David W.
Brooklyn, NY
Photography + Lightroom (Adobe Certified Expert+Certified Instructor)
SUNY Empire State College
Digital PhotographyAbout David
Whether you're a beginner or a professional photographer, a college student or retiree, bring your photography, Lightroom or Photoshop skills to the next level! Every lesson is full of techniques, tips and tricks to take your skills further. I am commercial digital photographer with deep knowledge of studio lighting in portraiture, still life and
Policies
Cancellation
24 hours notice requiredPlease note that I have a 2 hour minimum on all tutoring sessions. I am also available for groups and corporate training. Prices are available upon request.
Travel Radius
Travels within 6 miles of Brooklyn, NY 11201David offers online lessons
David is approved to conduct lessons through Wyzant Online. Wyzant Online allows students and tutors to work remotely via video, audio, and collaborative whiteboard tools. For more information about how online tutoring works, check out Wyzant Online.
If you’re interested in online lessons, message David to get started.
"Excellent tutor!"
- Kathleen, Las Vegas, NV on 8/15/16In one session David was able to review my existing lightroom library and back ups. He suggested changes that will make my workflow process much more efficient and my photo library more secure. Not a minute was wasted during the session - I feel like I got more out of this two hour session than I ever could have gotten from a group workshop since it was specifically tailored to my needs. I would highly recommend David and will use him again in the future as needed. Thank You!
"Very knowledgeable tutor"
- Vicky, New York, NY on 2/18/17I highly recommend David. David knows his stuff! He's a patient and clear teacher. He was able to easily adapt my equipment and explain what he was doing every step of the way. I have a step-by-step "template" so I can now photograph my art. I wouldn't hesitate to work with him again.
"Great lesson. I highly recommend David"
- Jamie, New York, NY on 12/17/16David was extremely helpful at teaching me the basics of Lightroom. His patience as well as his ability to explain the program's nuances made it an especially effective lesson.
"EXCELLENT tutor."
- Gaurav, Brooklyn, NY on 9/9/16There may only be a handful of individuals in this city with David's knowledge and experience. He's an excellent tutor: patient, relaxed, and flexible with lesson plans covering whatever I'm curious about as opposed to being fixed on a particular lesson structure. The learning is fun and efficient and I feel very comfortable asking questions. We've worked on Lightroom, Photoshop, and studio lighting techniques- I'm confident that with David's help, I'll be able to reach my goals much sooner that I originally anticipated.
"David is a clear and careful teacher"
- Amy, New York, NY on 8/4/16David is a clear and careful teacher who tailors his approach to the individual student. He helped me organize an unruly collection of images in a way that I understood and I look forward to working with him in the future to further hone my Lightroom skills.
"Lifesaver!"
- Clifford, New York, NY on 8/3/16I really needed the skills that David was able to bring to this task. I had been using Lightroom for a while, but never really grasped the organisational complexities. I think it would have been impossible for me to get it all sorted out on m,y own. David is a master, showed me exactly how to set it up, sorted out all my old setups, and now I'm all set. Next lesson will be to start improving my LR techniques, looking forward to it. Bottom line, incredibly grateful to find somebody with David's depth of knowledge who could work with me on my setup in a custom way.
"Will be hiring David again"
- Nechama, Brooklyn, NY on 7/4/16My two hour tutoring session with David was very insightful. We discussed outdoor portraiture using reflectors, a remote and tripod. I learned the basics of photography at ICP but was left with many holes which left me with a foggy understanding of what I am doing. I hope to have a follow up Lightroom class with David to help me better my skills in Lightroom.
"Patience and focus on my project's objectives and time frame ."
- Jan, New York, NY on 7/1/16Helped organize my photos --15k!!-- with steps for future maintenance. Helped created the project's library in Lightroom CC . Wow !! I'm a happy camper ! Can't wait for my next session . David is a godsend and well worth his fees when you have hit the wall . I look forward to sharing the fruits of my labor with my David, my go to guy!!!
Thank you for those very kind words!
"Spot On."
- Kent, East Hampton, NY on 6/13/16David was very helpful in that he was able to cut to the quick in helping me learn the Lightroom and printing skills I needed. He also recommended some very helpful books so I can read more. Like most I learn by gathering information in different ways: lessons, reading, experimenting, repeat. After some reading and experimenting I will no doubt be working with David for another lesson.
Thanks for those kind comments, Kent.
"Expert and patient tutor"
- Mame, Baltimore, MD on 5/4/16I contacted David after some struggles with a younger and less experienced tutor. He has sorted everything out in just two sessions. He keeps the sessions moving forward and has a great sense of humor and compassion. If you need any guidance in Lightroom, you'd be very happy and relieved to work with David.
"Knowledgeable and patient tutor"
- Coty, New York, NY on 4/22/16It's a tough learning curve, adapting from a previous method of handling my photos, but we were able to make a great start.
"A great help"
- Susan, New York, NY on 11/6/15David got me started in transferring pictures on Aperture and Lightroom from one computer to another, and to a separate hard drive, setting it up for easy organization.
"Knowledgeable, patient, pleasant and very easy to work with"
- Richard, Closter, NJ on 7/29/15My filing system or rather "non-system" was in total chaos. David was able to grasp the scope of the problem and devise a reasonable plan of action to resolve the issues
"David was great"
- Tracy, Weston, CT on 3/26/14David patiently and clearly guided me through the steps I needed to take to organize my Lightroom catalogue and fix some pesky issues with my Mac.
"A Terrific Tutor"
- Lynn, New York, NY on 12/10/13I feel very lucky to have found David as a photography tutor. He is professional, patient, kind, intelligent, and most importantly...tolerant of my endless questions. My sessions with David are fun and painless... I only wish I had found him sooner. Would I recommend him? My answer is a definite "yes".
"Great tutor - great lesson"
- David, Roslyn, NY on 11/30/13I spent a few hours with David both shooting and editing my photos and was extremely pleased. David carefully selected a location for our shoot that provided me with the opportunity to learn and employ different photographic techniques and to deal with different lighting problems. David is a working professional photographer and effectively passed along a slew of practical and theoretical tips about composition, layering, depth of field and other matters that I was able to put to good use during our time together. I especially enjoying taking a series of pictures that we later stitched into a large panorama when we progressed to the editing portion of our time together. David has a deep knowledge of photography and is a wiz with Lightroom and Photoshop - and with Mac computers in general. Among other things, David reviewed and explained all of my Lightroom and Photoshop preferences and helped me understand the different options and coordinate my choices and actions so that I could quickly and efficiently transfer images between Lightroom and Photoshop. David is an enthusiastic, organized and patient teacher who inspires you to grow as a photographer and to learn more about the creative and practical side of photo editing. I look forward to our next time together and recommend David as a photographic and editing coach without any hesitation or reservation.
"He knows what he's talking about."
- Mats, New York, NY on 10/15/13I had a great 3 hour lesson with David and based on my photos we discussed my questions regarding color management, white balance and some other situations in which a have experienced problems. David can see the overall picture at the same time as he can talk about fine variations and small details, a combination which was very helpful for me.
Then we looked at Lightroom 5 and he showed me how it can help me when working with raw files. Step by step he went trough the different parts of the programme, making sure that I saw the changes in the picture before and after his adjustment. His tutoring is done in a relaxed way and there is always room for questions. This programme could be a useful tool for me so I will definitely try it out.
David is easy to talk to and he explains in a very easy way, so I'm happy that I decided to contact him.
"Amazing tutor!!!"
- Kris, New York, NY on 6/11/13David has worked with me in Lightroom for only a few sessions (so far!) but I feel I have gained the knowledge of a formal sitting course. I have been having fun with my camera and Lightroom for a few years now. I have picked up bits and pieces from friends and blogs over that time. David ties things together for me perfectly. Thanks David!!!
"Exceeded my expectations!"
- Neil, Brooklyn, NY on 5/21/13David is an amazing mix of technical wizard, incredibly experienced artist and a humble teacher. My Lightroom was a mess and within minutes he came up with a way for me to reload all my photos in a new catalog and then be able to go back and clean up my old catalog. He then gave me instruction on how to organize my photos, how to rate them and showed me some developing techniques. ALL OF THIS WORK WAS DONE IN JUST TWO HOURS!!! This was the best teacher I've ever had. I never thought about Photoshop, but with David, I might give it a try. Awesome experience!!!
"A Great Teacher (and Photographer)"
- George, New York, NY on 5/7/13Simply put, David is simply great at teaching light room. Always on time, but not a clock watcher, he is really dedicated to helping the student learn. Truly, an excellent tutor.
"Excellent instruction on taking, editing and processing photos."
- Shaula, New York, NY on 3/29/13Excellent instruction on anything related to taking, editing and processing photos. Patient and happy to go in any direction, covering any topic.
"Great Tutor! Knowledgable, Personable, Helpful and Goes the Extra Mile."
- Randy, Brooklyn, NY on 3/3/13David is a highly experienced, educated and personable tutor. His interest is always in helping you get to where you need to be. He is patient and caring and takes you through the process of learning computers step by step making sure that you understand it each step of the way. Beyond teaching skills, he will go of his way to connect you with resources and/or people that can help you in your field. He is great at what he does, (photography) and has years of experience to offer.
"Knowledgeable"
- Jeffrey, Brooklyn, NY on 3/1/13As a teacher myself, having the opportunity to work with someone extremely knowledgeable, yet also understanding and patient with my extreme limitations, was a great help. Even better, for someone like me (beginning to lose my short term memory), I discovered that what he had taught me really STUCK! I also appreciated greatly the fact that he made himself available with the follow-up questions that I had.
"Excellent Teacher - David W. is the absolute best in the business!"
- Linda, New York, NY on 10/6/12David is a superb tutor and consummate professional. With his combined years of experience in both Commercial Photography and Teaching - David brings a phenomenal amount of knowledge and seasoning to the sessions. His classes are chock full of information and insights. I needed to unlearn some things I learned as a PC user; organize my existing 20,000+ photos (which were scattered all over the hard drive and were scaring me); and learn how to use LR correctly going forward to maximize my organization and processing at a more professional level. David has the multiple abilities and skills to make sense of my chaotic style and computer issues; move me along at a nice rate on the creative and artistic side of developing my photos; and offer first rate tips and techniques based on what I want to accomplish with LR and my photography.
As a person, David is sensitive, patient, and kind. He has demonstrated a wonderful sensitivity to my artistic vision, and so much patience. The sessions fly by - he makes it fun. For the new customer looking for an excellent tutor- you need not hesitate. I recommend him wholeheartedly. He is excellent!
"Great, very knowledgeable"
- Patrick, New York, NY on 10/5/12I really appreciated the lesson as it did answer my needs to the point. David knows a lot about both photography and the processing software. He is very generous with his knowledge and really wants you to learn something. I wish I had more time for more lessons. Highly recommended.
"Creative and Technically Savvy Tutor"
- Jon, Brooklyn, NY on 2/14/12David is a great teacher and trained me in digital photography software. He taught me not only how to use the software but also the pro's and con's to using it. He had several photography tips and other resources for me to study. He even followed up to check the status of my learning progress. The training was critical for a job opportunity in which I landed the position. I would recommend David anytime for his thorough knowledge in digital photography.
"great tutor"
- Lauraine, New York, NY on 12/27/11David is an outstanding teacher. He is extremely knowledgeable, not only about computers but also, cameras and photography. He is engaged fully in the lesson, is responsive to my concerns and questions, is good natured, patient and punctual.
"Consummate professional"
- Moe, Staten Island, NY on 12/21/11David is a great tutor! He has extensive knowledge, and communicates that knowledge extremely well. His explanations are precise, cogent, and easy to grasp. He is a consummate PROFESSIONAL!! To put the icing on top of this David really cares !!!
"great tutor"
- Glenn, New York, NY on 6/30/11David was very helpful in getting through a huge mess that I had made of my Lightroom images. Now I am very comfortable using lightroom for edit and organizing. David was easy to reach flexible and punctual I highly reccommend David
Approved subjects are in bold.
Approved subjects
In most cases, tutors gain approval in a subject by passing a proficiency exam. For some subject areas, like music and art, tutors submit written requests to demonstrate their proficiency to potential students. If a tutor is interested but not yet approved in a subject, the subject will appear in non-bold font. Tutors need to be approved in a subject prior to beginning lessons.
Adobe Lightroom
With hard earned certifications from Adobe for his knowledge and teaching experience, David teaches LR like no one else. He simplifies the complex, demonstrates effective techniques designed around your needs and he does it all with lots of patience and a little humor. Whether in-person or online, your lessons with David are guaranteed to be focused on exactly what you want to accomplish. And, whether you are a professional or a beginner, David is one of only 10 Adobe Certified Lightroom Instructors worldwide.
Adobe Photoshop
David is highly experienced in digital retouching with Adobe Photoshop CC, has taught hundreds of hours of Photoshop classes at FIT & has privately instructed beginners & professional photographers. He also recommends considering Lightroom as an alternative; it is the perfect software for "developing" photos & less complicated than Photoshop for "developing" digital photos. He is both an Adobe Certified Photoshop Lightroom Expert & a Certified Photoshop Lightroom Instructor, a combination rarely found in an individual tutor.
In Photoshop, he can teach you to use layers & adjustment layers, selections & masking, layer styles, & create multi-element photo compositing to name just of few of the features of this deep and powerful retouching application.
He attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, NYU Film School & has a B.A. from Empire State College, Metropolitan Center in Digital Photography.
Macintosh
Struggling with your Mac? Switching to Mac from PC? Whether you're learning, switching or upgrading, I can help.
I have been a Macintosh user for over 20 years and taught Mac skills at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology for nearly 10. Learn to update your Mac OS, troubleshoot & resolve Mac issues, learn to use software or simply gain some mastery over your Mac in general to make life easier.
As an an award winning working professional photographer, Certified Adobe Expert and a popular, top rated Wyzant tutor, you'll find that I am a patient and thorough coach.
Photography
Whether you’re a casual photographer looking to take better photos, or a professional looking to polish your skills, David listens to your expectations and creates lessons specifically to your needs. Learn how to take better family photos and portraits. Or learn studio lighting techniques for your small business product photography. Whether it's lighting, composition, landscapes, portraits or still life, David will help you grow.
He'll also help you gain expert post-processing skills for RAW image processing using Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop CC to transform your photos in ways you never imagined. David is a Certified Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Expert and a Instructor, a rare combination. Plus he was an adjunct photography professor at F.I.T for nearly 10 years.
David is award-winning commercial photographer, retoucher & educator in New York City experienced with all types of digital cameras including Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Sony & Medium format Leaf, Hasselblad & PhaseOne. He attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, NYU Film School & has a B.A. from Empire State College, Metropolitan Center in Digital Photography. He's also a 2012 Hasselblad Masters Finalist & the founder and host of the NYC Lightroom Meetup Group and LightroomNYC workshops.
Other Brooklyn, NY Tutors
David W.
Brooklyn, NY
Photography + Lightroom (Adobe Certified Expert+Certified Instructor)