Teaching

Rick M

Senior Member
Whenever I do shows I usually get questions about whether I teach or not (or willing to). More specifically, can they pay me to teach them. I've taken a few facebook groups out which have been nothing more than frustrating. The pain is people don't take the time to learn the basic operations of their particular camera body and think our results are just "settings". Last month I'm in the middle of a stream, it's 25 degrees out and I'm explaining low ISO for a waterfall and why they probably won't get great results from their $20 variable ND filter!

Is anyone else teaching? I would like a student or two, but I don't want to teach the exposure triangle and how to change your settings!

​Am I a snob?
 
I had an anonymous Facebook message last week asking if I teach. I also arraigned a night photo walk with my camera club and 15 people showed up. I had two in the group ask if I would teach for them. My wife says I should do it but was wondering about if I should. 1 or 2 students would not be bad and would only teach 1 on 1. What I would feel comfortable teaching is the basics. Teach them how to use their cameras (DSLR only) and then basic post processing.

I have been helping 1 guy in the club and he has been telling people that I have been helping him. His shots jumped dramatically after 1 day of help. I think people seeing that has sparked the interest.

What do we charge to teach, Rick M ?
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
I think it is a great idea to pass on knowledge and the most valuable knowledge is that which is paid for.
How much?
Always a tricky question. Work out a reasonable hourly rate and charge accordingly.
I coach a bit of golf and my rate is $1.00 per minute - minimum 30 minutes. They usually get an hour and I get $60.00
If it is a group scenario you can afford to charge a bit less per person but don't go too cheap as there is value in what you are teaching.

Still stuck?

Ask yourself what you would have paid for the information you are about to teach.

 

RON_RIP

Senior Member
Have taught at the adult education level for the community college, but not photography. The school sets the rates and usually your students are enthusiastic.
 
Have taught at the adult education level for the community college, but not photography. The school sets the rates and usually your students are enthusiastic.


I did the same thing. I taught business outreach classes in Word, Excel, and Access The businesses would contact the Community College and set up classes for their employees at the business location and I would teach them. It was really fun.
 

Rick M

Senior Member
I think $60 an hour is fair for 1 on 1. I've found with groups that you spend a lot of time showing half of them how to change settings. I would like it to be meaningful and more about quality/technique/composition/post than settings; half the battle would be getting the student up to speed in basics. I guess I'm convincing myself here that it would have to be 1 on 1 to maximize the value of the time/experience for both of us. I don't "need" to do this, but I like to help people develop their passion, so many that approach me at shows can't get to the next level.

One couple was really persistent and I steered them towards a Community College course to start learning the basics. I agreed to field work after they felt comfortable with general photography. The facebook groups can be annoying in that they want to follow me around but have made no investment in learning how to use their gear!
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
I've only had a couple people ask about learning photography, but a lot have asked about me teaching them post-processing. More times than not it's been as they've looked at my IR work at a gallery, so that probably has a lot to do with it. My brother has a couple people that he does 1-on-1 Photoshop lessons with, a result of his having taught Elements classes at the Newark Museum until they shut down the education program, so I just send them to him. I figure he taught me, and he can use the gig more than I could.

I think it would be fairly straightforward to put together a repeatable short course on "Getting to know your DSLR" - one hour of class work on learning what the camera does and the basics of exposure, and then 2 one hour practical sessions shooting (one indoors, one out). $200 for a 1-on-1, $150/person for groups of 2 to 4. I'm much better a personal coach than I believe I would be at leading a larger group on a walk. I've done my time trying to herd cats and it just doesn't appeal to me.
 

John P

Senior Member
I host wkrkshops locally.
I have found it very rewarding. Although I was a wrestling coach for 22 years. So I enjoy teaching.

I host 3 different workshops.
Beginning photography, advanced photography, and off camera lighting with speedlights.

All of these classes include classroom time with a powerpoint presentation with sample photos.
And the we go outside and shoot.
We finish back inside showing our results, and critiqueing.

I charge $50 for the day. Everyone feels as though they got their moneys worth.

I by no means make much money at it. But as I said before, now that I am not coaching anymore. I find it very rewarding.
 

SkvLTD

Senior Member
I feel that if I even get an opportunity to try teaching someone else, it'll end up being my own intern or something or the sort. The off-chance could be couple guys I know who market themselves through the roof and get jobs left and right, but all of their work looks extremely noobish to a semi-trained eye (not that their customers care).

Kind of a coin toss on rates here, but I agree that something along the lines of 1-2$ a minute is a fair rate unless extra prep has to be made.
 
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