Professional Photography and Video Courses
The current courses that we offer are listed below and a summary of each curricular is outlined thereafter.
- Beginner Photography Short Course
- Professional Photography Elementary Course
- Professional Photography Intermediary Course
- Professional Video Elementary Course
- Professional Video Intermediary Course
BEGINNER PHOTOGRAPHY SHORT COURSE
This is an amazing course aimed at every enthusiast out there whether you take photos with a Phone Camera, Point & Shoot Camera or DSLR Camera.
This course entails the following:
- Introduction to camera & photography
- Basics of how a camera works
- Phone vs camera comparison
- Definition of key Terms –
- Camera & Photography
- Exposure
- Focal Length
- Focus (MF & AF)
- Walk through the camera menus & buttons
- Camera Shooting Modes
- Auto
- Auto without flash
- Preset modes
- Manual Mode
- Aperture Priority
- Shutter Priority
- Program Mode
- Shutter Release Modes
- Self timer
- Time lapse
- Continuous vs Single
- Tips for great composition
- The Rule of Thirds
- Perspective
- Clean De-clattered Frame
- Tips on using your flash and natural light
- Exposure Compensation
- Flash Compensation
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY ELEMENTARY COURSE
This is an “on the go” photography training aimed at getting you comfortable with your camera operations to ensure you are able to get good photos wherever you are and to apply any effects you need in your camera before you download or share your photos. It does not cover video coverage.
For Students who have already been taking photos, we encourage you to carry with you the best piece of your work for the first class review and the same shall be compared to your work after the three months of the coaching.
The only pre-requisite for taking the course is to have an interest in photography, having access to a DSLR Camera is required for the practical lessons and assignments.
These course entails the following:
1. The Camera & Photography
Just as the quality of a foundation for a building determines how high you can build, so is the understanding of your camera mechanics and the basics of photography. This means you can be able to detect any defects with your camera as well as carry out maintenance and cleaning procedures professionally.
2. In-Depth Camera Operations
The basic key functionalities such as ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance, etc are a Must. You need to master the rationale of their roles so that you can always make independent decisions in their deployment. Be able to determine the right equipment for the right job and always get the desired results.
3. Basic Rules of Photography
Be able to interpret the scene you are shooting and determine the winning angles and how to determine your composition. Great photos are “Made” and not just “Taken”. Input well informed decisions into your frame.
4. Introduction to Lighting for Photography
Light is a raw material for the common dslr photography. Mastery of the properties of light enables you to take control of your lighting whether you are shooting outdoor under a hot sun or you are shooting in a cave, you can always create whatever ambience you want.
5. Creating Great Photos
Getting great photos takes much more than just having good equipment, or even being a technical guru in camera functionalities. Photography just like other careers such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Accounts, etc, requires you to think, adapt, take decisions, etc.
6. What to shoot
We give you valuable tips that will ensure all your customers remain happy and satisfied with your services and keep sending you referrals.
7. Graduation
Upon successful completion of the course, a colourful graduation ceremony is held where students are inspired by leading professionals and issued with Certificates.
COST & DURATION OF THE COURSE:
The Cost of this Course is Kshs. 35,000/= per student for a duration of 2 months inclusive of printed handouts.
We offer day time classes and evening classes with intakes in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August & September. The course is divided into 16 sessions of 2 hours each. All classes are held only on Tuesdays & Thursdays each week to allow for practical assignments.
The following class time options are available:-
- Morning class 10:00am to 12:00noon on Tuesdays & Thursdays.
- Afternoon class 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays.
- Evening class 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays.
Other benefits include:-
- Free mentorship and / or coaching up to 1 year after the completion of the course.
- Membership to the Davasha Photography Alumni Club, where you get a professional photographers community of people from diverse professions, having trips, competitions, seminars, and offering support to one another.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY INTERMEDIARY COURSE
This is a practical skill based class and topics have been spaced out to allow for the practical assignments, research and review of photos. This is best suited for those who would like to purse professional photography as a career.
This intensive training is aimed at adequately equipping and empowering you to take charge of your own growth and puts you ahead of your peers on a professional path in photography.
Equipping you with the following key success factors in your photography career. It does not cover video.
- Professional Photography Skills & Techniques
- Professional post shooting processing skills
- Business & Entrepreneurial skills
- Personal Development Training
- Research & Analytical Training
- Concept Development & Presentation
- Practical attachment in a real shoot
For Students who have already been taking photos, we encourage you to carry with you the best piece of your work for the first class review and the same shall be compared to your work after the three months of the coaching.
The only pre-requisite for taking the course is to have an interest in photography, having access to a DSLR Camera is required for the practical lessons and assignments and also access to a laptop during the post-shooting processing lessons.
These course entails the following:-
1. The Camera & Photography
Just as the quality of a foundation for a building determines how high you can build, so is the understanding of your camera mechanics and the basics of photography. This means you can be able to detect any defects with your camera as well as carry out maintenance and cleaning procedures professionally.
2. In-Depth Camera Operations
The basic key functionalities such as ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance, etc are a Must. You need to master the rationale of their roles so that you can always make independent decisions in their deployment. Be able to determine the right equipment for the right job and always get the desired results.
3. Basic Rules of Photography
Be able to interpret the scene you are shooting and determine the winning angles and how to determine your composition. Great photos are “Made” and not just “Taken”. Input well informed decisions into your frame.
4. Introduction to Lighting for Photography
Light is a raw material for the common dslr photography. Mastery of the properties of light enables you to take control of your lighting whether you are shooting outdoor under a hot sun or you are shooting in a cave, you can always create whatever ambience you want.
5. Creating Great Photos
Getting great photos takes much more than just having good equipment, or even being a technical guru in camera functionalities. Photography just like other careers such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Accounts, etc, requires you to think, adapt, take decisions, etc.
6. What to shoot
We give you valuable tips that will ensure all your customers remain happy and satisfied with your services and keep sending you referrals.
7. Basics of Post Shooting Processing
Understand the diversity in choosing an editing software and know what professionals look out for.
8. Lightroom Editing In-depth – Part 1
Learn how to leverage your time and not be overwhelmed even by thousands of photos. Know the fundamentals and maneuver your way using efficient and effective processes.
9. Lightroom Editing In-depth – Part 2
Master how to create different effects to suit the needs of your client. Determine the right tools to do the job and know how far is too far? Be able to recover badly shot photos.
10. Photography Business & Ethics – Part 1
Know how to determine your products and services as well as attract the right customers to your business. Don’t get stranded on where to start due to a shoe string budget. Learn to rationalize the available resources and be inspired to grow from zero to hero.
11. Photography Business & Ethics
Know the key pillars as an entrepreneur, have simple but effective business controls, and remember your network is your net-worth. Pricing should no longer be a nightmare. Become a winner and go for the first prize.
12. Additional sub-topics covered in the take away Continuous Assessments.
These well selected fundamental areas are tailored to fine tune your understanding and to help you develop a culture of winning and endless possibilities around you. It is said “The devil is in the details”, remember the “Terms & Conditions Apply” synopsis? We don’t leave any stone unturned and you also don’t have a choice but just to become a pro.
13. Final Project
During the duration of the course, each student is required t undertake a well guided project tailored to demonstrate expertise knowledge and skill in all the areas that the course covers. The projects are then presented to friends, family, and other alumni of Davasha School of Photography.
- Practical Real Attachments
- Each student must attend at least 1 event in the lifetime of the course
- Graduation
Upon successful completion of the course, a colorful graduation ceremony is held where students are inspired by leading professionals and issued with Certificates.
COST & DURATION OF THE COURSE:
The Cost of this Course is Kshs. 47,000/= per student for a duration of 3 months inclusive of printed handouts and softcopy reference materials, and also a field attachment in a live shooting environment.
We offer day time classes and evening classes with intakes in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August & September. The course is divided into 24 sessions of 2 hours each. All classes are held only on Tuesdays & Thursdays each week to allow for practical assignments.
The following class time options are available:-
- Morning class 10:00am to 12:00noon on Tuesdays & Thursdays
- Afternoon class 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays
- Evening class 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Other benefits include:-
- Free access of our studio for three of your shoots and thereafter subsidized rate for the same
- Free mentorship and / or coaching up to 1 year after the completion of the course
- Membership to the Davasha Photography Alumni Club, where you get a professional photographers community of people from diverse professions, having trips, competitions, seminars, and offering support to one another
VIDEO COURSE
Davasha Photography Academy is a training center in Kenya that is currently training students in Photography and is now offering a Video Course. The course is eligible for anyone who has an interest in shooting videos and video editing.
We are currently offering two courses as follows:
Professional Video Elementary Course (25,000ksh)
This training targets at ensuring that one is able to handle and operate any professional video camera with ease. One will also acquire creative and technical skills on how to compose and shot videos with confidence.
This course will take duration of 7-8 weeks and it entails Basic knowledge on how to shoot your videos and does not include editing. This covers topic 1-7 under the course outline below.
Professional Video Intermediary Course (35,000Ksh)
This is a practical skill based class. Topics have been spaced out to allow for the practical assignments, research and review for video work. This is best suited for those who would like to purse video professionally as a career.
This intensive training is aimed at adequately equipping and empowering you to take charge of your own growth as a professional out there in the field.
The following are key factors in your video career.
- Introduction to video cameras
- Video camera operations and techniques
- Video Composition and Editing techniques
- Lighting techniques
- Screenwriting and Set Operations
- Business & Entrepreneurial skills
- Personal Development Coaching
- Concept Development & Presentation
- Practical attachment in a real shoot
We highly encourage you to come with the best of your video work (if any) for first class review and the same shall be compared with your work after the three months course.
The qualification to enroll for this course is having an interest in video shooting and Editing, having access to a DSLR camera and a laptop(core i5 with at least 3GB Ram) for practical lessons and assignments.
The course entails the following:
1. Introduction to Video Cameras
The introduction to video cameras will help the student understand who the camera operator is and the difference between a video camera for home use, a Professional Video Camera and a Film Camera so that they can comfortably make a sober choice on which camera to use while shooting.
2. Video Camera Operations
This is basically for the interest of understanding the functionalities of a video camera e.g. focus, Iris/aperture, zoom, shutter speed, gain/ISO, white balance etc. Mastering the role of each function will help you make independent decisions as you apply each one of them according to your preference.
3. Rules in Video Camera Work
These are basically the rules one should apply in virtual storytelling. Understanding how to interpret your shooting scene and determine the best camera position to capture the action. This will help you come up with outstanding videos that are thrilling and engaging.
4. Basic Video Camera Techniques
Techniques in video are skills that you apply while shooting a video to achieve numerous effects and camera movements to enhance your video work. This will also help you come up with creative work in various shooting environments.
5. Lighting Techniques
While shooting you might be forced to modify the scene by adding more light using lighting equipment and aids just to have enough light falling on your subject to make them sharp and visible. We will ensure that you have adequate knowledge on which light to use in different environments.
6. Screenwriting (scripting)
It is important to understand how to write a script because it helps develop an idea into a narrative or a story that can be told with motion pictures. After the Script is developed everyone at the shooting scene should operate in synchrony with the script to be able to capture the flow and sequence of events inside a story.
7. Set Operations
In every shooting scene there is a system of operation that include rules used to help guide and manage the crew and the people who are not part of the shoot (spectators) as the shoot is going on just to have a successful shoot e.g. Marking the Lines of action, Action calls, slating techniques etc.
8. Advance Video Camera Techniques
This involves mounting your camera on different filming aids e.g. dolly, sliders and cranes to enhance your camera movements while shooting. These techniques will give your work a professional output as compared to the basic video camera techniques.
9. Editing Part 1(Premier pro)
After you shoot your videos you may need to edit your work so that it has a certain order building up into a story that a viewer can follow or relate to. It will also include removing unwanted shaky movements in your video.
10. Editing Part 2(Premier pro)
It will involve learning various video editing techniques that will help you refine your work to a professional level. This includes adding some effects, transitions, typography, Color grading and Color correction
11. Video Business & Ethics – Part 1
Know how to determine your products and services as well as attract the right customers to your business. Don’t get stranded on where to start due to a shoe string budget. Learn to rationalize the available resources and be inspired to grow from zero to hero.
12. Video Business & Ethics – Part 2
Know the key pillars as an entrepreneur, have simple but effective business controls, and remember your network is your net-worth. Pricing should no longer be a nightmare. Become a winner and go for the first prize.
13. Personal Development – Part 1
Be inspired and learn the attributes of successful people. Sometimes we don’t succeed because we don’t know the way of success, despite our talents, gifts, skill and knowledge.
14. Personal Development – Part 2
Many people fail not because they could not achieve their goals but because they didn’t have any goals to reach out to. Set your own growth path and learn the 21st century principals of money.
15. Final Project
During the duration of the course, each student is required to undertake a well guided project tailored to demonstrate expertise knowledge and skill in all the areas that the course covers. The projects are then presented to friends and family.
Upon successful completion of the course, a colorful graduation ceremony is held where students are inspired by leading professionals and issued with Certificates.
DURATION OF THE COURSE & INTAKES:
This course runs for a duration of 3 months inclusive of printed handouts and softcopy reference materials, and also a field attachment in a live shooting environment. We offer day time classes and evening classes with intakes from January to September. The course is divided into 24 sessions of 2 hours each. All classes are held only on Mondays & Wednesdays each week to allow for practical assignments.
The following are samples of Pictures taken by some of our students/ alumni
PHOTOS BY SAMORA MICHELLE – ALUMNI:
PHOTOS BY AYLA SABINE – ALUMNI:
PHOTOS BY AKSHAR MAJEVDIA – ALUMNI:
PHOTOS BY JIMMY KIHARA – ALUMNI:
PHOTOS BY DENNIS KIRAGU – ALUMNI:
PHOTOS BY DORIS WAIRIMU – ALUMNI:
BEHIND THE SCENES
GRADUATION 2014
GRADUATION 2015
