Photography Classes in Oak Brook, Hinsdale, & Clarendon Hills
Digital Photography Made Simple
Learn To Photograph the Things You Love Most!
Our photography classes help you photograph the things you love most.
If you wish to learn photography in Oak Brook and Hinsdale areas, Creative Eye Workshops™ offers photography classes that are practical, convenient, and efficient, thoughtfully designed for photographers of all levels and people with busy schedules. Clarendon Hills, Oak Brook, and Hinsdale are less than 20 minutes away by car.
At Creative Eye Workshops™, we teach you the fundamentals and build your confidence so you can take control of your camera without worry or hesitation. And as our name suggests, we help you discover and express your creative eye.
Hear What Our Students Have to Say
Internationally-published photographer & your photography teacher, Mike MacDonald.
“For someone like me, who previously used my digital camera on all automatic settings and was fearful of the ‘unknowns’ my camera had to offer (always afraid I might touch some mysterious button by mistake), I find myself now in this wonderful place…feeling totally at ease with my camera and having the time of my life exploring and finding my own personal style.”—Sarah G.
“I have read half dozen books on photography, and none were able to explain the fundamentals of proper exposure like you were. Now I have a much clearer understanding of correct exposure and how to achieve it.”
—Chris E.
Classes for All Photographers & Subject Matter
Creative Eye Workshops™ offers a varied curriculum that teaches photographers of all levels to photograph all manner of subject matter. Amateur and advanced photographers can be benefit from our courses by improving their technical and creative skills. Our offerings range from photographic composition and how to use a DSLR camera to nature photography and Adobe Photoshop Elements. We even provide private photography lessons and we help you save money on courses with our class combos.
We Focus on the Fundamentals
Our photography classes are designed to teach the fundamentals of photography, empowering our students to think on their feet and make pictures under “real world” conditions. Our instruction provides a strong footing so that students are ready to photograph anything they want, whether they choose to photograph their grandkids or pets, make close-ups of flowers, start their own wedding photography business, or take great travel or nature photographs. You will learn artistic and technical aspects of photography, including many advanced photographic techniques.
For more advanced photographers, we offer more advanced courses, like classes in mastering exposure, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, digital printmaking, and landscape and nature photography.
We Build Your Confidence As You Learn
Gain the confidence and knowledge to take perfect pictures when it really counts.
Our experience shows that building confidence is as important as building knowledge. Therefore, our goal is always to help beginner photographers to become fearless of their digital cameras. For starters, new photographers take our fun and inspiring photo composition class and our powerful DSLR camera class that teaches how to take better pictures manually, free from those unpredictable and mysterious automatic and point-and-shoot modes. Learn which classes you should take.
Once you’ve completed our core photography curriculum, you should have the confidence and knowledge to enjoy photography without frustration and worry.
Brian writes, “Thank you for the ‘Get to Know Your Camera’ course. I learned so much in two nights that it has made me really want to dive in. Your way of teaching and encouragement has me feeling confident about making something that has always been a passing interest into a full-fledged hobby.”
Sophisticated Teaching Methods and Hands-on Learning
We offer hands-on photo outings to help students practice what they’ve learned in class. Here are two intrepid students at our springtime outing to Starved Rock State Park.
We’ve designed our classes to offer a combination of visual presentations and hands-on exercises. We’ve created custom animations and insightful computer graphics so students can visualize and absorb the ideas. Comprehensive class notes are also provided, helping students revisit and reinforce the material between sessions. Furthermore, we send out supplementary emails during each class, to help support and solidify the information you just learned.
Practical Classes Structured Specifically for Busy People
We help busy people learn photography without compromising their schedules by considerately designing practical and efficient classes that don’t require extended commitments. For instance, we break down long classes into several short ones to better fit busy lives. Read about which classes we suggest.
Our practical classes also created to save you time. That’s because we concentrate on teaching you what you need to know, when you need to know it, rather than bogging you down with loads of irrelevant tools that you’re not yet ready to use.
Accomplished Photographer & Inspirational Instructor
Instructor and the founder of Creative Eye Workshops™, Mike MacDonald learned photography all by himself and, like most people, took it up as a hobby. However, he quickly established himself as a nationally published photographer when, just a year-and-a-half later, his article about how to photography ice was featured in Outdoor Photographer Magazine. His photographs of Chicago nature have also been featured in the world-famous Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar. Watch an interview with Mike on WTTW Chicago Tonight.
Nicole writes, “Mike was personable and easy-going, and made everyone feel good about their level of knowledge and ability to learn the techniques. Great and energetic instructor.”
Mike has degrees in physics and mathematics, with careers in professional comedy as well as computer programming. As an instructor, Mike uses the communication skills from his comedy and writing backgrounds, and his organizational and analytical skills from his experience as a programmer and a mathematician, to present in an easy-to-understand way even the most challenging technical and creative concepts. However, what makes Mike stand out is passion, bursting with enthusiasm that inspires students to take their love of photography to new heights.
Photography Classes Conveniently Located in Oak Brook, Hinsdale, & Clarendon Hills Area
From Oak Brook and Oakbrook Terrace, take Route 83 south to Ogden Avenue and turn right (west) at the bottom of the ramp. Continue on Odgen Avenue for 4.6 miles to Belmont Road. Turn left (south) on Belmont for 2.3 miles to 6200 Belmont (on your right, in the middle of a block).
From Hindale, you’re right down the road. Take Odgen Avenue west to Belmont Road, which is 4.6 miles west of Route 83. Turn left (south) on Belmont for 2.3 miles to 6200 Belmont (on your right, in the middle of a block).
If you have questions about our classes, let us know. Just email or phone us at 630-852-8448.