Photography Classes in Hickory Hills, Palos Hills, Palos Hts.
Digital Photography Made Simple
Learn To Photograph the Things You Love Most!
Our photography classes help you photograph the things you love most.
If you’re looking to learn photography in Hickory Hills, Palos Hills, and Palos Heights area, Creative Eye Workshops™ features photography classes that are convenient, insightful, and thoughtfully designed for all levels of photographers and people with busy schedules. If you’re coming from the Hickory Hills, Palos Hills, and Palos Heights area, you’re less than a 25-minute drive from our classroom. (Private lessons also available.)
At Creative Eye Workshops™, we teach the fundamentals while building confidence, so that our students are able to think on their feet, have fun, and take pictures without worry or frustration. And, just as our business name implies, we help you discover and express your creative eye.
Read What Our Students Have to Say
Your teacher and internationally-published photographer, Mike MacDonald.
Nancy M. writes, “I thoroughly enjoyed your class and look forward to further learning. Your energy and depth of knowledge are inspiring! Thanks for a great experience.”
Paul C. says, “I took several courses from Mike and each workshop gets better than the last. Mike explains everything to his students in a simplistic way that they ‘get it.’ I recommend to everyone that he is the guy that will make your photos go from ho hum to ‘Wow.'”.
Courses for All Levels of Photographers &
At Creative Eye Workshops™, we provide a diverse curriculum of photography courses that accommodates different levels of photographers and photographic subject matter. Amateur and skilled photographers, alike, can benefit from our curriculum by improving their artistic and technical skills. We offer courses in photo composition, digital camera classes, nature photography workshops, and Photoshop Elements courses. Additionally, we offer private photography lessons along class combos that save you money.
Master the Fundamentals
We believe that mastering the fundamentals empowers our students to confidently take pictures under real world conditions. We provide a strong foundation that students can use to photograph anything they want. This may simply mean getting great shots of their kids or pets, or transcendent travel or nature pictures. Students have also taken our classes to start their own photography businesses.
Amy S. writes after starting her own children’s portrait photography business, “I have been meaning to touch base with you just to say thanks! You were my kick start to doing exactly what I love. Your classes and work inspired me to take a leap of faith and I again thank you.”
We feature classes designed for more advanced photographers, too, among them workshops in mastering exposure, Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, digital darkroom and printmaking techniques, and landscape and nature photography.
Increasing Your Confidence While Building Your Knowledge
Gain the confidence and knowledge to take perfect pictures when it really counts.
We know that building confidence is just as important as building knowledge. For beginners, in particular, our goal is to help students become composed and completely unafraid of their cameras. Newbies can start with a digital camera class and learn how to take control of their DSLR cameras, free from the unpredictability of the automatic and point-and-shoot modes or take our fun and inspirational photo composition course. Find out which classes are best for you.
Once you’ve completed our core photography curriculum, you should be able to apply their confidence and knowledge to whatever subject matter you wish to photograph.
Nicole D. writes, “Mike was personable, easy-going and made everyone feel good about their level of knowledge and ability to learn the techniques. Great and energetic instructor.”
Sophisticated & Effective Teaching Methods
Our hands-on photo outings help students practice what they’ve learned in class. Here are two intrepid students at our springtime outing to Starved Rock State Park.
Our photography classes feature all sorts of sophisticated visual presentations and hands-on exercises, specially designed so that students can visualize and understand the material. We also provide comprehensive class notes that allow students revisit and reinforce the lessons in the time between sessions. We even send out helpful emails during the class to supplement and solidify what was just taught.
Practical Classes Especially Designed for Busy People
We help busy people learn photography without compromising their schedules by developing a curriculum of practical and efficient courses that don’t require extended commitments. Instead of holding classes that last for months, we’ve created a series of short, easy to schedule, classes to better fit your lifestyle. Read about which classes we suggest.
Because our classes are practical, they also save you time. We focus on teaching what you need to know, when you need to know it, rather than frustrating people with piles of information that you’re not ready for, just yet.
Noted Photographer & Inspirational Teacher
Mike MacDonald, creator of Creative Eye Workshops™, is self-taught. Like most people, he pursued photography as a hobby but quickly established himself when, just 18 months into his avocation, his how-to article about photographing ice was published in Outdoor Photographer Magazine. His photographs of Chicago nature have also been featured in the world-famous Sierra Club Wilderness Wall Calendar. Watch an interview with Mike on WTTW Chicago Tonight.
“Your way of teaching and encouragement has me feeling confident about making something that has always been a passing interest into a full-fledged hobby.”—Brian P.
As an instructor, Mike uses his communication skills from his many years as a professional comedian, and his organizational and analytical skills from his background in computer programming, mathematics, and physics to simply present and poignantly convey even the most difficult technical and creative topics. Bursting with passion, Mike is an inspirational figure, inspiring his students to take their love of photography to new heights.
Photography Classes Easily Accessible from Hickory Hills, Palos Hills, and Palos Hts.
From Hickory Hills, Palos Heights, and Palos Hills area, take I-55 to North I-355 Tollway. Exit at 63rd Street/Hobson Road and turn right (east) at the top of the ramp. In a half-mile, you’ll reach Belmont Road, where there’s a Walgreen’s, Mobil Station, on the corner. Turn left (north) and quickly get into the left lane because, in just a few seconds, you’ll see us on the left in the middle of the block. Our address is 6200 Belmont Road.
If you have questions about our classes, let us know. Just email or phone us at 630-852-8448.