Teacher: Amy Smith

Monthly Tuition: $85 Per Month (+ $100 Supply Fee)

Cash or Venmo: @Amy-M-Smith-3

7th-12th Grade Level

Course Description:

In this course, students will learn to see the world through a photographer’s eye. Each class blends practical instruction with hands-on opportunities as students explore camera basics, composition, lighting, creative techniques, and editing skills. As they grow in both knowledge and practice, students will begin to discover their own artistic voice and the unique way they see and capture the world.

Students will also engage in short devotional reflections that connect photography with themes of creativity, gratitude, service, and recognizing God’s handiwork in everyday life. Together, we’ll learn how our creative gifts can bring light and encouragement to others through community-focused photography service projects.

This class is perfect for beginners and budding creatives who want to explore photography through discovery in a supportive, collaborative environment.

Below you can read more about how the year will be structured.

Fall Semester:

1. Foundations

Students begin by learning the essentials: exposure, focus, depth of field, composition, lighting, and the history that shaped modern photography. Weekly assignments help them practice what they learn and encourage them to explore how they uniquely see the world.

2. Exploring Genres & Creative Technique

As their skills grow, students experiment with a wide range of photographic styles, including portraits, landscapes, action, macro, product photography, black & white, and documentary work. The goal is to help students discover the genres they naturally gravitate toward and begin shaping their personal photographic voice.

This portion of the year also includes a service project, where students learn how photography can communicate dignity, compassion, and truth.

Spring Semester:

1. Editing Mastery & Visual Style

Students move into honing in on editing with Adobe Lightroom. They learn to organize, cull, and edit their images using global and local adjustments, color grading, and tone curve work. This phase helps students understand how editing contributes to style, mood, and cohesive storytelling.

2. Artistic Voice, Purpose, & Final Projects

As the year draws to a close, students shift their focus to finding consistency and purpose in their work. They develop a personal photography series, participate in critiques, refine their editing style, and craft their artist statement. A service project reinforces the call to “see people like Jesus does” and use photography to bless the community.

3. End-of-Year Project

The course culminates in a celebratory gallery event where students present their final image series along with highlights from their service projects. Families and community partners are invited to enjoy the students’ growth, vision, and hard work.

What Makes This Course Special

• Clear progression: from foundational skills to creative work

• Balanced learning: instruction + hands-on discovery

• Creative exploration: students explore and develop their unique artistic voice

• Faith-centered reflection: weekly devotional tie-ins

• Real impact: service projects allow students to use their photography to encourage others