Course Description:

Creative Digital Photography is designed for students who are ready to move beyond the basics and dive deeper into the complex craft of image-making. In this advanced course, students will explore creative composition, intentional lighting, visual storytelling, and artistic experimentation.

In addition to shooting weekly assignments, students will learn post-production editing using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. They’ll discover how to enhance mood, color, and detail, as well as how to correct common issues and create polished, professional-quality images.

By the end of this course, students will have a thoughtfully curated collection of edited photographs and a basic foundation in both shooting and digital editing—skills they can use for creative expression, academic work, or future careers in photography and media arts.

Course Viewpoint:  Mixed

Course Length:  Open

Time: 11:00-11:55

Cost:  $150 [Cash, Check, or Venmo]

Supply Fee:  $0, supplies are included in class fee

Class Prerequisite:  This class is designed for students who have a basic understanding of photography concepts—composition, lighting, perspective, and how to operate a camera of their choice. A previous photography class (like Digital Photography Basics) is helpful but not required, as long as the student feels comfortable taking photos independently.

Students should be willing to experiment boldly, take creative risks, and explore storytelling through both their camera and digital editing tools. Basic reading and writing skills are a must for following tutorials and editing steps.

Materials Teacher Will Provide:  Each student will receive a PDF copy of my photography eBook via email. This guide serves as a tangible, easy-to-reference resource for reviewing concepts we cover in class. Students are welcome to print their copy for personal use; however, please avoid sharing or distributing it, as it is a sold product through my photography business.

I will also carry one extra disposable camera per student for those occasions when a student forgets their gear. These backup cameras ensure no one misses out on hands-on learning or active participation.

To help spark creativity and keep the class fun and inviting, I also provide a small selection of creative prompts, preset samples, sample raw images for practice, and themed mini-challenges throughout the semester.

Materials Students Must Provide:  Students may use any type of camera they are comfortable with—digital camera, DSLR, smartphone camera, or even a high-quality film scan if they enjoy analog photography. However, please note that only the first three options can do post-production digital editing!

Students should also have:

* Access to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop is ideal (desktop or mobile versions are acceptable; the Lightroom mobile app is free, and Photoshop has a generous trial period). For those who really want to learn professionally, I recommend a subscription to the Adobe Photography Plan — it’s $19.99 a month and includes both Lightroom and Photoshop. If this is not feasible, any basic editing software will do — please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

* A laptop, desktop, or tablet capable of running their chosen editing apps * A notebook or digital notes app for recording editing steps, creative ideas, and weekly feedback

* Charged batteries or a charger for their camera

* A personal folder or digital cloud space (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) for storing original and edited images

* An email address for me to send their weekly digital challenge to

** Optional props or items for creative shoots (this will be explored more in later weeks)

Minimum Enrollment:  4

Maximum Enrollment:  16

Parent Requirements:  Because digital editing is a detailed process, students may occasionally need additional computer time at home to complete their weekly projects. Parents should help ensure their student has access to the necessary software and tools.

Students may also need to explore their surroundings to capture images for assignments—sometimes indoors, sometimes outdoors—so a little flexibility goes a long way.

Parents should also be prepared to pose for portraits or creative concepts upon request. Bonus points for dramatic lighting, costume accessories, or bravely holding still while your teenager adjusts the ISO for the fifth time.

Support, encouragement, and patience with the creative process will help students thrive in this course.

Teacher:  Tessa Zinne

Contact:  teneshazinne@gmail.com OR Text: 406.270.5147 (you can call but definitely leave a message because I often don’t hear my phone)