The best way to improve as a photographer does not involve any particular piece of gear or course of study, nor does it involve apprenticing yourself to a master photographer. The very best way to become a better photographer is to take a lot of pictures and select the best few. In that process, the photographer develops an ongoing portfolio and figures out what their strengths are as a photographer. The best photographers understand how to look at their failed images and understand why those images did NOT work. Like in many pursuits, photographers learn as much or more from their mistakes as they do from their successes.

The problem is that most photographers cannot edit their own work well. Sometimes they are too caught up in the content of the image and other times they are too focused on the emotional experience they underwent as they made the photographs. Outsiders looking at the same images do not care that the badly framed portrait shows a beloved child nor do they care how the photographer hiked for hours to make the image in question.

Looking at the photographs as they are, without explanation (or even captions in many cases) is how almost all end-users of photographs experience them. In this class we ill explore how to edit your own photographs effectively by similarly stepping back and looking at your work as an outsider. Through exercises, David will train you to look at photographs analytically. In this workshop, we go through an exercise where we consider:

• How do you "Critique" photographs?
• Saying "wow," "neat" or "cool" is not critiquing photographs.
• We need a common language for critiquing photographs.
• We need to be able to discuss the photographic tools, elements and techniques the photographer used, successfully or unsuccessfully, to make the image that communicates their idea.
• This is regardless of photographic style, media, genre, format, etc.

In this two part class, master photographer and teacher, David H. Wells will show you how to edit images with a clear vision.

Friday night he will walk you through his career path, show examples of best edits of his work and teach you the basics of selecting the best few images from a large set of work.

Saturday, each student should bring a stack of photos (4 x 6 to 8x 10 inch prints only, no digital files) for selection/editing. Ideally the set will be approximately 100 images one one, two or maybe three different subjects/themes, which will be edited down to a top twenty during the class. Students leave the class with an education in photo editing AND a professionally executed edit that will cut their large set of images down to a final, tightly edited and clearly defined top twenty.

Unique University® is the highly acclaimed education component of Unique Photo®, NJ’s only camera and video superstore. There is over 2000 sq. ft. of learning space, including our start-of-the art, 1000 sq. ft. main presentation hall. Unique University’s mission is to help our visitors “Create Better Pictures” by providing photography education for beginners to pros. With events daily, it is the place where photography groups such as local camera clubs, ASMP, PPA and others meet. We have a full curriculum of classes and seminars from world famous speakers such as Art Wolfe, Rick Sammon, Michael Yamashita, Tyler Stableford, Lindsay Adler, and Will Crockett. We offer photography experiences to such places as the Prudential Center for Seton Hall Men's Basketball, Meadowlands Horse Racetrack, Lakota Wolf Preserve, NJ Jackals Baseball, Rutgers Football, Botanical Gardens, Festival of Ballooning, and much more. Our technical classes include such topics as basic D-SLR photography, lighting techniques, Adobe Photoshop, Elements, and Lightroom, macro photography, composition, editing and printing, wedding photography, HDR photography, working with speedlites, how to use social media, digital organization, one-on-one instruction, and much more. 

FAQ UNIVERSITY

Where are classes held? 
Unless stated otherwise, classes are held in the Unique University classroom within the Unique Photo SuperStore (123 US Highway 46 West, Fairfield, NJ 07004). 

What should I bring to class? 
You're encouraged to bring your camera and a notebook and pen to most classes. Some classes will require additional equipment, so please check the class descriptions. 

Will lunch or refreshments be included? 
Lunch and refreshments are not provided for any classes under 6 hours unless noted. 

How do I register for a class? 
You can register online, in-store at the concierge, or by phone at either 973-377-6454 or 973-377-2007. Please note that you will need to provide payment information. 

Can I register at the door? 
For most classes, you're free to register at the concierge desk prior to the start of the class. Please note that there are some classes that offer "Early Bird Special" rates and others that have limited seating, so it would be in your best interest to register prior to the dates of such classes. 

I wanted to register for ______ class, but it is now sold out. Is there a waiting list? 
Please contact Pamela at 973-377-6454 or email [email protected] with the following information: your name, phone number, email address, and the class name and date. 

My question has not been addressed here. Is there someone I can contact? 
Please contact Pamela at 973-377-6454 or email [email protected] with any additional inquiries.

Unique University Class Cancellation Policy Unique University Class Cancellation Policy
Classes costing less than $99 may be canceled up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund. For classes costing $100 or more, advanced notice of seven days before the class is necessary for a full refund.
Requests for cancellation made after these deadlines will be awarded store credit in the amount paid for registration towards a future Unique University seminar or workshop.
Cancellations made within 24 hours of the beginning of a class will not be honored and no refund or credit will be given.
Cancellations of any class utilizing models will be subject to a cancellation fee of 50% of the purchased price (up to $100).