Please contact me directly for any of the above programs or specialty programs that you would like me to present. My diverse genre of imagery allows me to present programs in a wide variety of topics. Feel free to explore ideas that you have for presentations.

Table Top Photography

The basis for all photographic imaging. Explore the basics of photography with tabletop photography and why it needs to be a part of every photographer’s repertoire.

Digital Photography Basics

Explore histograms and the related topics of white balance. Learn about camera functions and reasons for the controls that we all have learned to have a love hate relationship. A must for new photographers and those who would like to delve more into the intricacies of digital photography.

Flash Photography

Most cameras come with a pop up flash of some kind but is it the best for your purpose or should you use an external flash unit. Which unit? I will demonstrate the abilities of multiple flash units and make recommendations on how to get started in flash imagery.

Off Camera Flash

This program will deal with the ability to remove your flash from your camera, coordinate that flash with camera functions, and create beautiful imagery of studio like quality with a simple off-camera flash set up. A demonstration of infrared controls radio controls and manual flash functions will take place. By the end of this program you will have gained the knowledge necessary to step into the world of professional off-camera flash photography. Challenging and technical with results that every photographer dreams of.

White Balance/Histograms lead the way

A more technical evaluation of the histogram and the 8 bit vs. 12 bit and 16 bit color systems. Not for the faint of heart.Off Camera Flash

PhotoShop™ Layers the mystery explored

How can we use layers to make our images better? An in-depth discussion of smart objects and layers including blending modes and apply if commands

What’s new in PhotoShop

I explore all the latest additions to photoshop including the new selection techniques/ content aware fill/ and neural filters and so much more.

Adobe Lightroom™

This program focuses on why Lightroom™, what it can accomplish, and how it integrates into the work flow system. Programs can be advanced or beginner with up to 16 hours of training.

Adobe Lightroom™ Upgrades explained

In this program I bring all of the latest additions to Lightroom to the viewers attention and go in-depth with the new masking options that Adobe has added to Lightroom™. Including the many options for combining masking techniques. A must see for Lightroom users.

File management

Where did I put those images? The most important step next to collecting the image. This program walks you through the process of selecting, deleting and managing your database of images.

HDR (High Dynamic Range)

From start to finish, explore the proper procedures for capturing your images. We then move on to the post production side of the process. This program includes a comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of major HDR software along with a explanation of a step-by-step process that will allow you to create images from the natural to the artistic.

Less is More

A critical evaluation of images. What makes a strong image? What can we do as artists to enhance that assessment? How do we define emotion in an image? Can we really create depth that is believable and compelling? All of these questions and more are answered in this program designed to stretch our imagination and demand more of us as artists.

Natural Light Portraiture

Explore the basics of light and classical portraiture in the basic form, one light source, the sun, and nothing but our brains and skill set, to achieve all the classical forms of portraiture. Topics include broad lighting, short lighting, split lighting, butterfly, and Rembrandt lighting. Once you see the light, you can control your output.

PhotoShop Masks

What is a mask and how can it be used in our postproduction processing of imagery to enhance the smallest of details? How do masks work, how are they defined, and how do we create soft mask edges to make our selections appear natural? All of this and more will be discussed in a program not designed as a Photoshop class but as a primer into masking and how it works in the digital world.

Luminosity masks

Luminosity masks are one of the more advanced techniques available to control the lighting in your images in a very controlled manner. By using the channels in your image we are able to select varing degrees of light selected, and use that selection to create very specific masks for tonal adjustments and so much more. This is the ultimate in fine art control of your imagery. Not for the novice, but a must for any professional.

Imagery to Artistry

It is said that, "Capturing the image is only half the art”. I disagree, I think that the actual capture is more like 20%, let me explain, You first have to get to the location, then you have to decide on how to frame the shot, if models are involved you better plan time for clothing choices, makeup and hair, not to mention posing. If no models then you have to wait for the bird to land on the right branch or do that ever so cute thing they do. If it is landscape you hope for that perfect atmospheric condition that will give you the perfect balance. You get the point. After all that then you get to do post-production. Here’s where people vary, some will say I shoot it right in camera so I don’t have to do post. Hmmm well I think that Ansel Adams knew how to use his camera, yet typically he would spend as much as 40 hours in the darkroom perfecting the perfect development technique for a single image. Dodging and burning, color filters, focus and blur, all played a role in his techniques and he was predominately working in Black and White. Imagine what he would have said about our creative editing tools. He would have been in heaven. If the image is worth taking and your legacy is determined by the quality of that image, then it is well worth the time to edit properly.

This is a unique class where Doug is challenged with images made by the attendees. Delivered to the class in raw form, Doug will transform the images live in class, without prior review. This way you get to see his vision of the image, and watch as he uses his skills to edit the image using a variety of post production techniques all the while talking through his thought process of the edits. This gives the audience a unique perspective of post production, not only will they see the edits and how they were done. They will gain some valuable insight into how a professional looks at an image and transforms that image into more of an art piece and less of a capture. By using various tools Doug will attempt to direct the viewer to what he sees, and imbue the image with both style and emotion, that the camera can not always capture. Software used will include Adobe Lightroom and Adobe PhotoShop, and may include the use of DXO labs, Topaz, Luminar Neo, Tony Kuyper's Actions, OnOne, Imagenomics, Corel Painter and others, depending on the images presented. You never know where we will take an image, and neither does he until this evening.

Always a great time, intense learning, and hopefully a mind expanding class in developing images for the final viewer, not yourself.

Digital Painting

Explore the world of digital painting using Photoshop™ CC and Corel Painter. Your world as a photographic artist has its limitations. Albeit it the boundaries are quite large. Digital painting allows us, as artists, to move beyond reality and create that which we have only dreamed of. Come and explore this challenging and creative use of our digital world.

The Exploration of Light

In order to truly understand photography we must look first to the light. It is one thing to see the light and quite another to understand the light. As professionals, we often need to understand more than see, so that we can manipulate the light to our desires. We will explore direct reflection, diffuse reflection, angles of influence, specular light as well as diffuse shadow and shadow. We will compare polarized light and unpolarized light and how to use it to your advantage. Come and explore light. The foundation of understanding our photography.

Helicon Focus and Image Stacking

Depth of field has always been a limitation/curse/asset depending on our vision of the required image. We use long lenses, we use f-stops to control, but these are not all the tools that we have to work within the digital age. We now have the ability to combine stacked images of varying focal planes together to create impossible images only a few years ago. Come and explore the difference.

Tripods and Stabilization

If you have to have one piece of equipment for photography besides the camera, it is the tripod. Let’s compare the kinds, style, and qualities that we look for. Find out why oftentimes with tripods, you get what you pay for. It’s a lifetime investment and one that you should not take lightly. Examples of proper and improper use of stabilization will be shown along with a discussion of methods to trigger your camera.

Lens Selection

In this program we will look at the variety of lenses available to the average photographer and the reasons for selecting a particular lens. The discussion will take place of evaluating lens quality and function as well as an in-depth analysis of potential problems and concerns when using individual lenses. Focal length will be discussed and evaluated for both full frame sensor cameras as well as compact sensors. Come and explore the fascinating subject and learn how to make your images sing with emotion.

Light meters in camera and handheld

Learn about the varieties of handheld light meters, their operation, and the reasons why oftentimes a handheld light meter will provide you with critical information to evaluate different lighting situations. This program will show you how to use your camera’s built-in light meter and help you understand limitations. We will also discuss exposure compensation settings, when and how to use them.

PhotoShop Portraiture Touchup

Learn the basics of portraiture touchup. Although using Photoshop™ CS6, users of Photoshop Elements™ will find the same techniques readily available. We will discuss eye touchup, complexion touchup, eye enhancement, stray hair, teeth whitening, eye whitening, and so much more. Designed as an introduction to portraiture touchup, this program will also cover many advanced topics.

Image Sizing

What do you mean image size? The image is what the camera gives me. This statement could be no further from the truth. Image size is something that we all need to understand thoroughly. As a photographer, you need to know what is required for the web, for print, and for the lab. It is up to the photographer to make certain that his or her image is sized and rendered in the appropriate color space for the end user. A discussion of color spaces including Pro photo RGB, Adobe RGB 1998, and sRGB will be a part of our overall analysis of image sizing and manipulation to provide an end-user with exactly what they desire. We will discuss how to properly manipulate image size and understand resolution.

PhotoShop Actions

Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool that continues to grow in its capabilities and time-saving methodologies to make life easier for photographer. However as a by-product of that life-changing attitude, Photoshop has become a world unto its own. Let’s explore one particular cavern — Photoshop actions — and show you how with a little patience, some knowledge, and effort you can make your life easier and more fulfilling. In this class we will develop custom-designed actions that anyone can make and use in their photographic career.

New Lightroom and Photoshop Features

In this class I will go over the new masking options in Lightroom and the relevance to Photoshop as well as introduce the audience to all the new creative techniques that this opens up to us as Lightroom users. In addition new features like sky replacement and selection choices are covered. This is a fast paced review of all that Adobe is offering for the development of our images.

TK -9 Actions and Updates

Explore with me the un-limited potential of Tony Kuypers actions and how to use them in real world settings. In this program I use attendees images (provided the day of or prior to the event) to explain the TK9 actions panel and what it can do for your images. You get to see in real time the thought process and development of the image as I edit live for the attendees.

Explore the Swamps and Bayous of Louisiana

A deep exploration into what makes a strong image in the challenging terrain of the Atchafalaya Basin. Discussion on Camera techniques, access and post-production work required to make the most of your images. I will be showing my techniques including Adobe Lightroom™, Adobe PhotoShop™, and various plugins that I use during the creation process. Including TK9 Plugins.

The foundations of 40’s and 50’s style lighting

How did the old masters create such dramatic lighting with limited light sources and technology? How can we easily emulate that work today? This program is designed to walk a group presentation through the plan of attack, show the equipment, and demo how some of these images were made in a live demo with model. Included are some editing techniques to show attendees how to maximize their image production.