Austin School of Photography

Been photographing for multiple years. I’m a decent photographer. So I was considering not taking a course at all, OR, jumping right in to the «Advanced class».
With the Andrew’s advice (ASOP director) I decided to take the «photography 1» course.
I’m super happy I took that course. It taught me the fundamentals that I was unaware of.
Andrew is an excellent instructor. Super passionate and exciting, with wisdom that he cares to impart.
He focuses on the dynamics of the physics that make for good photography. The class is very bottom up and covers all the essentials. There is focus on homework and discussion. great for beginners and people like me with some experience but nothing formal.
He is very available and happy to talk all about the various aspects of photography. super knowledgeable, driven, and motivated.
I strongly recommend the course. You get a very personal experience in a small classroom with a dedicated instructor who really cares. Kudos ASOP

Signed up for the Photo I class as a complete beginner who had just purchased a new fancy camera and hadn’t the slightest idea what to do with it beyond point-​and-​shoot. After working with Andrew and his extremely strong, thoughtful, and thorough Photo I curriculum, I not only feel as though I have a strong foundation to understand the physics and mechanics of photography and apply it, but also he’s also made this discipline so accessible that I’m excited to continue to mature my skills and knowledge in this space. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

We just finished the Photography I workshop and I am extremely satisfied with Andrew and his methodology of teaching. I had previously taken a 4 hour workshop and have been using my various cameras in Manual mode for years. I am tech savvy and felt comfortable with most of the settings on my camera. I also knew what changing aperture and shutter speed does. For this reason, I originally asked Andrew if it would be a good idea for me to jump into Photography II. He convinced me that I should start in Photography I because we were going to go much deeper than what I already new. Looking back now, I am very glad I started in Photography I. By the 2^nd class I was already un-​learning bad habits and misconceptions that I picked up in online articles. Andrew is extremely knowledgable and teaches his classes with passion. He is always eager to stay after class answering questions and demonstrating different techniques or showing experiments. He showed us in one of our classes how to accomplish photos similar to «Pablo Picasso’s Light Drawings». He even offered to stay after class if we wanted to try it in different ways.
His classes are very well thought out and the pacing feels very organic. His homework assignments are fun and on target with what he wants you to learn. I never felt any assignment was useless. If you are intimidated by your camera, he will show you how most settings in there are not that useful and by the second class, you will start feeling more confident and less worried about not know how to use your camera.
I will be taking Photography 2 and I can’t wait till the next class! I have grown so much in these past 6 weeks and I can’t wait to improve the composition of my images.

Andrew, at Austin Photography School is a brilliant, organized and highly qualified teacher. His enthusiasm for the subject is infectious. I’ve taken both Photo I and II and now I wish there were a III. When I started the classes I considered myself a low/​intermediate photographer only to quickly realize how little I actually new. Andrew methodically goes from basics to advanced, always sharing a wealth of valuable and important info. The homework assignments are incredibly well designed to compliment the classes and move you forward. The skills and techniques I learned from him have advanced my photography by a large measure and I would highly recommend these classes to photographers of all levels.

I can’t say enough good things about Andrew and the programs that he’s running at Austin School of Photography.
I purchased a «nice» camera about 5 years ago and had zero idea how to use it. A couple years ago, I took a beginner’s digital photography class through UT Informal. While it taught me more than I knew walking in there, I didn’t leave that class confident nor with really any idea what I was doing. I only really picked up my camera while traveling and so when I was home I never really picked up my camera because I was so intimidated by it.
I finally decided «enough is enough» and did some research on classes around town, and found Austin School of Photography. I took the Photo I and Photo II classes and seriously, I’m a new person with my camera. I know that camera so intimately now — I never really understood how much technical knowledge goes into photography and how comfortable I could be with all that is involved, and how to use it to my creative advantage. I still have some to learn, but my photos have already improved ten fold, and I feel the sky is the limit from here. I have fallen in love with my camera. It’s kinda sick, actually…
Anyway, Andrew is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and great at giving corrective feedback. On top of that, he invites students, even when they’re not enrolled in a class anymore, to «pop on by» with their recent work to discuss it. That’s going above and beyond in my opinion.
I would point anyone and everyone who’s looking to get some lessons on photography & their camera here, without hesitation. Time spent here has been worth every penny.

I am in the middle of Photography I, and have attended two out of six classes. I didn’t know how to shoot manually at all before I started the class (and didn’t have an SLR camera beforehand either — just bought a Canon Rebel for the class, and if you do this, remember you do not need to get the latest and greatest because the fancy features are not needed — get the previous year’s model and it will be cheaper).
Even from two classes I’ve been inspired to take a lot of pictures, read about photography and consider what I want to do with it in my own life. I have always wanted to be able to capture life as it passes in a more creative and expressive way.
I’ve learned a lot already, and have been able to take some shots where I have gained basic control over the outcome of the photograph based on my understanding of how light and the lens and shutter of my camera are interacting (along with some other basic variables). The homeworks so far focus on a particular lesson and concept — so for instance try to capture motion, vs just take a lot of pictures and see what looks good.
Andrew does talk fast and he is passionate, as one previous commenter mentioned. I personally like that because there are only 6 classes and I want to learn everything I can. I do not bring a notepad and a pen and paper. I listen and try to process the lesson as we go because note-​taking distracts me and then I have to try and process the information later. You could possibly record him if it’s allowed.
He gives a lot of examples, and historical information about photography to help you understand a greater context for what you are learning. We take photos in class and have homework as well.
I think you should definitely, definitely try it if you are interested in photography. Make sure it is at a time when you are able to spend time with your camera outside of class. The lessons are not simple and take time and practice to absorb.

I really enjoyed the intro to photography class. It has improved my photography and changed the way I approach it. Andrew is very personable and goes out of his way to make sure you understand the concepts, even if it means extra time before or after class, or over email. Definitely above and beyond the call of duty.
Looking forward to taking another class soon!

This is an update to my last review that I wrote about the Photography I class at the ASOP.
I’ve been shooting a lot since the end of the class and I can tell my photography has greatly improved. It’s so nice to be free from the shackles of the automatic camera settings! Also, I noticed I have less of a desire to digitally manipulate my photos, which I attribute to being able to control the outcome manually, while shooting.
Andrew has been kind enough to meet with me a couple of times recently. He’s so nice and patient. For example, when I was having trouble communicating about technical aspects and ended up using terms like «big hole» and «small hole» in an attempt to describe aperture size, there was no visible reaction from him (although surely there must have been some twinge inside his body). Andrew is highly knowledgeable and approachable. Austinites are lucky to have a resource like ASOP!

My name is Ben and I’m an addict
to photography thanks to Andrew and his school. My wife and I went to the free welcome seminar and really liked Andrew and his teaching methods. Right away we were interested and both took the Photo 1 and Photo 2 classes back to back and really loved both of them. The information from these classes was really valuable. We were both stretched each week, sometimes out of our comfort zones, and became much better photographers as a result.
Hats off to Andrew for heading up such a great school, and I hope to take more classes in the future such as lighting techniques.

Andrew is amazing and taking a class from his is basically incredible. He is passionate about teaching and about photography, so I can’t imagine a better place to be if your in the market to learn about photography. His teaching style is unique and keeps you intrigued. He is VERY detailed oriented and is passionate about YOU owning the material he presents. He’s diligent to give you ALL the answers and resources you need to be a success.
I purchased a coupon deal for this class and basically feel like I got a steal on the information I received in this class. I learned more about my camera in 2 minutes then I had in the past 2 years of using it! He will give you as little or as much detail as you desire and is able to meet the needs of the novice all the way to the aspiring professional.
Take the class when you have time to actually apply the information he’s giving you during the week and put energy into the homework. I was really busy when I took the class and feel like I would have gotten a lot more out of the class had I been able to commit a couple hours a week to shooting and practicing the stuff he taught us, however, I learned a lot and have a notebook FULL of very detailed notes and when I do have time to start shooting I am confident that I’ll be able to find whatever information I need in this notebook. I am also confident that Andrew will be ready and willing to answer any question that may come up. He is really eager to help you and if you take the time to actually learn, he will give you the world!
Andrew is also willing to stay after class and help answer questions you have, so plan a little extra time when you attend the class. It’s TOTALLY worth the time!

Great experience! I absolutely loved this class. Hands down this is the best money I have ever spent toward improving my photography skills. Andrew is truly a gifted teacher it’s obvious he loves what he does and cares about helping his students improve. I really appreciated how he made every effort to ensure understanding of one concept before moving to the next. I have always loved taking pictures but honestly never understood why my results were so inconsistent. When I tried to ask for help from people who knew a lot about photography I felt like they were speaking another language. Thanks to this class I finally understand what they are saying and the light bulb is ON. Thanks Andrew! I can’t wait to come back for the next level class.

There is no doubt that Andrew understands photography, but as an instructor I found him inefficient. His method of explaining photography seems thought out and organized, however, he speaks so rapidly that it is virtually impossible to follow what he is saying. He asks his students to bring a note pad to take notes, but how the heck are you supposed to write anything down when someone is speaking at such a rapid-​fire pace? I couldn’t. His rapid-​fire speech pattern lead to students asking him to repeat himself, or to explain a concept over again. Or my favorite: a student sharing their confused idea of what he just said, only adding to the confusion. Classes often went over the alloted time, and having a busy schedule I was unable to stay for the extra 20−45+ minutes. Obviously, I missed out on information that would have been helpful.
Being new to photography, I thought this class would be perfect for me. Unfortunately, I found that I had to look up what he blurred together speech wise to gain an understanding of it. Obviously, I shouldn’t have had to do this.
I think if you are already familiar with photography this might be a good class for you, but honestly, listening to him speak is like listening to a language you don’t understand.
Also, I missed a class due to having the flu. When I arrived for the next week’s class early (to go over what I missed, which he had encouraged us to do at our first class meeting), he laughed bizarrely, paced the room, and said random things about people missing class and especially how people missing the third class is a pet peeve of his. By the way, I missed the second class. I then had to listen to him go on and on about how important the third class is in an very bizarre manner. Then once it was time for class to begin, he started his whole rant all over again for at least ten minutes– to the students who weren’t missing the ever important third class. Oh the irony! Although I didn’t get clarification on certain concepts, thank goodness I got there early to learn that students missing the third class puts him over the edge.
I also learned that several of the other students in the class were not new to photography, in fact, some were working (photography)professionals. If this is you, then trying to decipher Andrew’s rapid speech pattern probably won’t be as detrimental to someone like me, who has been an automatic setting user since the beginning of time.

I just completed the 6 week Photography 1 class at Austin School of Photography. I have to say that the course was phenomenal — worth every penny, and that the instructor, Andrew, blew me away and went above and beyond anything I expected.
I began this course as a complete novice. At first, Andrew assured us not to over think any of the concepts but concentrate on the assignment at hand. That teaching method proved highly successful as each week we learned a specific technique or discussed a topic and then by the end, tied everything together. After 6 weeks, with practice and patience, I was amazed at the depth of my understanding of the medium. I am not intimidated by my camera anymore. I am excited to take photos and even pursue a potential career in photography.
Lastly, I would say I have a pretty high bar for who I consider a great teacher, and I honestly can say that Andrew is one of the best instructors I have ever had for any subject. He is inspired, organized, responsive, engaging and energetic. I look forward to attending other classes at the school.

Austin School of Photography has changed my whole perception of Photography. I have been shooting about 8 years now, & I took the classes to «brush up on my skills» since it’s been a while. I took both Photo 1 & Photo 2, & I feel that I have an enormous wealth of knowledge now.
The instructor Andrew, does a fantastic job of switching your brain to a new way of thinking & looking at things… life. I have much respect for him & I ENCOURAGE you to go take classes. See for yourself! You won’t regret it! :)