Frequently Asked Questions

• 1. How much of my time should I expect to dedicate to classes?

  • Our classes are for people who are serious about learning photography.

    You will attend one class each week for about 2.5 hours and one computer lab each week for 3 hours. The computer lab is located at our home offices with Free parking. When you enroll in Photo I, you are agreeing to be part of a program and a community, and that will take about eight hours of your time each week for seven weeks.

    Boot Camps are held on Saturdays from 10:00am to 5:00pm. But they may run longer, depending on how thirsty you are to learn.

• 2. What's up with the first class free for Photo I?

  • Each student may attend the first class of Photo I at no charge. Try us out, start learning right away and let's see if we're a good fit for each other. Then at the start of the second class, bring your payment as a check or cash.

• 3. How much do classes cost?

  • The cost of cameras is through the roof and we're in a recession! Don't worry; there's good news ahead. Because we're not located in a high-rent district and don't have a building that costs so much to keep up, we don't have to charge sooo much for our classes.

    For our one-day Saturday Boot Camps, the cost is $225. For the seven-week Photo I class, the cost is $400, with NO lab fee. Total cost: $400.

• 4. What do I do if...?

  • 90% of being successful is showing up, so:

    What do I do if my telephone call isn't returned?
    SHOW UP. We'll talk.

    What do I do if my e-mail isn't answered?
    SHOW UP. You spend too much time online as it is.

    What do I do if I forgot my check?
    SHOW UP. We know where you live.

    What do I do if I forgot my prints?
    SHOW UP. You can make more.

    What do I do if I forgot my notebook?
    SHOW UP. We'll give you one.

    What do I do if I forgot my paper for printing?
    SHOW UP. Your classmates will take pity on you.

    What do I do if I forgot my pants?
    SHOW UP. It'll be chilly, but we're all friends.

    What do I do if we get 10 inches of snow?
    SHOW UP. What else are you going to do?

    What do I do if the sun doesn't rise?
    SHOW UP. Somebody has to document the end of the world.

• 5. How serious is Richard about teaching?

  • Richard has been teaching for 40 years. He is serious about teaching people who are serious about learning, so:

    During the Blizzard of 2011
    Richard held class.

    When there was an 18" snowfall in 1999
    Richard held class.

    When there was a once-in-a-100-year rain storm
    Richard held class.

    When there was once-in-a-100-year heat wave
    Richard held class.

    When there was a once-in-a-100-year cold snap
    Richard held class.

    When he had an automobile accident on the way to class
    Richard held class.

    When the power went out
    Richard held class.

    When he had surgery and was confined to a motorized wheelchair
    Richard held class (and let people take rides)

    If the sun does not rise
    Richard will hold class.

• 6. Can I save money on photo equipment?

  • You bet! Before you buy a camera or lens, call or text Richard at 312-671-7717 and he will save you money! Take advantage of our FREE Camera buying service so when you do buy a camera you make an informed discussion for yourself.  ;-)

• 7. What about free parking?

  • It's right here! Richard Stromberg's Chicago Photography Classes is located in a quiet industrial area, with no meters to pay, so there is plenty of secure street parking after 6:00pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.

• 8. How large are the classes?

  • Unlike other schools Richard's years of teaching experience has taught him that small classes are a better learning environment.

    Please Note: Because it is our policy that each person may take the first Photo I class at no charge, the first class is often large. After the first class some people find that work or school may not allow them to take the class or they may not have the time. We prefer that students are fully informed before they commit to our exacting curricula.

• 9. What kind of digital camera do I need?

  • Our classes are mainly for people who own DSLR cameras, which have lenses that can be removed and replaced with other lenses.

    These cameras may cost $700 or more. We ask our students to buy "camera body only" and a separate "50 mm f 1.8 lens". Not "kit" lenses. You will always be able to buy zoom lenses. If you're on your death bed, and your last request is for a zoom lens, you'll get one.

    We start out asking our students to only use their cameras with a 50 mm "fixed focus" f 1.8 lens (no zoom). This lens costs about $110. Different brands of cameras charge different prices for lenses but most range from $80 to $150. If any store wants to charge you more than $150, something is wrong – don't buy the lens. Call or text Richard Stromberg, at 312-671-7717, from the store if you like, and he'll help you figure out what's going on.

    Notice: Due to the March 2011 earthquake and accompanying tsunami off the northern coast of Japan, there have been shortages of cameras and lenses, as well as steep price increases. Therefore RSCPC is suspending the "f1.8"  lens requirement until such time as supplies return to normal. It is still very useful and desirable to use such a lens if you are able to acquire one. Having such a lens in no longer a requirement.  ;-)

• 10. Will I learn everything about each of the menu items on my camera?

  • No, not right away. When you are just starting out in Photo I we will show you what is most important for you to pay attention to. Over time as you get experience using the camera you will be learning the why and how of the menu choices. You will not learn everything at once. Many people will attend several classes sessions before sustained leaning occurs. Be patient, Richard's promise, "Learning will occur."
    
    

• 11. What kind of computer do I need?

  • Mac or PC, the faster the better, but don't go out and buy one until you talk to one of our staff. The most important feature to have at the start is a DVD burner. If you don't have one installed in your computer than the simplest thing is to buy an external burner that can "stand alone" and connect to your computer through a USB cable.

• 12. Can I use the computer lab anytime I want?

  • Not in Photo I. In Photo I we have one teacher for every five students. You will have to pick a time to come, and work in the lab each week, at the same time. In the Photo I Lab you will learn how to print, but we'll also teach you the procedures you need to follow to keep the equipment working properly. That way you'll be more likely to be successful, when you use the lab by yourself, without a teacher, in Photo II. There are no lab teachers in Photo II and III, but we encourage you to learn from the other students in the room.

• 13. Can I print anything I want in the lab?

  • No. Well, maybe. OK, YES. You have three hours of lab time each week. After you finish printing your assignment for the class, you may print anything you like. If you're not enrolled in a class after Photo I, you may rent the lab for $15 per hour in three-hour increments.

• 14. What kind of film camera do I need?

  • The best film cameras are used, unless you want to spend $1,800 (way too much to start). The used camera market fluctuates daily. When you are ready to make a purchase, please call or text Richard at 312-671-7717. He loves to help people get a good deal on a camera.

• 15. What kind of medium format camera do I need?

  • Medium Format is a specialty. When you are ready to make a purchase call or text Richard at 312-671-7717. He will save you money!

• 16. What's with this guy Stromberg?

  • Richard has had a hard life. When he was a kid he had to ski five miles uphill to school every morning and five miles uphill home every night. And sometimes there wasn't any snow.

    These days most of Richard's students seem to come from the "Praise" generation. Every time they do something they expect to be praised. Richard comes from the "Beat' generation. In his family every time he did something he was beaten.

    Richard can't reconcile that, which is what makes him so grouchy. But, don't worry, be happy. He is. The man owns most of the equipment in "Nikon Catalogue" for God's sake.

• 17. The most valuable gift anyone can get is the gift of learning. And we make it easy.

  • You may buy gift certificates in $100 increments or for the full price of any class. We do not accept credit cards. You may mail us a check and after we receive the check we will e-mail you a PDF of our Gift Certificate for the amount you paid for. You may request a certificate by e-mail or you may call 312-671-7717. We are able to respond to you the same day if required.

    Give the gift of learning, because the classes take about eight hours a week of someone's time for seven weeks.

    You may buy a gift certificate "deposit" for $10 to give to your loved one. After they attend the first class and they decide the class is for them, the balance will be due at the start of the second class. If the class is not for them you have a year to give the class to someone else. (Sorry, no $10 refunds.)

    Ten bucks will reserve a space in any class, but if you are not able to attend there will be no refunds. We're not totally heartless; if there is an emergency we will listen and try to work something out.

• 18. What about personalized instruction or tutoring?

  • Tutoring is available at the rate of $50 an hour. All inquires should be directed to Richard Stromberg at (312) 671-7717. Or use our contact form to get in touch.

• 19. What's with all of this "trash talk" on Yelp! and in the Chicago Reader?

  • Yelp! and The Reader's "story comments pages" are user-contributed pages, with little or no oversight. Anyone can post their opinion on those pages without editorial review.

    When the Chicago Reader published its story about Richard Stromberg in November 2008, it was determined that an anonymous user was deleting positive postings and substituting negative ones. This "disturbed" person was also "highjacking" other users' posting, "identities" to make it appear that different people were writing the posts.

    What can we say? There are a lot of crazy people in the "Naked City", we're moving on. Our best advice: Don't take everything written on any community web site or personal blog as gospel and practice the Chicago journalist's motto: If your mother says she loves you, CHECK IT OUT.

    Richard is a semi-public person with more than 10,000 past students. While many sing his praises, there are no doubt a few folks out there who were less than satisfied. But let's remember: Richard teaches a photography class. Period. So if you read something particularly hateful, some people out there have their life perspective, out of whack.

    After all, enough people thought enough of Richard to invest $350,000 to preserve the building for the Chicago Photography Center that he founded with others.

    If you're not sure about our classes, or Richard, come by and check out the first class. We'll even give you a list of students you can talk to. Richard's class might not be the kind of class you are looking for. So be it. Don't worry, be happy. Que. sera, sera, tomorrow is another day. ;-)

• 20. How can I keep the class costs down?

  • Please see our Terms And Conditions