Meet the Beyond the Basics Team

Beyond the Basics Photography workshops was formed in 2013 by James Adams and Russell Foote. The goal was to build vibrant community dedicated to the art and craft of photography. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting to explore the world behind the lens, this is your space to learn, grow, and connect with fellow passionate photographers.

Our Mission: To empower photographers of all levels by providing a supportive environment where you can:

• Develop Your Skills: Through workshops, tutorials, critiques, and challenges, we'll dive deep into the technical and creative aspects of photography, helping you master your craft.
• Enhance Your Vision: We'll encourage you to experiment, take risks, and find your unique voice as a photographer.
• Expand Your Network: Connect with fellow photographers, exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build lasting friendships.
• Share Your Passion: Showcase your work, receive constructive feedback, and inspire others with your creativity.

The Beyond the Basics Photography Workshops Team

Russell Foote

Russell Foote is an award-winning photographer, entrepreneur, and instructor. Russell first picked up a camera out of curiosity many years ago and has created the business of his dreams for the past five decades. Russell creates breathtaking images of weddings, portraits, commercial advertising, industrial and special events. His mission is to use the lens of his camera to capture those moments that create memories to last you a lifetime.

Deanna Shipman

After 14 years of running a graphic design business I decided to add photography to my resume which meant moving from taking pictures to taking photographs, BIG DIFFERENCE, and as they say, “the rest is history.” A student to the craft, I picked up photography pretty quickly and am now a rising Bay Area Photographer seeking to continuously expand my reach. My approach to photography is a mix between story telling and artistic... 

James Adams

James has been a photographer (personal historian, photojournalist, portrait artist, documentarian, etc.) for over 40 years. How does one work at a profession for so many years? It starts with a genuine love for the craft of photography. Then there’s passion; the passion to continue to learn, study, compete, and teach others to practice this wonderful craft. On top of it all, it’s been nothing but fun. Even the most difficult and challenging assignments have been a joy to take on.

We have a wide selection of topics for our upcoming monthly series of workshops. Stay tuned for more information.

Beyond the Basics - Welcome to 2.0

February 2024 marked the 11th year of Beyond The Basics Photography Workshops. Although we've been relatively dormant the last few years, we feel like this it the perfect time for a reboot. This space is still a compliment to our Facebook group. Gone are our Flipboard Magazine, and Google+ community, but this still stands as our main communication vehicle to photographers looking to improve their technical and artistic skills. Russell and I have taught quite a few workshops over the 11 years, and continue with a new and more diverse set of topics.

We'll still bring a wide array of articles on techniques, workflow, technology, lighting, business practices, photographers to watch for, trends, and anything else we can think of to help you improve your skills and your images. One of the new things we'll start with is a recommended reading list. We have in mind a very comprehensive series of books that are of immense value to photographers of all experience levels.

A reminder; the audience for this blog is anyone with a camera, at any level, that wants to learn more about photography. You don’t have to be a professional, or want to be one, to learn more about this art form. We’ll have a number of recurring features on lighting, workflow, and other fundamental skills that all aspiring photographers should master. 

We're also including a private group on Facebook for sharing images for feedback. This group is not new. It was created as a 'safe zone' for anyone seeking guidance, feedback, and even critiques of work in all stages of development. More on that in an upcoming post.

That's all for now. Next, Russell and I will re-introduce ourselves with some updates on what we've been up to. We'll also welcome and introduce the newest member of the Beyond The Basics Workshops Team.

We hope you enjoy the content that is to come, and welcome your feedback and input on content and workshops you’d like to see.

James

Beware of this impatient, highly agreeable client. Can you say... scam?

A very common scam targeting items for sale on Craigslist, etc., has evolved. Watch how this unfolds. I immediately recognized this as a scam, but cautiously played along to allow the scheme to play out.

I received this text message on May 5th, from a phone number I did not recognize:
"I'm Tom, How are you ? I'll like to know your available date in June  for my family reunion (5 hours coverage). Also i want the family portraits done for the all the families coming together for the reunion. I want you to get back to me with your availability dates and do you accept credit card payment? I'll be looking forward to read from you with your full name."

The grammar is an immediate sign you're not dealing with someone that is being straight with you. My responses are in italics.

What date(s) is your reunion, and in what location?

This came back very quickly:

"Thank you for the swift response. I want you to check if you have available weekends between June 28th- July 11th. If you have a date open i want you to work on the estimate cost for the 5 hours photo coverage from 11am-4pm, and 6-16x20 prints family photo portraits because we have 6 families coming together for the reunion event. The event will be held locally here in the state about an hour or two drive from your location, i will cover the travel expenses. I got your information on the internet and i hope you can handle this event. I will like you to know that i am ready to make the full payment with my credit card so you will be able to make my booking confirmed also i will forward you the event venue once the event planner book the hall, so can you go ahead and give me the estimate now."

First Frame

Welcome to the Beyond the Basics blogspace. This is an extension of the Beyond The Basics Photography Workshops based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This joins our Facebook group, Flipboard Magazine, and Google+ community as our communication vehicles to photographers looking to improve their technical and artistic skills. The instructors and authors of Beyond the Basics are veteran, award-winning professional photographers, each with more than a couple decades of experience.

What you’ll find here is a wide array of articles on techniques, workflow, technology, lighting, business practices, photographers to watch for, trends, and anything else we can think of to help you improve your skills and your images.

The audience for this blog is anyone with a camera, at any level, that wants to learn more about photography. You don’t have to be a professional, or want to be one, to learn more about this art form. We’ll have a number of recurring features on lighting, workflow, and other fundamental skills that all aspiring photographers should master. The most frequently occurring of these will be our “When we shot film” segments. On the surface, it’s a nostalgic look back to pre-digital era of photography. It also examines the practices and techniques of that era and points out why those fundamentals ar even more important to master now.

We hope you enjoy the content that is to come, and welcome your feedback and input on content you’d like to see.