The Classroom is a fun, information packed course that can help you level up your wedding photography/filmmaking business regardless of what stage of your bu...
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The Classroom is a fun, information packed course that can help you level up your wedding photography/filmmaking business regardless of what stage of your business that you're in. I purchased the bundle (The Works), and have only skimmed through each of the modules, but wanted to give my initial thoughts so that anybody still on the fence about purchasing during these last few days can get an idea of what to expect.
The Classroom definitely delivers on its promises, providing around 14 hours of content per course detailing the technical, creative, and service aspects of running a wedding photography/filmmaking business. There is a variety of presentation methods, from Eric sitting down and talking to the camera while going through slides, to interviews, live demonstrations, and more.
The modules feel like an extension and evolution of the content that already exists on Eric's YouTube. If you're like me, you're probably guilty of having watched some videos in a small window while editing, eating, scrolling, etc. - I think to get the most value out of The Classroom, you'll have to slow down, carve out some time, and really focus on each part of the course to be able to implement the lessons into your own business. Slowing down to think about the ways you can improve your work is the first step to actually doing it, and I think The Classroom is a great catalyst for that.
Eric is a huge inspiration for me because of his work ethic, attention to service, and authenticity. While these ideas are a bit intangible, they are huge themes in The Classroom. You can tell that there was a lot of care put into the course, which can be inspirational in itself. I guess it makes you feel like you want to give that much care and attention to each of your clients moving forward. Obviously your work is important as well, and the course does a great job covering simple concepts like Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, Lighting, and Composition as well as diving deeper into things like Creative Storytelling/Portraiture, all in a way that I think is easily digestible and actionable regardless of if you're just starting out or have some experience under your belt already.
In regards to actionable steps, there is at least one challenge per course that is clearly laid out with instructions/rules which I really liked. I'm looking forward to doing these 'assignments' and seeing what others create from the same prompt(s). It's hard to say what the community Facebook group will become at this point, but I think it has potential to be an amazing resource where we can ask questions, share ideas, give referrals, etc. The whole Creative Club gang is huge on building community and have clearly benefited a great deal from the communities they are a part of, so it's exciting to see what might come out of the group. Similar to the course itself, I think we will get out of it what we put in.
So I guess that wraps up my thoughts for now! For those on the fence, I think this course is for you if you are looking for inspiration, to change or re-enforce your mindset surrounding your business, and are willing to put in the work that it takes to make those changes. I do think the course will act as a guide for how to best serve your clients, improve your work, and develop your 'why'. Personally, I feel like my work is 'good enough' but I have always struggled with where to go from here and easily get overwhelmed by how much content is out there. This leads to negative self talk, constant comparison, inaction, etc. As I mentioned before, The Classroom makes you slow down and think about the things that really matter, while also teaching valuable lessons that can make a real change in your business - and for that reason I think it is a great investment for those ready to make that step.
Oh, one last note. I do think the bundle is worthwhile for those who do photo and video. There is about 14 hours of content per course and from what I can tell, only ~3 hours of it is overlapping, so most of it is unique to the photo and filmmaking courses respectively. I probably wouldn't go for it if you only have a passing interest in one or the other, but there is value in the bundle if that's something relevant to you. :)
-Anna Lam
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