The photo in your head is good. Let’s make the one on your screen match.
We’re Cathleen & Jeremy, and we built this course for the photographer staring at a hundred buttons with no idea what they do, frustrated that the shot in their head never quite shows up on the screen. By the end, it will. No jargon, just everything we wish someone had handed us at the start.
You didn’t buy a camera to fight with it.
But here you are. You point, you shoot, and what comes back is darker, blurrier, or just flatter than what you saw with your own eyes. So you nudge a dial, and now it’s worse. You bury yourself in the manual, watch a dozen YouTube videos that each explain a different setting a different way, and somehow end up more confused than when you started.
It’s not you. Nobody is born knowing what an aperture is. The trouble is that most photography “education” is written by people who forgot what it felt like to not know. It’s full of jargon and “just shoot in manual!” advice that explains nothing.
Here’s the good news: the gap between the photo in your head and the one on your screen isn’t talent. It’s a handful of things nobody’s shown you yet. That’s exactly what this course is.
From “what does this button do?” to “I shot that.”
Imagine picking up your camera and actually knowing what to reach for. You see the light, you make a decision, you turn the dial on purpose, and the photo that comes back looks like the one you pictured. You pose a real person without that awkward “okay, now what?” silence. You edit your shots so they finally look finished.
That’s the whole point of this course. Not to make you memorize settings, but to make you confident. You become the kind of photographer who isn’t intimidated by their own gear and is genuinely proud of what they make. Whether this is a hobby you love or a business you’re building, you’ll walk away taking photos you’re proud to put your name on.
What you’ll learn
Five modules, in the order that actually makes sense, from the gear in your hands to the finished photo you share.
Gear
Cut through the noise and understand what you actually own. We’ll demystify your camera and lenses so you know what each piece does, what matters, and what’s just marketing. You’ll stop second-guessing your equipment and start using it.
Camera Settings
This is the big one. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO: the three settings that decide whether your photo works, finally explained in plain English. You’ll learn how they work together and how to dial them in for the shot you want, so you can step off auto for good.
Lighting
Light is the difference between a snapshot and a photograph. We’ll teach you to actually see light: how to find the good stuff, work with what you’ve got, and stop blaming the camera for shots that were really a lighting problem.
Posing
The part most people dread. We’ll show you how to direct real people so they look natural and relaxed instead of stiff and staged, including the simple cues and go-to poses that work on anyone. Those awkward silences disappear.
Editing
The final 10% that makes a photo feel finished. You’ll learn our editing approach to bring your images to life through color, light, and consistency, so what you deliver matches the vision you had when you pressed the shutter.
What you get when you enroll
Self-paced video tutorials
Work through it on your own schedule, in your own living room, in whatever order suits you. No live calls to make, no deadlines to miss.
3.5+ hours of video training — and growing
Clear, step-by-step lessons across all five modules, with new lessons added regularly.
Lifetime access
Buy it once, keep it forever. Rewatch any lesson as many times as you need, whenever you need it. (Our students say this is one of the best parts.)
Exclusive brand discounts
As a student, you’ll unlock discounts with SmugMug, Kate Backdrops, Atmosphere Aerosol, and MagMod for the gear and tools we actually use and recommend.
Is this you?
This course is for you if…
- You bought a camera (or you’re about to) and it mostly lives on auto because the rest is overwhelming.
- The photos you take never quite match the picture in your head.
- You’ve cobbled together free tutorials and you’re tired of the contradictions and gaps.
- You want a real, start-to-finish foundation, not 40 disconnected tips.
- You’re a hobbyist who wants to love your camera, or an aspiring pro building toward a business.
It’s probably not for you if…
- You’re already shooting confidently in manual and editing like a pro. You’d be past most of this.
- You want one quick hack instead of actually learning the craft. (This is the real foundation, taught properly.)
Why learn from us?
It started with our wedding and one slightly impulsive camera purchase. A few months in, Cathleen walked away from the news anchor desk to shoot full time, and Jeremy didn’t take much convincing to come along. More than a decade later, we’ve built a six-figure photography business and bought two studios. Our current one is an old movie theater.
So we’ve been exactly where you are: holding a camera we didn’t fully understand, figuring it out the slow, frustrating way. That’s the whole reason we teach the way we do. We take the complicated stuff and explain it in plain English: no jargon, no gatekeeping, no guru act. Just two people who’ve actually done it, glad to show you how.
Don’t just take our word for it
From photographers who started exactly where you are.
Ready to actually use that camera?
You could spend the next year piecing it together from free videos, staying stuck on auto, and wondering why your photos never look the way you want. Or you could learn the whole foundation (gear, settings, lighting, posing, editing) from two people who’ve built a career on it, and have it for life.
The Use That Camera Course is $297. One payment, lifetime access, every lesson, every update, forever. That’s less than a single lens, and unlike the lens, this is the thing that actually teaches you to use everything else.
A few things you might be wondering
Do I need a fancy camera to take this course?
Nope. Whatever camera you have is the right one to start with. That’s the whole idea behind “use that camera.” The skills you’ll learn (settings, lighting, posing, editing) work on any camera, from an entry-level body to a pro setup. We’ll even help you understand the gear you already own in the Gear module.
What if I’m a total beginner?
Perfect. That’s exactly who we built this for. We assume you’re starting from zero and explain everything in plain English, in the order that makes sense. No prior knowledge needed. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by other tutorials, this is the antidote.
How long do I have access?
Forever. You buy it once and it’s yours for life. Rewatch any lesson, any time, as many times as you need. Our students tell us this is one of their favorite parts.
How long does the course take?
It’s self-paced, so it’s entirely up to you. There’s 3.5+ hours of video across the five modules, with more being added regularly. Binge it in a weekend or take one module a week. With lifetime access, there’s no rush.
Is this for hobbyists or people wanting to start a business?
Both. The foundation is the same whether you want to take better photos of your kids and travels, or you’re building toward paid clients. Plenty of our students started as hobbyists and grew into a business. The course gives you the skills to go either way.
Can I really learn this from videos?
Yes, and you can go back and rewatch as often as you like, which is something a one-time in-person class can’t give you. Our video tutorials are built to be clear and easy to follow, and our students consistently tell us how well things are explained.
What if it’s not for me?
You’re covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn’t a fit, just reach out within 30 days of enrolling and we’ll refund you in full.
Beginner's Photography Course
$297.00
Quantity
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube