Maybe you have read the manual, spent some time learning online, or even taken a class on how to take better pictures. But real life? Spotlight dance recitals, sunny soccer games, dark band concerts, sunny beach vacations, birds flying through the forest, toddlers in general...that stuff is really hard. It takes more than just one class or a little reading to master.
Learn how to photograph your family and life beautifully in this monthly membership where you will learn about ALL of the important steps to taking beautiful pictures in a little time each month!
All enrollees will be added to the exclusive Jill Gum Photo University Students Facebook group, where I will do a monthly live booster session based on student questions sent in advance about the lessons. I will gather questions in the group throughout the month and answer them in a Facebook live Q+A (feel free to attend live to ask further questions!) that is recorded and watchable anytime after for those who can't attend live!
Each month, you will also get an E-Book PDF or Worksheet providing more content or help towards the month's topic. This may include activities and checklists to help you put the month's content into practice, a quick-glance guide to help you remember the main points while photographing on your own, or some examples of the photos with settings that I took while teaching.
Each month includes a 30-60 minute video focusing on 1 specific must-learn topic to help you photograph your life.
Depending on what the month's topic calls for, you will see me:
-Teaching to the camera while walking through real photography situations
-Photographing real people showing the topic in action
-Teaching in my "classroom" with my computer
It's SO EASY to think that our phones or "auto" settings are good enough...and I get it! I totally believe in taking pictures whether GREAT or not-so-great to at least capture the moments! But the difference here? HUGE. All straight out of camera without adjustments, all based on gear and settings. You could learn to make this difference in your photos NOW!
"I've loved it from the beginning. Thank you for all the hard work and for being available to your students. That's the difference! Having you with us real time, throughout the year. After a year of Photo U, I have more confidence than ever with my camera. My family and friends are indebted to you for preserving these fleeting moments in our lives."
I cannot say ENOUGH good things about the Photo University! I love it all…the fact that I get fun time each month to devote to something JUST for me and learn something creative, the beautiful photos I can capture of my baby daughter now, or having the ability to ask Jill every question I have in the Facebook community! The feedback on practice photos, the Live Q+As, and questions posted in the Facebook group is INVALUABLE and honestly SO worth the price of the monthly membership in and of itself. I've saved HOURS searching Google for photo answers! If you want to take better photos…the Photo U is the way to do it!
"After taking the first year of Photo U, using my camera has gone from frustrating to fun! I can grab it and use it quickly for all of my little guy's adventures. The monthly lessons are easy to follow along and Jill is always there to answer any questions. I love how I can watch the lessons after my little guy goes to bed so it doesn't interfere with being a mom. I absolutely recommend it to everyone!"
"I truly enjoy the lessons and applying the lessons with practice. It continues to make a huge difference in my photography! It’s awesome to have a month in between each release to allow time for practice and review. Very digestible, immediately applicable and a game-changer."
"You can tell Jill is a teacher. She knows how to teach while reaching all types of learners. She always answers my questions with such detail and understanding! I really enjoy and look forward to the content each month. My pictures have improved since day 1 in this course and truly thank Jill for that."
"The photo university has truly transformed my photography. For the first time I'm taking pictures of my family and friends with confidence, and feel like I'm really delivering something of quality for my clients. I know what I'm doing at almost every step along the way now."
8.5 years ago he came into this world and completely changed our lives. And something that was once a side hobby became a necessity for me...I had to figure out how to capture it all...exactly as it felt!
I spent a year long maternity leave teaching myself (with the help of trusty Google) how to use my camera and practicing non-stop. I figured it out...but it took SO MUCH LONGER THAN IT NEEDED TO!
There was no road map for me, no path to make it easier, no one to guide me through the questions and challenges and things I needed to know.
Because I taught for 8 years before staying home with these 3 babies, teaching is a huge part of me.
Which is why I want to be YOUR road map, guide, and teacher. I know how to make the complex both simple and fun. And I know how to teach you to take the amazing pictures of your family that you dream of!
Q: The Jill Gum Photo U says it's a "membership program." What does that mean?
A: Instead of the content ALL being rolled out at once (talk about overwhelming!), the content will be rolled out one month at a time, starting the day you sign up and every 30 days after. This way, students can learn about one specific concept and spend the month putting it into practice (while getting support in the FB group). Then, students can move on and learn about a new topic once they have a good handle on the previous content and are ready!
Q: I don't have a DSLR (or maybe even know what one is)...is this for me?
A: This class is for anyone who wants to learn photography with ANY type of camera!! We will discuss topics that are more applicable to cameras that can change lenses (DSLR or mirrorless cameras), BUT anyone with a digital camera or even a good iPhone and some creativity could benefit from this membership! It may make you want a "fancy camera" in the future though!!
Q: Is this course for people who want to start a BUSINESS or for people who just love photographing?
A: This class could be for both. We will not be covering specific business topics but ALL of the topics covered are topics that photographers with a business would need to know! It is definitely geared for the hobbyist/someone who just loves taking pictures as well since we won't be covering business-specific topics! We will be covering topics all related to actually using your camera to take great pictures!
Q: Do I have access to the content forever, and can I join anytime?
A: For as long as you are continuously enrolled as an active student in the Jill Gum Photo University, you can watch, rewatch, and rewatch again every month's content any time you want. Whenever you join the University, you start at the beginning of the membership and work through the content on chronological order that was built to teach what you need to know first and then build on from that!
Q:What sort of technology do I need to access this course?
A: You will need a computer for this course with a good internet connection. That's it!
Q: What exactly will be covered as topics in the course?
Right now, I have 24 months of content planned out all around lighting, composition, style, editing, story telling, camera settings, etc. But as we go through, I will be learning from my students what they need to review, need extra help on, or want more details on and will adjust the content as we go. Each month will be focused on a specific topic, and while we will reference topics learned in previous months' content, the months will also be available for individual purchase (at a higher rate for non Photo U Students).
Q: What will I get/see each month?
A: Students will be a part of a membership site where they will view the content each month. Each month's content consists of a 30-60+ minute video (either with me photographing and talking to the camera about what I'm doing, photographing while I'm working with clients, or teaching in my office/from my computer depending on what the topic calls for), a supplemental PDF or worksheet to go along with the video, and an online live Bonus Q+A (with replay after, because again, I understand #reallife!) with student questions.
Q: I have never used my camera before--is this membership for me or is it for my friend who has used her camera for years on Manual?
A: This membership is for you BOTH! We will start super basic--but it will very quickly turn into content that could improve any photographer wherever they are in their journey. As for the early content for someone who is advanced, a review of the basics or seeing what settings and preferences another photographer has is always helpful!
Q: I have taken a live workshop with you before. Is the Photo U still for me?
A: Yes, my friend! In fact, I created it just with you in mind! After seeing how HELPFUL it was for some of my students to take my workshop a second time this past summer, it inspired me to create a way where everyone could learn this content --shooting in manual, shooting with great style and lighting and composition-- over and over again in a monthly format! This isn't the sort of topic you learn once and master--it takes recurring guidance and practice! The workshop content is just 1 month's worth of content in this year of learning!
Q:If I sign up for the monthly membership and find I need to cancel, can I do so?
A: Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time with the monthly membership- just email us at support@jillgum.com. If you subscribe as a yearly subscriber, you can cancel before your next year renews.