"Scott is every bit as inspirational and engaging as his photographs. His passion and generosity left me feeling very privileged to have spent a few hours shooting with him. Scott was exceptionally invested in making sure I got the most out of the session. Not only in understanding my skill level and what I wanted from the workshop, but in what I wanted out of my photography generally. He asked questions that I have to admit I had never asked myself and that helped me to realize why my photography up to now has generally been so ‘unfocused’... Out in the field we worked through each shot step by step to make sure I understood the how and why. My particular interest for the session was the night sky and Scott's local knowledge meant we wasted no time in getting to the best spots. I left the workshop buzzing. Scott helped me refine my technical skills and taught me new techniques. But most significantly, he encouraged me to 'feel' as much as 'think' about my photographs which is something that has already had quite a profound affect on me. I came away with a greater confidence in my photography and some great images, but most importantly a renewed excitement, passion and focus for why I go out shooting in the first place."
"This is the second year in a row that I have shot with Scott in a workshop. I felt after last year that he’d actually changed my life, photographically speaking, and so I could not wait for the year to pass to shoot with him again! This year I booked two full 14 hour days. When you spend that much time with a person you get to know them and he strikes me as purposeful, principled and a perfectionist, not to mention a great photographer. His work is true art - spirit shines through. I found the shoots challenging and exhilarating. I recommend spending a full day minimum, if he is available, so he can take you to a number of the best places to shoot on the island and you become totally immersed. As an instructor he is the type of teacher you won’t ever forget as he demands the best of you. With great instincts and a passion for photography he brings order and integrity to whatever practices you had with your photography. I keep thinking his shoots will be easy and they are not. While he is patient and assists, you do the work to create exposure and composition under his guidance. Having to do the work required to get a good shot forced me to grasp iso, aperture and shutter speed better than I ever have before with other workshops and university instruction. For my money, I want someone who is a serious instructor. But, we do have a lot of laughs along the way. ;) All in all when I book time with Scott I feel privileged to be with a master of photography. He’s as excited by what you can capture as you are yourself and you end up taking home some of the best pictures you have ever shot in your life as well as acquiring new skills to make beautiful photos on your own. PS. His lunches and snacks are amazing too, giving you the fuel you need on a long day of shooting. Thanks to his wife for that!"
Karen Lange - Manly, Australia
Read More"My brother-in-law and I are amateur photographers and did night-time and full day workshops with Scott. It was a fantastic experience on multiple levels. Scott guided us to beautiful, inspiring locations on Maui to photograph. His focus was entirely on us – helping us improve our technical skills and sharpen our compositional skills and “point of view.” Scott has a real gift – he is able to meet and relate to you whatever your skill or proficiency level and then help you improve your skills through use of practical teaching points and examples during the photo shoot. If you want to take your photography to the next level, and have a great day, don’t miss an opportunity to spend time with Scott!"
David Coy, MD PhD - Seattle, Washington
Read More"I had the pleasure of taking two of Scott's workshops. The first was the shorter private session and I was so impressed with his professionalism, his passion, and his knowledge that I signed up for the ten hour session. Both were amazing. Scott knows the island and found lots of hidden treasures to shoot. He is an awesome coach and teacher. He challenged me and brought my photography to a new level. His follow-up emails captured what I learned and what I needed to know going forward. He is intelligent and a great conversationalist. Most importantly, it was so much fun! I look forward to our next session."
Susan Nickerson-Graham - British Columbia, Canada
Read More"I was in Maui for a conference and looking for a photographic instructor who would be flexible enough to accommodate me in between my packed schedule. I am glad to say that my experience with Scott has been fabulous. He started off with a brief presentation on the basic foundation of photography which was very illuminating for me. Although I have been photographing for quite some time, his explanation of F-stops, use of filters and basic composition enabled me to look at these concepts from a whole new perspective. Following our initial instruction, we went out for photoshoots at local spots and implemented these principles. The whole experience was wonderful and immensely satisfying. Scott is a very accomplished photographer, instructor and above all a very genuine human being. If you are in the Maui area and like photography, give Scott a call. You will be amazed how much you will learn."
Anindya Dutta - Fremont, California
Read More"I thoroughly enjoyed my 10-hour photography workshop with Scott. From the start, the day felt tailored to my photographic skills and interests. There were some basic elements of exposure that I had already understood, so right away, Scott delved into composition and creative exposure. He has “an eye” for the shot and a sense of the feeling he wants to evoke, and the technical knowledge to make the whole thing happen. He was fantastic at explaining the technical aspects to me in a way that I could both understand and remember. I learned an incredible amount about long-exposure and nighttime photography as well as light-painting. Scott thought of everything to make the photography expedition as successful as possible for me. The day was filled with reflective discussion about photography, gorgeous locations, ice-cold drinks (greatly appreciated after the hike to one of the waterfalls on the Road to Hana) and a fabulous vegan dinner, eaten tailgate style. After the expedition was over, he sent me an extremely detailed e-mail with a summary of key points he’d made during the workshop and references and links to subjects that we had discussed. Scott was not only enthusiastic about photography in general, but he was also excited about sharing his experiences and helping me along my own path as a photographer. I would not hesitate to schedule a workshop with him. You will learn so much and have a great time along the way."
Jennifer Hirsh - New Jersey, USA
Read More“I recently participated in Scott’s ten hour workshop and it was definitely the highlight of my trip to Maui. The day was tailored made to learning the techniques I wanted to learn as Scott gathers information on what you are interested in and your skill level as a photographer before the day of the workshop. I had recently bought graduated and ND filters and was teaching myself how to use them. Scott explained how to use the filters and then I put my newfound knowledge into practice. I now have a really good understanding of how to use the filters and have been enjoying experimenting and getting even more comfortable in using them. One of the photos I took during the workshop is one of my favorites from my trip to Hawaii. I am really grateful for Scott taking the time to explain his photographic journey to me. During our discussions, I finally decided on what direction I wanted to take in regards to my professional photography career. I had been struggling with this for quite some time and it is feels great now that I finally know what path I want to travel down. Thank you so much Scott! I really appreciate all the information you gave me."
Tracey Condie – Sydney, Australia
Read More"After being away from photography for many years I now have the time to start up again and what better place than the visually stunning Maui. Rather than take the usual post card shots, I wanted to learn more about my DSLR’s capabilities. I found Scott through an internet search and was impressed by the testimonials so I set up a workshop. Without question it was the best time I spent on Maui (including diving with the turtles and playing Kapalua Plantation golf). His teaching approach made the concepts of photography simple to understand. In fact, his approach is to simplify the technical aspects so that you can unleash the creative side within. Don’t misunderstand me, he taught me a number of skills that have vastly improved my technical abilities. But it’s the creative skills he shares, and his enthusiasm for the craft that are my largest takeaway. For someone travelling from NY to Maui, good communication and customer service was important. Scott was responsive and his follow-through is comprehensive. If you love photography, no matter your skill level, don’t miss the opportunity to work with him."
Duncan MacKenzie - Delmar, New York
Read More"My husband signed me up to take Scott's workshop as a gift, and it was one of the best gifts I've received. I've taken group workshops in the past, but I feel I learned so much more spending time one-on-one with Scott. It was obvious from the start that he possesses tons of knowledge in all things photography, and I feel very lucky that he was willing to pass that knowledge on to me. Scott's teaching technique is very easy to understand, and he is very patient. If you don't understand something the first time, you will eventually get it with his help. I found his metaphors to be very helpful in remembering and understanding things better. One of my favorites was, you can't build a house without a foundation, which is also true in photography. You need a foundation before you can get a great photograph, and Scott teaches you the techniques to get you there. Before taking the workshop there were some things that I thought I understood fairly well, such as reading a histogram, but after spending a few minutes talking with Scott on the subject, I realized that I wasn't reading it totally accurately. After his explanation on how to read one correctly, and with some practice in the field that day, I understand it much better now. Another great part of the workshop for me was learning how to use filters. Scott is obviously a highly skilled expert in the photography field, and very passionate about his trade. If you are interested in learning more about photography, or want to improve on your skills, I highly recommend that you take one of Scott's workshops. I'm sure you'll love it!"
Virginia Leussler - North Reading, Massachusetts
Read More"My time with Scott was highly instructive without being boring. I learned so much! Scott is very generous in giving you all the information you can handle (and more), and presents it all in a very approachable way. I came away with a deeper understanding of the photographic process as it relates to landscapes, and I also came away with great images that I set up with his guidance. I highly recommend his workshops."
Lisa Dueck - Alberta, Canada
Read More"I had the pleasure of participating in a workshop with Scott. The experience was truly inspiring and educational. Scott's instruction gave me a deeper appreciation for the beauty of the photographic journey and has inspired me to take this path seriously. I came into the workshop as a novice, barely aware of the features of my camera, and left with a more complete understanding of the tools at my disposal, and even took a few good shots at the end!."
James George - Frisco, Texas
Read More"I loved the workshop, it taught me so much and my only regret is that I didn’t do one sooner! Scott was a great host and teacher who really took the time to understand what I wanted to learn as well as to take the time and ensure he understood where I was at in my own photographic journey in order to tailor the time we had to my level and pace of learning. I came out from that day with a much clearer idea of where I am, as well as where I'd like to get to with my photos. Perhaps more importantly, I also emerged with a deeper understanding of the philosophical aspects of photography and clarity on why I enjoy the journey so much - inspiration that will carry me forward for a long time to come."
Jaymal Nathwani - London, England”
Read MoreThanks again for the Full Day Intensive Photography Workshop. Your passion for photography and getting outdoors is paralleled by the attention you give your students. You’d think going to Maui to take photographs would be an easy pretense, but it’s not! During our workshop, you connected me to the deeper elements of immersive photography, and what it means to be passionate about the entire process, not just what happens in-camera. I’d been looking how to vault up to the next step in my photographic journey, and this workshop was a big step towards that personal goal. I learned more about my camera, reading light and composition, space and forms, and the artistry of a compelling photograph in 10 hours, than all the hours spent previously reading online tutorials, blog posts and other information. The experience of getting out there with a seasoned photographer can’t be understated. I highly encourage others to book a session with you!"
Kurt Van Cleef - Vancouver, Washington
Read More"I picked up a DSLR and started taking photos with no formal training. I watched countless hours of videos on the web and picked up some good information, but nothing compares to being in the field with an experienced photographer. Scott showed me so much during our time together. He first started off with an excellent presentation on what makes a photograph successful, which incorporated topics that we would cover in the field. Scott first showed me the proper way to compose a photo prior to putting your camera on a tripod and how to achieve correct exposure by using the histogram. Once I had an understanding, he introduced filters, which was something fairly new to me. I was blown away by what could be achieved. I’ll definitely be picking up some of the suggested filters to add to my camera bag. We finished off the evening with night photography and light painting. This was so cool! In complete darkness, we both used lighting to make a fascinating night scene. I’m so glad Scott showed me this. I can’t wait to experiment on my own. Overall, I was extremely happy that I choose Scott for my first photography workshop. He was a great instructor and a very personable person. His passion for his profession shows. Oh, and his wife made us an amazing dinner! Scott, I want that recipe!"
Chris Baker - Portland, Oregon
Read More“I had a fantastic time during my workshop with Scott. He is knowledgeable, methodical and a great teacher. The workshop started with a very useful presentation and how to incorporate that knowledge throughout the day. The workshop was geared towards what I needed the most help with. If you want to learn more about how to be efficient in your workflow, improve your compositional and lighting skills, then this is the perfect workshop for you. And most important of all, he made the workshop a fun day. I highly recommend Scott’s workshops!”
Ali Habibi - Menlo Park, California
Read More“This workshop more than exceeded my expectations! As a beginner/amateur I thought I would be overwhelmed & intimidated .... but from the intro handshake, Scott put me totally at ease. He related to my skill level starting with him simplifying some instructional concepts, then we moved to some shooting sites to apply those concepts. He taught me more in 4.5 hours than I’ve ever learned through blogs/Pinterest or photography books, and I now shoot all of my pictures in manual mode. Scott was incredibly patient allowing me time to make aspect choices & changes to ‘my’ satisfaction. I came home with some wonderful images. My only regret was not doing the 10 hour workshop! Thank you again Scott for sharing your knowledge, your incredible patience, and the way you were able to “simplify” this complex process that I’ve tried so hard to understand!! I look forward to another workshop in the near future!”