Thanks, thanks (and more thanks) for putting so much time & thought into your posts yesterday.
I appreciate the honest feedback and all of the suggestions.
I read everything. I printed up everything. I highlighted, I circled, I made notes.
I just really want to make sure that this class is what you are hoping for (and I realize that I can't please everyone all the time...I'm just aiming for a high percentage).
So thanks again.
A couple of gals had suggested that I give away a spot in the first class as a doorprize and it sounds like a pretty good idea to me.
So I used a random number generator to pick a winner and Nona, you won the first seat in the online photography workshop! It's funny, because Nona wrote in her comments "Looking forward to being one of your first online students". Nona, email me (karencrussell@charter.net).
Ok, so to answer a few more questions about all of this:
1. I am hoping to offer the first class in March (this is of course dependent upon when the website is up and running), but I will keep you posted.
2. I haven't decided how many students I will take in each class yet.
3. I can't think of any other way to take sign-ups other than on a first-come, first-served basis and to start a waiting list after that (I know some of you are concerned about this, but I just can't think of any other way to go about it - I'm open to suggestions though).
4. Yes...I will still be giving photography tips out on my blog and will still answer questions as I am able to. If I can answer a question in a couple of paragraphs, I am more than happy to answer it. I've been struggling a bit lately though, trying to answer questions on really in-depth subjects (subjects that take several hours of explanation in my photography classes) and am finding that I can't answer all of them with the limited amount of time I can dedicate to this blog (I had to give myself a daily blogging time limit awhile back because I was finding that some days, I was blogging more than I was working).
5. Almost everyone commented that they would prefer to have a photography class and a photo editing class offered separately (some people don't need the photo editing info. and some people don't need the photography info.). And realistically, as I was working on a class outline today, I realized that 8 wks. is barely enough time to cover everything I want to cover on the subject of photography, let alone photo editing.
6. I am going to focus on the photography class first, see how it goes and then tackle the photo editing class. I'm really unsure what direction to go in with the photo editing class because there are so many variables (JPEG or RAW? ACR or Lightroom? Photoshop, Photoshop CS2, CS3, Elements?) and it would be impossible to teach a class like that unless you narrowed down the variables.
7. I have put a ton of thought into the price of the class, because I realize that it may not be affordable for everyone. The decision for me, came down to how important it is to limit the class size so that everyone could receive direct feedback, critiquing and answers to their questions and to also have a lengthy enough class that I had time to cover a ton of information. I also looked into the pricing on a lot of online photography classes, and for an 8 wk. class, $250.00 is on the low side of average. Again, I hope everyone realizes how much consideration I have put into the price.
8. If it would be helpful, I can look into having the web-designer make it possible to take a deposit to hold your space in the class (maybe 6 wks. before the start of the class), allowing you to make payments on the class up until a week before the start date. I'm open to suggestions on that one too.
9. Although I think that a person with a digital SLR will get the most out of a class like this, I think that anyone who is serious about learning photography, regardless of what type of a camera you own, can learn a lot. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon how you look at it) I think that a lot of people with point-and-shoot style cameras, put a new camera on their Christmas wish-list after taking my class. If you have more specific questions about this, feel free to email me.
10. I spent most of yesterday putting together a detailed class outline based on everything that I think should be included in the class and based on all of your comments. As soon as I have it finalized, I'll post it here for your feedback and and review.
11. Funny, you gals are worriers, just like me. Yes, I am still teaching at the store locations I already have booked for 2008 (and I'm sure I'll add a few more) and yes, I am most definitely continuing to design product for Creative Imaginations (I'm ready for a change...but not that drastic of a change).
12. I'd still love to hear any additional comments or questions related to the class. Just post them here under the comments section.
13. And an older picture that I stumbled across today (back in 2005 when Cole & Courtney both had curly hair).
14. If you would like me to send you an email once I have a date established for class sign-ups, email me at karencrussell@charter.net and put "email me when you are taking sign-ups" in the subject line.