching that I want him to tell me everything don’t just give me a kiss off semisweet critique. I like to learn from my mistakes, not have a nose shoved up you know where.

Work the camera, baby! Work the camera!
After throwing down big bucks at Showcase proper, I did the same at the Showcase School, too. If you’re going to make an investment like that, its a good idea to know how to work the thing. I took the 101 class for DSLR users, since I didn’t know an F-​stop from a MARTA stop — and if I’m going to carry the couple extra pounds of a camera on an upcoming vacation, I don’t want to have to learn on the fly.
They offer a TON of time and date options for their basic 101 and 102 classes, so something will fit in your schedule.. .during the day or later at night too (I loved being able to take a class starting at 8:15 PM!) Pricewise, also decent — the class I took was $ 150 for six sessions.
The classes are small — mine was limited to twelve, so its a fun atmosphere. Everyone’s projects oftentimes revolved around photos of babies or dogs (um, definitely not mine, though!) so you get to know everyone, too. They are taught by a variety of teachers, so you can ever check out their bio/​work to see their personality before taking the class.
For you more photo-​advanced folks out there, they have classes for you too, and also photoshop and computer related ones too!
Happy snapping!