PRIVATE LESSONS
Take a 1-on-1 private lesson from expert wildlife photographer, Chase Dekker.
Whether you take one lesson or multiple, you are guaranteed to walk away with new photography skills and knowledge that will show in your future images.
Different people learn in different ways. For some, reading ebooks, searching online tutorials and watching training videos works well while others need a more interactive experience to learn effectively. I am passionate about photography education and truly want you to become a better photographer. For years I have taught others the art of photography and how to gain all the skills necessary to achieve the style and quality of images they desire. While my primary focus is wildlife, landscape, and nature photography, any skills we pick up through a private lesson can be applied to all types of photography.
My private photography lessons are exactly that – personal, one-on-one lessons tailored to you. You'll be able to ask me questions live on the spot and get immediate feedback on your technique and final images. To guarantee you get the best experience possible, I only teach subjects I know inside and out while making sure we focus on the areas you need assistance with the most.
If you live near or are traveling to Monterey Bay we can meet in person! Of course not everyone can travel to Monterey Bay (especially during COVID!), so we can also arrange a private online lesson through Zoom. The online lessons are perfect if you live farther away or are looking to increase your knowledge and skills with your post processing workflow using Photoshop, Adobe Camera RAW, or Lightroom. Whatever your needs may be, I can help!
How Does It Work?
When you're ready to setup a lesson with me, here's what happens:
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Send me an email, text, or give me a call to set up a time and place.
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I'll reply within 24-48 hours with some questions and suggestions regarding our lesson.
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Together, we will craft lessons around your needs, and set a date & time for our private learning experience. If we are meeting for an in-person lesson, we will set a meeting place, too.
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Lesson time! We meet in person or connect via Zoom or Skype, learn a bunch, and have fun!
I will do my absolute best to teach you as much as possible during our time together. I want you to get the most value for your time and money.
Quality Lesson Guarantee
Through all my years and experiences with wildlife and nature photography, there are few scenarios and topics I have yet to come across. If there is a subject that I do not feel comfortable teaching, I will let you know well in advance and you will receive a full refund if the lesson is canceled.
I promise to use all my knowledge to ensure you learn everything possible and get the very best photography or post-processing lesson possible. I promise by the end of our one lesson or multiple lessons, you will be a better photographer and will see the improvement with your images immediately. This is my guarantee to you!
What Do You Teach?
For in-person lessons, your session can be anything from field work, operating your camera, focusing techniques, filters, reading and interpreting a scene, composition, wildlife tracking, asset management, post processing - and everything in between.
Online lessons are a little different. Virtual learning is truly a wonder of our modern age. Never before has it been easier to directly connect teachers and students anywhere on the globe. However, I don't think all photography topics are best served by online classes.
Subjects that are good for online learning:
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Post processing tools and techniques (e.g. Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.)
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Photo organization & asset management
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Composition
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Computer clean-up and optimization for faster processing
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Photo & website critiques
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Portfolio reviews
Subjects that are good for in-person learning:
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How to use your camera (dials, buttons, menus)
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Interpreting a location and changing shooting style per conditions
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Focusing techniques
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Learning & practicing long exposure techniques
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Exposure settings in dynamic lighting conditions
Summed up, topics that are either software-based or don't require physical, hands-on learning lend themselves very well to online classrooms. Such topics don't require students and teacher to be co-located. Those are the topics I will focus on with you in our virtual classroom. We of course can go over camera techniques online and photoshop/post-processing lessons in-person as well. It is all up to you!
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How do I use Zoom or Skype? Where do I get it?Both Zoom and Skype are free to download and run on a variety of OS versions (both Windows and Mac). It is very easy to install the client. Do this before our meeting. A short time before our session, I will email a meeting link to you. Click on the link and you’ll join right in.
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Should I do an in-person or online photography lesson?I always like to talk with whomever wants a lesson in advance to make sure I understand everything possible about what it is you are looking to learn. During our emails or phone calls before the lesson, we will decide what is best for you!
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Can I get in person coaching?Yes, certainly, provided you (and I!) are in the Monterey Bay, California area. This is a good option if you want advice on using your camera, reading a location and choosing a composition. I recommend at least a 2-hour block of time for an in person lesson. Lessons can be given in other locations, but additional fees apply for travel. Please inquire for more details!
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What can we photograph in-person around Monterey Bay?Monterey Bay has a plethora of wildlife and shooting locations as its one of North America's top wildlife and nature photography destinations (one reason I live here!). We can photograph wildlife from otters, sea lions, birds, whales, bobcats, and more or focus on landscape photography around Big Sur or the rocky shoreline of the peninsula. If you choose you would like a lesson in nearby Yosemite, Point Reyes, or somewhere further, we can set that up too! Longer trips are usually done over 1-3 nights.
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Do I need to use my entire lesson time in a single sitting?It depends on what you are looking to learn! Some subjects can be taught rather easily within 1-2 hours, but many students prefer to have ongoing lessons. Maybe you want to schedule 1 lesson every week or every month or maybe you want to start with an in-person lesson and then follow-up with an online lesson where to post process some of the photos we have taken. We can decide all of this as we go along as flexibility is key!
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My schedule changed last minute. What do I do?Hey, life happens. Contact me and we'll work out a new schedule. If the worst happens and we can't reschedule, you'll get a full refund.
RATES
In-Person Private Lessons (1-2 students)*
Perfect for enhancing your photography skills!
First hour: $150
Second hour: $120
Third hour and beyond: $90 / hour
After the first hour, the rate is measured by 15-minute increments at a prorated amount. So rest assured if you reach over an additional hour, you will not be charged outright for that whole hour!
Example: 2.75 hour private lesson is $337.50 ($270 for first two hours plus $67.50 for additional 45 minutes)
* After 2 students, every additional student is an added $20 per person per hour. These rates apply to lessons in the Monterey Bay area. Additional rates apply for lessons in other locations.
Private Online Lessons (e.g. Zoom)
Excellent for post-processing and basic camera skills!
First hour: $100
Second hour: $80
Third hour and beyond: $70 / hour
Example: 3.5 hour private lesson: $285 ($250 for first three hours followed by prorated amount of $35 for additional 30 minutes)
Save an additional 10% on your total if you sign up for both an in-person and online lesson! Inquire for more details.