One-on-one Mentoring

One-on-One (Individual) Mentoring and Workshops

Tom and I do offer one-on-one instruction (here in our Hamden, CT studio, or on location). The focus of your private lesson is to quickly advance your in-camera or post-processing skills. Email us to set up a private workshop: photographybylisaandtom@comcast.net

Your Session could be centered around Field Techniques, Digital Workflow, Capture (how to use your camera), Composition, Post-processing (Photoshop or Lightroom, Plugins, HDR), Digital Competition, Fine Art Printing, Portfolio Review/Image Critique, Studio Lighting, Working with Models, etc. These sessions are customized according to your needs. When you choose an individual workshop we will ask you to send us a portfolio of images (so that we can preview your strong and weak points) along with an emailed explanation of both the vision behind those images and a description of your photographic goals and what you want to improve upon. This pre-workshop fodder allows us to best serve your needs.

We offer half day and full day sessions with a one-hour break for lunch. The cost of a half-day session is $450 (~4 hours), a full day (~8 hours) private session is $700. You can add a second person, preferably at a similar level to you in order to maximize the benefit, for $250. Contact us via email photographybylisaandtom@comcast.net or via phone 203-288-8151.

Portfolio reviews and Image Critiques allow us to assess your work and make suggestions for improvement in a nice but constructive manner. We provide positive feedback so that you may work on improving your photographs. A portfolio review is $200 or upgrade ($400) and combine it with individualized post-processing suggestions (you bring 5-20 RAW digital files and we demonstrate live how we would tweak them through post-processing). This service can also be provided for electronically. You provide 10 RAW files and we will critique them and send you back a customized video to watch. Contact us via email photographybylisaandtom@comcast.net or via phone 203-288-8151.

We also offer individual workshops on location. You must provide our instructional fee plus travel expenses. We will help you get the images that you desire. Contact us via email photographybylisaandtom@comcast.net or via phone 203-288-8151.

We accept payment via Paypal, secure credit card via PayPal (no Paypal account needed), credit card, or cash. A 50% deposit must be received in order to hold your date. We will apply your deposit to a future session for a documented (death certificate, doctors note) emergency or extreme weather conditions.

Possible topics, anything from From Capture to Workflow to Output is possible for a private workshop.
  • Basic Field Technique
  • Camera settings
  • Exposure
  • Composition
  • Capturing sharp with good camera technique
  • Macro (extension tubes, etc.)
  • Long Exposures (settings, ND filters, etc.)
  • HDR (high dynamic range)
  • Digital Darkroom
  • Importing to your computer (Lightroom or BreezeBrowser)
  • Metadata – applying copyright, watermark, caption and keywords
  • Selecting, Culling and Ranking images
  • ACR (Adobe Camera RAW)
  • Post Processing with Photoshop
  • Analyzing the image for what to enhance, correct, etc.
  • Working with adjustment layers
  • Layers and Masks
  • Finalizing (Sharpening/Sizing) for output
  • Post Processing with Plugins (Nik, Topaz, Fractalius, OnOne, SnapArt
  • Textures
  • From Input to Output
  • Color Management
  • Printer profiles
  • Paper surface options
  • Evaluating image quality
  • Making adjustments for print
  • Archival methods for maximizing print life
  • Portfolio Review/Image Critique
  • Critique of your current portfolio
  • Exploring and Identifying themes
  • Critique of individual images
  • Identifying what works, what does not work and why
  • Presentation options
  • Web galleries
  • Slideshows
Contact us via email photographybylisaandtom@comcast.net or via phone 203-288-8151.