Photography Classes in Willowbrook & Burr Ridge
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 Willowbrook and Burr Ridge areas, Creative Eye Workshops™ features photography classes that are practical and convenient, thoughtfully created for busy people of all skill levels. Willowbrook and Burr Ridge are less 20 minutes away by car.
At Creative Eye Workshops™, while teaching you photography fundamentals, we also work on building your confidence with your camera, so you can have fun and take pictures with concern 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.
Courses for All Photographers & Subject Matter
Creative Eye Workshops™ features a variety of classes that cater to all levels of photographers and all kinds of subject matter. Both amateur and advanced photographers will be profit from our courses by improving their technical and creative skills. Our offerings range from classes in photographic composition and learning your DSLR camera to landscape photography and Photoshop Elements. Private photography lessons are available. And we offer class combos that save you money.
A Focus on the Fundamentals
Experience shows that by teaching the fundamentals, it empowers our students to think on their feet and prepares them for making pictures in the real world. Our instruction provides a strong foundation, which allows students to pursue any area of photography they desire, whether they choose to photograph their kids or “Franky” the Saint Bernard, make close-ups of flowers, start their own family photography business, or take great travel photos.
For the more advanced photographer, we feature more advanced classes, like courses in exposure, Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, digital darkroom techniques, and landscape and nature photography.
We Build Your Confidence While You Learn
Gain the confidence and knowledge to take that perfect shot when it really counts.
Building confidence is a primary concern, especially for the beginning photographer. Our goal is to help beginners to fearlessly use their DSLR cameras. For starters, we suggest that new photographers take our confidence-building digital camera class that teaches students how to use their DSLRs in manual mode, freeing them from the erratic and mysterious automatic and point-and-shoot modes. You’ll also need to learn the artistic side of things with our fun and inspirational class in photo composition. See our class suggestions.
Once our basic core of classes is completed, students should have the confidence and the know-how to enjoy photography without all of the worry and confusion.
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 Training Methods Include 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.
Our classes feature 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.
Umesh Sharma, M.D. from Burr Ridge writes, “I want you to know that it was quite a learning experience for me in your photography classes. Like many people, I have been doing travel photography and have taken good pictures. But, from you, I learned how to make good pictures great. Overall it was a great experience and I loved your personal email guidance to the questions as they came up.”
Practical Classes Created Specifically for Busy People
We help busy people learn photography by thoughtfully creating practical and efficient classes that don’t require extended time commitments. For example, instead of holding long classes, we’ve broken them down into a series of shorter ones to accommodate people with busy schedules. Learn which classes are right for you.
Joe writes, “I have been taking DSLR pictures of birds, nature, and landscapes for many years and occasionally came up with a few really good ones. I took a few classes with Mike and now I now am using my camera to take nature photographs and not just pictures. The classes provided very valuable and practical advice with immediate results.”
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.
Talented Photographer & Inspirational Instructor
The instructor and founder of Creative Eye Workshops™ is Mike MacDonald, a self-taught photographer. Beginning like everyone else, he took on photography as a hobby. However, it wasn’t long before he established himself as a nationally published photographer, when, just a year-and-a-half later, his how-to article about photographing 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.
“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.”—Nicole D.
Mike has degrees in physics and mathematics, with careers as a professional comedian and scientific programmer. As an instructor, Mike uses the communication skills learned from his comedy and writing backgrounds, and his organizational and analytical skills gained from his experience as a computer programmer and mathematician, to simply and efficiently convey complex ideas in an easy-to-understand way. However, what makes Mike stand out as a teacher is his passion, one that bursts with enthusiasm, inspiring students to take their love of photography to new heights.
Photography Classes Conveniently Located in Willowbrook & Burr Ridge Area
From Willowbrook & Burr Ridge, take Route 83 north to 63rd Steet and make a left (west) to Belmont Road, where there’s a Walgreen’s, Mobil Station on the corner. Turn right (north) and quickly get into the left lane because, in just a few seconds, you’ll see us on the left in the middle of the block. Our address is 6200 Belmont Road.
If you have questions about Creative Eye Workshops™ or want to know which classes may best fit your needs, just email us or phone 630-852-8448.