A Word About Photography Instruction:
As an experienced teacher for all ages and types of students of photography, I have found that instruction that is objective, (i.e. where there are assignments with very specific goals that can be easily assessed over a period of time), work best. Having students bring in photographs to be critiqued by various people (as in many camera club situations), isn’t usually helpful to the learning process because opinions vary. Regular assignments that can be done by the student and then reviewed by the teacher is the best way to learn. That being said, I offer this type of instruction for various skill levels from beginners to other professionals who might want to learn more. I also include some beginning steps in Adobe Photoshop so that students will be able to crop their images, print and save them for review. We can also view images on the camera’s LCD, if necessary, but prints are better. I also offer a great deal of “hands-on” experience in which the student and I both go outside “on location,” I demonstrate how I go about getting proper exposures and compositions and the student then emulates what I do. We then download the images and compare them. The learning is immediate, but in order for anything learned to become second nature, it has to be practiced. Also, photography is one of those endeavors that requires a fair amount of dexterity in handling various types of equipment. A basic knowledge of how physical machines, computers and other digital equipment work is extremely helpful but not always necessary.
Working with students “on location”
A small workshop in Studio Lighting for Portraits (July 2023):
Here are some reviews from a couple of my recent students:
March, 2021:
John Baiata:
Bill is a consummate pro with a wealth of experience in the field, and with the patience and insights necessary to share in digestible form. I hired Bill for photography lessons, and his hands-on, encouraging approach paid immediate dividends with my photography – as it will with yours regardless of your skill level. Highly recommend his work. Note: John signed up for and completed a 6 lesson package.
Zsuzsanna Winn:
“I have been taking one-to-one private classes in my home studio with William in the last month or so and I absolutely love it! We started with the basics, the class structure is a nice mix of exercises and informative lectures that for a beginner like myself is very helpful. He is not just a well-experienced photographer and teacher but he is a fantastic person as well. William’s teaching style is easy to follow, he is very patient and most importantly makes learning enjoyable. A month ago, I was afraid to pick up my camera, and now thanks to William I am able to take pictures with studio lighting confidently. Not to mention I am taking pictures in Manual mode from day one! I highly recommend William for everyone who wishes to learn photography! His passion for photography shines through his teachings” – Zsuzsanna Winn
Recently I finished my 3rd lesson with William. To say I am happy would be an understatement. The mixture of Williams exceptional photography knowledge, kindness, professionalism and patience is outstanding. He is very detail oriented and he has mastered his craft. I look forward to our weekly lessons and learning from the best of the best! I highly recommend William!
William Lulow Photography Workshops
Next Workshop:
I have found, over the last few years, that one-on-one instruction works best especially for beginners. Everyone learns at his or her own pace, so it is important for the teacher to take that into account with each new student. With that said, I still do workshops with several students at once. They are set up on a demand basis. When I have six or more people interested in a workshop, I will schedule one and post it.
Here’s a lesson conducted in my garage due to some rain back in August, 2020, with masks and mostly appropriate distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. When I was in Westchester, usually we met out on my deck:
Now that I have moved my studio to Livingston, New Jersey, we have an outdoor area, with tables and benches to use in good and warm weather, otherwise we will meet in my apartment/studio space with plenty of fresh air with windows and doors open.
While waiting for the next announced workshop, I to tutor several students, one-on-one. You can always contact me if you might be interested in this type of instruction. It may work out better for you because lessons can be set up at our mutual convenience without waiting for a workshop.
Full Day Workshops
Full Day Workshops are booked on a first-come first-served basis with a minimum of six spots necessary to hold the studio space. They can be held either in NYC or my studio in Livingston, NJ. If you send an email indicating interest and your location, you will be placed on my list and notified at least 4 weeks in advance of when the workshop will be held. Workshops are usually held on a Saturday and last the whole day. Models are provided for demonstrations. You will learn everything you wish to learn about studio lighting crammed into a single session. Lunch is served, and each participant receives a packet with valuable information regarding tools and techniques of studio portraiture. Recently, emphasis has been placed on digital technique and output. Cost is US$350 per person. I need a minimum of (6) six people to sign up before I can schedule this workshop. You can add your name to the list by filling out the form on the CONTACT page. As soon as we have enough people, you will be notified by email.
3-Hour Workshops
I also have started running less expensive workshops that last two-to-three hours and provide a wealth of information as well. These are $125 for the class. Although no food is served, I still provide a model for demonstrations when necessary or we do field trips to teach certain techniques. These workshops are taught both in New York City and in my studio in Livingston, NJ. I need a minimum of (6) six people to sign up for these as well, in order to cover costs of model, etc. You can add your name to the list by filling out the form on the CONTACT page. As soon as we have enough people, you will be notified by email.
One-On-One Instruction
This is the best way to learn. I offer private sessions to address specific problems or techniques. These can be booked by appointment and are $75 per hour with a 2-hour minimum. I can do this at your own home as well, for an additional travel fee. (I have several students who prefer this method).
As with all types of learning, it pays to ask questions. Do not hesitate to call the studio about any of these forms of photo instruction. There is no obligation and it will often help you make the right choice about furthering your photography education.
