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Quotable Quotes from Alumni - Lightroom Classic
Here are a few comments from our alumni. For more, click here.As time permits, we will be adding more quotes.
A friend told me about Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures a few years ago, and the time was finally right to sign up for one. Then, a couple of months before the Charleston, SC workshop, I noticed they had added an optional 2-day Lightroom Classic course on at the beginning. I have been a Photoshop user, albeit a mediocre one, for a decade, and I had tried multiple times to learn Lightroom – mostly because of its reputation for photo organization. First I bought a book, but was overwhelmed. Then I did an online course by a Lightroom guru. Still overwhelmed. The info was there but having to pause the lesson, get into LR and try what they were saying, then going back and forth when things weren’t working as expected – well I was once again overwhelmed. I had pretty much given up on LR, and was using Photoshop and Bridge and resigned to it. It didn’t help things that I am a Mac user, and trying to decipher PC instructions was interesting, to say the least.
The Barefoot Contessa's Lightroom course was amazing. There were only 4 of us, 3 using Macs. The sessions were laid out logically, and we all went through everything on our own computers (!!), not just observing a big screen. When we had glitches, Margo would come by each one of us and help us get it. No mean feat since she is mainly on a PC, but has a great working knowledge of Macs. I can’t say enough about her computer abilities. I left that course with LR set up properly on my computer, and the ability (practiced in class) to download, organize, label, develop, save and export photos. Margo made sure that I was able to accomplish this and not just learn and forget it before I was able to use it. I was over the moon! She had handouts and source materials that were very well put together, and she was generous in sharing some of her “pointers” from over the years.
I have a long way to go in using all the develop tools, but I understand them even though I am not yet adept at using them. I do believe one more course will take care of that.
~ Robin B., Virginia
I took this Lightroom Class as part of my 50th birthday present to myself, and it was well worth it!
I have enjoyed taking pictures over the years and had dabbled in Lightroom, but I never knew how to use it to its fullest extent. After taking this course, I realized I was only at the tip of the iceberg with Lightroom, and I was so excited to see not only how much else I could do, but to learn what I had already been doing much better. What was especially nice was that Margo made the learning so engaging and fun!
~ Heather S., South Carolina
I highly recommend attending the Lightroom workshop provided by the Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures. It is well worth the investment in time and money. I am so glad I was introduced to Lightroom by the principals with the Barefoot Contessa Photo Adventures, Margo & Arnie. For the last six years I have used Lightroom with no formal instruction except for Margo’s quick tutorials during BCPA workshop critiques and going on-line to Adobe for FAQ’s. I limped along all these years. But, when Arnie accused me editing an image as HDR, which I had no intention of doing, I realized I needed more formal training.
The class is spread across 3 half-days which really helps with learning at a reasonable pace. It was a great refresher, but I also learned new techniques. For example, do spot removal before global changes. It was great to learn how each section of the Develop module really works. We used actual photos and tried different processes without the pressure of a photography workshop and its time constraints. Also, we learned about the Print module which is something I will use in the future when I start printing my own images. I am more confident in my use of Lightroom and will never unintentionally edit an image in HDR!
~ Rose P., Ohio
Barefoot Contessa Lightroom workshop gave me a great opportunity to learn the skills of Lightroom. I have taken many courses, but Margo had the best hands-on method of teaching Lightroom. She prepared presets to get started, and the workflow printout of the class was well done. I enjoyed working with her and Arnie for the two day classes.
~ Chuck W., Texas
Nearly 2 years ago I had my first experience with Margo Pinkerton and Arnie Zann in a Lightroom workshop. I had been teaching myself Lightroom through various videos but realized that a hands-on workshop was what I needed. Margo took us through the program from beginning to end, starting with how to import in an organized manner. That was key to the future use of the program! She then proceeded to show us the ins and outs of the different modules and how best to use them. The workshop helped me continue learning more productively on my own. And from this workshop I decided to start some photo workshops with them which have been invaluable. Besides learning a ton from them, they are simply a lot of fun to hang out with! And 18 months later I began entering exhibits and getting juried into shows. I never thought my photography would come to this! Thank you, Margo and Arnie for launching me into my passion!
~ Lynne N., North Carolina
The course opened my eyes to some new possibilities of using LR for post-processing. I had used LR for a number of years for photo portfolio organizing and some post-processing, but the BCPA course introduced me to a richer and broader set of tools that have helped expand my LR-based post processing significantly.
FYI #1 - A "feel good" moment for you - I used a bit of what I learned at your Hillsborough session to clean up my photo that won the "Best in Show" award in a juried art show in August. (The prior year another photo of mine won third place overall and was the highest-awarded photo in the show, so this year was even better.)
~ Bob S., Virginia
I loved the painting with color and also how to do collections. I learned so much in your course that I want to share some of it with two of my photo friends.
~ Lis B., Delaware
The LR workshop was great for me because it helped knock me off balance a little bit and got me outside of my comfort zone into a realm where I learned new ways of doing things instead of the same timeworn way I had always been doing them.
~ Ron H., Massachusetts
