Clickin Moms Classes?

[BonBon]

I've been meaning to get back into this, and as luck would have it, they sent me an email for 40% off membership if I came back. Signed up for Lifetime.

I've never actually taken a class through them. Where do I start? Shooting 101? Or should I commit to actually reading my flipping camera book and taking a more advanced course in a couple months?

I can see how doing the Full Participation classes can get expensive very quickly!!

[Ladybug]

Start with 101. The book isn't helpful until after the class IMO. I'm so excited you joined. There is so many helpful free tutorials. I'm trying to work through the free processing videos. Sally Kate is doing the amazing before and after freebies on "makeover Monday". Everyone is pitching themselves right now for the upcoming conference so it's freebies galore right now! There is a dream giveaway going on with a 20k grand prize and daily free downloads from the instructors. Life is good on CM right now!

I took Lynn's 101 but another instructor has started a 101 course too.

40% off a lifetime membership is a steal. I swear they are marketing geniuses. It's amazing what that site has evolved to.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I switched out of that course - it was too advanced. They were super nice about it and are applying my fee to an intro to speed light class I'm April. Excited!

[Ladybug]

I switched out of that course - it was too advanced. They were super nice about it and are applying my fee to an intro to speed light class I'm April. Excited!

Maybe I can take that one with you! That will give me some time to save up for a speed light and the class fee. The family can eat macaroni and cheese for 2 months straight, right?

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Yay! That would be awesome!

And truly, my speed light wasn't expensive - check Amazon.

[alotofyarn]

I think I may splurge and take the Shooting 101 class. Hubby and I are getting a flash and a couple of lenses for all of our upcoming holidays (birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day), and although I understand basics, I feel like taking a class and getting feedback would really help. Any thoughts?

[scrub-jay]

I think I may splurge and take the Shooting 101 class. Hubby and I are getting a flash and a couple of lenses for all of our upcoming holidays (birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day), and although I understand basics, I feel like taking a class and getting feedback would really help. Any thoughts?

We can't swing it now, but I really want to. If you do it, please let me know how it is.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I'm taking the lighting one in August (speedlight). I'm just doing study along but I've heard their classes are AWESOME.

[alotofyarn]

I got a couple of CM gift cards for my birthday, so now I'm debating whether I want to take Shooting 101 (First Steps with a DSLR, if it gets offered again) or Shooting 102 (Mastering Manual Exposure, in July). I understand aperture, ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and composition, I just haven't gotten good at them yet. Any thoughts?

[alotofyarn]

And, I'm an idiot - I didn't confirm that CM gift certificates could be used on workshops. They can't. So, what do I spend $50 on now??

[Ladybug]

e-learning for the gift shop. I made this same mistake. Sorry.

I would save my gift cards for their processing tools when you get to that stage. The lightroom presets are some of my favorites and some of the best money I ever spent. I haven't tried their photoshop actions yet. You have to have these programs to use these tools. I would start with a post processing class before purchasing presets/actions. You'll understand them much better.

I love Click magazine. It's very inspiring, but not a basic learning resource. It always makes me want to get out and shoot.

[alotofyarn]

Thanks! After improved shooting, post processing is on my list of things to learn. We don't have Lightroom yet, but I'd like to get it.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

We have Photoshop Elements...others may disagree but I love it. I think it's a really great value and much cheaper than LR or full PS

[ladymoreta]

I love Photoshop Elements, too. I haven't tried the other programs, but Elements does all I've needed it to so far.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Yes, I haven't found a single thing that Elements doesn't do. I have an old version (V7) and I might consider upgrading for Xmas because I know the newer one is even nicer. But, I think unless you're going to take a full PS/LR class, you probably won't get your monies worth with the amount of time you're going to have to spend playing with it (knowing that you have a baby and an intern DH).