Lately I’ve had a ton of questions about my new online photography classes for 2013 so I thought I’d post some updated FAQs.  If you’d love to be able to take pictures like this and really use that awesome camera of yours, consider joining me for a Bella Pop online class next year!  Here are some frequently asked questions about the class, payment and registration…

I can’t wait to take a class!  Where do I sign up?  On the day registration opens I will post a registration link on the website, Bella Pop’s Facebook page and via email to the Bella Pop mailing list.  All roads lead to Rome.  ;) While spots for full participation students are limited to 50 students each class, there’s no limit for the self study option.  Registration for full participation will be available on a first come, first serve basis so if you want to be a full participation student in a class be sure to register ASAP.

What’s the difference between full participation and self-study students?
Full participation students:
•  get personalized video feedback on up to 3 photos each week + view class video feedback
•  ask questions anytime via email or by posting to the (optional) private FB group
•  have access to printable PDFs of weekly lessons for future reference

Self study students:
•  get the same great lessons, can interact and ask questions, but without video feedback or printable PDFs

How much does it cost and how do I pay?  The class is 8 weeks long + 2 “teacher free” bonus weeks.  The cost per person for full participation is 400.00 (limited to 50 students per class) or 200.00 for the self study option.  Payment is due in full to reserve your spot in class and is made online through Bella Pop’s secure ordering system with Visa, Mastercard or American Express.  Payment plans are not available however I do sell gift certificates and/or can let you know if a class will be close to filling up.

What happens if I can’t take the class and I’ve already paid?  If needed, a full refund will be available up to 2 weeks prior to class start date.  Within 2 weeks of class start date a credit will be issued for a future class. No refunds will be issued once class starts.  If an online class is cancelled by Bella Pop for any reason, payment will be returned in full.

What time is the class?  There are no set times for class.  On the first day of class, your lessons are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This gives you the convenience to learn lessons at your own time and on your own schedule for the duration of the class.

What if I need extra time to view the lessons?  If you get behind or miss a week no worries!  The class includes 2 bonus weeks (teacher free) to review lessons and catch up if needed.  If you’re a full participation student, you’ll also get to download printable text lessons for future reference.

I have a busy schedule, how much time should I expect to invest for this class?  Each week you will find 2-3 new lessons to learn, and each lesson includes a  short video as well as text to read and photo examples.  It takes about 30 min. to an hour to do each lesson plus 1-2 hours for “shooting practice.”  So figure about 3 – 5 hours a week for completing the lessons + any time spent asking questions and reviewing feedback on the private facebook group.  It really depends on how much you want to participate.

Does it matter what brand camera I have?  You can shoot with any brand camera! I shoot Canon but there are also Nikon examples (as these two are the most popular.)  As long as you have a camera with manual capability you are set to jet.  If you’re unsure if your camera will work feel free to email me and ask!

I’m not in the States. Can I take Bella Pop online classes?  Absolutely!  I love having international students and seeing photos taken from around the world… it’s really pretty awesome!

I’m in high school / grade school / home school can I take the class?  I get several emails from high school students (and younger!) and yes, you’re more than welcome to join us for class.  The cost is the same for each student however there are really no age limits.  Feel free to email me if you have any other questions about skill level or age.

I’m nervous about taking an online class vs an in-person class.  Would it be right for me?  Bella Pop classes started out as in-person classes but with scheduling issues, locations and weather stuff I decided to take that fun in-person experience and turn it into an online class.  I invited past students to try out the new online classes and they LOVED the online class even more.  You still get that feeling of taking a class with me in-person with the weekly videos.  Even better you can watch and read the lessons as many times as you need to until you really get it.  There’s also more time to ask as many questions as you need AND you get the benefit of seeing everyone else’s pictures. It’s really the best of both worlds!  If you’re a full participation student, you’ll get personal video feedback on your photos (up to 3 each week) and you’ll hear me talking to you about your photos.  Full participation students will also get to watch the class video feedback to learn from other’s feedback.

Do you offer online private mentoring?  I’ve had several requests for online mentoring (private instruction) and I’m working out details for this.

I’m interested in a career in photography.  Would this class be right for me?  If you love photography and are dreaming of shooting weddings or portraits, it’s totally necessary to understand your camera and have a strong knowledge of the fundamentals.  This includes shooting in manual and shooting in all kinds of natural light.  If you still shoot in automatic or any of the priority modes, you’ll benefit even more from this class because you’ll learn how to control your camera to get the photos *you* want.

I’m thinking about signing up for a Bella Pop class – are there any reviews?  Absolutely!  My very first online class was a “test” class and I invited a select group of people for a one time opportunity to try the class, tell me how they liked it, give me feedback etc.  You can read a few reviews online: Liz @ The Blue Eyed Owl, Meg @ Balancing Home and Jen @ Insideways.  You can also read what students are saying and see the pictures they are taking and all that jazz!

Ready to sign up for a Bella Pop class? If you want to be one of the first to get a registration link be sure to join the Bella Pop mailing list.  Want more info on the class?  You can find that here.  And as always if you have *any* questions about taking a class or equipment feel to contact me via email or at the Bella Pop FB page.  Have fun and happy shooting!