Overview of Photography Classes in DC
Washington, D.C. offers numerous opportunities for aspiring photographers to enhance their skills through local workshops, classes, and hands-on experiences led by seasoned professionals. Each program caters to different levels of expertise and photographic styles.
Washington Photo Safari
Washington Photo Safari provides immersive, field-based experiences emphasizing practical learning. They offer over 150 unique itineraries, from half-day to full-day tours across the city. Sessions start at or near Metro stations for easy access. These safaris welcome photographers using everything from smartphones to DSLRs, offering tips on camera features while exploring iconic sites.
Sam D'Amico's Photography Classes
Sam D'Amico offers a mix of in-person and online courses for beginners to advanced photographers. Classes cover diverse subjects like DSLR, mirrorless, and film photography. Sam's teaching style is hands-on and personalized, focusing on understanding camera operations, light, and composition.
Digital Photo Academy
Digital Photo Academy in Washington, D.C. provides small group or private live sessions led by professional photographers familiar with local hotspots. Classes range from street photography to architecture, landscapes, and more.
Focus on the Story
This non-profit organization combines photography with civic engagement and storytelling. Through exhibitions, Zoom discussions, meetups, and classes, photographers of all levels can refine their craft while exploring meaningful topics.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW)
CHAW offers various art classes, including photography for youth and adults. They have an open darkroom accessible after a brief orientation, a rare find in D.C.
Lincoln Photography
Lincoln Photography provides private lessons in acclaimed locations like Dupont Circle and the Smithsonian Castle. Their "Intro to Photography" series covers camera basics, aperture, exposure, and editing.

Unique Photography Opportunities and Locations
Washington, D.C., offers photographers numerous captivating opportunities to capture stunning images. These experiences allow photographers to view the city from new perspectives and hone their craft in diverse settings.
- National Zoo: Early mornings provide a tranquil setting for wildlife photography. The soft, natural light at dawn illuminates the animals, from playful pandas to graceful birds in flight.
- Night Safari: Sessions allow photographers to experiment with nighttime photography. Participants learn to capture the glow of lanterns, stunning civil twilight, and fireworks over the Potomac River at Mount Vernon.
- Street Photography: Enthusiasts can explore D.C.'s vibrant urban landscape. The streets feature abstract murals, offering colorful backdrops and compositions that bring everyday scenes to life.
- Hot Air Balloon Festivals: In Rockbridge County, VA, these events provide expansive views and unique angles, allowing photographers to capture majestic balloons floating over scenic landscapes.
- Indoor Photography: The National Portrait Gallery and the American Museum of Art serve as excellent locations for indoor sessions. Their vast and varied exhibits offer numerous subjects to practice with, and both venues welcome smartphone photographers.
- Cherry Blossom Festival: The Tidal Basin becomes a photographer's paradise during this yearly event. The iconic blooms, with their delicate pink hues, invite both macro and landscape photographers to capture spring's fleeting beauty.
- Monuments and Memorials: Workshops dedicated to capturing D.C.'s landmarks teach photographers how to encapsulate their grandeur. Learning to photograph the Lincoln Memorial's reflection in the Reflecting Pool at dawn or the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at dusk offers valuable practice in composition and lighting.
These unique photography opportunities help photographers develop a keen eye for detail, better understand their equipment, and enhance their ability to compose visually compelling images.

Expert Instructors and Their Teaching Approaches
David Luria and Sam D'Amico are prominent instructors leading Washington, D.C.'s photography education scene. Their backgrounds, experience, and distinct teaching philosophies shape the vibrant landscape of photography workshops in the city.
David Luria
Founder of Washington Photo Safari, David Luria brings extensive professional experience to his workshops. With over 45 years in D.C., he uses his familiarity with the city to offer a rich, location-centric learning experience. His workshops emphasize hands-on, in-field guidance, providing practical tips and immediate feedback as participants explore iconic sites.
Sam D'Amico
Sam D'Amico offers a distinctive blend of professional photography experience and an approachable teaching style. With over 500 assignments for the New York Times and numerous awards for exhibited works, Sam brings extensive knowledge to his classes. His teaching philosophy focuses on understanding camera operation, light, and compositional intent rather than conventional rule-based instruction. Sam encourages students to move beyond auto-exposure mode, promoting a thoughtful and creative process that relies more on the mind than the machine.
David and Sam exemplify the exceptional quality of D.C.'s photography workshops. Their understanding of technical and artistic aspects of photography, combined with dedicated, personalized teaching, creates an enriching environment for photographers' growth.

Student Experiences and Testimonials
Students' experiences and testimonials offer valuable insights into what to expect from photography workshops in Washington, D.C. The overwhelmingly positive feedback highlights the high-quality instruction and enriching experiences these workshops provide.
Washington Photo Safari
"I have been taking different workshops over the years with WPS as a beginner, now 15 years later, as an enthusiast. They cater to all ranges of photographers, and each time I learn something new."
– Behdad A., Great Falls, VA
"Though I have some photography experience, I still learned more than I expected. David was very thorough, provided excellent direction, and we had an enjoyable time seeing the monuments through new eyes."
– Maria H.
Sam D'Amico's Classes
"Sam D'Amico's teaching style gently balances his experience and technical expertise with his ability to draw out a student's own initiatives and interest. He leads without pulling and yet he pushes his students to try new approaches both technically and visually within their photography just for the sake of doing so."
– Karen Elliott Greisdorf, Professional Photographer
"I signed up for Sam D'Amico's photography class to learn the basics. I wanted to have fun doing it so I signed up and made a great decision. Sam knows photography and how to teach it and practices what he preaches."
– Austin G.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW)
"CHAW's photography classes are great! The open darkroom is a unique feature, and it's been invaluable for practicing my film photography. The instructors are patient and really know their stuff."
– Anonymous Review
These testimonials collectively illustrate how photography workshops in Washington, D.C. offer rich learning experiences, customized to meet the needs of different photographers, whether they're new to the art or looking to refine their advanced skills.

Photography workshops in Washington, D.C. offer a valuable opportunity to improve your skills and appreciate the art of capturing moments. With experienced instructors and diverse locations, these programs provide a comprehensive learning experience for photographers at any level. Whether you're interested in wildlife photography at the National Zoo, night photography at Mount Vernon, or capturing the iconic cherry blossoms, D.C. has something for every photographer's interests and skill level.
- Luria D. Washington Photo Safari: About Us. Washington Photo Safari. 2022.
- D'Amico S. Photography Classes. Sam D'Amico Photography. 2022.
- National Park Service. Cherry Blossom Festival. U.S. Department of the Interior. 2022.
- Smithsonian Institution. National Portrait Gallery. Smithsonian. 2022.
- Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Photography Classes. CHAW. 2022.








