Aperture Academy

Cannot say how much I enjoyed the class I took here.
I bought a DSLR and knew NOTHING about it. Heard about this place through a friend who had taken a «day trip» class.
I took the intro class as I knew nothing and needed the basics. I got a fantastic deal, and you probably can too with a quick search. They have more intermediate and advanced classes as well as 2, 3, 4 day classes where you go on larger trips.
I learned a ton! Seriously. I took extensive notes and learned a lot about photography and my camera in general. Really well done class. Quite engaging. A healthy mix of layman terms with just enough technical jargon to stretch our knowledge base.
Thw teacher (and owner) of the class really demonstrated his passion and love for the art of photography. After all was said and done and all that we learned, what was reinforced was that it’s ultimately about content and our creativity. After all is said and done, this is a hobby and this class is really meant for that.
Highly recommended. I already told numerous people to check it out. I cant wait to take another class.

This class a must for entry level photographers new to DSLR and Stephen Oachs is the perfect instructor. Stephen makes this class informative, practical, and entertaining. I wish I had taken the class sooner. But it was so good that I have already signed up for another…
There is also a great flexible rescheduling policy and the staff is very professional and responsive.
I have taken other photography classes, but this one really taught me what I need to know. I feel inspired!

We had a wonderful experience on the Kenya safari and I came away with some terrific photos, which was my primary objective. Stephen and Scott went out of their way to insure that everyone felt welcome. The trip was extremely well organized, the accommodations were first rate and the group was compatible. The drivers (from Odyssey) were remarkable in their ability to find the animals. Having only one photographer per row is the only way to go; we felt sorry for some of the other groups with six or more crammed into one vehicle. I would recommend the trip to anyone interested in photographing African wildlife.

August 2015 Kenya Safari
This trip turned out to be everything Aperture said it would be. The food, accommodations, and itinerary were top notch – even better than I anticipated. Steve and Scott and their team of drivers went out of their way to create a congenial, welcoming atmosphere. We had fun, made new friends, and learned a great deal about photography and the wildlife of Africa. A trip of a lifetime!

The studio is very nice. It’s surrounded my inspiring photos. A note of caution: The class is set up seminar style, with rows of medal chairs. So your back and butt may be a bit sore afterwards, but there is a break to stretch and walk around a bit.
I took their beginning course and it was just the right pace. The instructor was very good. The main 2 topics are: aperture and shutter speed. If you know a lot about this, then don’t take it. The instructor allowed for questions throughout the course. He will go through the camera settings and having your camera handy while he goes through this is helpful, but if you don’t bring your camera, that’s okay too. You won’t actually be taking any photos in this class.
There was a particular gal who asked a lot of advance questions and said she had 3 different cameras. Look, don’t take the class if you are not a beginner. We don’t want to listen to your sighs because the course it too slow or hear your advance questions and think your a know-​it-​all and wished you’d leave.
If you want to get out of your auto-​mode in your expensive camera, take this class. You’ll definitely will learn something.

I had been meaning to read a technical book on photography for a long time, to finally understand how changes in shutter speed, aperture and ISO change the pictures you take, to finally start really using my DSLR camera. The Intro to Photography class by Stephen was what I had been missing, a hands on approach instead of theory. The class was interactive and educational, and to my great surprise was full on a Sunday morning.
We learned some of the basics, and what changes each of the settings bring to your pictures. I left inspired and got to practice the acquired knowledge the following weekend! I am hoping to take part in one of the local workshops soon.

The Intro to Photography class was great. I learned a ton of useful information on how to use my camera. All the examples he provided were on point. Aperture, Shutter Speed were explained thoroughly. Very helpful when questions were asked. I am very happy I decided to take this class.

For me the goal is to never stop learning… even if it’s simply how to make a fluffier egg, or take a better picture.
So based on the recommendation of fellow Unilocaler Cindy L. I purchased the ‘Photography Basics’ class at the Aperture Academy in North San Jose.
The setting is master outdoor photographer Stephen W. Oachs’ gallery who also serves your teacher.
What makes this class so worthy is Stephen’s knack for breaking things down into easily digestible bits through stories & interactive examples. But if you’re too shy shy, you may not want to sit in the front row as that’s where the volunteer pool is drawn from.
And be prepared, class starts promptly at 9am AND there’s a quiz right off the bat… hint hint: just keep the name in mind before responding.
Chances are you’ll walk away totally inspired and ready to capture the world through your lens… albeit a bit more clearly now.
And if you’re reeeeally inspired you may end up signing for one of the many local or global photography excursions they offer on a monthly basis.

I dabbled with photography as a hobby back in 70 – 80’s with 35 mm. 3 – 4 years ago I wanted to do more than the point & shoot cameras and purchased a Canon DSLR for some vacation trips and realized that with the tech advancements its a whole new ballgame and I needed to re-​educate myself.
I purchased the Intro to Photography at a great discount on Groupon and attended 5−30−15. 1^st off the facility is easily accessible with plenty of parking and the classroom was perfect for the class size of appx 30.
The instructor was the owner Stephen Oach. He’s very comfortable in front of the class and has a great presentation style; good pacing of the material, breaks down the technical material in layman’s terms using strong visual examples, and creates a comfortable learning environment for people to ask questions. His enthusiasm for photography is very evident, the class is not only instructive but fun. I definitely will be taking future classes and workshops, and maybe even some of the photo trips.

I’m complete novice when it comes to photography but after going to Finland to see the Northern Lights and not being able to take photos of it, I realized I needed to take a class. I got a Groupon for the introduction to photography class and it was great!!!
Stephen was the instructor and his class was well organized and easy to understand. The 3.5 hours went by pretty fast and I was excited to potentially sign up for more classes later.
My only complaint was there wasn’t any refreshments/​water/​water cooler anywhere on site. They are pretty far from any businesses, so getting a drink during the break isn’t possible. If you’re taking this class make sure you being your own drink/​coffee/​water.
Overall a great experience, worth every penny, and can’t wait to take more workshops/​classes here.

I took the Introduction to Photography course by Stephen Oachs. I found the course to be informative and enjoyed the visuals included with topics covered. Stephen is a great teacher and also has humor so makes the course enjoyable. I am looking into taking another aperture academy course now, it’s just a matter of deciding what is next. I do wish there were more groupons or living social discounts offered for other classes. But I am very excited to see what my world holds as I do venture more into the world of aperture academy. I think it is such a great way to learn more and see results from what you learn.

I really enjoyed my Intro. to Photography class. It was very helpful, entertaining and worth the money. The classes are quite expensive but the owner/​instructor Stephen is beyond knowledgeable, so it is really worth it. I do feel the need to take another class. I wish they had smaller classes so it feels like you are getting more «special attention»
I look forward to taking more classes.

Stephen — Thank you! You have opened my «lens» to more beauty than I could have imagined. You have inspired me to practice, travel and love through my camera! I look forward to learning more about the outside world through Aperture f/​stops and shutter speed! I look forward to more courses and meeting more of your talented staff! Suggestion: More Groupons for your courses, if possible!
Course taken: Intro

I took the intro class (bought it on grupon) and it was awesome! The teacher/​owner, Stephen Oachs was a very good and fun teacher! I can see how these classes can become addicting. I learned way more than I thought I would and I have already signed up for my next class! I highly recommend Aperture Academy!

I think Aperture Academy does a very good job of getting you hooked on photography and working on your skill. Excellent customer service and teaching ability. The thing I like the most is that they drive you to all these awesome shooting spots and locations that have been vetted — this is not something that many companies do. As others mentioned, they are also incredibly helpful in giving advice or recommendations about what setting you should be in or compositions you should try.
Here’s my rating of workshops taken so far:
Intro. to Photography
Rating: 5 STARS
Date taken: 2011
Instructor: Stephen
Location: Stephen Oachs Gallery in Campbell, CA
Length: One morning (10am-1:30pm)
— Found out about this through Groupon. Totally worth it with the Groupon. Stephen taught this when I took it and I think he did an awesome job. His explanations are quite clear and logical, and he’s good at keeping you entertained (so you don’t fall asleep). Out of all the ApCad instructors, his personality and explanations are my favorite.
Natural Light Photography
Rating: 3 STARS
Date: 2012
Instructor: Ellie
Location: San Jose, CA
Length: One morning
Darkside of Photography
Rating: 4 STARS
Date: 2012
Instructors: Stephen & Jean
Location: San Jose, CA
Length: One night
— This was back when it was a one night deal at a separate location from where they are going now. As I write this post, it appears to be a 2-​day deal now with a classroom component which makes sense. This was the workshop that totally got me excited about night photography, because I could actually get photos of stars and «milky way.»
SF Night Photography
Rating: 5 STARS
Date: 2012
Instructor: Brian
Location: San Francisco, CA
Length: One evening
Grand Tetons
Rating: 5 STARS
Date: 2014
Instructors: Brian & Scott
Location: Jackson, WY
Length: 2-​day workshop
— This was my first 2 day workshop ever and I loved it. Orientation was given the day before we started our workshop. You really get the opportunity to bond with others in your group. Shoots were really early in the morning. We’d come back to town for lunch and a nap, then leave in the afternoon for more shooting into the early evening. We saw black bear, moose, pronghorn, elk, beaver. Got some nice landscape shots too. The discount for getting a room at the hotel is awesome, and the hotel rooms were huge. If you can, stay an extra day or two in town after the workshop so you can go out on your own and revisit places for shoots. As it write this post, it looks like they’ve lengthened the workshop to 3 days for 2015. Which makes sense because I did wish I had an extra day to get some of the landscapes I was looking for (cool sunrises).
— I appreciated that our group was diverse, with about half the group from other places around the country (East Coast, Midwest).
Big Sur /​Carmel
Rating: 3 STARS
Date: 2014
Instructors: Ellie & Phil
Length: One Sunday afternoon
— Shot at the Carmel Mission first for warm-​up, then moved on to Big Sur. The drive down in the ApCab had spectacular views. Weather was perfect.
I’ll post again when I complete a couple more 2 – 3 day workshops and sojourns.

**WARNING: attending a workshop at Aperture Academy can be addicting**
I just finished the 3-​day panoramic workshop. It was an incredible learning experience. There were eight of us in the class and most had been to eight or more workshops with Aperture Academy. I have already signed up for two more workshops, one sojourn workshop, and the photoshop class.
The itinerary is on their website so I won’t talk about it. What is not on the website is all the buildup of how very helpful and hands-​on they are. They really want to help you be the best photographer that you can be. I cannot wait for my next workshop

I have taken photography classes before, using a Canon Rebel SLR (film). It’s been quite some time, though, and lately I have been interested in honing my skills so I can improve on the pictures I take of my family. This lead me to my first class at Aperture Academy…
First, was it worth the price I paid (the Groupon price)? Absolutely! Stephen Oachs starts the class by laying out exactly what you will know and be able to do when he finishes the class. The amazing pictures and humor thrown in are an added bonus to the information you glean from his presentation.
Second, is the class worth the regular price of admission? If you have never taken a photography class or read a decent book on photography then absolutely! You will have a definitive, though basic, understanding of how to use a DSLR. If you have a basic understanding of aperture, shutter speed, white balance and such, you may be disappointed at paying full price (but maybe not).
All this to say that I do not regret the choice to take this class one bit. I even signed up for another one…

I’ve taken a couple of these type of classes before from other places but this has been the best so far. I found the class trough Groupon and scheduled the class on a weekend.
The class started promptly and the instructor gave us a lot of good instruction and information. The class lasted for 3 hours and we had some breaks in between They even offered snacks which was very nice.
I enjoyed their class and would take another one from here.

I took part in the Carmel, Big Sur (in the field) workshop. They have a large comfortable van so all of the participants travel together. This does increase the camaraderie of the photographers on the trip, and an added bonus you don’t have to wait for people to catch-​up with the group.
Big Sur and Carmel are great areas for photography and this workshop took us to four very photographic spots. I liked the stops we made. I will be going back to the same locations soon.
There were three instructors on this trip. If you have any questions, ask them. They don’t lecture and there is no printed material. The instructors were very knowledgeable. Looking at the company website you can see examples of all of the instructors work.
I did learn some very helpful tips that I will use often. I had never thought much about changing white balance before post processing. I am open to the idea now.
Even though the workshops are a bit pricey, I want to take another workshop from them.

I’ve now taken about half dozen classes.
They’re GREAT!